Improvements in Apparatus for Attaching Heels to Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Attaching Heels to Boots and Shoes.
We, JAMES WEST, Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers,
Engineer, and HENRY JOSEPH WILDER FORCE RAPHAEL, Gentleman, both of
39, Highbury Grove, London, N., do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for attaching heels to
boots and shoes, more particularly those heels made of wood which are attached
by nails, driven or forced from the inside of the boot or shoe.
One of the objects of our invention is to provide a simple means whereby the
heels, may be attached to boots without having to "fold back or turn up'
"
the uppers in order to get the boot on to the nail-block, as at present.
"
Another object of our invention is, to provide a means of obtaining the stroke
required, to drive the nails home, without using a stop to indicate when the
maximum stroke has been attained.
According to one arrangement, there is an upright hollow pillar or standard,
to the upper end of which is fixed a nail-block wherein there are a group of
vertical perforations containing the nails.
The base of the standard rests upon, or is formed into, a combined plate and
tray, suitable as a means of fixing same to a bench, and to hold nails.
Inside the standard there is a vertically moveable cross-head which is provided
with a group of plungers or drivers.
These coincide with, and are made to enter, the perforations in the nail-
block from below, and their upward movement forces the nails out at the top.
The cross-head may be made to work in bored guides within the standard, or a
pin may be made to project from each side of same to work in slotted guides
formed in the lateral walls of the pillar or standard.
There is a staple-shaped strap, or forked-bridle, outside the standard, consist-
ing of two vertical side links connected across the top, a little above the nail-
block, by a bridge-piece, and arranged to admit the standard within the fork.
There is a transverse horizontal pin going through the standard below the
cross-head. Each end of the pin projects out clear of the standard so as to catch
the legs of the forked bridle which are pivotted to it, so as to make the bridle
capable of swinging with a limited movement about it. This pin is capable
of a limited vertical movement, and a alot-guide is formed in cach side of the
standard for this purpose.
The bridge-piece formed at the free end of the bridle is provided with an
adjusting arrangement, by which it may be adjusted, to accomodate heels of
different sizes and shapes.

page_text: The cross-head is connected inside the standard to one end of a link which
forms one member of a knuckle joint, or toggle; and the transverse horizontal
pin, of the forked bridle, is also connected inside the standard to the ends of two
links forming another member the knuckle-joint, or toggle.
These links, are connected in turn to a block, which is attached to a lover by
which, it is actuated. Upon depressing the lever, one member of the knuckle-
joint acts in tension, and the other in compression. The compression member
forces the cross-head forward, whilst the tension member draws ine forked bridle
downwards.
There is practically no fixed point from which the toggle acts, as it is arranged,
in such a way that it is free to act, either simultaneously or successively, from a
number of points. This we do, by merely suspending the toggle arrangement
through the links, leading to the cross-head and to the pin of the bridle.
The lever may have a counter balance weight, or a spring.
When the downward motion of the forked bridle is arrested by the bridge-
piece coming in contact with the heel of the boot, which is placed upon the nail-
block, the upward movement of the cross-head, commences. In its normal posi-
tion the toggle is partly suspended from the compression link, and partly, from
the tension link, or from the counter balance spring, and hangs partly below the
base of the standard.
By making use of the toggle principle we are enabled to get a definite stroke
without using "stops." For example, when the toggle comes into a straight
line, it is at its maximum extension, and any further motion will not strain the
machine, or injure the heel, but will merely cause it to overshoot the point.
The heads of the plungers or drivers, are bevilled off, in a peculiar way so as
to meline the nails inwards as they rest normally upon them; and, in order that
the nails may be always directed into the heel obliquely with accuracy, and to
ensure the heads of the muils resting on the plungers in the same spot, we prefer
to make the heads of the plungers, as small as possible, and to countersink the
surface in a suitable way. We may, however, countersink only, the central por-
tion and chamfer the edge, so that the heads of the nails rest in a kind of "cup."
The upper ends of the holes in the nail-block may be bevilled off, or may be
flared, to assist to give the nails the requisite inclination.
When it is desired to attach a heel to a boot or shoe, the bridle is first swung
out of the way, and the nails are placed, point upwards, by hand, in the nail-
block. The heel is next laid on the boot, which is then placed sole upwards upon
the nail-block. The bridle is brought back into position to embrace the heel,
and to keep it in place. The lever is then depressed, and thereupon the bridle
descends upon the heel, and the cross-head, carrying the plungers or drivers, is
moved upwards driving the nails out of the sockets into the heel, and so securely
attuch it. Instead of a toggle, we sometimes use an arrangement, known as
Stanhope levers.
In another arrangement, the nails, in lieu of being forced in simultaneously
in groups, are driven in only one or two at a time. This is done in order to
reduce the pressure upon the heels, and thus prevent them from splitting. For
example, the total pressure on the heel at the time of forcing in five nails simul-
taneously, would be much greater than the pressure necessary to force only one
or two at a time. In this case we prefer to give the plungers their reciprocating
movement from some circular motion, such as cams keyed to a shaft rotated by
a hand wheel.
The plungers may be actuated separately, or two or more may be coupled
together.
1000

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Attaching Heels to Boots and Shoes,
We, JAMES WEST, Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers,
Engineer, and HENRY JOSEPH WILBERFORCE RAPHAEL, Gentleman, both of
39, Highbury Grove, London, N., 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 relates to improvements in apparatus for attaching heels to
boots and shoes more particularly those heels made of wood which are attached
by nails driven or forced from the inside of the boots or shoes.
One of the objects of our present invention, is to provide a simple means,
whereby the heels may be attached to boots without having to fold back or turn
up the uppers in order to get the boot on to the nail block as at present.
Another object of our said invention, is to provide a means of obtaining the stroke
required to drive the nails home without using a stop to indicate when the
maximum stroke has been obtained.
According to one arrangement there is an upright hollow pillar, or standard,
to the upper end of which is fixed a nail block wherein there are a group of
vertical perforations preferably five, for containing the nails.
The base of the standard rests upon, or is formed into, a combined plate or
tray suitable as a means of fixing same to a bench, and to hold the nails and so
forth.
Inside the standard there is a vertically moveable crosshead, which is provided
with a group of plungers, or drivers, in the form of rods. These coincide with,
and are made to enter the perforations, in the nail block from below, and their
upward movement forces the nails out at the top. The crosshead may be made to
work in bored guides within the standard, or a pin may be made to project from
each side of same and work in slotted guides formed in the lateral walls of the
standard.
"1
There is a staple-shaped strap, or forked bridle, which we call a stirrup,"
outside the standard consisting of two vertical side links connected across the top,
a little above the nail block height by a bridge piece, and arranged to adinit the
standard within the fork.
16
There is a transverse horizontal pin going through the standard below the
crosshead. The ends of this pin project out clear of the standard on each side so
as to catch the legs of the stirrup" which are pivotted to it, so as to make
the stirrup capable of swinging with a limited movement about it. This pin is
capable of a limited vertical movement as well as the partial rotative one just
described, and a slot-guide is formed in each side wall of the standard for this
purpose.
The bridge piece, formed at the free end of the stirrup, is provided with an
adjusting arrangement, which we call a presser foot by which it may bo
adjusted to accomodate heels of different sizes.
The crosshead is connected, inside the standard, to one end of a link which
forms one member of a knuckle joint or toggle, and the transverse horizontal pin,
to which the legs of the stirrup are attached, is also connected, inside the standard,
to the ends of two links forming another member of the toggle. These
links are connected in turn to a block which is attached to 8
lever by which it is actuated. This block forms another or third
member and completes the toggle or knuckle joint. Upon depressing
the lever, one member of the toggle acts in tension and another in compression.

page_text: The compression member forces the crosshead upwards, whilst the tension mem-
ber draws the stirrup downwards.
There is practically no fixed point from which the toggle acts, as it is arranged
in such a way, that it is free to act either simultaneously or successively from a
number of points. This we do by merely suspending the toggle arrangement
through the link leading to the crosshead and to the transverse horizontal pin
to which the stirrup is pivotted.
The lever may have a balance weight or spring.
When the downward motion of the stirrup is arrested by the adjustable block
or presser foot coming into contact with the heel of the boot, which is placed upon
the nail block, the upward movement of the crosshead commences. In its normal
position, the toggle is suspended partly from the compression link, and partly
from the tension link or is kept in position by a notch-plate fixed to the under-
side of the base of the standard.
16
By making use of the toggle principle, we are enabled to get a definite stroke
without using
stops." For example when the toggle comes into a straight
line, it is at its maximum extension, and any further motion will not strain the
machine or injure the heel, but will merely cause it to overshoot the point. When
it is desired to attach a heel to a boot or shoe, the stirrup is first swung out of the
way and the nails are placed points upwards by hand in the recesses in the nail
block.
The heel is next laid on the boot, which is then placed sole upwards upon the
nail-block. The bridle is brought back into position to embrace the heel. The
lever is then depressed and thereupon the stirrup descends upon the heel, and
the crosshead carrying the plungers or drivers is moved upwards driving the nails
out of the sockets into the heel and so securely attach it.
In order that our invention may be better understood, we will now proceed to
describe the drawings hereto attached, and markod Figs. 1 & 2, wherein:-Fig. 1
is a longitudinal section, and is intended to show the internal working parts of
the machine. It also shows, in dotted lines, the position of the swinging stirrup
when out of use. The swinging stirrup in this position, comes to rest against
the stop 20. When brought into use, it occupies the vertical position shown in
strong lines in the section. Fig. 2 is a transverse longitudinal section and also
shows the internal working parts of our machine. The curve at the upper end of
the swinging stirrup is formed to accomodate the hand of the operator in the
adjustment and steadying of the heel of the boot.
In the drawings:—
1, is the upright hollow pillar.
2, is the nail block attached to the upper end of the pillar.
3, 3, 3, 3, 3d, are the five vertical perforations in same containg the nails.
4, is the base of the standard shown, formed into a tray.
5, is the vertically moveable crosshead.
6, 6, 6, 6º, 64, are the plungers or rods for driving out the nails, these co-
incide with and are made to enter the perforations 3 3 3 3º 3ª.
7, 7, are the borod guides wherein the crosshead 5 makes a reciprocating
movement.
8, is the swinging stirrup.
9, is the transverse horizontal pin, to the ends of which the legs of the stirrup
are attached
This in is canakla

page_text: transverse pin 9 and at the other end to the block 18, and go to form
another member of the toggle. 19, is a lever which is attached to the block 18
and by which the toggle joint is actuated. 20, is a stop-pin against which the
swinging stirrup comes to rest when out of use. 21, is a stop-pin which prevents
the swinging stirrup from falling forward when in use.
22, is a pin going transversely through the lever and made to engage a spring
notch plate 23, fixed to the underside of the tray 4, in lieu of a balance weight
for keeping the lever in a raised position.
The dotted projection shows the position assumed by the swinging stirrup at
the end of the stroke. It will be noticed that the transverse pin 9 has been raised
upwards in the slot-guide 10. This movement is necessary in order to free the
presser foot 11 from the heel of the boot.
When it is desired to attach a heel to a boot or shoe, the stirrup 8, pivotted to
the pin 9, is first swung from its dotted position so as to rest against the pin 21.
The lever 19 is then depressed and thereupon the stirrup descends upon the heel,
whilst at the some time, the transverse pin beds down in the slot guide, and becomes
the fulcrum for the vertical movement of the crosshead carrying the plungers or
drivers, which is moved upwards by the continued downward stroke of the lever.
driving the nails out of the sockets into the heel, which has been previously placed
upon the nail block. By raising the lever 19, until it re-engages in the notch of
the spring notch plate, the machine is ready for use again.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a machine for attaching heels to boots and shoes the use of a toggle for
the purpose of producing motion in two separate directions, whereby the presser
foot is moved downwards and the crosshead, carrying the drivers moved upwards
successively by oue stroke of a lever, substantially as described and shown herein.
2. In a machine for attaching heels to boots and shoes the use of a toggle for
the purpose of avoiding any “stop” at the finish of the stroke, substantially as
described and shown herein.
3. In a machine for attaching heels to boots and shoes the use of a swinging
stirrup to which the adjustable presser foot is attached substantially as described
and shown herein.
Dated this Thind da.. nt
1000