Improvements in Treeing Machines for Boots.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treeing Machines for Boots.
We, HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS, and ALFRED LEWIS, both of Kettering, in the
County of Northampton, Boot Last Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: -
The present invention, which has reference to treeing machines for boots, and
particularly for ladies' high button boots, comprises a treeing arm capable of
expansion and contraction, and consisting, according to our invention, of a
wedge-shaped middle part, back and front parts sliding thereon, and mechanism
for operating the movable parts upon the middle part, so as to expand the arm to
the required extent for treeing purposes.
In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates our invention:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with one side of the treeing arm
removed, to expose to view the inner construction thereof.
Fig. 2 is an outside view of the treeing arm.
Fig. 3 is an end view, seen from the right.
Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shews the interior of the treeing arm, the parts being, however, in a
different position from that given in Fig. 1. .
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, are details of construction to be presently more particularly
referred to.
A is a standard or pillar, carrying on its summit the usual socket B for the tree-
ing arm. C is the treeing arm, which is furnished with a suitable tubular sup-
port D, to be inserted into and revolve in the socket B. This arm is composed
externally of a pair of plates cc, forming together a thin wedge-shaped middle
part, narrowed outwardly from the standard, and of a front part c¹ and a back
part sliding in dovetail grooves between the plates c c. The inner edges of the
front and back parts c¹ and c² are provided with racks d (see Fig. 1). Between
the plates cc, and carried on one of the them, is the following device: A pierced
plate e (see Fig. 8) is placed in guides e¹ on one of the plates c, and is drawn
constantly towards the right by a spring e. Upon the plate e are a pair of up-
standing studs f f, which act as pivots for the lever pawls f¹ f¹. 9 is a rod
having a cranked formation near the end (see Fig. 6), which fits loosely into the
hole or slot pierced in the plate e, in such a way, that the tails of the lever pawls f¹ f
engage with the said rod (see Figs. 1 and 5). The free end of the rod g is extended
through the tubular support D, and connected to the treadle operated lever D¹
(see Fig. 1). gl is a spring which normally presses the rod g with its attachments
towards the right.
The parts of the arm are free to be moved by hand along the wedge part c,
so as to facilitate the application of the boot, and to adjust the position of the
parts to the dimensions of the boot. To complete the expansion of the
arm, how-
ever, the treadle is employed in the following manner:
The depression of the treadle by the operator rocks the bell-crank lever D¹, and

page_text: causes the same to pull the rod g towards the left. The effect of this movement,
which is at first independent of the plate e, owing to the length of its slot, is
primarily to rock the lever pawles ff, and throw them into engagement with the
racks d d. When this engagement is effected, the continued pulling of the rod g
draws the sliding plate e (until now held back by its spring e) in the same direc-
tion (see Fig. 5). In this manner, the movable parts c¹ c² of the treeing arm,
being already engaged by the pawls f, are pulled up the incline of the wedge c,
until the limit of the travel of the plate e is reached. A repetition of the stroke
of the treadle will cause the pawls, when the plate e retreats, under the impulse
of its spring, to take a fresh engagement with the teeth of the racks d d, and
thereby still further move the parts c¹², to effect an increased expansion of the
arm, if necessary. To fix the parts in their extended position, it will be only
necessary to hold the treadle depressed in any convenient manner, so that the
pawls ff are prevented from disengaging themselves from the racks dd, and the
plate e from receding to its normal position, before the treeing operation is com-
pleted.
•
In this manner, after the parts of the treeing arm have been adjusted by hand,
to fit approximately the work thereon, a still further expansion is mechanically
effected, to give and retain any desired degree of tension for the better "setting
and treeing of the boot.
"3
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
:-
1. In a treeing arm having a fixed wedge-shaped middle part, and back and
front parts movable thereon, the employment of racks fitted to the said movable
parts, and of lever pawls carried by a slide upon the fixed part, the said pawls
being adapted to engage with the racks, and to advance the movable parts upon the
middle part, under the impulse of an operating rod, in the manner and for the
purpose above set forth.
2. The hereinbefore described device for engaging and operating the rack-
fitted movable parts of a treeing arm, comprising a slotted sliding plate, an opera-
ting rod fitted loosely thereto and working therewith, lever pawls pivotted on the
plate and rocked by the operating rod, and retaining springs, all arranged and
operating as set forth, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 20th day of April 1898.