Improvements in the Manufacture of Heels for Boots and Shoes, and in Apparatus Employed therein.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1894 -Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Heels for Boots and Shoes,
and in Apparatus Employed therein.
A communication from abroad by JAMES WILLSON BROOKS, of Petersham, in
the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America.
1, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 machines for pressing on all sides and thereby
roughly shaping heel blanks preparatory to the application of the same to boot and
shoe soles.
In this my present invention, the heel blank, built up of a plurality of layers or
lifts is ted from a suitable hopper upon a carrier, which conveys it to the
compressing dies, where it is compressed on all sides, said carner having preferably
suitable means for clamping the heel blank in position in a yielding manner
during such movement to prevent displacement when the machine Is working
rapidly.
In my improved machine, the stroke of the parts in compressing
the heel
vertically is always substantially the same, and to provide for heels of varying
thickness employ a series of tread plates, one or more of which are arranged
upon the carrier, according to the thickness of the desired heel; and I have
combined with the hopper to contain the heel blanks suitable adjusting means
whereby said hopper, and with it the heel blank feeding device, may be adjusted
vertically according to the effective or aggregate thickness of the tread plates.
Means are provided for securely locking the heel seat die in working position,
such locking enabling it to effectually resist any lateral displacement during the
time that the heel blank is being compressed.
Other features of my invention will be hereafter described and pointed out.
Fig. 1 is a view partially in side elevation but chiefly m vertical section, of a
machine embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a detail showing the adjustable hopper
Fig. 3, a section below the dotted line X, Fig. 2.
Fig. is a partial front elevation of the machine shown in section in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a detail of the devices for moving the feeder.
Fig 6 is a detail showing the dies in plan view, the carrier and the hopper
adjusting mechanism being in section in about the line a Fig. 4.
Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 show respectively a side elevation, plan, and longitudinal
section and end view of the blank feeding mechanism.
Fig. 11 is a detail illustration of the heel seat die and its actuating devices.
Fig. 11 is a detail of the rocker lever H.
Fig. 12. details of the heel seat die.
Fig. 13 is an underside view of the stationary cross head or abutment.
Fig. 14 is a plan view looking upon the dies closed with the heel seat die locked
in position.
Fig 15, an enlarged detail of the heel seat die.
Fig 16 is a detail showing the adjustable connection between the links and the
framework.
The side pieces A of the frame are connected at their upper ends by a stationary

page_text: cross head A¹, and at their lower ends by a fixed cross head A2, the said cross
heads being firmly connected together by 1ods A3, A3, held in sockets in the side
frames, said rods serving also as guide rods for the moveable cross head B to be
described.
The machine has a suitable shaft B driven in any usual manner, said shaft
having, as shown, a pinion B2 which engages a toothed gear B³ fast on a crank
shaft B connected by link B to the pm B forming the junction between the two
links B7, B8, constituting what is called a toggle joint, said links being jointed
respectively to the moveable cross head B and the lower fixed cross head "A³, as
shown, through the intervention of shoes or brackets b, b'.
The frame sides are connected by means of a girt C to which I have secured a
bracket (1, said bracket having a cam slot 2, shown as having substantially
straight portions at bottom and top connected by an melined portion, see Fig. 1,
and said bracket has connected to it as shown by stud bolts 8, a cam plate C³,
shown best in Fig. 11.
The underside of the cross head A', see Figs. 1 and 13, is in this instance shown
as recessed at « to receive the top of the heel seat die D, and said recess is made
deeper at its centre, as at a', to receive the head of the bolt a², used to confine in
position on the heel seat die its detachable face d, see Fig. 15, said faces being
readily changed for heels of different sizes, said faces having preferably at their
backs projections, as 4, to enter a recess in the main body of the heel seat die, said
projection accurately positioning the faces.
The moveable cross head has mounted upon it carriers i, i, which carry edge
compressing dies j., see Fig. 6, said carriers being connected by links with the
franie-work.
Here is made provision for holding said dies in working position in a novel
manner, by bolts 5, 5, pinned or jointed preferably by thumb pins 6 at one
end to the sand dies and extended through the said carriers, said bolts having nuts 7
applied to their ends, said thumb pins being readily removable whenever it
desired to change the dies j, J.
is
In practice the die carriers are moved toward and from each other by raising
and lowering of the cross head B during the operation of compressing the heel
blank.
In this instance of my invention the die carriers i, i, have at their front ends, sec
Fig. 6, heavy lugs or projections 8, to the inner sides of which are applied suitable
hardened gibs 10, which, as the carriers i. 1, are made to approach each other, act
upon and grasp the outer side of the breast guide connected to one end of the
body of the heel seat die, said breast guide being preferably integral with said heel
seat die, as thereby better work may be done than when the said heel seat die
and breast gauge are made as separate pieces.
The shape of the breast gauge is best shown in Figs. 12 and 14, and it will be
een that said gauge has an angular edge 12, which as the moveable cross head B
rises, passes close to the breast edges of the tread plate 14, sand edge 12 entering a
groove or depression 15, see Fig. 12, below the top of said tread plate.
The edge referred to is useful because it acts to cut off or remove any adhering
fibres of the leather which may have remained on the tread plate.
In practice, the compressing movement of the parts in compressing al heel
vertically will be the same, but heel blanks will from time to time vary in
thickness, and to provide for this the thickness of the tread plate is increased or
decreased the latter being readily detachable from the heel blank carrier to be
described.
In practice it is found very convenient to make up the tread plate of a series of
these plates, two or more, I having shown two plates in the drawing.
The heels to be compressed will be put into a hopper E, see Fig. 1, the sides of
said hopper being adjustable by screw 16 on an arm 17 provided, see Fig 2, with
a scale, which, co-operating with the lower end of the side of the hopper, indicates
the proper position of the hopper for heel blanks of different height.

page_text: The foot of the arm 17 is in this instance secured by bolt 18 to an adjustable
table E, on which sludes the heel feeding mechanism to be described, said table
having a depending shank 19, see Fig. 4, which shank is fitted to slide vertically
between guides 20, a screw 21 resting on a suitable seat 22 and engaging said
shank being employed to adjust said table vertically and with it the hopper, to
thus correctly position the heel blank feeding mechanism according to the thickness
of the tread plate and the thickness of the heel blank, said screw constilating one
form of adjusting device, but for the screw, I may use any suitable equivalent
device.
The heel feeder, in this instance of my invention, consists essentially of a plate e
constituting a heel blank support, see Figs. 7 to 10, said plate,--it lying when at
rest substantially under the lower open end of the hopper E-being slotted at 24
for the passage through it of a stud 25 secured in a pusher el, said pusher acting
against the edge of the lowermost heel blank in the hopper, and moving it laterally
into position on the tread plate referred to, it lying on a projection of what I
denominate the heel blank carrier G.
The stud 25 is surrounded between the pusher and support, see Fig. 9, with a
friction washer 26, preferably of leather or rawhide, and below this support said
stud is surrounded by a second washer 27 which may be of wood, said washer being
acted upon by a spring 28, controlled as to its pressure by suitable nuts 29, said
washers constituting a friction device which will cause the supporting plate to be
moved until obstructed, in unison with the pusher, as the latter is actuated by the
link 30, Jointed to the compound lever 31, 32, see Figs. 4 and 5, said lever
constituting part of the actuating mechanism for the feeding mechanism.
The arm 32 is fixed to a rock-shaft 3, mounted in suitable bearings 83 on the
frame, said rock-shaft having an arm 34 provided with a roller or other stud which
enters a cam groove, not shown, in a suitable cam dise 36.
The arm 31 is jointed by pin 37 to the arm 332 and said arm 31 is made adjustable
as to its effective throw by an adjusting device 38 shown as an adjustable screw,
one end of which acts against arm 31 when the pusher is being moved forward to
feed a heel blank, the screw 38* in ear 39 of arm 32 acting on the arm 31 when
the pusher is being retracted.
The screw 38 acts to always return the pusher to a common starting point, but
by adjusting said screws so as to provide for more or less lost motion between them
and the am 31, the pusher may be moved more or less in the feeding operation
according to the size of the heel blank.
The stop 40, see Fig. 9, arrests the support e in a definite position as the pusher
is retracted.
In operation, the supporting plate is moved forward until its end meets the
tread plate then opposite it, and thereafter the pusher by its continued movement
pushes the blank from said support onto the tread plate, and under the heel seat die
to be described.
To ensure the positive retraction of the support the latter has been provided
with ratchet teeth as at 41, see Figs. 7 and 8, which are engaged by a pawl 42
pivoted on the pusher and having a pin 4 which rides on a cam plate 44, the latter
effecting the disengagement of the pawl from the ratchet teeth as soon as the said
support has been retracted sufficiently to not interfere with the movement of the
heel carrier, and thereafter the further movement of the support in the same
direction is effected by the friction device before described.
The carrier G is herein represented as a bent lever pivoted at G¹ on a
suitable bracket G² secured to the moveable cross head B, as best shown in
Fig. 4.
The lower end of lever G has a roller or other stud G³ which enters cam
groove 2.
The pin G also serves as the fulcrum of a rocker lever H having a depending
arm which co-operates with the portion 56 of the cam plate C³, said rocker

page_text: lever having also an arm which is jointed at 45 to a block 46 into which is
adjustably screwed one end of a rod h, the head of which enters a spring case
containing preferably a spiral spring h', see Fig. 1, said case having that end
through which the link passes made detachable, the rod acting against one end of
said spring, said spring and rod constituting a yielding or spring link.
The upper end of the spring link is jointed to a lever pivoted on a link
mounted on the carrier G, the inner end of lever being jointed at 48 to the
combined heel seat die and breast gauge.
The rocker lever H, see Fig. 11, has near the upper end of arm * and at the
inner side of said arm a shoulder 50.
Viewing Fig. 1, showing the moveable cross head in its lowest position, it will be
seen that the lower end of arm ¹× is under the portion 56 of the cam plate C²,
and it will be assumed that a beel blank has been pushed between the tread
plate and the heel seat die, and is lightly held there by the stress of spring h*,
but the breast of the heel blauk may not be against the breast gauge.
in
In this condition the cross head B will be moved vertically and the arm
the first part of such movement will strike the portion 56 of the cam plate C², and
the rocker lever H will be turned, and when the lower end of the arm h¹* rests
against the said portion 56 the point 45 of the yielding link will have been moved
to the left and downward, see Fig 1, whereby the rod is retracted until its head
by contact with the case pulls the latter down to release the heel blank and
let it move by gravity until the breast of the blank rests against the breast
gauge.
This done, in the further upward movement of the carrier, the roll G2 will enter
the inclined part of groove 2, and the carrier will be moved on the pivotal point G
m such direction as to carry the heel blank into position between the edge dies,
and in such movement the relative positions of the centres of the lower end of the
yielding link and the carrier will result in compressing the spring 4, thus clamping
or pinching the heel blank between the heel seat die and tread plate, said clamping
action continuing until after the heel has been put into position and compressed,
and the carrier has thereafter begun its outward movement.
As the carrier with the compressed heel is being moved outwardly to retract it
from the die, the lower end of arm then resting against the portion 56 of the
plate (the heel seat die will begin to rise, for the strain on the spring link is
then exerted downwardly, the said heel seat die rising until the compressed face of
the plate is raised sufficiently to free the compressed blank.
Substantially as the heel blank carrier reaches its normal outward position, the
heel blank feeder commences to move forward to take the heel blank from the
hopper E and push it toward and to meet the compressed blank then on the blank
earner, and while the pressure on the compressed blank is relaxed, the pusher
pushes the edge of the uncompressed blank against the compressed blank and starts
the latter from the carrier.
The heel seat die is kept elevated until a small portion of the uncompressed beel
blank is lodged between the tread blank and the heel seat die, and this effected, the
heel seat die will be caused to descend, act on and clamp the uncompressed heel
blank, and it will hold said heel blank compressed by a strain measured by the
spring, while the pusher in its continued forward movement pushes the heel into
place between the tread plate and the heel seat die.
It is important to hold the uncompressed blank frictionally, as stated, for other-
wise in the quick movement of the machine the said heel blank could not be properly
positioned upon the heel blank carrier.
In lowering the carrier, as soon as the shoulder 50 on the depending lever ¹×
meets a shoulder 52, see Fig. 11, on the cam plate C², said rocker lever is given
direction to increase the tension of
a quick turn for a slight distance in
spring, and at the same time put the lower end of arm ¹× under the portion 56
referred to.
a

page_text: The uncompressed heel blank in coming into place between the tread plate and
the heel seat die acts against the compressed blank then on the tread and knocks
the same off.
The cross head A' has attached to its front side by suitable set screws 100 a
guide 101, behind which the heel seat die rises while the heel blank is being
compressed, said guide preventing any outward shipping of said die, said guide
being shown as notched to embrace and steady the lever h³.
I have before described that the lever 1 and 2 is or will be adjusted one part
on the other to enable the pusher to operate properly with a heel blank of a
certain size, in order that the pusher may correctly place the heel blank upon the
carrier, and to properly effect this adjustment accurately, the operator, prior to
adjusting the lever 31, 2, will rotate the shaft B until the point n, shown as
marked on the gear B, registers substantially with the finger n³, and with the
shaft in such position, the pusher being forward, the operator will make the final
adjustment to adapt the pusher for the size of the heel blank thereafter to be used.
The act of compressing the heel blank edgewise requires the exertion of, it will
be understood, very considerable power, and consequently to resist the strain the
mechanism employed must be very strong and rigid, and it has been aimed to
provide means whereby the carriers upon which the edge-compressing jaws are
mounted may resist excessive strain, and to do this m the best and most economical
manner, the upper end A of the frame-work of the machine, see Fig. 4, is provided
with an ear which receives a fulcrum pin 66, which pin pivots the link k of the
carrier to the frame work.
In practice it is preferred to make this pin with eccentric ends 66, as best shown in
Fig. 16, said ends receiving upon them the links k, there being two such links as
herein represented in connection with each cantier i.
The body of said pin will preferably be of greater diameter than its eccentric
ends and will have a diving fit in said ear.
By fixing said pin so that it cannot rotate while the machine is in use I am enabled
to throw all the wear on the pin and links, and to compensate for this wear and
also to enable the faces of the edge-compressing jaws to be accurately adjusted to
properly co-operate with the heel blank carrier, I may remove said pius and rotate
them more or less, their eccentric portions adjusting the carners towards and from
each other as may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The use in a machine for compressing heels, of a die to compress a heel
edgewise, a tread plate, and a breast gauge having a cutting edge to co-operate with
the breast end of the tread plate.
2. The use m a machine for compressing heels, of a die to compress a heel
edgewise, a carrier having a tread plate to receive a heel blank to be compressed
and put into the space between the edge compressing dies, and a heel seat die
connected to and moveable with said carrier.
al
In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a carrier having a tread plate
to receive the heel blank to be compressed edgewise, and heel seat die to
co-operate with said carrier and hold the heel blank while being put into com-
pressing position, and devices to support said heel seat die in a yielding manner to
thus enable the heel blank to be held frictionally while the carrier is being moved
with the heel blank.
4. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier having a
tread plate, a heel seat die, and a lever to which it is connected, a yielding link,
and a cam, devices between said cam and link to control the effective force of the
said yielding link.
5. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier having a
tread plate, a heel seat die, and devices to support said heel seat die on said carrier,

page_text: a breast gauge, and devices to actuate the heel seat supporting devices to temporarily
release a heel blank, to enable the breast of said blank then between the tread
plate and heel seat die to move against said breast gauge.
6. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of one cross head, and a second
cross head, a pair of die carriers mounted on one of said cross heads, edge com-
pressing dies sustained by said die carriers, a heel blank carrier mounted on one of
said cross heads, and provided with a tread plate, a heel seat die, devices to support
it on said heel blank carrier, and devices to move said heel seat die vertically on or
with relation to the tread plate of said carrier, and devices to change the relative
positions of said cross heads whereby the heel blank while being compressed
edgewise is also compressed in its thickness.
7. In a heel pressing machine, the use of die-carriers and edge compressing dies
located in spaces in said carriers, and longitudinally adjustable eye-bolts removably
attached to said die-carriers, and pivotally connected to said dies to hold the latter
firmly in place m said carriers
8. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier having a
tread plate, a connected heel seat die, and a spring and intermediate devices to
normally keep the said heel seat die pressed toward said tread plate to pinch the
heel blank frictionally.
9. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier having a
tread plate, a heel seat die, a spring, and intermediate connections between it and
said die to normally press the heel seat die onto a heel blank resting on the tread
plate, a pair of die carriers, edge compressing dies mounted thereon, and devices
to move said heel blank carrier and heel seat die with a heel blank between
them into position between the said edge compressing dies.
10. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier having a
tread plate, a heel seat die, a spring, and intermediate connections between it and
said die to normally press the heel seat die onto a heel blank resting on the tread
plate, a pair of die carriers, and edge compressing dies mounted thereon, combined
with devices to move said heel blank carrier and heel seat die with a heel blank
between them into position between the said edge compressing dies, and to then
remove the compressed heel blank from between said edge compressing dies; and
with a device to thereafter eject the compressed heel blank from between said tread
plate and heel seat die.
11. In a heel compressing machine, the following instrumentalities, viz.a
breast gauge; a connected heel seat die moving therewith; edge compressing dies;
and mechanism for effecting change of relative positions between said breast gauge
and heel seat die, and said edge compressing die.
12. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier and its
tread plate, and heel seat die having a connected breast gauge extended therefrom
and passing below the acting face of the tread plate.
13. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a pair of die carriers, a pair
of edge compressing dies, mounted thereon and having their breast corners
uncovered, a heel blank carrier having a tread plate; a connected yielding heel seat
lie having an attached breast gauge, and actuating devices to move said heel blauk
carrier, it clamping a heel blank,-in the direction to put a heel blank between
said edge compressing dies and cause said breast gauge to close the space between
said edge compressing dies at their breast corners.
14. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a pair of die carriers having
strong ears 8, 8, with hardened faces, a pair of edge compressing dies mounted on
said die carriers; a heel blank carrier having a tread plate, a heel blank feeder, a
cross head on which said heel blank carrier is mounted; and a heel seat die and
attached breast gauge loosely mounted on said heel blank carrier and devices
to actuate said cross head and said heel blank feeder, the lugs 8, 8, of the die
carriers acting against the outer side of the breast gauge and serving to hold the
same firmly at the breast end of the edge compressing jaws, and hold the latter
from springing,

page_text: 15. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier, a tread
plate mounted thereon,a heel seat die,devices to support said heel seat die,and connect
it with said cater, a spring to effect the approach of the heel seat die toward the
tread plate, and means to actuate the devices Supporting the heel seat die to lift the
said die away from the tread plate and thus release the heel blank.
16. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a pan of die carriers, edge
compressing dies mounted theicon, a heel blank carrier having a detachable tread
plate, heel blank feeding mechanism, a table on which said feeding mechanism is
mounted, and devices to adjust said table and feeding mechanism vertically to
correspond with the thickness of the tread plate and of the heel blank to be
compressed.
17. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier having a
detachable tread plate, a table, means to adjust the said table vertically, and
a heel blank feeder, and a hopper to guide heel blanks into position to be acted
upon by said feeder.
18. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier and its
tread plate; and a heel blank feeder, a link, a compound lever, means to adjust one
part of said lever on the other part, and actuating means for said lever, the whole
being and operating to provide for feeding heels of different sizes.
19. In a machine for compressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier, its tread
plate; a heel seat die, its connected lever, devices to move said lever, and a
stationary cross head, and its attached guide behind which the heel seat die is raised,
said guide also embracing and steadying said lever.
20. In a machine for pressing heel blanks, the use of a heel feeding mechanism,
a table on which said feeding mechanism is free to slide, said table being provided
with an inclined guide arm adapted to serve as a guide for the breasts of the heel
blanks in their descent, and a hopper case or shell adjustable on said guide arm to
adapt the hopper to the thickness of the blank to be fed therefrom by said feeding
mechanism.
21. The use of a heel blank carrier having a tread plate to receive a heel blank
to be compressed edgewise, and a heel seat die to co-operate with the tread plate of
said carrier and hold a heel blank while being put into compressed position, and a
heel blank feeder, a connected link, a compound lever, means to adjust one part of
said lever on the other part, and actuating means for said lever, the combination
being and operating to provide for feeding heels of different sizes
22. Ju a heel compressing machine, the use of a heel blank support, and a pusher
frictionally connected therewith by means of a stud 25, frictional washers, and
a suitable nut on said stud.
23. In a heel compressing machine, the use of a pusher, and devices to actuate it,
a heel blank support fictionally connected thereto, and devices to temporarily
connect said pusher and support in a positive manner as they are being retracted.
24. In a heel compressing machine, the use of a pusher, and devices to actuate it,
a heel blank support frictionally connected theieto, a pawl and ratchet
temporarily connect said pusher and support in a positive manner as they are
being retracted, and a device to automatically release said pawl and ratchet.
to
25 In a machine for compressing heel blanks, the use of an edge compressing
die, a carrier to supply said die with heel blanks, a pusher, and blank support, to
supply sand carrier with a heel blank, and a gauge to indicate when the cam-shaft
of the machine is in a defined position, and with adjustable actuating mechanism
between a cam on said cam-shaft and the said pusher whereby the acting end of the
pusher may be adjusted with relation to the blank carrier to insure the correct
placing of a blank upon the carrier through the movement of the pusher.
26 In a heel compressing machine, the use of at heel blank carrier and
a pusher to provule it with a heel blank, a main shaft and adjustable connections
between it and said pusher to actuate the latter, and a hand wheel by which said
shaft may be turned, and a gauge adjacent to the hand wheel to indicate the
position the parts should occupy when said adjustment is effected.

page_text: 27. In a machine for pressing heels, the use of a heel blank carrier, its tread
plate; a heel seat die, and a stationary cross head, and its attached guide behind
which the heel seat die is raised.
28. In a heel compressing machine, the use of a moveable cross head, die
carriers mounted thereon and attached dies, and links connected to said carers,
and devices to adjustably connect said links with said stationary part of the
machine.
29. The use of a heel blank carrier having a tread plate, and also a connected
heel seat die a spring, and devices between said heel seat die and said heel blank
carrier to normally keep the said heel seat die pressed toward said tread plate to
thus pinch and hold the blank frictionally, and means to move said carrier, and
devices to act on said carrier and heel seat die and force them together positively
to compress the heel blauk vertically or in the direction of its height.
30. In a heel pressing machine, the use of a heel blank carrier having a tread
plate, a heel seat die, means to normally press the heel seat die onto a heel blank
supported on the tread plate, and a pair of edge compressing dies, and devices to
move said heel blank carrier and heel seat die, with a heel blank, into position
between the said edge compressing dies, and with other devices to then remove the
compressed heel blank from between said edge compressing dies.
31. In a machine for pressing on all sides and thereby roughly shaping heel
to boot and shoe soles the
blanks preparatory to the application of the same
construction and arrangement or combination of parts, and their use, for feeding,
adjustably clamping in position, compressing and shaping the blanks substantially
as set forth and shewn by the drawings annexed.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.