IMPROVEMENTS IN EDGE-SETTING AND BURNISHING MACHINERY CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the Firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co., Patent Agents Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EDGE-SETTING AND BURNISHING MACHINERY CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES." A communication
from abroad by George Warren Copeland, of Malden, Massachusetts, United
States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN. EDGE-SETTING AND
BURNISHING MACHINERY CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS
AND SHOES" [A communication from abroad by George Warren. Copeland, of
Malden, Massachusetts, United States of America,]
This Invention relates to improvements in edge-setting and burnishing machines
and may be used with a jack for supporting the work during the burnishing or
edge-setting operation, or without a jack.
I will first describe the said Invention as constructed to be used with a jack.
I provide an edge-setting tool which is fastened to a bell-crank-lever by means of
a stud or spindle which shuts into a socket or recess in one end of the bell-crank-
lever, and by springs attached to an arm and adapted to close into recesses or holes
upon each side of the stock of the tool.
The bell-crank lever, in addition to its tool supporting arm, has another arm
projecting at right angles to the other arm, and it is pivoted to a bracket or
support which is adapted to be turned horizontally in a socket or head, supporting
it, and which has an arm supporting a handle by which the position of the tool in
relation to the work is changed from time to time as desired.
One arm of the bell-crank lever has at its end a slot, and into this slot projects
a pin, excentrically arranged on a disc or pulley. This disc or pulley is supported

page_text: by an arm projecting from the bracket, and is revolved by means of a belt and
pulleys upon the shaft and another belt and pulley. The latter pulley is revolved
on a shaft by a belt connected with any driving pulley. This shaft also serves as
the pivot or hinge by which the post is attached to the case, the shaft being keyed
or otherwise rigidly fastened to the post and turning in the supports upon either
side. To prevent, however, the pulley from throwing the post over in the direction
of its revolution, I arrange upon the opposite side of the shaft from that on which
the pulley has a bearing, a friction-device consisting of a wheel, and a brake which
is held against the wheel by means of a spring. This brake should be sufficiently
powerful to prevent the pulley from moving the post, yet at the same time it
should not be strong enough to offer any considerable resistance to its movement
by the operator.
At the upper end of the post and at right angles thereto, there is a cross-piece
which has bearings in an intermediate block, one of the shafts acting as a pivot,
thus providing for the vertical movement of the upper portion of the tool-supporting
frame. The said intermediate block has a spindle which enters a socket in the
upper part of the post, and provides for the swivelling, horizontally or laterally, of
the upper portion of the frame upon the post. An arm is attached to the end of the
cross-piece in a manner that will enable it to be turned upon the horizontal axis
of the said cross-piece; and it is curved upwardly and supports at its end an arm
as before indicated.
Any suitable jack may be used for holding the work during the action of
the tool.
By the excentric and bell-crank lever a very simple and cheap method of recip-
rocating the setting tool is provided. By the construction of the frame all
necessary movements in position of the tool in relation to the work are effected.
I may use another form of tool-which-is-attached-to-the-arm of the lover, or to
a-block fastened thereto by means of a bolt and thumb-screw; or the tool may be
fastened to a block, in which case the tool is easily reversed so that one shape may
be easily changed for another shape without substitution.
To lock the tool in position I use a pivoted catch having an extension projecting
towards the handle. This catch enters a hole in the block and is held therein by
means of a spring. If it is desired to reverse the tool the catch is lifted, the
thumb-screw turned out slightly, and the tool reversed, and the catch will then
enter a corresponding hole upon the opposite side of the block, and the tool will
be thus held in its place until it becomes again necessary to reverse.
In lieu of a tool having a rounded, flat, or convex surface I may use one having
two convex projections.
I may use a reversible tool, in every way like the one already described, with
the exception that the working portions of the tools are made separate or distinct
from the connecting part and are attached to the connecting part by a ball and
socket joint, so that the tools have provision for some play upon the ends of their
supports.
I will now describe the machine containing the second feature of my Invention,
or that one which is used without a jack. I provide a standard to the top of
which a bracket or block is fastened, and having upon its face suitable ways in
which a block is reciprocated by means of an excentric, and connecting rod. The
excentric may be run by a pulley and belt from a counter-shaft. The recipro-
cating block has attached to it a head which, preferably, is inclined in relation
thereto, although it is not essential that this should be so. This head is provided
with holes extending from each end thereof inwardly and adapted to receive tho
spindle of the burnishing tools, the head being arranged to carry one tool at each
end. Each tool is held in place by a latch which is pivoted to the head and
swings laterally in relation thereto, or at right angles to the line of the recipro-
cation of the head; a bent end of the latch being adapted to enter a recess in the
shank or spindle of the burnishing tool.
-
•
To remove the tool, the latch is swung outwardly and the tool taken out or let

page_text: fall; a new one may then be substituted, and the latch returned to its original
position, each tool being provided with a recess or latch-hole of the same shape, and
in the same place.
There is a foot-rest at the end of an arm, preferably curved, and it may or may
not have a roughened or serrated surface. The said arm is pivoted to the standard
of the machine and has an extension, which carries a spring-shank adapted to
engage with the teeth of a curved rack whereby the height of the foot-rest may
be varied as desired. In operation the operator puts his foot upon the foot-rest,
with his knee against the standard, and holds his work on his knee while it is
burnished. This is of very considerable assistance in steadying the work, and also
in enabling it to be done rapidly.

page_text: At the upper end of the post and at right angles thereto is the cross-piece E
which has bearings in the intermediate block E, the shaft b acting as a pivot,
thus providing for the vertical movement of the upper portion of the tool-
supporting frame. The intermediate block E' has a spindle e which enters a socket
in the upper part of the post, and provides for the swivelling, horizontally or
laterally, of the upper portion of the frame upon the post. The arm e' is attached
to the end of the cross-piece E in a manner that will enablo it to be turned upon
the horizontal axis of the said cross-piece; and it is curved upwardly as represented,
and supports at its end the arm or support a².
Any suitable jack inay be used for holding the work during the action of the
tool, and in the Drawings is represented a well-known form of jack having all the
necessary adjustments for revolving the boot or shoe, and, for properly presenting
it to the tool.
By the excentric and bell-crank lever a very simple and cheap method of
reciprocating the setting tool is provided. By the construction of the frame all
necessary movements of the tool in relation to the work are effected.
I may use another form of tool as shown in Figure 5 which tool is attached to
the arm a of the lever, or to a block fastened thereto by means of a bolt f and
thumb-screw f'; or the tool may be fastened to the block f in which case the
tool is easily reversed so that one shape may be changed for another shape without
substitution.
To lock the tool in position I use the catch ƒ³ pivoted at f* (see Figure 4) and
having the extension f³ projecting towards the handle. This catch f³ enters tho
hole in the block f² and is held therein by means of a spring fe. When it is
desired to reverse the tool the catch is lifted, the thumb-screw turned out slightly,
and the tool reversed, and the catch will then enter a corresponding hole upon the
opposite side of the block, and the tool will thus be held in its place until it becomes
again necessary to reverse it.
In lieu of a tool having a rounded, flat, or convex surface I may use one shaped
as shewn in Figure 4 and 6 and having two convex projections.
In Figure 6 is represented a reversible tool, like the one already described, with
the exception that the working portions of the tool are made separate or distinct
from the connecting part, and are attached to the connecting part by a ball and
socket joint, so that the tools have provision for some play upon the ends of their
supports.
I will now describe the machine containing the second feature of my Invention,
or that one which is used without a jack.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of such a machine.
Figure 8 is a sectional plan or top view on and below the line X X Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a front elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the burnishing tool
and its holding block.
Figure 10 is a side elevation thereof to the right and front.
Figure 11 is a vertical section thereof on the line y y Figure 9.
Figure 12 represents the burnishing tool and the latch hereinafter described,
detached from the machine.
Referring to Figures 7 to 12 A is the standard of the machine; B is a bracket
or block fastened to the top of the standard, and having upon its face suitable
ways, b, in which the block C is reciprocated by means of the excentric c, and
connecting rod c¹. The excentric may be driven by a pulley and belt from a
counter-shaft. The reciprocating block C has attached to it the head D which,
preferably is inclined in relation thereto as shown in Figures 10 and 11 although
it is not essential that this should be so. This head is provided with holes d
extending from each end thereof in wardly, and adapted to receive the spindle e of
the burnishing tools E the head being arranged to carry one tool at each end.
Each tool is held in place by the latch F which is pivoted at f to the head and
swings laterally in relation thereto, or at right angles to the line of the recipro-
cation of the head; the bent end f of the latch being adapted to enter the recess f

page_text: in the shank or spindle of the burnishing tool. This construction is well represented
in Figures 9 and 10.
To remove the tool, the latch is swung outwardly and the tool taken out or let
fall; a new one may then be substituted, and the latch returned to its original
position, each tool being provided with a recess or latch-hole of the same shape,
and in the same place.
G is the foot-rest at the end of the arm g which is preferably curved as
represented and the foot rest may or may not have a roughened or serrated surface.
The arm g is pivoted to the standard of the machine at g and has the extension g².
which carries the spring-shank g³ adapted to engage with the teeth of the
curved rack g whereby the height of the foot-rest may be varied as desired. In
operation the operator puts his foot upon the foot-rest, with his knee against the
standard, and holds his work on his knee while it is burnished. This is of very
considerable assistance in steadying the work, and enabling it to be done rapidly.
A method of holding the tool in the tool-carrier which varics somewhat in detail
from that already described is shown in Figures 13 to 17.
Figure 13 is a side elevation of a reversible head or stock and a tool secured
thereto.
Figure 14 a vertical central section thereof.
Figure 15 a view illustrating a modification.
Figure 16 a vertical section at right angles to that at Figure 14 and
Figure 17 a horizontal section.
For holding the tool to the stock I provide a bushing or sleeve fitted to the
stock and adapted to oscillate therein or thereon, and adapted also to receive the
spindle of the tool, which spindle is made to fit the bore of the sleevo so tightly
that by friction it is held in place therein.
Referring to Figures 13 to 17 of-the-Drawings-M-represents the bushing which
is fastened in the hole m in the stock or head B by means of a pin m¹ which may
extend across the head as represented in Figures 13, 14 and 16 or at one side
thereof, as shown in Figures 15 and 17. The sleeve may be of uniform diameter
throughout, or may have a conical bore, as represented in Figure 15; and the
burnishing tool M₁ has a spindle m² which fits the bore of the sleeve and when
the construction shown in Figures 13, 14 and 16 is used, is slotted across its end to
embrace the pin m'.
In Figures 18, 19 and 20 is represented an attachment to the machine which
may be used when no jack is employed, and which consists in a combined guide
and rest, or a hand steadier only, for the toe part of the boot or shoe, and it is
adapted to be used only in burnishing the edge of the sole at the toe.
Figure 18 is a side elevation of a burnishing machine fitted with this device.
Figure 19 represents a modification in construction.
Figure 20 shows still another form of employing it.
N represents the burnishing tool, N' the combined toe guide and support, or
hand-steadier. It is a small plate, preferably circular, which is adapted to be
moved to and from the tool in any desirable inanner; when used as a combined
toe-guide and support it is drawn out sufficiently near the tool to afford a rest for
the sole of the boot or shoe, and when used as a hand-steadier simply it is not
drawn out far enough to be used as a rest, but simply far enough to allow the
fingers of the hand to lay hold of it, the sole of the boot or shoe not touching its
surface. It is also, preferably, adapted to be revolved, and in one Figure it is
illustrated as having this provision.
The rest or steadier N¹ is supported by the spindle n, which slides in the
socket n¹. This socket is either fastened to a bracket n by a bolt or nut in a
manner to permit of the variation of the inclination of the socket, or it is fastened
in like manner to the lever n³ which is pivoted at n to a bracket or arm, and is
adapted to be operated by means of the rod n³ and treadle n°. The operator by
means of the treadle being able to throw out the rest or steadier to a position near

page_text: the tool, while it returns automatically by gravity to its original position when it
is no longer required.
Figure 20 represents a portion of a glove having secured thereto a rest or
support. This is represented at No. When this construction is employed the
socket n is placed in position to receive the spindle n; and, when the toe part of
the boot or shoe is about to be operated upon, the operator causes the spindle to
enter the socket.
When the device is not used as a rest but simply as a steadying contrivance the
extent of its downward movement is limited by a nut n' which screws on to the
end of the spindle. In this case the plate, or support for the hand is not drawn
out as far as it would be when it is also used as a rest.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it under-
stood that I claim :-
First In an edge-setting machine, as a means for reciprocating the edge-
setting tool, a bell-crank lever pivoted as described and adapted to support a tool
at the end of an arm, and an excentric supported by the frame carrying the bell-
crank lever, all substantially as, and for the purposes described.
Second In an edge-setting machine, the combination of the jointed frame,
the bell-crank lever, one arm of which supports the tool and the other arm of
which engages with an excentric and the excentric, all substantially as and for the
purposes, described.
Third: In an edge-setting machine, as a means for reciprocating and moving
the edge-setting tool, a bell-crank lever and an excentric, supported or carried by a
handle-bar or support, in combination with a frame jointed as described, all
substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.
ab
Fourth The combination of the arm a having a socket and spring latches a³
with the edge-setting tool having spindle a and the recesses a', whereby
the tool is attached to the said arm, all substantially as, and for the purposes
described.
Fifth In an edge-setting machine, the combination of a reversible tool
consisting of the block f and the tool attached thereto, with the arm a², the stud
or bolt f, the thumb-screw f¹, and the spring-catch f³, all substantially as and for
the purposes described.
Sixth-In an edge-setting machine, a reciprocating edge-setting tool having a
working surface formed of two or more convex or rounded portions, substantially
as, and for the purposes described.
Seventh-In an edge-setting machine, the combination of the reciprocating head
and the tool attached thereto by a ball- and socket-joint, substantially as, and for
the purposes, described.
Eighth In a burnishing machine, the combination of the head D adapted
to support one or more burnishing tools, the block C the excentric c, and
connecting rod c¹, all arranged in relation to each other, and adapted to operate
substantially as described.
Ninth In a burnishing machine, the combination of the head D having a bole
or holes d, with the burnishing tool E its notched spindle, and a swinging latch, F
all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Tenth In a burnishing machine, the foot-rest G, with or without the means
for varying its height, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Eleventh-An improved tool-head or stock, consisting of a hollow holder having
a bushing or sleeve adapted to oscillate therein, and a tool having a spindle
fitting within such sleeve or bushing and held therein by frictional contact, all
substantially as set forth.
Twelfth The combined guide and rest N', in combination with the edge-
burnishing tool, and with or without the means for moving the said guide in
relation to the burnishing tool, all substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Thirteenth-The combination of the burnishing tool, the steadier or hand

page_text: support N¹, and means for regulating the extent of its movement in relation to the
burnisher, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Fourteenth-The combination of the burnishing tool, the toe-guide and rest or
support N¹, the spindle n, and the socket n¹, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
:-
Fifteenth The removable toe-guide and support N¹ fastened to the back of
the glove of the operator and having the spindle adapted to be inserted in the
socket at the will of the operator, all substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth-
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-eighth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.