Improvements in Work-supporting Apparatus for Boot and Shoe Nailing Machinery.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Work-supporting Apparatus for Boot and Shoe
Nailing Machinery..
A communication from abroad by JAMES WILLSON BROOKS, of Petersham, County of
Worcester, State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America,
Gentleman.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 has for its object the production of a novel work-support adapted
to be mounted on the usual horn spindle by boot and shoe nailing machines, whereby
during the nailing operation the work will always be sustained at the nailing point
and maintained in its proper position relative to the work gauge without necessitat-
ing tipping of the boot or shoe at times while guided by the operator as it is sustained
on the work support.
Such objects are accomplished by pivottally mounting the work-support on the
horn-spindle so that it may be swung or rocked in an upright plane, a suitable spring
acting upon the work-support in such manner as tends to maintain the work pressed
yieldingly towards the usual work gauge with which nailing machines are provided,
whereby the operator is greatly assisted in providing a firm support for the work
directly in line with the path of movement of the nail driving device.
The work-support, when swung fully in or out, is maintained in either position by
a suitable retaining device until positively removed therefrom by the operator ;
when the work support is swung out the work can be more conveniently placed upon
or removed therefrom.
Fig. 1, in side elevation, represents a work support embodying my invention, in
operative position and mounted on the usual horn spindle common in boot and shoe
nailing inachines.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; and
Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section of the work support in inoperative position.
The horn spindle A, of usual construction, has clamped thereon a split hub a held
in place by a suitable bolt a', said hub having oppositely extended lateral bosses a²
threaded to receive bearing studs a³.
These studs are extended through holes in the forked or bifurcated lower end b'
of the work support b, shown as an upturned arm or bar provided at its upper end
with a tipping, preferably roughened plate 62 upon which the work rests.
As shown in Fig. 3, and in dotted lines Fig. 1, the work-support b is longitudinally
recessed in its lower end at 63 to receive a locking plunger c, cut away at its extended

page_text: end to leave a transverse shoulder c¹, a spring 8 in the bottom of the recess b³ tending
to project the plunger.
The hub a is provided with a foot at, extended therefrom at right angles to the
bosses a² and between the legs 61 of the work-support, said foot having a hole to
receive a stud d having a head provided with a transverse shoulder d¹ to co-operate
with the locking plunger c¹, the lower portion of the head being outermost to permit
swinging of the work support outwardly as shown in Fig. 3.
When the work support is in operative position, Fig. 1, with the upper end thereof
in vertical alignment with the horn spindle A, the said work-support b being bent in
the direction of its length for that purpose, the end of the plunger c bears upon the
head of the stud d with a substantially vertical pressure, while permitting the support
to yield slightly during the nailing operation.
The line of pressure is at one side of the vertical axis of the horn spindle, and the
pressure exerted by the spring s is sufficient to retain the work support yieldingly in
operative position until positively moved therefrom.
This movement is effected by the operator, who draws the work support 6 towards
him till the tip of the plunger rests on the cut-away portion of the head of the stud d,
the shoulders c, d, engaging each other and retaining the work support in the posi-
tion shown in Fig. 3, the spring maintaining such cooperative action of the shoulders
and also serving to prevent further outward movement of the work-support, so that
the operator can conveniently remove a boot or shoe from or place it upon the work
support.
This invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein
shown, as the same may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of
my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The use in an apparatus of the class described, of a spindle, an upturned work
support pivot tally mounted thereon to swing in a vertical plane, and a retaining
device at the lower end of and to automatically hold the work support in operative
or inoperative position until released by positive movement of said work
support.
2. The use in an apparatus of the class described, of a spindle, a work support
mounted thereon to rock in a vertical plane, and a yielding connection between said
spindle and work support, whereby the latter may give laterally relatively to the
spindle when subjected to positive force, to thereby provide at all times a support for
the work, the plane of movement of said support being in line with the path of
movement of the device for inserting the fastenings into the work, substantially as
described.
3. The use in an apparatus of the class described, of a spindle, a work support
pivottally mounted thereon to swing in a vertical plane, a spring controlled plunger
carried by and longitudinally movable in the lower end of said support, and a
stationary, co-operating member, engagement therewith by the plunger maintaining
the work support in operative or inoperative position, until released by positive
movement of the work support to overcome the force of the spring, substantially as
described.
4. The use in a spindle, of a hub thereon having laterally extended bearings, a
work support mounted to be rocked on said bearings, a shouldered abutment on the
hub, and a co-operating spring controlled plunger carried by the work support and
having its outer end shouldered, to retain the work support in operative or inopera-
tive position, substantially as described.
5. The use in an apparatus of the class described, of a spindle, a work-support
bent in the direction of its length and pivottally mounted thereon, a fixed shouldered
abutment extended laterally from the spindle, and a yielding plunger carried by the
work support, having a shouldered end to co-operate with the shoulder of said abut-

page_text: ment when the work support is in inoperative position, and to bear with substantially
vertical yielding pressure upon the abutment at one side of the spindle when the
work support is in operative position, substantially as described.
Dated the 20th dex of June 1898
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.