Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
1, ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER of 200 Kettering Road, Northampton, in
the County of Northampton, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines for lasting boots and shoes, in which wiper
plates are employed for forcing the upper at the heel and toe portions of the last
over onto the inner sole placed on the sole of the last, the upper leather at the
sides or waist of the last being stretched or wiped over and onto the inner sole at
these parts by nipper wipers. The object of my invention is to provide a machine
of this description simple in construction and capable of lasting boots of any shape
and whether "rights or "lefts" the parts being capable of automatically
adjusting themselves by the placing of the last in the machine or of being
mechanically adjusted so as to effectually last the upper with the proper draught..
According to one part of this invention the heads or clamps or parts of the beads
or clamps between which the last with the upper thereon is held while the upper
is being lasted are provided with springs so as to render them capable of yielding
in a longitudinal direction or in both a longitudinal and in a vertical direction aud
thereby prevent the upper from being abraded when the last with the upper thereon
is being placed in, and removed from, the machine. In addition to this yielding
of the heads or clamps the springs may also be utilized for adjusting the height of
the heads, means being also provided for adjusting them in position longitudinally
to suit lasts of different sizes and also for their universal angular adjustment to
suit lasts of different shapes. The wiper plates for forcing the upper leather over
the toe end of the last and also those for forcing the upper over the heel end of the
last are arranged to turn as a binge on an axis or imaginary axis at the extreme
toe or heel end of the last, as the case may be. I will describe this part of my
invention with reference to the toe clamp or head it being understood that the
improvements described are applicable also to the heel clamp or head. The wiper
plates as before stated are arranged to turn as a hinge on an axis or imaginary
axis at the extreme toe end of the last the said wiper plates meeting at a point in
a right line passing through the centre of the toe and heel ends of the last, means
being provided whereby the said wiper plates on each side of the toe of the last
can be caused to turn both together on this point or axis or imaginary axis to the
right or to the left to conform to the shape of the toe of the last whether it be a
right or a "left."
"
The wiper plates proper are screwed or otherwise fixed to carrier plates and
each carrier plate is connected by a link to a plate pivotted at the rear of the
carrier plates and provided with projections which bear against the rear edges of
the said carrier plates. The plate to which the carrier plates are connected is
pivotted to another plate fitted to slide longitudinally in the head or clamp and
also to a longitudinal sliding bar to which the operating lever is connected. Pivotted
to the body of the head or clamp are two bell crank levers one arm of each of
which is connected to the sliding bar to which the operating lever is attached and
the other arm of each bell crank bears against the rear edge of a plate fitted to
slide longitudinally in the head or clamp, and beneath the plate to which the rear
plate is pivotted. By this arrangement of levers and plates when the operating

page_text: lever is moved in one direction the bell crank levers are turned on their pivots so
that the arms thereof which bear on the longitudinally sliding plate beneath the
plate to which the rear pivotted plate is connected, is forced forward and at the
same time the rear pivotted plate which is connected by the sliding har to
the operating lever is also forced forward and by the projections on the said rear
pivotted plate acting on the carrier plates the wiper plates are caused to turn as a
hinge on their axis or imaginary axis, so that their operating edges move towards
each other at the same time that they move forward bodily. When the operating
lever is moved in the opposite direction the parts, are returned to their normal
position. So far as has been described each wiper plate moves to an equal distance
on opposite sides of a line passing through the centre or longitudinal axis of the
elamps or heads but in order to render the machine applicable for lasting bouts
both "rights" and "lefts" it is necessary to provide means whereby the wiper
plates or the mechanism for operating them can be so adjusted either automatically
by the act of placing the last in position in the machine, or by mechanical means
so that the wiper plates will both turn in the same direction on their axis or
imaginary axis and bring their acting edges into such position as to be at equal
distances on the opposite sides of a line at an angle to the axis or line passing
longitudinally through the centre of the heads or clamps, so as to conform to the
angle of the toe end of the last. For this purpose the pivotted rear plate to which
the carrier plates are connected as hereinbefore described can be turned on its pivot
so as to move the wiper plates on their axis or imaginary axis to any desired angle
the said rear plate being curved at its opposite ends to admit of this adjustment.
The said curved ends are segments of a circle struck from the pivot on which the
plate turns, and these curved ends bear against projecting sides on the plate
which slides longitudinally beneath the plate to which the said rear plate is
pivotted.
In this rear plate there is provided a curved slot through which passes from the
plate beneath a screw or bolt onto which screws a nut by which the rear plate can
be locked in its adjusted position or any other convenient means may be employed
for the purpose.
1 arrange springs so that the head is allowed a very slight side to side rocking
play, and also a slight horizontal play, so that any uneveness in thickness of
leather, or inaccurate adjustment of the last does not give rise to injury to the
leather of the upper.
The heal may be supported on a ball and socket articulation. The support.
being capable of vertical and horizontal adjustment also. This gives all the
degress of freedom necessary. Between the ball and socket and the supporting
rod may be a short stiff spring which will afford the necessary "give" to prevent
injury to the leather. The spring should be as nearly as possible under the toe,
and should be more easily bent sideways than extended. The great force on the
under side of the wipers then does not affect the spring.
Instead of adjusting the angle of the wiper plates mechanically to suit the shape
of the last the pivotted rear plate may be left unlocked so that when placing a last
in position in the machine the said fast will by acting on the wiper plates, or un
abutment pieces carried thereby, or by the carrier plates cause the said wiper plates
to be automatically adjusted to the required angle.
The mechanism for forcing the upper over the sole of the last at the sides and
waist of the last consists of nipper wipers which are capable of being adjusted to
any required distance apart and also of being arranged at any desirel angle so that
they may be made to grasp the upper leather at parts to ensure the pull or draught
on the upper being in the proper direction.
The nipper wipers proper are each capable of turning axially in a holler fitted.
to slide towards and from the last in suitable guides in a lock which may be
capable of turning on a vertical axis and this block may be made in parts hinged
together in such a manner that the nipper wipers are rendered capable of being
turned in any direction and made to incline to any desired angle. The nipper

page_text: wiper holders may be retained in their normal position by means of springs or their
equivalents and be separated one from another by means of cams or wedges operated
by a lever or levers. The position of these nipper wiper holders may be auto-
matically adjusted to suit lasts of different lengths by the movement of the heads or
clamps or one of the heads or clamps, which hold the last. A convenient way to
effect this is to provide the heads or clamps or one of them with means for actuating
cams or wedges by the act of clamping the last in position, so as to separate the
said holder to the extent required to suit the length of the last being placed in
between the heads or clamps. Instead of or in combination with, means for
admitting of the inclination of the nipper wiper holders the toe and heel heads or
clamps may be arranged to move both together in the same longitudinal direction
while the upper leather is being held by the nipper wipers and thereby stretch the
upper in the direction to give to it the proper draught; or instead of both heads
being moved together in one and the same direction one head only may be moved
in the direction required, the yielding portion only of the other head following the
movement thereof nuder the action of its spring.
The
The sets of nipper wipers on the two sides of the last are each connected to a
system of equalizing levers, so that the whole of the slides carrying a set of nipper
wipers are advanced simultaneously and yet each slide of the set can act
independently, each advancing any distance required by the shape of the portion
of the last on which it is to operate. The equalizing levers on each side of the last
are connected to the upper end of a vertical lever pivotted at about its centre to the
frame of the machine the lower end of the said lever being jointed to a rod or bar
fitted to slide horizontally in a bearing on the frame of the machine.
horizontal rods or bars of the two sets of nipper wipers being in line oue with the
other. Between the contiguous ends of these sliding rods or bars a cam or a wedge
may be caused to act so as to press them apart and so rock the vertical levers on
their fulcrums and force through the equalizing levers before referred to the nipper
wipers on opposite sides of the last over the sole and towards the centre of the last.
The cam or wedge as the case may he is capable of sliding in a longitudinal
direction on its rod or support which will admit of one set of nipper wipers on one
side of the last moving onwards after the set of nipper wipers on the opposite side
of the last comes to rest or cannot advance further. When a cam is employed for
operating the horizontal rods or bars it may be mounted so as to slide longitudinally
on, but to rotate with a shalt carried in bearings in the frame of the machine and
driven by band wheel or otherwise. If a wedge be employed for the purpose, it
may be carried on a frame to which a rising and falling motion may be imparted
by means of a treadle or by any other suitable means, the wedge being fitted to slide
in this frame in the direction required to admit of one set of nipper wipers continuing
to move after the other set has come to rest.
.. 17 Love of Lona 1206
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
I, ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER of 200 Kettering Road Northampton in the
County of Northampton Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to machines for lasting boots and shoes in which wiper

page_text: plates are employed for forcing the upper at the heel and toe portions of the last
over the inner sole placed on the sole of the last, and the upper leather at the side<
or waist of the last is stretched or wiped over and onto the inner sole at these parts
by nipper wipers.
The object of my invention is to provide a machine of this description simple in
construction and capable of lasting boots of any shape and whether "rights" or
"lefts" the parts being capable of automatically adjusting themselves by the placing
of the last in the machine or of being mechanically adjusted so as to effectually
last the upper with the proper draught and without danger of abrading the upper
when placing the last in and removing it from the machine.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings of
which
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a plan and Figure 3 an end elevation of
a machine constructed according to my invention.
Figure 4 is a plan of the toe head or clamp with the top plate removed the parts
being in their normal position for acting on "straights" Figure 5 is a longitu linal
vertical section of the same and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 shewing the
parts in the positions they occupy when acting on "lefts."
Figure 7 represents in elevation an arrangement of ball and socket or articulated
support for the claims or heads to admit of the said clamps or heads inclining or
being inclined in any required direction.
Figures 8 and 9 represent-in elevation and plan respectively-an arrangement
for adjusting the distance apart of the side nipper wipers by the movement of the
heads or clamps or one of the heads or clamps when clamping the last in the
machine.
Figures 10 and 11 are elevations at right angles to each other of a modified
arrangement of the blocks which carry the side nipper wipers and
Figure 12 shews an arrangement for forcing the side nipper wipers over towards
the centre of the last by means of wedges.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, A A represent respectively the toe nul heel
clamps or heads between which the last with the upper thereon is held while the
upper is being lasted. As the heel clamp or head is mainly similar in construction
as the toe clamp or head a description of the latter will be sufficient to describe the
former the parts which correspond in both beads or clamps being indicated by the
same references whilst the parts which differ in the two clamps will be indicated by
special references. The clamp A is hinged at 1 to a block 2 supported on springs 3
so as to be capable of yielding or moving vertically in guides 4 on a plate 5 which
is capable of sliding horizontally in guides 6 on a table or support 7. The table or
support 7 has projecting from its utlerside a hollow stem or shank 8 arranged to
slide vertically in a cylinder 9 formed in one with or attached to the main table 10
of the machine. Fitted to turn without moving longitudinally in a boss on the
bottom of the cylinder is a screw 11 engaging in an internally screwed boss 12 on
the bottom of the stem or shank 8 so that by turning the screw 11 by means of a
handle or hand wheel 13 the table or support 7 and the parts carried thereby can
be raised or lowered as required. The stem or shank 8 is prevented from turning
in the cylinder 9 by a key or spline 14 entering a groove or key way in the
shank 8. The clamps A and A are adjustable longitudinally on the tables or
supports by screws 15 carried in lugs or bosses 16 on the tables 7 so as to turn
therein without moving longitudinally. Each screw 15 works in a nut 17 fixed to
the plate 5 which carries the head or clamp so that by turning the screw 15 by
means of a handle or hand wheel 17* the head or clamp can be moved inwards or
outwards as required accunling to the length of the last. On the screw 15 is a
collar 18 between which and the lug or boss 16 in which the screw turns is a
spring 19 which admits of the head yielding in a longitudinal direction by the
pressure of the last when being clamped in position or on being removed from the
machine and so prevent the upper from being abraded. The head or clamp can
be caused to incline to any desired angle in a longitudinal direction to suit the dip

page_text: of the last by means of screws 20 working in screw threads at the rear end of the
head the ends of the screws bearing on spring buffers 21 which are free to move on
the plate 5 as the angle of the head is being adjusted. The heel clamp or head
instead of being hinged to a vertically sliding block as described with reference to
the toe clamp or head A is shewn as being hinged at 22 to a plate 23 which is
binged at 24 to lugs on the plate 5 so that in addition to its capability of being
inclined in a longitudinal direction on the hinge 24 it is also capable of inclining
in a lateral direction on the hinge 22 to suit the lateral inclination of the heel f
the Inst. The inner end of the heel head or clamp bears on springs 3 carried by
lugs 25 on the plate 5. The screws 20 for adjusting the inclination of the heel
head or clamp in a longitudinal direction work in screwed lugs 26 on the rear end
of the plate 23.
Instead of hinging the heads or clamps to their supports as herein before described
each head or clamp may be connected to the plate or support 5 by a ball and
socket or articulated joint 27 as shewn in Figure 7. The stein 29 carrying one part
of the articulated joint 27 passes through an opening in the plate 5 a spring 31
being interposed between the plate 5 and the joint 27 tending to force the head
upwards. The stem 29 is screw threaded to receive a nut 30 by means of which
the height to which the head is permitted to rise may be regulated as required.
The spring 29 normally maintains the head at the height to which it is adjusted
but admits of the head yielding and inclining to any required angle to suit the
shape of the last.
The wiper plates 32 for forcing the upper over the toe and heel ends of the last
as shewn in Figures 4, 5 and 6 are carried in the heads or clamps A and A² and
the wiper plates in each head are arranged to turn as a hinge on an axis or
imaginary pivot 32* the said axis or imaginary pivot being a point where the
forward ends of the pair of wiper plates meet in a straight line passing through
the centre of the toe and heel ends of the last when placed in position in the
machine. The wiper plates 32 of each pair are capable of turning individually in
opposite directions on the axis or imaginary pivot 32 and also of moving both
together in the same direction either to the right or left to conform to the shape
of the last whether it be a "right" or a "left." The wiper plates 32 are shewn
screwed to carrier plates 33 but they may if desired be formed in one piece of the
required shape. Each carrier plate 53 is connected by a link 34 and springs 35 to
plate 36 having lugs or projections 37 which are caused by the springs 33 to
press against the rear edges of the carrier plates 33. The plate 36 is pivotted
at 37 to a plate 38 fitted to slide longitudinally in the body of the clamp or head
between guides 39 on a plate 40 which is also capable of sliding longitudinally
in the said clamp or head. To the pivot 37 is connected a bar slidable
longitudinally in a groove ur gunde 42 in the head or clamp and to this bar is
connected at 43 the lever 44 by means of which the wiper plates are operated.
Pivotted at 45 to the body of the clamp or head are two bell cranks 46 one arm
of each of which is connected at 47 by slot and pin connections to the bar 41 whilst
the other arm of each of the said bell cranks bears against the rear edge of the
plate 40 so that by moving the lover 44 on its fulerum 44 from its normal position
shewn in Figure 4 in the direction iudicated by an arrow in the said figure the
bell cranks will be turned on their pivots 45 so as to force the plate 40 forward.
At the same time that this forward movement of the plate 40 is taking place the
plate 38, by being connected to the bar 41 and the bar 41 being connected to the
lever 44, is caused to slide longitudinally on the plate 40 and carry forward with it
the plate 36 thereby causing the projections 37 on the said plate 36 to press on the
carrier plates 33 as to cause the wiper plates to turn on their axis or imaginary
pivot and bring their acting edges closer together. The outer edges of the carrier
plates 33 are ares of a circle struck from the point or imaginary pivot 32° on
which the wiper plates turn and the said edges bear against corresponding concave
surfaces 40 formed in the guides 39 projecting from the plate 40. When lasting
"straights" the plate 36 is fixed in or assumes the position (relatively to the

page_text: plute 38) shewn in Figure 4, but when lasting "lefts" or "rights" the plate is
turned on the pivot 37 either to the right or left as the case may be. In Figure 6
the plate 36 is shewn as being turned to the position for lasting letts" both wiper
plates having been turned together in the same direction on their axis or imaginary
pivot 32 so as to operate equally on both sides of the toe of the last. The ends
of the plate 36 are curved to admit of the plate turning on the pivot 37 and is
provided with a carved lot 47 through which a screwed stad 48 on the plate 38
passes, so that by screwing a nut on to the stud 48, the plate 36 may be securely
held in any desired position, or the plate may be left free to turn on the
pivot 37 so as to be automatically adjusted in position by the pressure of
the last on the wiper plates when placing the last in the machine. The
plate 40 is connected by links 46* to the bell cranks 46 which links serve to draw
the plate back to its normal position when the movement of the lever 44 is reversed.
The nipper wipers for pulling the upper over onto the sole of the last at and near
the waist may be arranged in sets of any desired number on each side of the last.
I have shewn a set of three on each side. Each nipper wiper 49 is carried, so as
to pivot, on a bar 50 slidable towards and from the longitudinal centre line of the
last in a block 51 pivotted on a horizontal axis 52 to a block 53 so as to permit of
the nipper wipers being raised and lowered. The two side blocks 53 of each set
of three are adjustable nearer to or further from the centre block by a rod or
spindle 54 having right and left handed screw threads fitting corresponding nuts
carried by the two outer blocks 53 so that by turning the spindle 54 in one
direction or the other the two outer blocks may be accordingly drawn nearer to
or separated further from the central block to suit the length of the last placed in
the machine. The blocks 51 of each set of nipper wipers are conuected at their
forward ends by rods 55 to a system of equalising levers 56 carried by a plate 57
fitted to slide vertically up and down in guides 58 in the frame or standard 59 of
the machine. The two plates 57 on opposite sides of the machine are connected
together by a rud 60, to which is attached by a rod 61 a treadle 62. By depressing
the treadle 62 the plates 57 are forced upwards in their guides 38 and through the
levers 56 and connecting rods 55 the forward ends of the blocks 51 are elevated
together with the nipper wipers 49. The bars 50 of each set of nipper wipers are
connected by a rod 63* to a system of equalising levers 63 carried on the upper
end of a lever 64, centred at 65 to the frame of the machine, the lower end of the
said lever 64 being connected at 66 by a pin and slot connection to a rod or bar 67
fitted to slide horizontally in guides 68 in the frame of the machine. The two rods
or bars 67 are arranged in line one with the other and each carries at its inner end
a roller 69 on which a cam 70 acts to separate the rods. The cam 70 is mounted
on a shaft 71 carried in bearings 71 in the frame of the machine and is provided
with a hand wheel 72 by which to rotate the shaft and cam. The cam is situated
between the inner ends of the two rods or bars 67 so that when the cam is rotated
it operates on both rods 67 at the same time to separate or move them further
apart and so through the levers 64 and the two sets or systems of equalising
levers 63 on the opposite sides of the machine force the nipper wipers 49 towards
the longitudinal centre line of the last. The cam 70 is free to slide longitudinally
on the shaft 71 so as to admit of one set of nipper wipers on one side of the last
moving onwards when the other set of nipper wipers on the opposite side of the
last comes to rest or cannot advance further. Fast on the shatt 71 is a ratchet
wheel 72 with which a detent 73 engages to retain the shaft and cam in the
position to which it is turned and consequently retsin the nipper wipers in the
position to which they are moved by the rotation of the cam. The detent 73 is
pivotted to a lug 74 on the bearing 71 in which the shatt 71 rotates. The
detent 73 is provided with a tail piece 75 which tends to normally maiutaiu the
detent in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 72*. To permit of
the parts being returned to their normal positions the detent 73 must be first
disengaged from the ratchet wheel 72 and this is effected by the movement of a
lever 76 fast on a rock shaft 77 mounted in bearings in the lower part of the frame

page_text: of the machine. The lever 76 carries a projection 78 which when the lever is
moved into the position shewn in Figure 1 presses against the tail piece 75 of the
detent 73 so as to disengage the detent from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 72" and
admit of the shaft and cam 70 being rotated in the reverse direction to restore the
parts to their normal position. The rods or bars 67 are returned inwards to their
normal position by cam grunves 70° in the cam 70 engaging with prolongations of
the pics on which the rollers 69 turn. When the lever 76 is moved outwards so as
to remove the projection from the tail piece 75 the detent 73 is free to engage the
teeth of the ratchet wheel so that when the shaft is rotated in the direction to cause
the nipper wipers to advance over the sole of the last the detent will click into the
teeth of the wheel as it rotates and prevent it from moving back until released by
the projection 78 on the lever 76 as herein before described. The shaft 77 on
which the lever 76 is mounted has an arm 79 on which bears the lower end of
rod 80 the upper end of which rod is connected to one end of a bar 81 on which
the heel rest 82 can slide with the movements of the head or clamp A'.
By the movement of the lever 76 in the direction indicated by an arrow in
Figure 1 the rock shaft 77 is turned in its bearings and the arm 79 raises the heel
supports to the desired height. The lever is retained in the position to which it is
moved and consequently the heel support 82 retained in the raised position, by a
detent 83, carried by the lever 76, engaging with a rack 8+ pivotted at 85 to the
frame of the machine, the said rack being supported by and passing through a
piece 86, swivelled to the lever 76 to which swivelled piece the detent 83 is pivotted.
The detent 83 is disengaged from the rack 84 (to admit of the part being returned
to their norinal position) by a spring handle 87 and rod 88 carried on the lever 76.
The rest 89 for the tne end of the last is shewn in the drawing as being supported
on the bar S1 along which it can slide to follow the longitudinal movements of the
toe head or clamp A. The end of the bar 81 on which the toe rest is mounted,.
is connected to a rod 90 supported on a spring 91 which admits of the toe rest
pressing against the upper on the last with a yielding pressure and admits of the
toe end of the last being depressed into the upper to below the wiper plates by the
presser 92, while the edge of the upper is held between the plate 93 of the pressing
device, and the upper surface of the wiper plates. At the same time that the last
is being pressed into the upper the springs 3 are somewhat compressed and
consequently as the tendency of the said springs is to expand and force the head
upwards the upper leather is pulled by the upward movement of the head towards
the extreme toe end of the last thereby in combination with the movement of the
wiper plates, giving to the upper the proper draught. While the last is being
depressed in the upper by the presser 92, swivelled smoothing blocks 94, (Figure 4)
arranged to bear against the sides of the toe of the last, assist in smoothing the
upper on both sides of the toe. In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 8 and 9
for adjusting the distance apart of the side nipper wipers by the movement of the
heads when clamping a last in the machine the blocks 53 are each capable of
turning on a vertical axis 94 and the two outer blocks of each set of three blocks
are provided on their inner ends with rollers 95. Fitted to slide vertically on
studs 96 is a wedge shaped plate 97 the openings 96 therein through which the
studs 96 pass being of sufficient length to admit of the maximum movement required
to be given to the wedge.
The rollers 95 are maintained in contact with this wedge by a spring 95*
interposed between the outer ends of the said two outside blocks. The wedge 97
is connected by a slot and pin connection 98 to one end of a lever 99 the opposite
end of which fever is pivotted at 99 to the table 6 on which the head or clainp A
or A slides. The lever 99 has in it an inclined slot 100 on which slides a roller
or stud 101 carried in a bracket 102 on the plate 5 to which the head or clamp is
hinged. When the head or clamp is in its extreme outward position the stud or
roller 101 is at the lower end of the inclined slot 100 in the lever 99, and the
wedge 97 is raised to its highest position, the nipper wipers carried on the blocks 53
being thereby separated by the wedge to their greatest exteat. On moving the

page_text: head or clamp forward to clamp the last in position in the machine the roller 101
slides in the slot 100 thereby depressing the lever 99 and lowering the wedge 97
and thus allow the nipper wipers under the expansive action of the spring 95 to
approach nearer together according to the extent of inward movement of the head
or clamp and which will be governed by the length of the last to be clamped in
position.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 the blocks 51 an1 53 which
carry the side nipper wipers are hinged together at 2 as in the arrangement
illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and the block 53 is hinged to another block 53*
at 52 the hinges 52 and 52* being horizontal but at right angles tone another
the block 53" being capable of inclining more or less on the hinge 52* so as to
separate the nipper wipers to suit lasts of different lengths. 103 is an adjustable
stop to regulate the extent to which the block 53 is permitted to incline. The
blocks 53 may each be capable of turning on a vertical pivot if desired.
Instead of the cam 70 hereinbefore described and shewn in Figure 1, a wedge 70
as shewn in Figure 12 may be employed for operating the mechanism by which
the side nipper wipers are forced over towards the centre of the sole of the last.
The wedge 70 is carried in a frame 104 capable of sliding vertically in guides 105
in the frame of the machine and is connected by a rod 106 to a treadle or other
suitable device for sliding the frame 104 up and down. The wedge acts in the
same manner as does the cam 7 on the rollers 69 carried on the ends of the bars 67
the wedge being free to slide in or on the frame 104 to admit of the nipper wipers
on one side of the last being moved after the nipper wipers on the other side of the
last have come to rest.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improvements in
machines for lasting boots and shoes substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for lasting boots and shoes the combination with adjustable heads
or clamps between which the last is held while the upper is being lasted of springs
arranged so as to admit of one or both of the heads or clamps yielding in a vertical
direction or in a horizontal direction, or both in a vertical direction and in a
horizontal direction to prevent the upper from being abraded when the last is
being placed in and removed from the machine substantially as hereiubefore
described.
3. In a machine for lasting boots and shoes, heads or clamps, between which the
last is held while the upper is being lasted, the said heads or clamps or one of
them being carried on a ball and socket, or articulated joint, to admit of the head
inclining in any direction, in combination with a screw threaded stem projecting
from one member of the articulated joint and passing through an opening in the
longitudinal slidable plate on which the head is mounted; a nut screwed on to the
screwed stem beneath the slidable plate and a spring interposed between the slidable
plate and the head, or between the plate and the articulated joint, to normally
maintain the head at the height to which it is adjusted by the nut, but which
spring will admit of the head yielding in a vertical direction substantially as
bereinbefore described.
4. In machines for lasting boots and shoes, heads or clamps containing wiper
plates, for forcing the upper over onto the inner sole at the toe and heel ends of
the last, arranged to turn as a hinge on an axis or imaginary pivot at the extreme
toe or heel end of the last and means whereby the wiper plates in each head can be
caused to turn on their axis or imaginary pivot in opposite directions so as to bring
their operating edges nearer to each other, and also by which both wiper plates can
be turned together in the same direction on the said axis or imaginary pivot either

page_text: to the right or to the left to conform to the shape of the last whether it be a "right"
or "left" substantially as hereinbefore described.
"
5. In a machine for lasting boots and shoes the combination with the heads or
clamps between which the last is held while the upper is being lasted and wiper
plates by which the upper is laid over onto the toe and heel ends of the last, of a
plate (40) in one or both heads fitted to slide longitudinally in the head, a plate (38),
fitted to slide longitudinally on the plate (40), a plate (36) pivotted to the plate (38)
and provided with projections (37) to bear upon the rear edges of the wiper plates,
or upon plates to which the wiper plates are fixed; spring connections between the
plate (36) and the wiper plates, to maintain the projections (37) in contact with
the wiper plates or with the plates to which the wiper plates are fixed, a plate or
bar (41) connected to the plate (38) and arranged to slide longitudinally in the
head or clamp, a lever (44) pivotted to the plate or bar (41), bell crank levers (46)
pivotted to the head or clamp, one arm of each bell crank being connected to the
plate or bar (41) and the other arm of each bell crank acting on the plate (40),
the whole being arranged to operate, by the movement of the lever (44) in one
direction, to force the wiper plates forward and at the same time turn them on
their axis or imaginary pivot (32) so as to cause their operating edges to approach
towards each other, and means for returning the parts to their normal positions
when the lever (44) is moved in the opposite direction substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. In combination with the parts constituting the subject matter of the last
preceding claim, of means whereby the plate (36) can be turned ou the pivot on
which it is mounted so as to alter the angular position of the wiper plates (with or
without means for fixing the plate in its altered position) to cause them to act on
the upper equally on both sides of the last to give to the upper the proper draught
whether the last be a right or a left substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. In a machine for lasting boots and shoes the combination with nipper wipers
for forcing the upper over the edges and onto the sole at the sides at and near the
waist of the last, of pivotted levers connected at their upper ends to the sets of
equalizing levers at both sides of the last and having their lower end jointed to
rods or bars arranged to slide horizontally in line one with the other; and a cam
arranged to act on the horizontal rod or bars to separate the said bars and force
the nipper wiper over the sole of the last, the said cam being mounted on a shaft
so as to rotate therewith, but free to slide longitudinally thereon to admit of the
sets of nipper wipers on one side of the last moving after the set of nipper wipers
on the other side of the last has come to rest substantially as hereinbefore
described,
8. In a combination such as claimed in the preceding claiming clause the
substitution of a wedge in place of the cam the said wedge being carried in a
frame capable of being raised and lowered and the wedge being capable of sliding
horizontally in the frame substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
9. In machines for lasting boots and shoes nipper wipers for forcing the upper
over the edges onto the sole at and near the waist of the last the said nipper wipers
being carried on blocks which are capable of turning on vertical axes the said
blocks being retained in their normal position by springs and caused to turn ou
their vertical axes by wedges so as to separate the nipper wipers to the requisite
distances apart to suit the length of the last substantially as hereinbefore
described.
10. In machines for lasting boots and shoes in which nipper wipers are employed
for forcing the upper over the edges onto the sole at and near the waist of the last,
a wedge or wedges for separating the nipper wipers to suit lasts of different lengths
the said wedges being operated by the movement of the heads or clamps between
which the last is held while the upper is being lasted substantially as herein before
described.

page_text: 11. In machines for lasting boots and shoes, nipper wipers for forcing the upper
over the edges onto the sole at and near the waist of the last the said nipper wipers
being each mounted on a block made in parts hinged together so as to admit of two
parts of the block inclining in directions at right angles to each other in
combination with adjustable stops to govern the degree of inclination of the said
blocks substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figure 11 of the
accompanying drawings.
12. The combination of parts constituting the means for adjusting the distance
apart of the side nipper wipers to suit the length of the last by the movement of
the clamp or head when clamping the last in position in the lasting machine
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 8 and 9 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of November 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.