Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Dat: of Application, 19th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for Lasting
Boots and Shoes.
I, JOHN BLAKEY, of 42 Lady Lane Leeds, in the County of York, Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to that class of machinery or apparatus for lasting boots
and shoes in which a table mounted on suitable framework, supports a pillar or stand
which receives a removeable or changeable toe piece. In the table is cut or formed a
slot hole or slide in which an adjustable last supporting pin is made to work. Above
the table and on each side of the slot hole is arranged a horizontal bar capable of being
raised or lowered by a hand wheel which actuates suitable shafts and gearing. On
each horizontal bar is mounted, so as to slide freely, a bearing in which a screw (armed
with a hand wheel) works at a right angle to the horizontal bar for forcing a loose
spring and screw or other gripping clip (fixed to the "upper" by the operator) over
the last. On the top of the table are also mounted two pillars carrying a cross head
through which a vertical screw (armed with a hand wheel) passes, for pressing the last
down into the upper.
Now the object of this invention is to provide simple and ready means for gathering
in the toe (and heel if required) of the boot or shoe and it consists in hinging and
pivoting to the pillar or stand which receives the removeable or changeable toe piece
an arm capable of being raised or lowered at its free end by a screw (armed with a
hand wheel) or its equivalent. In the arm is cut or formed a slot hole or slide in which
are mounted preferably (though not necessarily so) two blocks, each of which may be
adjusted by means of a screw and hand wheel. On one of the said blocks is hinged
or pivoted a pair of jaws shaped at their fore ends to suit the contour of the boot or
shoe toe (or heel), while their rear ends are made to engage with a screw (provided
with a right and left hand thread and armed with a hand wheel or lever) carried or
supported by a projection on the top of the second block. When the blocks are
traversed forwards by the screw the jaws are carried forward over the toe (or heel) of
the last, and simultaneously or afterwards are closed over from the sides of the toe by
turning the screw provided with the right and left hand threads thereby gathering in
the toe or heel. To enable the upper to be properly drawn up to the last before
gathering in the toe (or heel) a spring and screw or other gripper may be secured to
the upper. To the gripper is attached a ring which may be passed over a hook fixed
to the block carrying the jaws, and by traversing the block away from the last by its
screw the upper is drawn tightly up to the last.
It will readily be understood that by providing a second pillar at the heel of the
ast a duplicate set of jaws and parts connected therewith may be provided for
gathering in the heel.
Dated this Eighteenth day of October 1980
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for Lasting
Boots and Shoes.
I, JOHN BLAKEY, of 42 Lady Lane, Leeds, in the County of York, Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :—
This invention relates to improvements in lasting machines such as are described in

page_text: Fig. 1. is a part sectional elevation on line za fig. 2.
Fig. 2. a plan looking at the top.
Fig. 3. a side elevation drawn to a reduced scalc.
Fig. 4 an elevation of a detail.
Figs. 5 to 7 part transverse sections and a plan of details of the improvements.
A is the standard or framework, B the table in which is cut or formed a slot b.
C the pillar which receives a changeable toe piece c. D the last pin on which is placed
the last D (over which the "upper" is drawn as described in the aforesaid Specifi-
cation) as shown. The last pin is adjustably mounted in a boss d formed on the
bracket D which is traversed backwards and forwards in the slot 6 by the screw E
(operated by hand wheel e) passing through a projecting nut d¹ formed on or attached
to the bracket D' and carried in the bearings a¹, 6, respectively formed in and attached
to the standard A and table B, F F are square horizontal bars carried in a pair of
upright supports and f', f and f³ on each side of the last and slot hole 6. The
supports pass through the table, and are mounted in the saltire or cross f*, which to
accommodate the various heights and sizes of boots and shoes is raised by the vertical
screw G (mounted in a nut formed for its reception in the bearer g) operated by bevil
or mitre gearing H, shaft Hand hand wheel H2. On the square shafts F¹, I¹, are
respectively mounted the sliding bosses or brackets I, I' in which work the screws 1º, [³
provided with the hand wheels I, 1. These screws 12 and 1ª are employed for pushing
the edges of the upper (to which the moveable dogs J are secured by screws 1) over
the last D in opposite directions and holding them until the operator has secured the
same by tacks or nails. K, K' are two vertical supports fixed to the table B. To the
support K is jointed the bridge or crosspiece K² so that the latter may be moved over
the last, or out of the way as required. Support K' is provided with a notch or recess
for receiving the free end of the bridge.
2
In the bridge K² is mounted the screw K³ provided with a hand wheel K*) which is
employed for pressing the last down into the toe cup c.
All the above parts may be of the same or a similar description and operate in the
same manner as that described in the aforesaid Specification.
The mechanism for gathering in the toe and heel is arranged as follows
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M, M are brackets or arms slotted at m, m' and jointed respectively to a collar L
(mounted on the reduced end of pillar (, which forms an axial bearing) and to a
projection or lug D² cast or formed on, or attached to the bracket D¹ as shown. In
order to adjust the arms M, M' to the angle or slope of the sole of the last they are
arranged so as to be capable of being raised or lowered respectively by the screws m² m³
provided with the hand wheels mm. The screw m² is mounted horizontally in the
pendant lug mx (which acts as a nut,) and its free end is made to bear against the
pillar C, whilst the screw m³ is mounted angularly in the lug me and its lower and
free end is made to bear upon the base of the bracket D¹. When the screw m² is
traversed inwards for bringing the hand wheel m¹ nearer to the lug mx the arm M
will be raised, and when traversed outwards the arm is lowered. But when the screw m³
is similarly operated an opposite effect is imparted to arm M', that is to say, when
screw m³ is turned for bringing the hand wheel m nearer to the lug m³ the arm M³ is
lowered, and when turned in an opposite direction the arm is raised.
As the other parts of the mechanism at both the heel and the toe may be duplicates
of each other (except that the jaws N are respectively shaped to suit the contours of
the toe and heel of the last) I have lettered each corresponding part with the same
letters.
On the top of each of the bereinbefore mentioned arms M and M' is mounted the
blocks O and P provided respectively with a projection, marked in the drawings
and p which is made to fit and slide freely in the slot m or m¹. The blocks are
moved backwards and forwards on the arm by screw Q and hand wheel Q. The

page_text: projection p only acts as a nut for the screw; the hole in projection O' being slightly
larger than the diameter of the screw to permit of it sliding freely. The screw Qis
carried in bearings m7 ms formed for its reception in each arm to which is also bolted
a plate m³ for retaining the screw in position. To the underside of the projections O¹
and p are bolted the plates 02 and 0 for retaining the blocks in their sliding position.
On the top of the block P is pivoted a pair of jaws N, scarfed together in a similar
manner to a pair of blacksmith's tongs and shaped at their fore ends respectively to
suit the contour of the toe and heel of the boot and shoe, whilst their rear ends are
slightly slotted to receive the ends of the pins R' R¹ formed on or attached to the
nuts R2 R3 mounted on the screw shaft R. The screw shaft R is carried in the
bearing O and retained therein by a set screw R the end of which works in a groove
in the shaft. On the shaft R is cut a right and a left hand screw thread for operating
the jaws. The screw shaft is armed either with a hand wheel S, or double ended
lever S as shown by which it may be rotated. The jaws N are perforated at n to
permit of the nails being driven into the "upper" and insole when the former is
closed over the last. By connecting the rear ends of the jaws N to the screw shaft R
and block O, any movement that is imparted to the block P by the screw is at once
communicated to block O, so that the two blocks are retained at the same distance from
each other in whatever position they may be moved to on the arms.
When the blocks are traversed forwards by the screw Q the jaws N are carried
forward over the toe or heel of the last, and either simultaneously with this forward
movement, or after it has taken place the screw shaft R is rotated for closing the
foreparts of the jaws N over the last, thus gathering in the "upper" at the toe or
heel as may be desired.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The upper having been placed on a last with an inner sole nailed thereon, the
last is placed in position on pin D with its toe resting on cup c. The dogs J are then
secured to the side edges of the "upper" and a small portion at a time forced over the
last by turning screw 12 or 13, thus holding that portion of the "upper" firmly upon
the last until the attendant secures the same by nails. After each of the sides of the
upper" has been closed over the last the heel or toe, or vice-versa, is then lasted by
first traversing the jaws N inwards by screw Q and then closing their foreparts over
the last by turning the screw shaft R³.
To enable the upper in some cases to be properly drawn up to the last before
gathering in the toe or heel a spring and screw or other gripper may be secured to the
upper. To the gripper is attached a ring which may be passed over a hook or jaw
pivot pin fixed to the block P carrying the jaw and by traversing the block away from
the last by its screw the upper is drawn tightly up to the last and either simul-
taneously with this for ward movement, or after it has taken place the screw shaft R*
is rotated for closing the foreparts of the jaws N over the last, thus gathering in the
upper at the toe or heel as may be desired.
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 1
claim is :-
1st. The improved mechanism for gathering in the toe and heel of an upper in the
lasting of boots and shoes, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. The combination with a lasting machine such as herein described of the
improved adjustable mechanism for gathering in the toe and heel of a boot or
shoe upper substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3rd. In a machine for lasting boots and shoes substantially such as herein described,
the combination of the adjustable arms M or M', the sliding blocks O and P, the
jaws N and the means as described for operating and adjusting the said parts for
gathering in the toe or heel, with the pillar C, adjustable block D', table B, and parts

page_text: for closing the sides of the upper over the last D* substantially as herein described
and illustrated at Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. The improved lasting machine as a whole combined and arranged as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighth day of July 1890.
JOHN BLAKEY.
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.