Improvements in Machinery for Punching Leather, also applicable to Heel Building and Attaching Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Punching Leather, also applicable
to Heel Building and Attaching Machines.
I, CHARLES WHITFIELD of Union Street, Kettering in the County of
Northampton, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
These improvements have for their object a simple method of applying at will
the reciprocating motion of a crank or eccentric to a sliding plunger or block for
the purpose of punching leather and which improvements are equally applicable
to heel building and attaching machines.
In constructing a machine to embody my improvements and carry my invention
into practical effect I mount the eccentric or crank on a horizontal shaft supported
by a bearing or standard rising from a bed or base plate.
The plunger or block is mounted so as to work in a slide branching from such
standard and is fitted with the usual complement of punches.
The connection between the eccentric and plunger which forms the essential
feature of my invention is effected by a knuckle form of link connection.
This link connection which is provided with a lever handle or treadle under the
control of a spiral spring always tends to fold and so neutralise the thrust of the
eccentric on the plunger.
When however it is desired to effect the punching operation this link is opened
out or pulled into line with the eccentric and plunger by the lever handle aforesaid
and so operates the latter and effects the punching of the leather and continues to
do so until such handle or lever is released when the link again assumes its normal
or inoperate condition.
This improved machine is fitted with a driving wheel or pulley which gives
rotary motion to the eccentric or crank shaft either direct or by means of gearing.
As applied to heel building and attaching machines the arrangement of
mechanism is slightly modified so far as the general construction of the machine is
concerned.
In heel building and attaching machines the plunger is arranged to work from
below the mould in which the heel is built or made.
Dated this 31st day of July 1891.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Punching Leather, also applicable
to Heel Building and Attaching Machines.
I CHARLES WHITFIELD of Union Street, Kettering, in the County of
Northampton Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
These improvements have for their object a simple method of applying at will
the reciprocating motion of a crank or eccentric to a sliding plunger for the
purpose of punching leather which improvements are equally applicable to heel
building machines.
In carrying out my invention I mount an eccentric or crank on a horizontal
driving shaft which is supported in a suitable bearing rising from a bed or base

page_text: plate. Working in a plunger at right angles to the said shaft is a plunger or
block fitted with punches or discs connected to the eccentric aforesaid by a knuckle
form of link. This link under the action of a spiral spring always tends to fold
and so neutralise the effects of the eccentric on the plunger but which link as soon
as it is opened out or pulled into line conveys the thrust of the eccentric to the
plunger causing it to rise up and down and so punch the leather placed beneath
it.
As soon as the link is released it again folds and the plunger remains
stationary.
As applied to heel building and attaching machines the eccentric and plunger
are arranged to work from below the mould or table of the machine.
And in order that my invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings illustrative of my
improvements and will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the
various figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Figs. 1 and 2 are front views of my improved leather punching machine (partly
in section) shewing the idle and active positions of the link.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a heel building machine with my improvements
applied thereto.
Fig. 4 is a front view of the eccentric and link portion only.
In accordance with my invention A is the horizontal shaft (seen dotted) driven
by toothed gearing B and supported in bearing C rising from the bed or base D.
E is the eccentric formed upon the end of the shaft A and surrounded by the
sheave F having a link or finger G loosely connected by my improved link K to
the plunger H as illustrated. This link is provided with a handle. L or other
equivalent device for straightening out the link. The plunger H is fitted with
punches and works in the vertical slide or cylinder I the front half of which is
shewn removed.
M is the spring situated in the recess formed in the plunger which pushes the
point N against the link and causes the same to fold as illustrated in Fig. 1.
The action of my improved machine is as follows.-Continuous revolving motion
being imparted to the horizontal shaft and the leather to be punched being placed
beneath the plunger at O the link K is pulled by handle L into line as illustrated
in Fig. 2. The thrust of the eccentric is then imparted to the plunger causing it
to ascend and descend and so punch the leather. As soon as the punching operation
is completed the handle L is "let go" the link K simultaneously folding outwards
and again assuming the position shewn in Fig. 1; the shaft A continuing to revolve
without having any effect on the plunger through the idle action of the link.
It will thus be readily apparent that the punching operation can only be effected
at the instant of straightening out the link.
As applied to heel building machines Q is the eccentric mounted on the shaft R
driven by means of pulleys and toothed gearing as illustrated whilst S is the link
connecting the eccentric Q with the plunger T all arranged beneath the table of
the machine. The plunger in this case operates in an upward direction for driving
the nails into the heel formed in the mould T' and for attaching such heel to the
boot.
The link is opened out by means of the handle U or an equivalent foot lever.
U¹ is the block either employed for compressing the heel in course of building or
for holding the boot against the heel during the process of attaching, being forced
and held in position by the screw W.
Having thus 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 1
claim is.
1st. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved
punching machine substantially as set forth, and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 on the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a machine for punching leather the use and employment of a link K

page_text: folding under the action of the spring M (or its equivalent) substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
3rd. In heel building and attaching machines the use and employment of the
link S, eccentric Q, and plunger T all mounted and operating substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 29th day of April 1892
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicant.