improvements in Boot Nalling machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug.,
1895
improvements in Boot Nalling machines.
I WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of The Hawthorns, Newport Road, Stafford, in
the County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines in which finished headed nails are used loose
as distinguished from machines which cut off the nails from a wire, &c.
1-11
The machine comprises a pillar upon a base and with a suitable head in and
about which the various parts are arranged.
The head carries a main shaft provided with a cone friction driving pulley
having a releasing spring' and a starting wedge connected to and operated by a
treadle and held in gear by a cam which releases the wedge at one particular part
of the revolution. Also an eccentric arrangement connected to a handle for
rendering said cam inoperative when 'desired.
The main shaft is provided with a disc having formed thereon a cam for
operating an awl to pierce the work and another cam for giving to said awl a
feeding niovement.
The piercing movement is obtained by carrying the awl upon a slide which has
an up and down movement and the feeding movement by carrying said slide 'in
another slide to which a horizontal movement is given. Rollers are provided in
the slides upon which the cams operate.
An adjustable cam is provided to regulate the amount of the feeding movement
such being indicated upon a dial and maintained by a catch.
The aforesaid disc has also upon it a projection for raising and releasing a nail
driver and bar which latter slides vertically in a frame and on being released, after
being raised, is driven down by a spring capable of adjustment in the strength of
its recoil and means such as set nuts are also provided for regulating the point to
which the driver is allowed to descend.
The main shaft also carries a gear wheel which through suitable connections
revolves one or more nail boxes, according to the number of different nails the
machine is intended to drive, which are provided with nail lifting scoops which
lift the nails and drop them into chutes down which the nails slide to a throat or
nose piece from which they are driven into the work by the aforesaid driver.
The nail boxes instead of being closed are made open at the front so that the
nail chute can be readily cleaned and the boxes are thrown in and out of action by
clutches so as to deliver or stop the supply of the nails according as desired.
A brush, a toothed wheel, a fork or other clearing mechanism is operated to
remove from the chutes those nails which fall wrongly thereon.
The throat or nose piece is pivotted so that it may be moved aside by the awl
when the feed of the work takes place being returned by a spring against a stop
(preferably adjustable) when the feed movement is over.
If desired the throat
may be operated by a cam specially provided. The nose-piece is provided with
spring clips to receive and place the point of the nail a little out of centre.
The above mentioned chutes down which the nails slide are fixed and in addition
to being inclined to the horizontal for the purpose of causing the nails to slide
are also inclined to each other in plan so as to obstruct as little as possible the
operator in the manipulation of the boot. At the point where they meet the
aforesaid driver is situated and below them is the throat and the awl previously
referred to.

page_text: A brake in connection with the starting and stopping gear is thrown auto-
matically in and out of action by a bell crank and striking collar.
The work is supported upon a horn or stump which may be of a usual con-
struction or upon a last carried in a jack hereinafter to be described and a spring
or balance weight bears up the work and the horn or jack against the awl and
driver. If desired the horn may be locked so as not to yield to downward
pressure.
.
A suitable work guard is provided to prevent the work from rising too high and
an adjustable edge gauge regulates the distance of the nails from the edge of the
boot sole.
A treadle is provided for drawing down the horn or jack in order to remove or
insert the work.
The work is slightly drawn down during the feeding movement of the machine
by a cam upon the main shaft operating a lever and rods in connection with the
aforesaid treadle and having an intervening rack and pawl and releasing plate or
equivalent mechanism.
The jack for supporting the boot is provided with an adjustable toe rest and a
last locking spring toggle and handle. It is carried upon a weighted or spring
treadle on a post provided with a universal joint. The post is provided at its
upper end with a socket to receive the stem of a fork the two sides of which pass
up one on each side of the boot and have at their upper ends pivots upon which the
jack frame swings being suspended therefrom by rods. The pivots are situated a
little below the level of the boot sole and towards the middle of its length. The
jack frame is adjustable lengthwise of the boot so that the position of it and the
boot relatively to the pivots can be varied. A curved rack and pawl are provided
by means of which the toe of the boot can be prevented from dropping during the
time it is being operated upon and the pawl can be released by thumb pieces.
Handles are provided to manipulate the jack and the socket which supports it
can be cramped upon the post at any desired inclination.
If desired the jack instead of being swung upon pivots as above described may
be provided with a curved slide or roller path so that the boot may be tipped
endwise and with a lock lever and catch to secure it and also have a horizontal slide
and cramping screw by which the boot may be adjusted lengthwise relatively to
its point of support.
Or the jack may be constructed so that the last is carried within a bowl upon
balls so that the boot may be easily tipped to any desired inclination and a friction
lock operated from a cam on the machine through suitable connections is provided
to hold the jack while the nail is being driven.
Dated this 10th 1-
1004
Improvements in Boot Nailing Machines.
I WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of The Hawthorns, Newport Road, Stafford,
in the County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and 4
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates principally to machines commonly called loose nailing
machines viz. :-those in which finished and headed nails are used loose as
distinguished from machines which cut off the nails from a wire &c.
The machine comprises a pillar upon a base and with a suitable head in and 5
about which the various parts are arranged.
The head carries a main shaft provided with a cone friction driving pulley having
a releasing spring and a starting wedge connected to and operated by a treadle and

page_text: held in gear by a cam which releases the wedge at one particular part of the
revolution. Also an eccentric arrangement connected to a handle for rendering
said cam inoperative when desired.
The main shaft is provided with a disc having formed thereon a cam for operating
an awl to pierce the work and another cam for giving to said awl a feeding
movement.
The awl is carried upon a slide which receives an up and down movement from
the one cam and a horizontal movement from the other cam. Rollers are provided
in the slides upon which the cams operate.
An adjustable stop cam is provided to regulate the amount of the feeding
movement given to the work such being indicated upon a dial and maintained by a
catch.
The aforesaid disc has also upon it a projection for raising and releasing a nail
driving bar which latter slides vertically in a frame and on being released, after
being raised, is driven down by a spring capable of adjustment in the strength of its
recoil, means such as set nuts are provided for regulating the point to which the
driver is allowed to descend.
The main shaft also carries a gear wheel which through suitable connections,
such as pulleys and bands revolves one or more nail boxes, according to the number
of different nails the machine is intended to drive, which are provided with nail
lifting scoops to lift the nails and drop them into chutes down which the nails slide
to a throat or nose piece from which they are driven into the work by the aforesaid
driver.
The nail boxes instead of being closed are made open at the front so that the nail
chutes can be readily inspected or cleaned.
A brush, a toothed wheel, a fork or other clearing mechanism is operated to
remore from the chutes those nails which fall wrongly theron.
The throat or nose piece is pivotted so that it may be moved aside by the awl
when the feed of the work takes place being returned by a spring against a stop
(preferably adjustable) when the feed movement is over.
If desired the throat may receive a positive movement from a cam specially
provided instead of a spring being employed to return it.
The uose piece is provided with spring clips which receive the point of the nail
and can be made to incline it a little so that it shall be driven more towards the
last.
The above mentioned chutes down which the nails slide are fixed and in addition
to being inclined to the horizontal for the purpose of causing the nails to slide are
also inclined to each other in plan so as to obstruct as little as possible the operator
in the manipulation of the boot. At the point where they meet the nail driver is
situated and below them is the throat and the awl previously referred to.
A brake in connection with the starting and stopping gear is thrown automatically
in and out of action by a bell crank and striking collar.
The work is supported upon a horn or stump which may be of usual construction
or upon a last carried upon a "jack" herein after to be described and a spring or
balance weight bears up the work and the horn or "jack" against the blows of the
awl and driver.
A suitable work guard is provided to prevent the work from rising too high and
an adjustable edge gauge regulates the distance of the nails from the edge of the
boot sole.
A treadle is provided for drawing down the horn or "jack" in order to remove
or insert the work.
The work is slightly drawn down during the feeding movement of the machine
by a cam upon the main shaft operating a lever and rods in connection with the
aforesaid treadle and having an intervening rack and pawl and releasing plate or
equivalent mechanism.
The "jack" for supporting the boot is provided with an adjustable toe rest
and a last locking spring toggle and handles. It is carried upon a weighted or

page_text: spring treadle on a post provided with a universal joint. The post is provided at
its upper end with a socket to receive the stem of a fork the two sides of which
pass up one on each side of the boot and have at their upper ends pivots upon
which the "jack" frame swings being suspended therefrom by rod's. The pivots
are situated a little below the level of the boot sole and towards the middle of its
length.
The "jack" frame is adjustable lengthwise of the boot so that the position of it
and the boot relatively to the pivots can be varied. A curved rack and pawl are
provided by means of which the toe of the boot can be prevented from dropping
during the time it is being operated upon and the pawl can be released by thumb
pieces.
Handles are provided to manipulate the "jack" and the socket which supports it
can be cramped upon the post at any desired inclination.
If desired the "jack" instead of being swung upon pivots as above described may
be provided with a curved slide or roller path so that the boot may be tipped
endwise and with a lock lever and catch to secure it and also have a horizontal
slide and cramping screw by which the boot may be adjusted lengthwise relatively
to its point of support.
Or the "jack" may be constructed so that the last is carried within a bowl upon
balls so that the boot may be easily tipped to any desired inclination and a friction
lock operated from a cam on the machine through suitable connections is provided
to hold the "jack" while the nail is being driven.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. is a front view of the machine.
Fig. 2. is a side view.of the same.
Fig. 3. is a front view of a portion of the head.
Fig. 4. is a vertical section and Fig. 5. is a horizontal section of the same portion
of the head.
Fig. 6. is an elevation and Fig. 7. a plan shewing the throat.
Fig. 8. is a view shewing the cam movement and the throat.
Figs. 9 and 10. are views of the nail clips.
Figs. 11 and 12. are views of one form of "jack."
Figs. 13 and 14. are views of another form of "jack."
Fig. 15. is a view of the bowl "jack."
Fig. 16. is a view of the nail separating mechanism.
Fig. 17. is a plan of the same.
A. is the pillar, B. the base and C. the head of the machine. D. is the main
shaft, E. the cone friction driving pulley, F. the starting wedge, G. the treadle,
H. the cam which alternately holds and releases the wedge F, and I. the eccentric
handle which renders the cam H. inoperative when desired.
J. is the projection for raising and releasing the driver bar K. which slides in the
frame L. and is furnished with the driver M. and N is the spring which drives down
the bar K. when released.
O. is the automatic brake which is thrown in and out of action by the collar P.
upon the treadle rod Q.
R. is the work guard and S. the adjustable edge gauge.
T. is the cam which draws down the work during the feeding movement of the
machine. It operates the bell crank lever U. and rod V. so as to raise and lower
the slide W. which carries the pawleX. The pawl X. engages a rack Y. during
its upward movement which is connected by a rod Z. to the treadle f14, hereinafter
further referred to as carrying the "jack" for supporting the boot. When the
pawl X. descends it comes in contact with a cam piece X' fixed upon the pillar A.
which lifts the pawl X. out of engagement with the rack Y. so as to release the
same and allow the weighted treadle to bear up the "jack."
I will now proceed to describe this my present invention.
The main shaft D. carries the disc a. (see Figs. 3. 4 and 5.) which has formed
upon it one cam surface a¹ engaging the roll a' for giving the piercing movement
1.
"

page_text: to the awl a which is carried in the slide at and another cam surface a engaging
the roll a for giving the feeding movement to the awl a'. The slide a is moved
vertically up and down by the cam surface a¹ to which its roll a' is kept up by the
spring a and is carried in the horizontal slide a' the roll a of which is kept in
contact with the cam surface a' by the spring a³.
The horizontal slide a is mounted in the head C. and when the spring a keeps
the roll a in contact with the cam a' during its entire revolution the full movement
of the cam a³ is given to the slide a³ and the maximum feed movement to the awl a³
and consequently to the work into which the awl has entered. If however the
spring a be prevented from keeping the roll as always in contact with the cam a³
by the intervention of a stop to the return movement of the slide a³ the feed move-
ment of the awl a³ will be diminished and if this stop be made adjustable the feed
movement may be varied.
I carry out this arrangement in the following manner :-
In the head C. I mount a stud b. upon which is a stop cam & which can be turned
upon the stud b. into different positions by means of a handle and is retained in
place by a spring catch engaging notches & formed in the edge of a dial 65 which
is secured to the stud b. The stop cam 61 is embraced by a stirrup 6 which is
attached to the slide a8 and in certain positions of the stop cam b' strikes upon the
same so as to limit the return movement of the slide a³. The stop cam has an
increasing radius of curvature or volute contour and accordingly as it is set to
present a less or greater radius to the stirrup 6 so will the return movement of the
stirrup and slide a be increased or decreased and consequently the amount of
feed given to the awl a³ and to the work is varied.
The driver M (see Figs. 3 to 8) has no lateral movement but only an up and
down one and the cam a always moves the awl a³ forward to the point where the
driver M. strikes the nail into the work, the variation in the feed being made at
the return end of the travel of the awl a. The awl movement is as follows:-
First the awl descends and pierces the work, then it moves horizontally to a point
directly under the driver carrying the work with it, then it lifts out of the work
and lastly it returns horizontally to the place it set out from.
The throat or nose piece c. is pivotted on the vertical pin c¹ so that it may be
mored aside by the awl a³. When in position ready to receive a nail it is vertically
er the driver M. which in driving the nail passes down through the throat c.
It is provided with an arm c³ in which is an adjusting screw taking against a
stop c so that the throat can be accurately set in reference to the driver M. and the
spring is furnished for the purpose of returning the throat c. when the awl a³
retires after completing the feed movement.
If the throat c. is operated independently of the awl movement the cam c (see
Fig. 8) is provided having a groove c¹ of the shape required to move the throat at
the proper times and engaging a roll ca which is mounted in a lever c pivotted to
the head C. on a pin co
The lower end of the lever is connected by a ball jointed rod c" to the
arm c³.
The cam is timed to move the throat c. away just in front of the advancing
'awl a³ and return the same again as soon as the awl retires.
The spring clips d. d' (see Figs. 9 and 10) receive the point of the nail . and
direct it a little outward from the machine or towards the last so that there shall be
no danger of the nail point glancing off the last and perforating the upper of the
boot. These clips are made as shewn and are opened by the driver descending
upon the nail. They are pivoted upon the pins and the springs d d return
the clips again after the ascent of the driver.
The nail boxes are constructed and operated as follows:-
:-
The front portion e. e¹ of the boxes (see Figs. 1 and 2.) is stationary and is
carried by the brackets e² e³ from the head C. of the machine. The chutes e* e³ are
inclined to the horizontal and to each other and are also stationary. They are

page_text: provided with slots e" e' down which the nails slide. The portions ee of the boxes
revolve being driven by bands elo ell and pulleys ele¹³ from a gear el on the main
shaft D. and scoops are provided around' the interior of the boxes to lift the nails
and drop them upon the chutes. The nail boxes e. el are made open at the front
for the purpose of easily inspecting and cleaning the chutes should such require to
be done. The openings els may be provided with glass or other doors which are
easily removable.
For the purpose of separating the bottom nail in the chute from those
immediately behind it and delivering it to the driver and also to prevent both
chutes delivering nails to the driver at the same time the following arrangement
may be made use of :-
The cam e (see Figs. 16 and 17) is mounted on the shaft D and operates a bell
crank mounted on a pivot e" in the frame C. From the bell crank el a link €20
is connected to a double ended lever el mounted on a shaft carried in
bearings 23 24 in the frame C. At the front end of the shaft 2 is a lever es
engaging a slide which works in a groove in the chutes et e. A notch es is
formed in the slide which is reciprocated by the operation of the cam el between
the throat c. and the slot e'. If the link and pin be transferred to the
arm the notch e28 will reciprocate between the throat c. and the other slot e*.
The notch 28 transfers the bottom nail from the chute to the throat c.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew the "jack." f is the adjustable toe rest and f' the last
locked by the handle, mounted on a pin f' in the frame f*, operating a pair of
toggles *f*.
The last pin which carries the last is mounted in a tipping piece f³ which
is carried on a pin f. The upper toggle is connected to this tipping piece with
a spring 10 intervening. When the toggle is straightened the spring 10 tips the
piece so as to press down the toe of the last f¹ upon the toe rest f. and the toggle
coming against the stop pin " is locked. The toe rest f. is adjustable in height
and set by means of a thumb screw f¹ and in the direction of the length of the last
it is set by means of a screw f¹³.
29
"
The "jack" is carried upon a weighted treadle f¼ (see Figs. 1 and 2) on a
post provided with a universal joint 16. The socket f" receives the stem 18
of the fork f the two sides f 20 fl of which pass up one on each side of the boot
and have at their upper ends pivots upon which the "jack" frame * swings
being suspended therefrom by rods f" ". The pivots "" are situated a little
below the level of the boot sole and towards the middle of its length. The "jack"
frame is adjustable lengthwise of the boot so that its position and that of the
boot relatively to the pivots f3f28 can be varied. The curved rack f" and
pawl fare provided for preventing the toe from dropping and the pawl f27 is
released by thumb pieces f28f" The handles of are for the purpose of
manipulating the "jack" and the socket " is pivotted and provided with a slot 2
and set screw f" to enable the "jack" to be cramped upon the post f" at any
desired inclination.
25
1
"
The "jack" may also be constructed as shewn in Figs. 13 and 14 being mounted
in a curved slide bed g. so that it may be tipped endwise and provided with a
locking catch g' which enters a notch 9 in the curved slide 9. The catch g' is
released by a handle 93 mounted on a shaft g together with a lever go in the "jack"
frame go and having a long pin g' engaging the catch g¹. This arrangement allows
of the "jack" frame 9 being moved horizontally relatively to the centre g* from
which the curve 9" of the slide bed g. is struck which is permitted by providing
second slide 9 in which the "jack "frame 9" may be moved and cramped fast where
desired by the set screw 910.
If the "jack" is carried within a bowl the arrangement may be as shewn in
Fig. 15 in which h. represents a boot upon a last . The toe is supported upon
an adjustable toe rest h³ carried by the frame. The last pin his carried in the
tipping piece 4 which is mounted on the pin * in the frame h' and has an arm 17

page_text: jointed to a rod 8 which is free to slide in the frame and is provided with a
spring and adjusting nut 10. The spring 4° acts to hold down the toe of the boot
in the rest h³.
The lower portion of the frame ³ is part of a sphere and rests upon a ring of
balls in a bowl 2 so that it is free to be tipped about in any direction.
For the purpose of supporting this "jack so that it can easily be manipulated
and also for automatically locking the frame within the bowl when a nail is
being driven the following arrangement is made use of :-
The treadle is carried upon a pivot h¹ in the base B. and has a balance
weight to support the weight of the "jack." It has also a cup which
receives the hollow ball h of the stem 418 which supports the bowl ". The
chain prevents the "jack" falling when released by the operator. The "jack."
is raised and lowered by the treadle " and the ball h" allows the "jack
moved in any direction.
"
to be
To lock the "jack" the saucer 4,30 is provided on the rod h" which terminates in
a ball jointed to a bell crank / carried on a pivot s in the treadle h¹³. The
balls and have one common centre.
A cam on the main shaft D. operates at suitable times a bell crank which
is mounted on a pivot " in the head C. and is connected by a rod 28 to another
bell crank h" mounted on a pivot 0 in the base B.
The lower arm "of the bell crank is connected by a link with the bell
crank. The joint of the bell crank 2 is on the same centre line as the
pivot which carries the treadle ¹ thus movements of the treadle ¹³ up and down
or of the stem 18 from side to side do not interfere with the locking motion of the
"jack." If however the cam 25 pulls upon the rod 28, link and rod 21 the
saucer is pulled down and made to grip the frame h³ so as to lock the same fast..
The can operates just previously to the driving of the nail.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim is :-
1. In a loose nailing machine having stationary nail chutes and in which the
nail driver has only a vertical movement carrying the awl in a vertical slide which
is again carried in a horizontal slide to which slides piercing and feeding movements
are given by cams substantially as described.
2. The adjustable stop cam for regulating the amount of the feed given to the
work, substantially as described.
3. The indicating dial and catch substantially as described.
4. The nail boxes made open at the front substantially as described.
5. Giving to the throat a horizontal movement away from underneath the driver
to allow room for the awl to act substantially as described.
6. Giving to the throat a horizontal movement away from underneath the driver
by means of the awl pressing against it substantially as described.
7. Giving to the throat a horizontal movement away from underneath the driver
by means of a cam and lever movement substantially as described.
8. The combination of the fixed chutes and the vertically moving driver with the
throat and awl operating beneath them substantially as described.
9. The " "jack "for supporting the boot provided with the last locking spring
toggle and handle for securing the boot substantially as described.
"
10. Carrying the boot in a "jack or frame upon pivots near the level of the
boot sole and near the middle of the boot length substantially as described.
11. The "jack" adjustable lengthwise in the fork relatively to the supporting
pivots with the rack and pawl for supporting the toe and with a socket which can
be set at any desired angle substantially as described.
12. The "jack" mounted in a curved slide and furnished with a locking catch
and adjustable lengthwise relatively to its point of support substantially as
described.

page_text: 13. The "jack" mounted within a bowl so that it may be tipped in any direction
substantially as described.
14. The automatic locking arrangement for holding the "jack" stationary while
the nail is being driven substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of June 1895