IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR SECURING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES UPON THEIR UPPERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR SECURING THE SOLES
OF BOOTS AND SHOES UPON THEIR UPPERS." A communication from abroad
by Joseph Symonds Foster, of Salem, Massachusetts, United States of.
America
Sealed the 22nd February 1878, and dated the 31st October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY
FOR SECURING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES UPON THEIR UPPERS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Symons Foster, of Salem, Massachusetts, United
States of America.]
The said Invention relates to apparatus or machinery for pressing the soles of
boots and shoes upon their uppers after cementing the same, and while the cement
is hardening.
The said apparatus is provided with an adjustable elbow or clamp, which in com-
bination with a suitable last holds the boot or shoe down upon a bed of india-rubber
or other suitable elastic material. This bed rests upon and forms part of a flexible
diaphragm, also formed of similar elastic or flexible material. Below this diaphragm
is a space or chamber into which air, water, or other fluid is forced from the inedium
whereby pressure is produced upon the said diaphragm. This pressure may be
obtained from any convenient vessel or reservoir, or by means of a pump or other
suitable forcing apparatus; and it must be sufficient to hold the cemented sole
firmly and tightly against the upper while the cement is hardening.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
April 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY
FOR SECURING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES UPON THEIR UPPERS." A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Symonds Foster, of Salem, Massachusetts, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to apparatus or machinery for pressing together the soles
and uppers in the manufacture of boots or shoes in which the sole is united to the
upper by cement or other adhesive material, and which are commonly termed
'compo" boots or shoes.
In manufacturing this class of goods it is necessary to hold the sole against the
lasted upper with a considerable degree of pressure while the glue or other adhesive
material is hardening.
This method of manufacture has heretofore been considered as more particularly
suitable for the production of children's boots and shoes, and has been performed by
a machine consisting of a series of elastic beds for thoi soles resting on a' rigid' sup
port, and a corresponding series of pressure bars, or devices adapted to be :forced
downwardly on the lasts by means of a lever or treadle worked by the operator. To
obtain a sufficient degree of pressure the operator has to exert his utmost strength
on the lever or treadle; hence the said machine: is very difficult to operate, and a
person of very great strength is required to attend the same.
This Invention. is designed first to provide for the above-named purpose..an
apparatus or machine in which the pressure shall be exerted' entirely by water,
compressed air, or other equivalent medium without the expenditure of muscular
force, such pressure being exerted by preference upwardly against the bottom of
the sole.
The said Invention is also designed to provide an improved device for bearing
upon the top of the last and the upper held thereon, either as a support.or. bearing
against the upward pressure exerted on the sole against the last and upper, or as
means for applying downward-pressure to the last.
The said apparatus or machine comprises an elastic or yielding diaphragm, a
chamber or space adapted to receive a fluid; such as water or air under pressure, for
raising the diaphragm and thus pressing the sole upward; and a device for sup-
porting the last and upper against the upward pressure exerted on the sole.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine: con-
structed according to this Invention; Figure 2. is. a vertical sectional view of the
same.
Like letters indicate the same parts in both of these Figures.
A is the base of the said apparatus or machine, which base contains a chamber or
space B for the reception of water, compressed air, or other equivalent medium. The
chamber or space B is provided with an inlet and an outlet pipe C, D, and.is covered
by an elastic diaphragm E which is composed of a sheet of india-rubber covered with
canvas, or of some other suitable elastic or yielding material. The said diaphragm
is preferably confined at its edges between frames or sections a, a', which are
securely bolted together, and to a bottom section a², the section a forming, the
sides of the space B, and the section a² the bottom of the same; H is the last; I is
the sole; and J is the upper of a shoe on the said last.
The clamp or bearing L that holds the last and shoe against the upward pressure
may be of any suitable construction. I prefer to make it in the form of an elbow

page_text: pivotted to a bearing M which is supported by a vertical standard N, and is verti-
cally adjustable thereon, the said clamp being adapted to swing in a vertical or
nearly vertical plane. The two ends of the said clamp L are adapted to bear on the
top of the last, and on the front of the upper over the last, as shewn in the Drawing,
and the clamp being pivotted between its bearing ends is enabled to bear at both
points on lasts of different sizes and shapes.
The front end of the said clamp is provided with a block P, which is pivoted
thereto by an ear or lug P¹, and is transversely concave on its under side. To this
block is attached a facing R composed of a strip of india-rubber or other yielding
material attached to the opposite sides of the block, and drawn across the concave
surface of the same. The pivoted block P is fitted to the clamp with a capability of
a slight rocking motion, whereby it conforms to the inclination of the surface on
which it bears, and the concavity of the said block prevents its coming in contact
with the india-rubber at the bearing point, thus preventing injury or defacement of
the upper of the boot or shoe. Instead of this clamp I may use a lever pivoted to
the base A, near the toe of the last, and provided with an adjustable toe and heel
piece to bear on the last and the boot or shoe, with suitable provision for fastening
the lever down on the base at or near the heel of the last. The said clamp may be
used for applying downward pressure on the last if desired.
In using the said machine, the last, with the upper and sole, are placed on the
diaphragm after the sole has been cemented to the upper. The clamp L is then
brought to bear on the top of the last and upper. Water, compressed air, or other
suitable inedium is then forced into the chamber B, and raising the diaphragm E
presses it against the sole and holds the latter firmly against the bottom of the
last and upper, the pressure being allowed to continue until the cement sets or
bardens.
It will be obvious that a very strong pressure may be brought to bear on the sole
in this manner without any inconvenient exertion on the part of the operator, par-
ticularly in places where the water is supplied under a bead or pressure of about
forty pounds to the square inch. Where such facilities are not afforded a force pump
can be used to accomplish the desired result.
By duplicating or otherwise increasing the number of the parts above described,
any desired number of boots or shoes can be pressed simultaneously and by the same
operator.
By the use of water or its equivalent as the means, for applying pressure as
described, I am enabled to operate advantageously on classes of boots or shoes not
heretofore commonly made with cemented soles, for the reason that the area of
pressure increases with the increase in the size of the shoe, and no increase of
power is required, whereas in the machines heretofore employed an increase in the
size of the shoe would necessitate a corresponding increase of power and involve the
use of complicated apparatus or mechanism to obtain the desired pressure.
The manner of practising this Invention may be modified by confining compressed
air or water in the space or chamber made under the diaphragm, and forcing the boot
or shoe upon the said diaphragm, but I do not consider this to be an advantageous
method of operation.
This Invention may also be advantageously used as a "beating out" machine,
that is to say, a machine in which the sole of a shoe after being attached to the
upper, either by sewing or pegging, is subjected to severe pressure to bring it to the
desired shape. By the use of the said Invention this operation can be performed in
a better and more economical manner than by the ordinary method; the mode of
operation is the same as that above described for the "compo. work."
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 understood
that I claim an apparatus or machine for pressing together the soles and uppers of
boots and shoes, and which embodies or comprises an elastic or yielding diaphragm
placed over a space or chamber for containing water, air, or other fluid, and a device
•

page_text: for supporting the last and upper against the pressure exerted upon the sole, as
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TIZM
DANT T