Improvements in Machines for Building Heels and Attaching them to Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Building Heels and Attaching them
to Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of The Hawthorns, Newport Road, Stafford,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the improvement of machines used either for
building or for attaching, or for both building and attaching the heels of boots
and shoes, and consists in the application of hydraulic pressure for such purposes.
The pressure may be derived from any convenient source, as from town water or
hydraulic pumps may be provided.
A weighted accumulator or an air vessel may be employed in connection with
the machine and such other fittings as are usually employed in hydraulic
machinery.
A machine for building heels may be constructed with a hydraulic cylinder and
ram in the lower part of a frame, and with a head formed with or attached to the
frame and standing above in opposition to the ram. The ram carries suitable
heel building devices which are furnished with nail drivers and on which building
moulds and followers are placed containing the heel lifts. A suitable water inlet
valve is provided in the supply pipe which being opened admits water under
pressure to the cylinder and drives up the ram so as to forcibly compress the heel
lifts contained in the mould and drive the nails with which the device has been
previously supplied.
The stroke of the ram being long enough for the highest heel, will always
accommodate heels of less height but if it is desired to build a lot of heels exactly
to a particular height, an adjustable stop may be provided which will prevent heels
being compressed below the height desired, an outlet valve being then opened
allows the water to escape and the ram descends so that the built heel may be
removed and another set of lifts and nails inserted.
When it is desired that in addition to vertical pressure, side pressure should be
put upon the heel the mould may be made in three or other number of parts and
either by the employment of additional cylinders and rams or by toggle, wedge
or other suitable appliances in connection with the ram previously described any
desired amount of side compression may be put upon the heel either simultaneously
with the vertical pressure or after the vertical pressure has been applied.
The inlet and outlet valves may be so connected together by means of suitable
lever and screw or other arrangement that the two can never be opened at one
time; so that the outlet is always closed before the inlet is opened and the inlet
closed before the outlet is opened.
A heel building machine may also be constructed in which the heels are built.
nailed together, pricked, compressed and loaded with attaching nails by providing
the requisite number of suitable devices actuated either by a single or by separate
cylinders and rams and successively transferring either by hand or power the heels
aud their containing moulds and followers from one device to the next, a compression
between each device and its opposing head taking place after each transference.
When heels are intended to be afterwards attached from the inside of the boot
they may be toppieced instead of being loaded with attaching nails.
A machine for attaching the above built heels to boots and shoes may be

page_text: constructed with a cylinder and ram carrying either an inside attaching device or
an outside attaching stump or last under an opposing head, which head may, when
desired, be actuated downwards towards the device by a second cylinder and ram
either directly or by the intervention of a beam. Such a machine may be used for
attaching heels either from the outside or from the inside of the boot by making
suitable changes in the attaching devices. It may also be used as a compound
machine for doing both heel building and attaching by furnishing it with a suitable,
swinging, sliding or revolving table or tables to carry the various devices required
for the different operations.
Improvements in Machines for Building Heels and Attaching them
to Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of The Green Hall, Stafford, formerly of
The Hawthorns, Newport Road, Stafford, aforesaid, 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 :-
This invention has for its object the improvement of machines used either for
building or for attaching or for both building and attaching the heels of boots
and shoes, and consists in the application of hydraulic pressure for such purposes.
The pressure may be derived from any convenient source, as from town water
or hydraulic pumps may be provided.
A weighted accumulator or an air vessel may be employed in connection with
the machine and such other fittings as are usually employed in hydraulic
machinery.
A machine for building heels may be constructed with a hydraulic cylinder and
ram in the lower part of a frame and with a head formed with or attached to the
frame and standing above in opposition to the ram. The ram carries suitable
heel building devices which are furnished with nail drivers and on which building
moulds and followers are placed containing the heel lifts. A suitable water inlet
valve is provided in the supply pipe which being opened admits water under
pressure to the cylinder and drives up the ram so as to forcibly compress the heel
lifts contained in the mould and drive the nails with which the device has been
previously supplied.
The stroke of the ram being long enough for the highest heel, will always
accommodate heels of less height but if it is desired to build a lot of heels exactly
to a particular height an adjustable stop may be provided which will prevent heels
being compressed below the height desired an outlet valve being then opened allows
the water to escape and the ram descends so that the built heel may be removed
and another set of lifts and nails inserted.
When it is desired that in addition to vertical pressure, side pressure should be
put upon the heel the mould may be made in three or other number of parts and
either by the employment of additional cylinders and rams or by toggle, wedge or
other suitable appliances in connection with the ram previously described any
desired amount of side compression may be put upon the heel either simultaneously
with the vertical pressure or after the vertical pressure has been applied.
The inlet and outlet valves may be so connected together by means of suitable
lever and screw or other arrangement that the two can never be opened at one
time so that the outlet is always closed before the inlet is opened and the inlet
closed before the outlet is opened.

page_text: A heel building machine may also be constructed in which the heels are built,
nailed together, pricked, compressed and loaded with attaching nails by providing
the requisite number of suitable devices actuated either by a single or by separate
cylinders and rams and successively transferring either by hand or power the heels
and their containing moulds and followers from one device to the next a compression
between each device and its opposing head taking place after each. transference.
When heels are intended to be afterwards attached from the inside of the boot
they may be toppieced instead of being loaded with attaching nails.
A machine for attaching the above built heels to boots and shoes may be
constructed with a cylinder and ram carrying either an inside attaching device or
an outside attaching stump or last under an opposing head, which head may when
desired, be actuated downwards towards the device by a second cylinder and ram
either directly or by the intervention of a beam. Such a machine may be used for
attaching heels either from the outside or from the inside of the boot by making
suitable changes in the attaching devices. It may also be used as a compound
machine for doing both heel building and attaching by furnishing it with a suitable
swinging, sliding or revolving table or tables to carry the various devices required
for the different operations.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. is a side view partly in section of a heel building machine.
Fig. 2. is a front view of the same.
Fig. 3. is a side view partly in section of a heel attaching machine.
Fig. 4. is a front view of the same.
Fig. 5. is a front view partly in section of another form of heel building
machine.
Fig. 6. is a plan of the same also partly in section.
Fig. 7. is a front view partly in section of another form of heel building
machine.
Fig. 8. is a side view and Fig. 9. a plan of the same.
Fig. 10. is a vertical section and Fig. 11. a plan of a side compressing device.
Figs. 12. and 13. shew a portion of a heel building machine of an alternative
construction.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. a is the main frame of the machine and supports the
hydraulic cylinder b in which is the ram & fitted with the leathers 6' and
constructed so that it may be inoved up and down by water pressure. The
cylinder cover b³ is formed so as to provide a stop to limit the upward movement
of the ram b' and also prevent damage to the upper cup leathers which would
otherwise result if they came in contact with one another. The stop is effected
when the shoulder 6 formed on the ram comes in contact with the internal
collar 6 of the cover 68. The ram 6' carries two drive rods 6 6 which by means
of notches & engage the ears of the building device b. The rods are
guided in the frame a and when the ram b¹ moves upwards the device 6° moves
upwards also.
The building device is of a construction already in use and is carried on a turn
table 60
Above the building device & is a head e which may be a fixture but preferably
can be set up and down to suit different heights of heel by means of a screw c¹ and
hand wheel and tension rods a¹ al are provided to relieve the frame a of undue
strain.
The upper water valve d is provided with a handle d' which when turned one
way admits water by the inlet pipe d and the pipe d so as to force down the
ram b¹ and when the handle d' is turned the other way the inlet d' is shut off and
the water from above the ram is allowed to escape by the pipe d³ and the outlet
pipe d*.
The lower water valve d' acts in a precisely similar manner in regard to the
forcing up of the rum 6' and the escape of the water from below the same.
The machine operates as follows:-The device & is loaded in the ordinary

page_text: manner with nails and a heel in its mould and provided with a follower in the usual
way is placed upon the device surface 6". The valve d being set so that the outlet
pipe d is open water is admitted below the ram b' by the valve d' and pipe do so as
to force up the ram and device & thus driving the nails into the beel and
compressing the latter between the surface &" and the head c.
If the head c be set by means of the hand wheel so that the shoulder of the
ram & comes in contact with the collar 6 when the heel is sufficiently compressed
succeeding heels cannot be compressed beyond this.
Figures 5 and 6 shew a heel building machine with one press above for
putting vertical pressure on to a heel, one press 613 below for driving nails or
awls into the heel and two side presses & bis for putting side pressure on to the
heel.
The stool a supports the cylinder and table a with the cylinders
The pillars at a support the girder a and cylinder 619.
The top press 61 works in the same manner as the one just previously described
in reference to Figs. 1 and 2. except that it is inverted. The lower press & acts
after the down stroke of the top press is completed and the two side presses &
act last.
The machine operates as follows:-The rams 6 6 6 being withdrawn into
their cylinders & the nail block e is fitted with nails the lifts are placed
upon the block e and the follower e¹ upon the lifts a. A valve (not shewn) being
opened admits water above the ram 620 and compresses the lifts a. A second valve
(not shown) being opened admits water below the ram 6 and drives up the nails a
into the lifts. Water being then admitted behind the rams 62 623 presses.the side
moulds and in upon the heel a (see Fig. 6) so as to compress it sideways while
the fixed buttress e supports the breast of the heel. The moulds and and
the breast plate e may he lifted out vertically and changed for other sizes or
shapes. The top ram 60 is lifted again by water pressure, the bottom ram 621 falls
by its own weight when the water is released from below it and the two side
rams 62 and 62 are drawn back by springs 62 and 625 which act upon tail rods b
and 6 in connection with the rams 6 and 623. Chains over pulleys and provided
with weights may be used instend of the springs and 6 or the rams " and "
may be formed like the ram 620 and be returned by water pressure.
If desired the water pressure may be admitted to all four of the cylinders
68 through one double inlet and outlet valve d the rear ends of all the cylinders
being simply connected together with open pipes d'. The weight of the upper
ram assisting the water pressure causes it to act first, the bottom ram 6 acts
next and the side rams bas 6b being retarded by the springs or by weights as
aforesaid act last.
The inlet pipe d" being then closed and the outlet d opened the rams &
and withdraw and the ram is then lifted by admitting water by the
valve do
Referring to Figs. 7. 8. and 9:-
The frame a supports as many presses as are desired to be used (in the
drawing two are shewn) each of which carries a device for f. These devices
may be for building, nailing together, pricking, compressing, loading with nails,
top piecing or performing other of the usual operations of heel building, machinery
and may be of a usual construction. They are carried up and down by the
rams 60 and 61 of the presses. The revolving table is carried by its centre
pin upon the frame a and is provided with recessed holes f f f to receive
the heel moulds f7f8f. The frame a is provided with fixed heads and c
which stand vertically over the devices f. f and beneath which the heel
moulds ff and are revolved by turning the table f about its centre pin f.
This table has notches g. 9' g' formed in its edge which are engaged by a spring
pawl for the purpose of locking the table and retaining the heels a in proper
position under the heads e c. The table/' may be turned by hand or a hydraulic
cylinder and ram & (see Figs. 12 and 13) may be provided which operate a

page_text: lever 9 and pawi 9 engaging a ratchet wheel g° on the centre shaft f
carries the table f
which
The double valve du see Figs. 7 and 9 serves to admit water either above or
below the rams 680 681 according as the handle d¹s is turned either to the right or
to the left and a similar valve dis serves to control the outlet of the water in the
same manner. The double valve d see Fig. 13 admits water to or releases the
same from the cylinder and the ram s is returned by the weight 6" and
chain 6 which runs over the pulley 6.
The table see Figs. 12 and 13 is like the table provided with
notches af which are engaged by the pawl so as to hold or
lock the table f stationary while the rams 680 681 are operating. The pawl fi
is carried on the shaft f" and is held in engagement with the notches to by
a lever and spring f. An arm is provided on the shaft which is
engaged by a spring catch f" upon the ram 683 when the latter starts forward so as
to turn the shaft and lift the pawl out of the notches fi to s before the
pawl 9 engages the tooth of the ratchet wheel ge and on the return of the ram 683
the catch slips past and behind the arm so as to be ready to open the
pawl again when the ram & again starts forward.
A heel attaching machine is shewn in Figs. 3 and 4. The main frame a carries
two cylinders and the one is precisely similar to that already described
in reference to Figs. 1 and 2 bat carries an attaching device . The head is
also similar to that in Figs. 1 and 2 only that it receives an up and down
movement through the beam A and connecting rod 4 from the cylinder 6 and
ram . The rod ¹ is jointed on pins 2 and 3 and the beam is mounted in the
frame a' on a pivot h while the connections of the head c are jointed to the beam /
by the pin h. This machine can also be used as a heel builder in which case the
ram 63 need not be operated. The double valve d¹s controls the inlet of the water
to and the similar valve de controls the outlet from the cylinder similar valves
are also applied to the cylinder
The machine operates as follows:-A boot y is placed upon the device and
the heel a in position upon it. The ram is operated so as to bring down the
bead upon the heel and compress the same upon the boot y. The ram 140 is
then operated so as to drive the attaching nails (which have in the first instance
been loaded into the device c) and so attach the heel. The rams 680 and 60 are
then let down and the boot y removed.
The heel building and attaching devices for the foregoing respective machines
may be such as have been heretofore used and are not therefore described in
detail.
Figs. 10 and 11 shew a side compressing device. The mould is made in
sections i. which are retained by screws to a cover plate the holes in
the plate being slotted to allow the sections freedom to move. The sections are
bevelled wedgewise and provide with antifriction balls which take upon a
bevelled frame surrounding the sections. The building device; stands upon the
ram 6 and the heel and follower are placed as shewn.
When the ram & is pushed up, or if preferred the follower a' is pushed down, po
as to compress the heel as the device jis closed and the nails are driven in a usual
manner but at the same time the bevels or inclines 10 11 12 13 of the frame a
acting on the similar and opposing inclines of the sections i.
bear the latter inwards upon the heel so as to compress the same sideways.
It is not necessary that the construction of the machines herein described should
conform exactly with the drawings, as it will be easily understood that in certain
cases portions of a machine may be dispensed with, or may be transferred to another
machine, or in other words, different combinations may be made, as for instance :-
The adjustable head e shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 may be employed with its screw e
and hand wheel in place of the press shewn in Fig. 5 or the side
presses shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 may be applied to a machine constructed as
shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, when the same is used for building heels. Again the
с

page_text: revolving table f shewn in Figs. 7. 8 and 9 or that f" shewn in Figs. 12 and 13
may be applied to the machine shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. in place of the turn
table b¹º.
The devices referred to in this specification though not of a new construction
are such as are complete in themselves or self contained. A building device for
instance consists of a case or stand containing or supporting a nail block with
drivers and underplate. A pricking device is very similar but contains pricking
awls in place of the nail drivers, so that, generally speaking the devices are not
such as are divided and in which the one portion of a device, as the awls or drivers,
is carried by and partakes of one movement of the machine while the nail blocks or.
pricking blocks are carried by and partake of another movement.
In regard to the heads bereinbefore mentioned they are simply plain surfaces
which either impart pressure to the heels or followers as the case may be or they
resist the pressure otherwise imparted.
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 I
claim is :-
1. The use of hydraulic pressure in a machine for building the heels of boots
and shoes.
2. The machine herein described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 for building
the heels of boots and shoes.
3. The machine here'n described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 for building
heels or attaching them to boots and shoes.
4. The use of bydraulic pressure for compressing the heels of boots and shoes
sideways.
5. The machine herein described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 for building
the heels of boots and shoes.
6. The side compressing device herein described and illustrated in Figures 10
and 11. for use in building the heels of boots and shoes.
7. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes the use of a revolving
table to carry round the heels from one device to another such table being
interposed between the heads above and the devices below.
8. The machine herein described and illustrated in Figures 7. 8 and 9 for building
the heels of boots and shoes.
9. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes the method herein
described and illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. for intermittently revolving and
locking the table.
10. The combination of an air vessel with hydraulic pumps and presses for the
purpose of building the heels of boots and shoes.
11. The combination of a weighted accumulator with hydraulic pumps and presses
.for the purpose of building the heels of boots and shoes.
Dated this 4th day of February 1897.
W. H. DURMAN.