Improvements in Tying Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application. 20th Feb., 1894--Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tying Machines for Use in the Manufacture of
Boots and Shoes.
We, FRANK WEBSTER PRESCOTT of 64 Crawford Street, and IRVING
HEMAN FAY of 30 Kilby Street, both in the City of Boston, in the County of
Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to le
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to a machine for temporarily tying together the two sides
of a boot or shoe upper, previous to lasting, so that when said uppers are stitched or
fastened over the last they will not gape open; and it has for its object to provide
a machine of simple construction and rapid operation which shall be adapted to
introduce a string through two of the lace-holes in said upper, and to automatically
tie and sever the same from a ball or length of string.
The invention consists in the improved machine for the above-mentioned purposes
which we will now proceed to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification,
Figure 1 represents a side view of our improved tying machine.
Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the same, all but a small portion of the
top-plate of the frame being broken away.
Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the same.
Figure 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 represent different positions of the looper at different times in
forming the knot.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 represent the string at different stages of the knot-forming
operation.
Figure 11 represents a view of the string-guide, being a section on line 11-11
of Figure 12.
Figure 12 represents a section on line 12-12 of Figure 11.
Figure 13 represents a bottom plan view of a portion of the mechanism herein-
after referred to.
Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17 represent detail views of the looper hereinafter
described.
Figure 18 represents a perspective view of the second pair of pinchers.
.>
Figure 19 shows a longitudinal horizontal section, illustrating a take-up
mechanism.
Figure 20 shows a detail, taken on line 20-20 of Figure 19.
Figure 21 shows a detail to be referred to hereinafter.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings:
C represents the frame of the machine, A. the main shaft, g the top-plate of the
frame of the machine, E a plunger, which slides vertically in a guide E' affixed to the
frame C. The lower end of said plunger E is provided with two backwardly-
projecting ears E' E', which are adapted to engage the end of a lever h, as shown in
Figures 1 and 4. The said lever h is pivoted at to the rear portion of the
frame C of the machine, and has a cam-roller h³ upon it, which is adapted to run in
a groove 2¹ in one side of a cam 2, the said cam being fixed upon the shaft A and
rotated thereby.
The plunger E is located exactly in line with a hole in the top-plate 9 of the
machine, and is adapted to be pushed upwardly through said hole by the lever h.

page_text: B represents a block, which is adapted to be slid up and down in guides B' affixed
to the frame C near the front portion thereof, by means of a bell-crank lever F, which
is pivoted to a boss or block F¹ on the frame of the machine. One arm of the beli-
crank lever F is provided with a cam-roller, which runs in a groove in a cam 5 on
the shaft A; and the other arm of said lever is engaged with the lower portion of
the sliding block B, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. From the above it will
be readily seen that the sliding block B is moved upwardly and downwardly on its
ways B' once in each revolution of the shaft A.
The sliding block B has journalled in it, near its upper end, two short
shafts e and e, the said shafts e and e' being in line with each other and a space
being left between their confronting ends for the passage of the tying string. The
shafte is adapted to rotate in its bearings in the block B, but not to slide therein,
and is provided with a pinion K³ suitably affixed to it and engaging a rack k' on a
fixed support. The shaft e¹ also carries on its inner end the looper a¹, the action of
which will hereinafter be particularly explained. The shaft e is adapted both to
rotate and to slide in its bearings in the block B, and has feathered onto it a
pinion k, which engages a rack k. The shaft e is adapted to be moved endwise by
the engagement therewith of one end of a lever d, which is pivoted to a fixed
support on the frame C. The other end of said lever is provided with a
cam-roller, which runs in the groove of a cam 3 on the shaft A. From the form of
the groove on the cam 3, it will be seen that during one rotation of the shaft A the
lever d will cause the shaft e to move endwise first in one direction and then in the
opposite direction, a period of rest intervening between said movements when
the said shaft e is in its farthest inward position, or that position shown in
Figures 2 and 3, and another period of rest occurring when said shaft e is at the
other extreme of its endwise movement. The pinion is feathered on the shaft e,
so that when said shaft moves end wise it may slide through the said pinion, and the
latter will remain in engagement with the rack k, and at the same time remain in
rotative engagement with said shaft e.
The shaft e also carries on its inner end a string-guide b, hereinafter described.
c c² represent a pair of pinchers, which are pivoted to a stud c². The stud c² has
one end adapted to slide in a groove or way et formed in one side of the guide-piece
or standard E¹ which supports the plunger E.
The under jaw c' of the pinchers is provided with a downward extension c³, which
slides in a track formed in the main portions or arms c which support the upper
jaw. One end of a spring e' is attached to and pushes against the lower end of the
extension, and the other end of said spring is affixed to the main portion of the
pinchers-frame, the spring c thus tending to keep the jaws c c closed upon each
other. The main portion of the pinchers-frame has a backwardly projecting
portion t, which is adapted to be struck by a projection t on the cam 2, the said
contact of the projections t and t¹ throwing the pinchers forward, as will be readily
seen. As the pinchers c c are thrown forward, as just described, a projection von
the extension of the under jaw c' strikes the under side of a trip v¹ affixed to the
standard E, thus opening the jaws. After the projection has passed beyond the
trip v', the jaws are again closed by the force of the spring c. When the lug or
projection on the cam 2 passes away from contact with the projection t' on the
main portion of the pinchers-frame, the latter is swung backward on its pivot c³ by
the stress of a spring c³ attached at one end to said pinchers-frame and at the other
to the frame of the machine.
represents a projection on one end of a rock-shaft, which is journalled in a
bearing in a boss or block æ on the frame of the machine. On the other end of
said rock-shaft is an arm s², which is adapted to rest upon the upper side of the
projecting end of the stud c when the pinchers are in the position shown in
Figures 1 and 4. s represents a lug or projection on the cam 2, which is adapted to
strike the projection s', thus causing the rock-shaft to make a partial revolution, and
causing the arms upon said shaft to depress the pivot or stud and the pinchers
pivoted thereto from the position shown in said Figures 1 and 4, the lugs clearing

page_text: When the
the projections when the end of said downward movement is reached.
pinchers are again raised, as hereinafter described, the arm s' is raised also by the
stud c, and the projection s¹ is again brought into the path of the lug s.
It will be seen,
The racks k k¹ are affixed to rigid supports on the frame C.
therefore, that when the sliding block B is moved upwardly or downwardly the
pinions and k³ on the shafts e and e respectively will cause the said shafts to
rotate in one direction while the sliding block B is moving upwardly, and in the
opposite direction when said block is moving downwardly.
The string-guide 6 on the shaft e is best shown in Figures 11 and 12. From -
those figures it will be seen that the said string-guide is loosely mounted upon the
shaft e, the guide being kept in connection with said shaft by means of a spring n,
a block or slide a², and a cam n' which is rigidly affixed to the shaft e.
The spring
has one end bearing against the string-guide and its other end against a lug a³ on
the slide a², the said lug a³ having a portion a which interlocks with a projection a¹º
of the cam.
The block or slide a² is provided with a finger b', which is provided
at its outer end with a hole a through which the string is threaded.
The looper a', already mentioned, is best shown in Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17,
and consists of two parts, the main portion a¹ being rigidly affixed to the shaft e¹,
while the plate is loosely journalled on said shaft and is kept in connection with
the main portion a¹ by a spring 3 and a lug engaging a notch 10 in the member a'.
The main portion af of the looper is provided with a shield a³, as shown in
Figures 4 and 15. The plate has attached to it the looper-knob i, as shown in
Figures 4 and 14.
m represents a hook or barb, constituting one member of a second pair of pinchers.
The said hook m is attached to the outer member p' of a compound sleeve G.
The said compound sleeve G includes an outer member or sleeve p¹, and an inner
member or sleeve p, journalled on a short shaft D mounted in suitable bearings in
the frame of the machine. 6 represents a lever, which is pivoted at 6' to a fixed
support and has at one end a cam-roller, which runs in the groove of a cam 4 on the
shaft A, and at the other end a cam-roller p³, which enters the cam-grooves o o' in
the members p p₁ of the compound sleeve G.
As will be readily understood, the lever 6 imparts to the compound sleeve and to
the parts connected thereto a definite movement and a corresponding return move-
ment during each rotation of the shaft A. Beginning when the cam-roll is at the
outermost end of the cam-grooves in the compound sleeve G, the inward movement
of said cam-roller along said grooves causes both sleeves to turn on their shaft D,
thus rotating the devices connected with the said sleeves toward the supporting-
plate g.
When the roller reaches the end of groove o¹, sleeve p³, carrying the
barb m, commences to slide longitudinally upon sleeve p. Both sleeves p and pl
being connected together by means of a slot m³ in an extension p³ of the sleeve pl
and a screw me on an extension of the sleeve p, they continue to rotate until the
roller reaches the longitudinal portion of the slot o, when sleeve p ceases its move-
ment and sleeve p¹ continues its longitudinal movement to the end of slot o, at
which point the backward movement of the lever 6 is commenced.
m' constitutes the second member of the second pair of pinchers, and is pivoted
at ² to an arm or support m², which is part of the inner sleeve p of the compound
sleeve G. From the movement of said compound sleeve above described, it will
be seen that the two members m and m³ of the second pair of pinchers are rotated
down together, and that the member m affixed to the outer sleeve p' is then
projected through and beyond the member m². The sleeve p' is provided with a
cam-projection on its side which is next the member m', and the latter has a
set-screw at its outer end. It will be seen that when the member m is projected
in advance of the member m', and again when said member m is retracted to its
normal position shown in Figure 2; the set-screw will pass over the cam-pro-
jection and will cause the front or inner end of the member m' to close upon the
member m.
"
The barb m slides in a track made for it in the arm or support to which the

page_text: member m¹ is pivotally connected. To the member m¹ is affixed, just in front of
its pivot point, a spring z, as shown in Figure 18. The barb or hook m is made
with a scissors edge at m³, and the member m¹ has a corresponding scissors edge
at m, so that when said members are closed upon each other by the action of the
cam-projection upon the set-screw r', as before described, they will sever the
string. The spring z, being slightly in advance of the member m' to which it is
attached, will come down upon the string and hold it firmly against the upper side
of the arm or support m². It will be seen that the string is firmly held by said
spring and arm m² for a short period before the severing action of the members m
and m', during said action and for a short period after the same. It is during this
last period that the pinchers c and c', holding the other end of the string, move
downwardly, thus drawing the knot taut. The loose end of the string, projecting
from the string-guide b, is not held by the pinchers m m³, the spring z being on one
side of the said scissors-blades, namely, the side nearest the front of the machine,
said spring only holding the end of the string connected with the knot. After
being severed, the loose end projecting from the guide b is withdrawn by the
before-described movement of said string-guide, before the knot is drawn tight by
downward movement of the pinchers c c', as before described.
The operation of the machine is as follows:
The sliding block B being in its lowest position, the end of a ball of string is
threaded through the hole a in the finger of the string-guide (see Figure 12).
The shaft A being rotated, the lug or projection t strikes the cam-projection t¹ of
the pinchers c¹, moving said pinchers forward, the pinchers being opened at the
same time by engagement of projections vand v. The string-guide is at this
time in line with said pinchers, and just before the latter reach the end of their
forward movement the end of the string, projecting through the hole a, comes
between the jaws of said pinchers, and the string is therefore grasped by said
jaws when they close at the end of their forward movement.
The cam-projection t passes away from the projection t', and allows the pinchers
to be drawn backwardly by the spring c³, drawing with them a supply of the string
through the slot a of the finger 6. The piece of string thus grasped by the
pinchers is in a line directly over the line of travel of the plunger E.
The cam 2 then operates the lever h, causing the plunger to ascend through the
hole fin the plate g. The top of the plunger is grooved and comes in contact
with the string in its upward movement, carrying said string with it upward
through the hole f. All cams rest long enough to enable the operator to place a
boot upper over said plunger, allowing the plunger to project through two of the
lace-holes in said upper, the edges of the upper being toward the front, as shown in
Figures 5, 6, and 7, in which u is the upper. In this upward movement of the
string and plunger, to save the string from running over the end of the plunger,
the pinchers cc holding one end of the string are permitted to rise to the position
shown by the action of the plunger, the path of travel of said pinchers being
indicated by the dotted line to in Figure 4.
The shaft e is then moved inward by the lever d, carrying the string-guide finger
beyond the path of the looper-knob i. The bell-crank lever F, actuated by the
cam 5, then begins to move the sliding block B upwardly, and the fixed racks k k¹,
engaging the pinions k³ ³, cause the shafts e e' journalled in said block, to revolve.
The revolution of the shaft el causes looper a¹ and the looper-knob i to travel
downward, crossing the string, the shield as on the looper a¹ striking the string and
throwing it over so that the looper-knob hooks over said string, and in its further
revolution carries the string with it.
The string-guide b is then moved outwardly by means of the lever d, acting on
the shaft e, the shaft at the same time rotating and carrying the string-guide with
it. It will thus be seen that the string may pass between the looper and guide, as
shown in Figure 6, and also through the space between the confronting ends of the!
shafts e e'.
As the looper thus revolves, it forms a loop on the knob i. The shafts e and e¹

page_text: continue to revolve as the block B rises, until the looper-knob i strikes the top of
the plunger E, and the side of the string-guide 6 (see Figure 11) strikes the
upper which is engaged with said plunger. When the looper-knob i strikes the top
of the plunger, it stops and the looper a' continues to revolve, carrying the loop
formed on the knob i down over the plunger. When the side 1 of the string-guide
strikes the upper, the guide stops and the shaft e still continues to revolve, the
cam n¹ on said shaft moving the block a², carrying the string-guide finger away
from it, thus carrying the string beyond the plunger (see Figure 7).
It will be seen that the block B, sliding in its diagonal or sloping track, carries
the looper and looper-knob and the string-guide up to the plunger E, so that when
the loop is formed by the revolution of the knob said knob swings over the plunger ·
and strikes the upper end of the same, dropping the loop over said plunger and the
bight of string supported thereby, the looper al carrying the said loop downwardly
after the looper-knob has struck the plunger, as described.
The cam 4 then moves the lever 6 to operate the compound sleeve G and project
the hook m, the said hook passing between the plunger and string, as shown in
Figure 7, and then retract said hook, carrying with it the string carried across its
path by the before-described movement of the string-guide b, the other member m¹
of the second pair of pinchers closing upon the hook m and severing the string and
holding the end between the members m² and z, as described. At the same time as
the second pair of pinchers m² and z, holding one end of the string, are retracted,
the first pair of pinchers c c¹, holding the other end of the string, are caused to
move downwardly by the engagement of the projections on the cam 2 with the
projections, as already described. At the same time the plunger E, actuated by
the lever h, is retracted, the cam 2 being timed accordingly. It will thus be seen
that the knot formed on the string is drawn taut. The pinchers c c¹ holding the
string between them by spring-pressure, will let said string slip when the knot has
reached its proper tension.
As soon as the string is cut, as above described, the block B begins to move
downwardly, carrying the loose end of the string with it. The hole a in the
string-guide finger is provided at one end 2 with a tension of any well known
construction, which prevents the loose end of the string from slipping back
through it.
As the block B begins to slide downwardly, the shafts e and el rotate in the
opposite direction from that in which they rotated during the upward movement of
said block. As this backward rotation commences, the main portion a¹ of the
looper rejoins the plate carrying the knob i, the two being brought together
again by means of the spring 3. The string-guide 6 also resumes its normal
position on the shaft e soon after the commencement of the said backward rotation,
the spring n acting on the cam n¹ to bring about the desired result, as will be
readily seen.
The plunger E is preferably made, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, with. a slight
overhang at its forward side, so as to adapt it to hold the string a little in front of
its side and allow room for the entrance of the hook m between the said string and
plunger.
20 represents an adjustable tongue, over which the loop is tied when it is
desirable to have more play in it, when the uppers are unfolded and placed upon
the last (see Figure 21).
Referring to Figures 19 and 20, 21 designates a hole in the base of the machine,
through which the string 25 is supplied. 22 is a block, between which and the
spring 23, the string 25 is held fast when the spring 23 is released by the lip 24 of
the bell-crank lever 26, which is actuated by the superior spring 27 and the side
cam-projections on cam 5.
During the revolution of the looper 2, more string is drawn from the supply
than is needed in the knot, and as the knot is being tied the first rise 28 of the
cam 5 actuates the lever 26, throwing the end bearing the string-eyelet 29 back,
releasing the spring 23, which immediately holds the string 25 fast between itself

page_text: and the block 22 and takes up the slack from the loop. When the knot is tied and
the string cut, the end left projecting from the finger b¹ is unnecessarily long, and
the second projection 30 on the cam 5 throws the lever 26 into its return position,
drawing the string back through the finger b¹ until it projects suitably. The lever
then returns to its original position, leaving the string free to feed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. A machine of the character described, comprising in its construction a
plunger adapted to take the string through the article under treatment, a movable
string-carrier or looper having normal position on that side of the article which
the plunger enters, means for moving said carrier to the other side of the article,
and means for forming a knot of the bight held by the plunger and that brought to
it by the carrier.
2nd. A machine of the character described, comprising in its construction a
carrier to take the tying string through the article under treatment, a vertically-
movable grasping-device for holding one end of the string, a looper to carry the
string.from one side of the article to the other, means for forming a knot in the
string, a second grasping-device, and means for depressing the first grasping-device
after the knot is formed.
3rd. A machine of the character described, comprising in its construction a pair
of shafts arranged end to end with a space between their confronting ends, a
string-guide carried by one of said shafts, a looper carried by the other shaft,
a plunger to take the string through the article under treatment, means for
moving the two shafts and rotating the string-guide and looper, whereby the
string is carried from one side to the other of the article under treatment and
a loop formed, and means for forming a knot in the string, substantially as
.described.
4th. A machine of the character described, comprising in its construction a
plunger arranged to carry the string through the article under treatment, a rotary
looper composed of two members yieldingly held together, one of them having a
looper knob arranged to come upon the plunger and the other arranged to push the
loop off the said knob and over the plunger, and means for forming a knot in the
string, substantially as described.
5th. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a string-guide
adapted to carry a string, a grasping-device for pulling said string therefrom,
a plunger adapted to carry a length of said string through the lace-holes in the
upper of a boot or shoe, a top-plate or work-support adapted to support an upper
in position, a rotary looper adapted to co-operate with the said string-guide in
forming a loop and in passing said loop over the bight of the string supported by
the plunger, and a hook adapted to pass through said bight and draw the string
therethrough, thus forming a knot and fastening together the two sides of the upper,
as set forth.
6th. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotary
string-guide mounted on a shaft and adapted to carry a string, a rotary looper
mounted on a shaft, pinions on said shafts, a sliding block in which said shafts are
journalled, fixed racks engaging the pinions, pinchers adapted to be projected and
opened, and then closed and retracted to grasp and pull out a portion of said string,
a plunger moving vertically and having its upper end adapted to engage said
string, a top-plate or work-support for the upper of a boot or shoe, a hook adapted
to be projected through the bight of string on the plunger and to draw the string
through said bight, and a grasping and cutting device adapted to grasp the end of
the string thus drawn through the bight and to sever the same, retaining the
severed end of the string until the knot is drawn taut, as set forth.
7th. A machine of the character described, comprising in its construction a
plunger arranged to carry the string through the article under treatment, a rotary

page_text: string-guide, a rotary looper co-acting therewith and adapted to form a loop and
deposit it over the bight of string on the plunger, a longitudinally-movable hook
arranged to draw the string through the bight on the plunger, and a grasping-
device co-acting with said hook, substantially as described.
8th. In a tying machine, a take-up mechanism, comprising a spring arranged to
hold the string, a lever engaging said spring, a superior spring acting against the
lever, and a cam-wheel adapted to move said lever against the said superior-
spring.
Dated this 24th day of January 1894.
IRVING H. FAY.
FRANK WEBSTER PRESCOTT.