Improvements in Nailing and Lasting Machines for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Nailing and Lasting Machines for Boots and
Shoes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of the Green Hall, Stafford, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved method of feeding
nails and tacks and of driving the saine into boots and shoes for lasting or other
purposes.
I provide two separate hoppers and shoots, the one for supplying nails or tacks of
one length, and the other for supplying those of another length.
The two hoppers are mounted in a frame which is pivoted, or otherwise arranged,
so that either hopper and its shoot can be readily moved sideways to supply tacks to
a central carrier.
The same movement which brings the one hopper into operation puts the other
hopper out of operation.
The general arrangement of the machine may be somewhat similar to that
described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me numbered
23,363 and dated A.D. 1895 but I do not limit myself to the exact form of machine
therein described.
The nail carrier is provided with a shutter to retain the nail or tack while the
carrier reciprocates and each shoot has also a shutter to retain the tacks both while a
shoot is out of operation and while the carrier is away from the shoot end. These
shutters are spring closed and are pressed open by the movements of the carrier so as
to allow the nails to pass.
A crank and die are provided to move the shoots in and out of action also serving
to retain them in position when so moved and rappers are furnished to agitate the
shoots and so cause the nails to descend them.
Suitable clearing wheels are provided preferably driven by a ratchet movement,
and adjustable to and from the shoot. Guards are arranged over the tacks to prevent
them rising.
The revolving tack cylinders are driven by clutches which are put in and out of
engagement by the movement of a spring handle so as to drive either the one cylinder
or the other as desired. This same handle moves a sliding liner either into or out
of engagement with the descending hammer so allowing the latter to make a longer
or shorter down stroke as required by the nail being driven.
The machine stops with the nail carrier in a middle position between the end of
the shoot and the hammer.
The arrangement for moving the shoots from side to side may be connected to that
for moving the clutches and the sliding liner so that one movement only is required
to change from driving one length of nail to the other length.
I also improve the construction of that part of the machine against which the
operator holds the boot upper by forming it with two projections, or horns, between

page_text: which the wiper is made to come forward and behind which the wiper retires. These
horns facilitate the pleating operation at the toe of the boot.
The wiper I form with an open notch to the front into which the hammer point
enters and which is sloped to act as a tack guide and ensures the tacks being properly
placed and driven in the angle of the outside channel or flange of the insole. The
underside of the wiper stands slightly proud of the undersides of the two horns so
as to ensure its acting efficiently upon the upper of the shoe.
I also form the upper jaw of the pincers with a curved slot to engage the pincer
link pin. By adjusting this pin lengthwise in the slot the pincers are made to grip
the upper with more or less closeness as the nature of the material may require.
Dated this 30th day of September 1898.
Improvements in Nailing and Lasting Machines for Boots and
Shoes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of the Green Hall, Stafford, 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:
The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved method of feeding 2
nails and tacks and of driving the same into boots and shoes for lasting or other
purposes.
I provide two separate hoppers and shoots, the one for supplying nails or tacks of
one length, and the other for supplying those of another length.
The two hoppers are mounted in a frame which is pivoted, or otherwise arranged,
so that either hopper and its shoot can be readily moved sideways to supply tacks to
a central carrier.
The same movement which brings the one hopper into operation puts the other
hopper out of operation.
The general arrangement of the machine may be somewhat similar to that described;
in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me numbered 23,363 and
dated A.D. 1895, but I do not limit myself to the exact form of machine therein
described.
The nail carrier is provided with a shutter to retain the nail or tack while the
carrier reciprocates and each shoot has also a shutter to retain the tacks both while a
shoot is out of operation and while the carrier is away from the shoot end. These
shutters are spring closed and are pressed open by the movements of the carrier so as
to allow the nails to pass.
A crank and die are provided to move the shoots in and out of action also serving
to retain them in position when so moved and rappers are furnished to agitate the
shoots and so cause the nails to descend them.
Suitable clearing wheels are provided, preferably driven by a ratchet movement,
and adjustable to and from the shoot.
Guards are arranged over the tacks to prevent them rising.
The revolving tack cylinders are driven by clutches which are put in and out of
engagement by the movement of a spring handle so as to drive either the one cylinder
or the other as desired.
., This same handle moves a sliding liner either into or out of engagement with the
descending hammer so allowing the latter to make a longer or shorter down stroke as
required by the nail being driven.

page_text: The machine stops with the nail carrier in a middle position between the end of the
shoot and the hammer.
The arrangement for moving the shoots from side to side may be connected to that
for moving the clutches and the sliding liner so that one movement only is required
to change from driving one length of nail to the other length.
I also improve the construction of that part of the machine against which the
operator holds the boot upper by forming it with two projections, or horns, between
which the wiper is made to come forward and behind which the wiper retires. These
horns facilitate the pleating operation at the toe of the boot.
The wiper I form with an open notch to the front into which the hammer point
enters and which is sloped to act as a tack guide and ensures the tacks being properly
placed and driven in the angle of the outside channel or flange of the insole. The
underside of the wiper stands slightly proud of the undersides of the two horns so as
to ensure its acting efficiently upon the upper of the shoe.
I also form the upper jaw of the pincers with a curved slot to engage the pincer
link pin.
By adjusting this pin lengthwise in the slot the pincers are made to grip
the upper with more or less closeness as the nature of the material may require.
My invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine head.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line E F of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan shewing the two nail boxes or cylinders.
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section through one of the nail cylinders and shewing the
clearing wheels.
Fig. 6 is a front view of the same.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation shewing the nail cylinders and swing frame..
Fig. 8 is a rear view of the same.
Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of the same.
Fig. 10 is an underview of the wiper.
Fig. 11 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 12 is a plan of the wiper horn piece, from above.
Fig. 13 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 14 is a front view of the same.
Fig. 15 is a side view of the cylinder clutches with the handle forward.
Fig. 16 is a similar view partly in section with the handle backward.
Fig. 17 is a plan of the liner end.
Fig. 18 is a side view of the pincer jaw.
Fig. 19 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 20 is a plan of the carrier and shoot with the former in position for receiving
a tack.
Fig. 21 is a plan of the same with the carrier in its middle position, between the
shoot and the hammer.
Fig. 22 is a side elevation of one of the shoots.
Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the carrier.
Fig. 24 is a section of the same.
Fig. 25 is an elevation of the shutter.
Fig. 26 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 27 is a side view shewing the arrangement for connecting the cylinder move-
ment to the hammer liner.
Fig. 28 is a front view of the saine.
Figs. 29 and 29* shew a shoot cover.
Fig. 30 is a detail plan of Figs. 27 and 28.
The machine to which the improvements forming the subject of this, my present
5 invention, are shewn as applied, resembles in many respects the machine described
and illustrated in the Specification No. 23363 A.D. 1895 which has been already
referred to, for instance.

page_text: The head a¹, is supported upon a column and the main shaft 2, is driven by a
friction cone pulley having a starting wedge and treadle under the control of the
operator and is provided with a brake.
The main shaft a³, is provided with a cam b, which operates a magnetized
hammer b, by raising the same through the intervention of a roll 62, against the
resistance of springs 6, 5-in the present case of indiarubber-which in their recoil
drive down the hammer b', when released by a step 6º, formed in the cam b. The
can b, has also a dip 61, formed in its edge which allows the hammer b', to descend a
little for the purpose of attracting a suitably presented tack to itself with which it
rises preparatory to its driving descent. The hammer b', slides up and down in
guides ;, provided in the frame a¹, and an adjustable pad 610, limits its descent. .
The tack carrier d; is mounted on a pivot d, in the frame a¹, and is operated by a
cam d², which, through a roll d³, actuates a lever do, and vertical shaft do, carried in
the bearings d', ds, in the frame a¹.
The vertical shaft do, carries a toothed quadrant do, which gears, through an inter-
mediate gear, into a pinion d10, upon the pivot d', so as to move the arm d, to and
fro through a half revolution in a horizontal plane between the tack shoot and the
.hammer.
The vertical bar e, carries at its lower end the jaw e¹, of the pincers and is supported
by an upper eye piece e², mounted on a pivot e³, in the frame a', and by a lower eye
piece e, carried by a stem e, in a slot e The came on the shaft a², acts upon a
rolles, retained upon the bar e, by collars 9, e10, so as to move the jaw inwards and a
spring e, serves to move it outwards. The upper jaw e12, of the pincers is mounted
on a pivot els, and is operated by a cam e14, roll e15, and lever el, which latter is
mounted on a pivot e¹, and jointed by a link e18, to a rod el, and second link e20,
connected to the pincer jaw lever e¹¹. The jaw e2, is closed upon the boot upper
by the cam, pulling upon the rod e¹, and the boot upper is pulled over by the
spring el, acting upon the bar e.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements.
I provide two separate
hoppers f, f, and two shoots f, f-see Figs. 1 to 9-which I mount in a frame f,.
which is free to swing from side to side upon a vertical pivot f, carried by a stand f",
upon the head frame a¹.
The shoots f, f, are secured to the frame f, and as the latter is moved to
the right or left one shoot or the other is brought into line with the central carrier d,
so as to supply it with tacks. The carrier d, Figs. 1, 4, 20, 21, 23 and 24, is provided
with a shutter g, to retain the tack while being carried from the shoot end to a
position beneath the haminer 6', and each shoot has also a shutter f,, to retain
the tacks both while a shoot is out of operation and while the carrier is away from
the operating shoot end. The shutter g, is held closed by the spring g', and the
shutters f7, 8, by the springs f", ƒ¹º¸¨¸
The carrier d, is secured upon the pinion dio, which is free upon the vertical
stud d, fast in the frame a¹. Secured upon the carrier is a plate 92, provided with
a notch 3, to receive one tack at a time from the shoot f, or f³. The shutter g, is
mounted free upon the pinion do, and is held closed over the notch g, by the
spring g', carried upon the peg g'. A peg 9, in the carrier d, enters the slot g, in
the shutter g.
When the quadrant do, operates the pinion do, to bring the notch g³, in line with
one of the shoots f, or, the shutter end g', takes against the side f¹¹, of the shoot
-end and remains behind while the notch g³, passes in to receive a tack, as shown in
Fig. 20.
When the carrier d, comes out with a tack the notch g³, and the tack stem pass
in to the shutter g, and then both carrier and shutter travel together with the
tack see Fig. 21-to a position under the hammer b', which lifts the tack out.
and the carrier returns again to the shoot while the hammer ', drives the tack
into the shoe.
The slot g", allows the shutter g, to open and close sufficiently, the peg g³, acting

page_text: as a driver when the carrier is leaving the shoot with a tack and the spring g', driving
when the carrier returns to the shoot.
The shutters f, f, which close the ends of the shoots f, f³, are mounted on
pivots 12, 13, and held closed by springs fo, f10. When the carrier comes in the
corner g, of the plate g², takes upon the end f", of the shutter and opens it for the
passage of the tack.
For moving the shoots into and out of operation a crank handle h, and a die h¹, are
provided-see Figs. 2 to 4 and 7 and 9. The handle is mounted on a pivot h²,
carried by a bracket h³, from the frame a¹, and has a crank pin h4, carrying the
die h¹, which is free to slide vertically in a groove h³, formed in an arm ho,
attached to the frame f. When the handle, lies horizontally as shewn in the
figures neither shoot f2, or f³, is in communication with the carrier d.
When the handle h, stands vertically upwards the shoot f³, is in communication
with the carrier and when it hangs vertically downwards the shoot f, is in
communication.
The groove h³, and die h¹, are formed as about two thirds of a cylinder so that the
die may turn in the groove as the frame f³, swings.
The cylinders 15, f1, are provided with scoops f17, 18, which lift the tacks and drop
them on to the shoots f, f.
The cylinders are driven from the shaft a², by bands f¹º, f, and pulleys fa, f²², ƒ23,
f, the bands being led over guide pulleys f³, f20, f27, f28_Figs. 1 and 3.
The wrappers i, 2,-Figs. 7, 8 and 9-are mounted on pivots 22, is, and are
operated by pegs i, 5, in the cylinders f¹5, f16, which, as the cylinders revolve, raise
the ends , 7, against the tension of springs i8, 2º, and on release of the ends 26, 27,
as the pegs i, ³, pass upwards, the springs is, 20, cause the other ends 210, 211,
to strike upon the pegs 12, 13, which are secured. in the shoots f², f³, and so
cause the latter to vibrate and shake the tacks so that they slide down the shoots.
The clearing wheels j, j-Figs. 5 and 6-are mounted with their ratchet
wheels, 3, on studs j, j³, and are turned intermittently in the direction of the
arrow by pawls j,, acting upon the teeth j8, 0, of the ratchet wheels.
The pawls jo, j, are mounted on levers 710, 11, free upon the studs j, j³, and are
operated by pegs j₁, 13, in the cylinders f15, 16, which, revolving in the direction of
the arrow, strike upon pieces 14, 15, which are mounted on pegs 10, 17, in the
levers 10, 11, so as to bear forward the pawls j,, and turn the wheels j, j¹. The
levers 10,, are returned by the springs 18, j, after the pegs 12,13, have passed the
pieces j,, and the ratchet wheels j, j³, are prevented from returning by the
catches. The pawls jº, j, may be made to move the ratchet wheels j²,³, more
or fewer teeth by setting the pieces 14, 15, on their pegs by means of the set
screws j²², 23.
The clearing wheels j, j', may be set nearer to or further from the shoots f, f, by
turning the studs,, in their supporting bracket 24.
The reduced ends 5, 6, which carry the wheels j, j¹, are eccentric to the larger
ends,, which are secured in the bracket j24, by the screws 120, 30, and if the studs
be turned round by means of a pointed instrument inserted in the teeth 31, 32,
provided for the purpose the clearing wheelsj, j', will be set nearer to or further from
the shoots f, f³, according to the direction in which the studs are turned. The set
screws., 30, retain the studs j, j³, in position when set.
The guard k,-Figs. 1, 4, 29 and 29*-is clamped to the side of the
shoots for by a thumb screw k¹, the cover ², prevents the tack heads rising
from the shoot.
In order that the cylinder supplying tacks may be caused to revolve and the one
not supplying may remain at rest. I provide a friction driving cone l,-Figs. 15
and 16-fast upon the shaft a², and by means of a handle U, I throw either one of the
pulleys f, f into engagement with the cone. When the pulley f, is in engage-
nent the cylinder f16, revolves and when the pulley f, the cylinder f¹³. Connected
o the handle, is a sliding liner m, which when forward-as in Fig. 15-interposes
its end m, between the pad v10, and the frame face a³, so as to reduce the fall of the

page_text: hammer b1, by the amount of the thickness of the liner m, and when backward-as
in Fig. 16-so as to be clearly removed from under the pad 610, allows the
hammer b', to make its full stroke. By this arrangement the tacks from one
cylinder. f, may be driven only partially. home while those from the other cylinder f15,
are driven entirely home to the head. The tacks which are left with their heads
standing up are employed in welted work and are easily removed in the process of
sewing which follows the lasting operation.
It will be observed that the movement of the liner m, is necessarily much greater
than that of the pulleys f. f, as the former has to be either completely withdrawn
from under the pad 610, or else to have its end m', completely under the pad 610,
which; necessitates a considerable movement, while the pulleys f, f, need only be
moved sufficiently to ensure that one comes out of engagement while the other goes
intherefore construct the parts as follows:-
The double or horse shoe lever P, P, which engages the grooves 13, 1, of the
pulleys, so as to enable it to move them, is mounted independently on a pivot ³,
as is also the hand lever, which by means of a die or roll m², on a pin m³, engages
the jaw m, of the liner m. In the lever, is a peg 17, which, during the greater
part of the movement of the lever 10, moves in a clearance gap 18, formed in the
lever 1.
When however the lever 1, and liner m, near one extreme of their movement, say
the forward as in Fig. 15, the peg-, strikes on the shoulder 1, and through the
lever, moves the pulley f22, out of gear and the pulley f2, into gear with the
cone l
When the backward extreme is neared, as in Fig. 16, the peg 17, strikes the other
shoulder 10, and the pulley f2, is withdrawn and the pulley, engaged.
The spring 11, retains the parts in either extreme position, one end is attached to
the hand lever le, and the other to a lever 12, which is mounted on a pivot 113, and
is-operated by the peg 17, in the jaw 4, of the lever [12
The object of this lever 12, is to move the spring 1, from side to side so that it
shall act with greater advantage to retain the lever to, where placed.
The gap m³,-Fig. 17-is formed in the liner m, for the passage of the hammer
bar..b¹.
The movement for throwing the pulleys f¹, f22, in and out of gear and for operating
the liner m, may be connected to that for moving the shoots ff, from side to side
so that one handle, or the like, may control them all.
An arm n, is provided on the
A method of doing this is shewn in Figs. 27 and 28.
lever 1, and connected by a ball jointed rod n¹, to an arm n², of a bell crank cam n³,
mounted on a pivot n', carried by an arm, from the frame a¹.
The cain groove n, engages the roll n7, on the arm n8, which is extended from the
frame f..
The cam groove n, is of such a shape that as the cam n³, is swung upon the
pivot nt, it gives motion to the arm ns, and fraine f, so as to put either the shoot f
orf, into communication with the carrier d, and the movement is brought about by
operating the handle l, as before described.
In certain cases it is desirable to move the shoots f, f³, and the pulleys f21, f22
while allowing the liner m, to remain out of action in the position shewn in Fig. 16.
This can be done by making the lever 1, with a slot me, so that the die or roll m
may be dropped down out of engagement with the jaw m¹.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 shew the wiper horn piece. The wiper 0,-Figs. 10 and 11-
is operated in the groove o¹, formed in the underside of the piece and when back
retires behind the horns o³, 0%. When forward its end o, comes forward of the
horns o³, 03.
The wiper is provided with an open notch o, into which the hammer point enter
and which is sloped away above, as shewn in dotted lines in Figs. 10 and 11 to ac
as a tack guide.
The underside o", of the wiper stands down slightly below the undersides of the
two horns so as to ensure its bearing on the upper of the shoe as it comes forward.

page_text: I provide the upper pincer jaw lever e-Figs. 18 and 19-with a slot e22, for the
eception of the joint pin e, which can therefore be adjusted so as to increase or
liminish the power of the grip of the pincers, or the space between the closed pincer
aws, according as the material of the upper is thicker or thinner.
The wiper is operated by a cam 2, which actuates a lever p¹, mounted on a pivot p²,
nd connected by a rod p³, to a bell crank pt. The bell crank is mounted on a
ivot p, and operates the slide bar p which slides in the frame and, through the
ntervention of a bent piece pi, carries the wiper o.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim 15:-
IN NAILING OR LASTING MACHINES:
1. The two hoppers and revolving tack cylinders and the two shoots carried in a
frame upon a pivot so that they may be swung horizontally from side to side for the
purpose of bringing either shoot into position to feed tacks or nails to be driven
by a common driver, substantially as described.
2. The shutters at the ends of the nail shoots for retaining the tacks which shutters
are opened to permit the tacks to pass into the carrier, substantially as described.
3. The crank handle and die for moving the tack cylinders and shoots from side to
side and retaining them in position, substantially as described.
4. The method of adjusting the clearing wheels nearer to or further from the
shoots by mounting them on an adjustable eccentric stud, substantially as described.
5. The coned pulleys and clutch for driving the tack cylinders and the method of
putting them in and out of gear, substantially as described.
6. The sliding liner for shortening the downward stroke of the haminer, substan-
tially as described.
7. Connecting the mechanism which puts the coned pulleys in and out of gear
with the central cone to the liner which shortens the down stroke of the hammer so
that movement of the handle simultaneously changes the drive from one cylinder to
the other and shifts the liner either in or out of operation, substantially as described.
8. Connecting the mechanism which swings the cylinders and shoots from side to
side to that which changes the cylinder drive and shifts the liner so that movement
of the one handle simultaneously changes the tacks to be fed to the carrier, changes
the drive from one cylinder to the other and alters the length of the hammer stroke,
substantially as described.
9. The slot m for disconnecting the liner from the operating handle U, substanti-
ally as described.
10. Constructing the wiper with an open fronted notch bevelled above to act as a
guide for the descending tack, substantially as described.
11. Providing two horns which stand forward of the wiper when the latter is with-
drawn and between which the wiper advances so as to assume a position in front of
them when fully forward, substantially as described.
12. Providing a slot in the pincher jaw arm for the purpose of regulating the grip
of the pinchers, substantially as described.
13. In a nailing or lasting machine capable of supplying either of two sorts of nails
or tacks to a hammer and in which the descent of such hammer is capable of being
varied in amount, so constructing and arranging the mechanism concerned in the
supplying of the tacks and the varying of the hammer stroke that one inovement of a
handle suffices to both change the sort of nail or tack supplied and to vary the
amount of the hammer stroke, substantially as described.
1
1000