and Shoe Channelling Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: and Shoe Channelling Machines.
We, WILLIAM PODBURY, of 71 Shrubland Road, Dalston, in the County of
Middlesex, Boot and Shoe Machinist, and MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON, of the New
Dock Machine Works, Chadwick Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Sewing
Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In boot and shoe channelling machines as at present constructed the knives or
cutters and that portion (hereafter called the holder) by which they are attached
to the machine are made or formed in one piece and known in the trade as "the
knife." In these the cutter or knife proper is formed by cutting it out of the solid
metal, this not only adds considerably to the cost of manufacture, but also wastes a
quantity of material.
Now the object of this invention is to prevent this waste, reduce the cost of
manufacture, and to produce a knife or cutter and holder that can rea lily adjusted
and fixed in any suitable position or angle on the machine.
According to this invention the holder and cutter are made in two separate pieces.
The holder consists of a plate in which is cut, cast, or stamped a groovo, in which
the shank of the knife or cutter slides freely. This groove may either extend
vertically or at an angle across the holder. Two slot holes are also provided in the
holder for attaching it by means of set screws to the machine.
The knife or cutter is made as follows The blade or cutting portion may be
formed out of or attached to a shank of suitable length, and is the same width as,
but thicker than the depth of the groove in the holder in order that the holder and
set screws may clamp or secure it in position on the machine. A packing is inserted
between the inner face of the holder or clamping plate and the machine to make up
the difference between the depth of the groove and the thickness of the shank of
the knife or cutter.
The knife or cutter is of such a width and thickness that it can be easily passed
up or down the groove in the holder, when it is required to change, or adjust it any
required position.
Dated this twelfth day of February 1886

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Knives or Cutters of Boot
and Shoe Channelling Machines.
We, WILLIAM PODBURY, of 71 Shrubland Road, Dalston, in the County of
Middlesex, Boot and Shoe Machinist and MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON, formerly of
the New Dock Machine Works, Chadwick Street, Leeds, in the County of York,
but now of the Union Works, Blue Boar Lane, Leicester, in the County of Leicester,
Sewing Machine Manufacturer, 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:-
Machines for channelling the soles of boots and shoes have been usually made
with a knife or cutter and a portion (hereafter termed the holder) for attaching it
to the machine in one piece, and the whole is known in the trade as "the knife.'
In these "knives" the cutter or knife proper is formed by cutting it out of solid
metal, which not only adds considerably to the cost of manufacture, but also wastes
a quantity of material.
+
Now the object of this invention is to prevent this waste, reduce the cost of
manufacture, and to produce a knife or cutter and holder that can be readily
adjusted and fixed in any suitable position or angle on the machine.
And in order that our invention may be more readily understood reference is
given to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are respectively
side and front elevations of the knife. Fig. 4. a sectional plan on line x, x fig. 1.
Fig. 5. a plan looking at the top. Figs. and 7 a back elevation and plan of
holder or carrier, all constructed according to our invention Figs. 8 and 9 are
respectively a side elevation and part plan of a portion of a channelling machine
with our knife and holder applied thereto.
At fig. 8. we have only illustrated such parts of a channelling machine as is
necessary to show the application of our knife and holder, and we would have it
understood that parts not shown or explained, as well as the mode of communi-
cating motion to the machine for bringing the knife into operation may be the
same as those ordinarily employed or adopted.
According to this Invention the knife or cutter A and its holder or carrier B are
made in two separate pieces as hereafter described.
The knife or cutter A is made or formed of steel or other suitable material,
preferably though not necessarily so-about one inch and an eighth in length, and
three sixteenths or one fourth of an inch square, that is, in width and thickness,
and at its lower end a, a blade or cutter is formed, whilst the remaining portion a¹
forms a shank by which it is attached to the adjustable head C of the channelling
machine.
The blade portion is curved, rounded, or bent until the lower extremity or flat
point a projects or protrudes about a sixteenth or an eighth of an inch beyond the
side or face a². This face or side is recessed slightly as shown at a². Immediately
above the flat point a a recess or cavity is formed by bevelling or chamfering a
portion of the shank at a'. The recess, cavity, or chamfered portion is of the shape

page_text: or configuration shown in the drawings, and we by preference arrange that one edge
of the recess a' shall commence a short distance from the side or face a³ of the
shank as shown at Figs. 2 and 4, from whence it runs across the shank diagonally
to the lower edge of the opposite side a which edge and the flat point a form the
cutting portions of the knife. The flat point a and back a' of the knife are slightly
tapered as shown at Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and the diagonal recess at may be slightly
curved on its face in order to more readily pass through the material.
The holder or carrier B is shown at Figs. 6 and 7 and consists of a flat plate
(made of wrought iron or other suitable material) about one inch and seven eighths
in length, three fourths of an inch in width, and one fourth of an inch in thickness,
and is rounded off at the lower corners. This plate is employed for clamping the
knife to the adjustable head C of the machine. In the holder B is cut, stamped, or
formed a vertical or oblique groove b of the same shape or configuration and width
as the shank of the knife, but its depth may be the same, or rather less than the
thickness of the shank. This groove 6 extends across the plate or holder as shown
at Fig. 6; and is so arranged that when the holder is fixed vertically to the machine,
it is in a perpendicular position-or at a slight angle therefrom as shown-for
receiving the knife shank. In the groove, the shank a' slides freely up and down
as required for adjustment or for the insertion or withdrawal of the knife, but by
having the groove the same width as the shank any lateral or horizontal movement
of the knife (after it has been firmly fixed and clamped in position) is prevented
during the channelling operation. In order to clamp the knife firmly to the adjust-
able head C, the groove in the holder may be made a little shallower than the
thickness of the shank of the knife, and a thin packing may be inserted between
the inner face of the holder and the face of the machine to make up any difference
between the depth of the groove and the thickness of the shank of the knife.
Instead of using the packing, the holder may be provided on its inner face with the
facing or projection 61 as shown at Fig. 7. so as to form a recess at the end ³. When
this facing is employed the groove b may be made the same depth (from the face of
the projection b¹) as the thickness of the shank of the knife, or of such other depth
as will permit of the shank being firmly clamped by the holder to the face of the
head C as shown at Figs. 8 and 9. Slot holes 63 and 6 are provided in the holder B
through which set screws are passed for attaching and fixing the holder and knife
to the machine.
The knife after being clamped to the machine may be adjusted to its work for
cutting any required depth of channel in the ordinary manner.
In the drawings we have shown the knife with a square shank, which we prefer
employing, but we would have it understood that any other shape or configuration
of shank may be employed that will prevent the knife from moving or turning
round in the groove b during the channelling operation, also instead of forming the
blade or cutter out of the shank as illustrated, it may be attached thereto by any
suitable means. Although we prefer making the knife and holder of the dimensions
herein stated, yet we do not limit or bind ourselves to these, as they may be varied
as circumstances or occasion require. Further we would have it understood that
we make no claim to the moveable channelling knives, described in the Specification
of Letters Patent granted to William Jackson, the 16th day of September 1885,
No. 10992, which are fixed by means of a flat plate to the head of a channelling
machine, as no special provision is therein made for preventing any lateral or
horizontal movement of the knife, which is liable to take place during the
channelling operation, when it is held as therein described between the two
perfectly flat surfaces of the plate and machine head.
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 we
claim is :-
First. The manufacture and use of the herein described curved and recessed
knife mounted vertically—or at a slight angle therefrom—in a grooved and recessed

page_text: plate or carrier, by which the knife is clamped or attached and fixed to the adjust-
able head of a boot and shoe channelling machine substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
Second. In a boot and shoe channelling machine, the combination of a curved
and recessed knife having a blade or cutter formed at or attached to one end of its
supporting shank, with a recessed clamping plate or holder provided with a vertical
or oblique groove for the reception of the shank, and for preventing any lateral or
horizontal movement of the knife during the channelling operation, substantially as
herein described and illustrated.
Third. The combination of the herein described knife and grooved holder with
the adjustable head of a boot and shoe channelling machine, substantially as herein
described and illustrated.