Improvements in Leather Channelling Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1899--Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Leather Channelling Machines.
I, WALTER LAWES, of 328, Cedar Street, in the City of New Bedford, in the
County of Bristol, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Inventor, 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 pertains to a machine adapted to cut two channels extending in
the same direction in a sole or insole of a shoe, in contra-distinction to cutting
the channels in opposite directions.
The primary object of my invention is to so construct a sole or insole channeling
machine that two channels or cuts extending in the same direction and at the
same time are produced in the sole or insole.
Another object of my present invention is to provide a sole or insole channeling
machine having two knives extending in the same direction, one adapted to cut
a slit or channel in the edge of the sole, and the other adapted to cut a channel
in the sole above and preferably beginning at a point where the edge slit ends.
Another object of my present invention is to provide a sole or insole channel-
ing machine with two knives extending in the same direction in respect to the
leather being cut, one projecting upward and the other downward, whereby the
knives can cut in the same direction and at the same time.
Another object of my present invention is to provide a sole or insole channeling
machine with two knives which extend in the same direction in respect to the sole
being cut, the cutting edge of one knife stopping at the point where the outer
cutting edge of the other knife begins, whereby two channels are formed in the
sole or insole extending in the same direction, and the machine capable of cutting
both at the same time and by a single passage of the sole through the machine.
Another object of my present invention is to provide a sole or insole channeling
machine with two knives, both knives extending in the same direction in respect
to the sole acted upon, one knife being above the other, the upper knife provided
with a clearance notch or recess at a point above the cutting edge of the lower
knife, and the cutting edge of the upper knife beginning approximately at the
point or end of the cutting edge of the lower knife, whereby a clearance is formed
for the intermediate web of the sole being channeled.
Another object of my present invention is to provide a sole or insole channeling
machine with two knives extending in the same direction in respect to the sole
or insole, and each knife supported in adjustable bearings, whereby they can be
adjusted in relation to each other and in relation to the sole being acted upon.
Another object of my present invention is to provide a sole or insole channeling
machine with two knives extending in the same direction, the said knives adapted
to be adjusted longitudinally; moved bodily upward or downward, or the angle
of the knives changed to suit the material being acted upon.
And a further object of my invention is in the specific construction of the knives

page_text: so that a clearance is formed above and under each of the knives, whereby two
inwardly extending channels can be simultaneously cut in the insole or sole.
Another object of my invention is to provide a sole or insole channeling machine
with a upper and a lower knife both extending in the same direction in respect to
the sole or insole operated upon; the upper knife being carried by or connected
with the member which carries the vertically moving clamping wheel, and the
lower knife held in its adjusted position, whereby the upper knife is raised with
the clamping member or wheel to permit the sole being placed in position there-
under and the upper knife lowered upon the sole at a point inside of its outer edge for
cutting a channel at a point inside of its outer edge and extending in the same
direction as the channel which is cut by the stationary lower knife which cuts
in the edge of the sole.
With these objects in view my invention consists in the construction and arrange-
ment of parts which will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed
out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2, is an enlarged view of the knives and the sole or insole feeding
mechanism, showing the knives acting thereupon.
Figure 3, is an elevation of the machine looking at the side opposite of that
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4, is a sectional view of Figure 1, taken on dotted line 4-4 thereof.
Figure 5, is a detached perspective view of the upper knife.
Figure 6, is a similar view of the lower knife.
Figure 7, is an enlarged view showing the adjustable construction for the knife
carrying bar.
Figure 8, is an enlarged sectional view taken through the knife clamps upon
the line 8-8 of Figure 7.
Figure 9, is a detached view of the rotary adjustable bar which carries the
knives.
Figure 10, is a sectional view at right angles to Figure 8.
Referring now to the drawings, A indicates the base of the machine adapted
to be bolted or otherwise secured to a support B of any desired form.
Projecting from the base A are two parallel standards C and D, the one D pro-
jecting above the standard C as illustrated. An essentially U-shaped frame E
is pivoted at one end to the upper end of the standard C at the point F, and the
opposite end of this U-shaped arm or frame E moves vertically between vertical
ears projecting from the standard D. Journaled in the standards C and D) is
a driving shaft H carrying at one end a handle I for revolving the same, and
intermediate its ends a driving pinion J. This pinion J meshes with a gear K
upon a shaft L, and this gear K in turn meshes with a gear M upon a shaft N, thus
establishing a train of driving gears. The shaft L passes through the standard ])
and is provided with a smooth faced wheel P, while the shaft M passes through the
free end of the U-shaped frame E and carries a corrugated feed wheel Q situated
at a point over the plain surface of the driving wheel P and co-acts therewith to
clamp the sole or insole R therebetween as illustrated in Figure 2.
From this description it will be noted that the upper shaft N is carried by the
pivoted U-shaped frame E, whereby when the free end S of this U-shaped frame
is raised the corrugated feeding wheel Q is lifted from the smooth faced wheel P
for the purpose of placing thereunder the sole or insole to be channeled.
A spring T is connected through the medium of a link U with the free end of
the U-shaped frame E and serves to normally hold the free end S thereof down-
ward. A lifting lever V is intermediately pivoted to a bracket W extending from
the standard D, the inner end a of this lifting lever adapted to engage the link U
for lifting the free end of the U-shaped frame E against the tension of the spring T.
This lifting movement is effected by means of a rod 6 connected to the outer end

page_text: of the lever and this rod passes down and is provided with an operating stirrup
(not here shown) of any desired form.
Projecting upward from the free end S of this pivoted frame E is a box c which
has a vertically arranged recess or groove e in which is placed and movable
vertical a knife supporting bar f. This knife bar f is adjustable vertically by
means of a screw y passing therein, and by means of which it can be moved
vertically as will be readily understood.
Projecting from the standard D is a box h which contains a vertical groove i
in which is placed and vertically adjustable a lower knife carrying bar . The
adjacent and inner ends of these knife carrying bars f and are provided with
sockets for the reception of the rotatable knife holding rods k, the said knife hold-
ing rods being clamped in the sockets by means of the screws 7. One end of these
knife carrying rods k is provided with a transverse opening m through which the
knife handles pass and are clamped as illustrated.
The lower vertically movable knife bar is vertically adjustable by means of a
screw threaded rod ? passing therein, as shown and by means of which it can be
moved up or down.
It will be noted from the drawings that the upper knife » extends at an angle
downward and that the lower knife extends at an angle upward, and that both
knives extend in the same direction.
From this description it will be seen that each of the knives is movable bodily
up and down through the medium of the bars f and j and that the angles of the
knives are adjustable owing to the rotatable and adjustable knife holding rods k.
These two adjustments are very desirable in a machine having an upper and a
lower knife as here shown, whereby the knives can be adjusted to the proper angle,
and then adjusted vertically to the proper relative position of one to the other for
acting upon the sole or insole in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, according to
the material acted upon.
Attention is also directed to the fact that the upper knife n is carried through
the medium of its bar by the free end of the U-shaped frame E so that when the
corrugated feed wheel Q is lifted the upper knife is lifted therewith while the
lower knife n', remains in its adjusted position. The reason for this is that it
is necessary to lift the upper knife and insert the insole and then to let the upper
knife down thereon whereby the upper knife begins to cut at a point inside of the
edge of the sole as illustrated in Figure 2.
Especial attention is directed to the particular formation of the knives. Referr-
ing now to the upper knife n, it is provided at its upper side with a recess or cut
away portion 2 forming a clearance for the upper wall of the inner slit which is
heing cut, and that the under side of the upper knife is provided with an upwardly
extending recess 3 forming a space or clearance for that portion of the sole which
lies between the upper and lower knives. By reference to Figure 2, it will also
be seen that the end of the cutting edge of the lower knife a' is at a point approxi-
mately below the outer end 4 of the cutting edge 5 of the upper kuife n.
upper knife is in addition provided with an end cutting edge 6, whereby the upper
knife will cut the sole or insole as illustrated in Figure 2.
This
The lower knife has its cutting edge 7 extending downward at an angle to
the handle of the knife, whereby while the handle extends at an angle upwards
the angular cutting edge 7 extends in a horizontal direction for cutting a horizontal
slit in the edge of the sole or insole as clearly shown in Figure 2. This lower
knife is provided at its underside with a cut away portion or recess 8 forming a
clearance for the lower portion or flap of the sole which is formed by the cutting
action of the knife which is also illustrated in Figure 2.
Owing to the specific construction above described of the knives, three clearance
points are provided, one for each of the three flaps or walls formed by the slits cut
in the sole or insole, one clearance point being formed by the recess in the under-
side of the upper knife and between the two knives, while a clearance is provided
below the lower knife and above the upper knife. These clearance points are very

page_text: essential in a machine provided with two knives which extend in the same
direction.
By means of a machine having knives arranged as herein shown and described,
I am enabled to form an insole with two inwardly extending slits forming two
parallel channels, the walls of which when turned upward form a space for the
reception of a re-inforcing strip, and that the inner slit begins at a point where
the outer slit ends, thus enabling me to provide a sole or insole in which the two
slits or channels extend in the same direction but one not reducing the thickness
of the wall of the other. An insole of this description is not herein claimed as
it will form the subject matter of a separate application.
At the opposite side of the machine from the knives is provided a laterally
adjustable guiding shoulder 10, which is carried by a horizontally adjustable
bar 11, said bar being adjusted by means of a screw 12. I am aware that this
adjustable guide is not new of itself, but in combination with two knives extending
in the same direction it is new so far as I am aware whereby it is adjustable for
regulating the depth of the slit cut, and also for regulating the relative line of feed
in relation to the position of the adjustable knives.
By reference to Figure 4, in which the arrow indicates the direction of the feed
of the material being acted upon, it will be seen that the lower knife n¹ is in cutt-
ing advance of the upper knife n for the purpose of affording the lower knife a
firmer and a more solid cutting basis than would otherwise be the case. This is
desirable for the reason that the cutting edge of the lower knife being a broader
distance from the feeding mechanism or wheel, the leather acted upon is of course
stiffer and more solid before the upper slit is cut than after it is cut. Therefore the
reason for having the lower knife cut in advance of the upper knife. The upper
knife being nearer the clamping or feeding wheel, and cutting at a point inside
of the cutting of the lower knife, the cutting of the lower knife does not effect the
stiffness or the solidness of the leather acted upon by the upper knife as will be
readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is: :-
1st. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism and two knives
extending in the same direction, substantially as described.
2nd. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, and two knives
one situated above the other and extending at opposite angles with cutting edges
extending in the same direction, substantially as described.
3rd. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, an upper knife
and a lower knife each having cutting edges extending in the same direction and
relatively and independently adjustable carrying members for said knives, substan-
tially as described.
4th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, and two knives
extending in the same direction, the cutting edge of one knife beginning approxi-
mately at the inner end of the cutting edge of the other knife, substantially as
described.
5th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, and two knives
extending in the same direction, one knife being above the other, one of the
knives provided with a clearance recess in the space which is adjacent the other
knife, substantially as described.
6th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, and two knives
extending in the same direction, one knife being above the other, the cutting edge
of the lower knife ending at the inner end of the cutting edge of the upper knife,
and the inner face of the upper knife provided with a clearance recess at a point
above the cutting edge of the lower knife, substantially as described.
7th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, an upper knife,
and a lower knife each having cutting edges extending in the same direction, each

page_text: of the knives provided on their outer surfaces with clearance recesses and the upper
knife provided on its inner surface with a clearance recess, substantially as
described.
8th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, an upper knife
and a lower knife, each having its edges extending in the same direction, the cutt-
ing edge of the lower knife being in advance of the cutting edge of the upper
knife, substantially as described.
9th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, two knives situated
at a point inside of the feeding mechanism and extending in the same direction,
and vertically and oscillatory adjustable supports for the knives, substantially as
described.
10th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, two kuives having
cutting edges extending in the same direction, independent carriers for said
knives, the said knives being longitudinally adjustable in approximately the same
direction upon said carriers, substantially as described.
11th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, two knives having
cutting edges extending in the same direction, a guiding shoulder adjustable trans-
verse the line of feed, and carriers for said knives carrying an adjustable member
adapted to permit an adjustment of each of the knives in the same direction as the
adjustment of the guiding shoulder, substantially as described.
12th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism including an
immovable and a movable feed wheel, two knives extending in the same direction
in relation to the said feed wheels, one of the knives connected with the movable
feed wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described.
13th. A channeling machine comprising a stationary lower feed wheel, a
vertically movable upper feed wheel, a lower outwardly extending knife, and an
upper outwardly extending knife carried by the upper vertically movable feed
wheel, the cutting edges of both knives extending in the same direction, sub-
stantially as described.
14th. A channeling machine comprising a feeding mechanism, two knives, one
of the knives supported at a point above the feeding point of the material acted
upon and the other knife supported at a point below the feeding point of the
material acted upon, both of the knives extending in the same direction, substan-
tially as described.
15th. A channeling machine substantially as shown and described
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.