Improvements in Boot Protectors, and Machine for Making the same.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot Protectors, and Machine for Making
the same.
We FERDINAND DAVISON, Dentist, of 625 East Main Street, GEORGE JANES
DAVISON, Dentist, of 629 East Main Street, LUCIEN BROOKING TATUM, Capitalist,
of 9 W. Franklin Street, ROBERT LANCASTER WILLIAMS, Banker, of 1000 Main
Street all of Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, United States of America,
GEORGE ALFRED CUNNINGHAM, Civil Engineer, of Colon United States of
Colombia and ARTHUR SKELTON WILY, Merchant, of 13 N. 6th Street,
Richmond, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates more particularly to a machine for cutting and shaping
metallic sole and heel plates from a continuous sheet or band, and it has for its
object to provide a machine of this character simple in its construction and easily
manufactured which will serve to cut and form such plate at one operation. It also
has for its object to provide a sole and heel plate which will effectively serve for
its intended purposes without the danger of breaking or cutting through the sole
of the shoe.
The cutting and shaping mechanism comprises an arched-like supporting block
bolted to the main frame or table of the machine, provided with what we term the
upper cutter plate which is fixed centrally to the under face of the support and
consists of a block formed with a concaved under face. The outer end of such
block is bifurcated whereby it can be readily slid over a T bolt which holds it
tightly against its seat on the supporting block, and it is longitudinally adjustable
by set screws which pass through a plate secured to the rear side of the
supporting block and projected below its under face. The front end of the plate
is adjustable vertically by transverse screws which are held in the supporting block
and bear upon the upper face of such plate.
A fixed cutter and shaper head is rigidly secured to the main frame, its forward
end being disposed under the supporting block, and such end terminates in diverging
downwardly extending guide arms between which a guide way is formed. In the
upper face of the body portion of the cutter head, are a pair of parallel ways in
which punches are seated so as to be longitudinally adjusted, the forward ends of
which are approximately triangular in shape, project beyond the upper face and
are bolted to their seat. The rear ends of the punches abut against set screws
which serve to adjust the said punches longitudinally.
The machine also comprises a pair of stationary die plates having stems fitting
in sockets adapted to be vertically adjusted by set screws and held to their
adjusted positions by the binding screws. The front ends of the punches and the
die plates are at a point in line with the front edge of the upper cutter plate.
Over the ends of the punches is held a crosshead secured on the ends of a pair of
longitudinal guide arms, the outer ends of which have lateral lugs for a purpose
presently explained. This crosshead which is held for a slight longitudinal
movement over the punches, serves the double purpose of an abutting member for
the plunger die presently referred to, and for removing the heel plate from off
the punches after it has been stamped and cut. For this purpose the crosshead
has triangular like apertures which fit over the punches, its upper edge being
formed to fit and slide under the upper die, and such crosshead is normally held
by springs with its abutment face in line with the front edge of the punches, it
being held from further forward movement by stops.

page_text: The machine also comprises a plunger die which is formed in sections, the
upper one of which has a convexed upper face whereby to form a curved cutting
edge which snugly fits under the upper cutter when the plunger die forced under
the same in the manner presently described. The lower face of this section is
hollowed out and its end bevelled. The lower die section has an upper flat face,
curved notches, undercut portions, and a central slot at its end. When the two
parts of the die are held together, a chamber is formed which receives the ends of
the punches when the plunger is moved forward. The lower plunger section has
undercut portions and a central rib like portion which works between the
stationary die plates, and it has also turning members which lap such die plates
for a purpose presently referred to. There is a bracket secured to the bed of the
machine which has an arm which projects up through the slot in the lower
plunger section into the chamber formed in the top section, such arm serving to
free the plunger of any of the completed plates which might hang thereto on its
return movement.
A carriage is provided and adapted to be reciprocated between the arms
projected from the crosshead and such carriage, being secured to a slide platen
(mounted on the frame) by means of a yoke, through the top of which passes a
set screw which binds against the die sections and clamps the same to the carriage
which is held to be reciprocated sufficiently forward to force the crosshead against
the front end of the fixed head block, and the yoke frame is so arranged relatively
to the arms that at the end of its rearward movement it will engage lugs on the
said arms and move them with it, and thereby positively pull the crosshead back
to its normal position and prevent the possibility of the shoe plate hanging to the
punches. Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the die
carriage, but we prefer to do this by means of an eccentric on the driving shaft of
the machine connected by an eccentric rod to the platen. Projected upwards
from the arched-like supporting block of the machine are guide arms formed with
ways adapted to guide the metal sheet or baud to the cutting and forming dies by
milled feed rollers, the shafts of which are journaled in horizontal members
secured to the arched support and are geared together at one end while at the
opposite end one of such shafts is provided with a ratchet wheel and pawl which is
operated by the eccentric mounted on the driving shaft.
The metal blank as it passes down the guide way projects in front of the
upper knife and the cross-bead, its lower end being held tightly against the upper
knife and the cross head by a spring finger, such spring finger also serving to hold
the end of the blank sheet in place after it passes out of its guide ways.
The plate or protector has a curved front end, straight sides partially turned up,
which sides terminate at their inner ends in pointed prongs at the ends of an inner
curved edge. The protector has triangular slots, the bases of which terminate in
pointed prongs turned up at right angles to the plate.
The manner in which the machine operates is as follows: The sheet metal blank
being in place, is snugly held against the upper cutter and the punches. Now
as the plunger moves forward and presses the blank against the punches, the
upper convex front edge of the upper die cuts the curved edge of the plate by
forcing it under the edge of the upper cutter and as such blank is pressed against
the punches, such punches will press inwards the prongs, a complete triangular cut
in such blank being avoided inasmuch as the ends of the punches incline inwards
from the point to the base and the displaced metal being forced into the space in
the die. During this operation the lower corners of the blank are engaged by the
lateral members and crowded against the dies whereby such ends are turned up to
form the prongs.
In some cases it is preferable to have the shoe plate slightly dish-shaped to
make it adhere more firmly to the sole and for such purpose the outer face of the
die is slightly convex and the cross head contact faces slightly concave, its edge
having offsets whereby the edges of the plate are crowded over the bevelled front
edges of the die, to form a curved edge. After the plunger has moved forward

page_text: its full stroke and recedes, the springs will force the cross head outward and cause
it to move the finished plate off from the punches, when it drops down between the
arms. Should however, the plate bind on such punches, it will be forced off as
the cross-head is moved forward through the medium of the reciprocating
carriage. In case the plate should hang to the front of the die it will be forced off
by the stationary arm.
From the foregoing description it will readily be seen that by securing the
punches in the manner described, they can be adjusted longitudinally outwards as
their ends become worn, the lower dies being also adjustable for such purposes.
Dated this 20th day of June 1803
Improvements in Boot Protectors, and Machine for Making
the same.
We FERDINAND DAVISON, Dentist, of 625 East Main Street, GEORGE JAMES
DAVISON, Dentist, of 629 East Main Street, LUCIEN BROOKING TATUM,
Capitalist, of 9 West Franklin Street, and ROBERT LANCASTER WILLIAMS,
Banker, of 1000 Main Street, all of Richmond in the County of Henrico and State
of Virginia, United States of America, GEORGE ALFRED CUNNINGHAM, Civil
Engineer, of Colon, United States of Colombia and ARTHUR SKELTON WILY,
Merchant, of 13 North 6th Street, Richmond, aforesaid 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 :-
The invention relates more particularly to a machine for cutting and shaping
metallic sole and heel plates from a continuous sheet or band, and it has for its
object to provide a machine of this character of simple construction and easily
manufactured, which will serve to cut and form such plates at one operation. It
also has for its object to provide a sole and heel plate which will effectively serve
for its intended purposes without the danger of breaking or cutting through the
sole of the shoe.
With other objects in view, and which will hereinafter be referred to, our
invention consists in the peculiar combination and novel arrangement of parts all
of which will hereinafter be described and particularly pointed out in the claims,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of our machine.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3, Figure 1.
Figure is a perspective view of the fixed die or head block.
Figure 5 is a similar view of the plunger frame and
on the line 2-2,
Figure 6 is a detail vertical section on the line 6-6, Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-7, Figure 4.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the movable die sections detached.
Figure 9 is a detail horizontal section on the line 9-9, Figure 3, and
Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the complete plates.

page_text: a
In the practical construction of our machine we employ suitably arranged
frame or table A, on the front end of which is mounted the cutting and shaping
mechanism, while at its rear end is located the operating shaft.
The cutting and shaping mechanism, the construction of which is most clearly
shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises an arched like supporting block B, which is
fixedly secured to the main frame or table A by the bolts a, which pass through
the foot portions of such block.
Centrally of the under face of the support B, is held what we term the upper
cutter plate, which consists of a block C formed with a concaved under face c.
The onter end of such block is bifurcated as at c', whereby it can be readily slid
over the bolt D, which holds it tightly against its seat on the supporting
block B, and such die C is longitudinally adjustable, through the medium of the
set screws c² (³, which pass through a plate c³, secured to the rear side of the
supporting block B, and projected below its under face b, as clearly shown in
Figure 2.
As a simple and effective means for adjusting the front end of the plate C
vertically, transverse screws E are held in the supporting block B, which bear
upon the upper face of such plate C in the manner most clearly shown in
Figure 6.
Findicates the fixed cutter and shaper head which is rigidly secured to the
main frame A, its forward end being disposed under the cross block B, and such
end terminates in diverging downwardly extending guide arms f¹f' between which
a guide way f is formed.
In the upper face of the body portion of the head F (Figure 7) are a
pair of parallel ways f', in which are seated, for longitudinal adjustment the
punches G, the forward ends of which are approximately triangular in shape,
project beyond the upper face f, and are held secure to their seat by the T bolt H.
The rear ends of the punches abut against the set screws I I, which serve to adjust
the said punches longitudinally.
JJ indicate a pair of stationary die plates, which have stems; fitting in socket
portions in the arms f¹f and such dies are adapted to be adjusted by the set
screws and held to their adjusted positions by the binding screws,j.
It will be noticed that the front ends of the punches G G and the die plates JJ,
are at a point in a vertical plane with the front edge of the upper cutter plate C.
It will also be noticed that over the ends of the punches is held a cross head K
secured on the ends of a pair of longitudinal guide arms L L, the outer ends of
which have lateral lugs 11 (Figures 1 and 5) for a purpose presently explained.
This cross head which is held for a slight longitudinal movement over the
punches, serves the double purpose of an abutting member for the plunger die
presently referred to, and for removing the heel plate from off the punches after it
has been stamped and cut. For this purpose the cross head K has triangular like
apertures, which fit over the punches G, its upper edge being formed to fit
and slide under the upper die C, and such cross head is normally held with its
abutment face in line with the front edge of the punches G, by the springs k*,
it being held from further forward movement by the stops B* B* on the block B
as shown.
M indicates the plunger die which is formed in sections M¹ M², the upper one M
of which has a convexed upper face, whereby to form a curved cutting edge m
which snugly fits under the upper cutter C when the plunger die is forced under
the same, in the manner presently described.
The lower face of the section M' is hollowed out as at m² and its end beveled as
at m (Figures 5 and 8). The lower die section M' has an upper flat face m³
curved notches m* at its end, undercut portions m³ and a central slot m° as most
clearly shown in Figure 8.
It should be stated that by forming the plunger die in two sections, it can be
much more conveniently and economically constructed than it could by forming it
of one niece

page_text: When the two parts of the die M are held together, a chamber m' is formed,
which receives the ends of the punches when the plunger is moved forward. The
lower plunger section M² is formed with under-cut portions and a central rib like
portion m, which works between the die plates J J, and has also turning
inembers m³ which lap such dies J J, for a purpose presently referred to.
N indicates a bracket secured to the bed of the machine which has an arm n,
which projects up through the slot m' into the chamber m³, such arm serving to
free the plunger of any of the completed plates which might hang thereto, on its
return movement.
O indicates a carriage adapted to be reciprocated between the arms L projected
from the cross head K and such carriage is secured to a slide platen P (mounted
on the frame A) by means of a yoke Q, through the top of which passes a set
screw R, which binds against the die sections and clamps the same to the
carriage.
In the practical construction of the machine the carriage is held to be recipro-
cated sufficiently forward to force the cross head against the front end of the fixed
lead block F, and the yoke frame is so arranged relatively to the arms L, that at
the end of its rearward movement it will engage the lugs 11, on the said arms and
move them with it, and thereby positively pull the cross head K back to its
normal position and prevent the possibility of the shoe plate hanging to the
punches.
Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the die carriage, but we
prefer to employ the means most clearly shown in Figure 2, in which S indicates
the driving shaft, T an eccentric and U the rod connecting such eccentric to the
platen Q.
Projected up from the support B are guide arms V, formed with ways v adapted
to guide the metal sheet or band, which is fed to the cutting and forming dies by
the milled feed rollers W, the shafts of which are journaled in horizontal
members B secured to the support B, and geared together at one end, while at the
opposite end one of such shafts is provided with a ratchet wheel X with which
engages a pawl Y operated by the eccentric T mounted on the driving shaft.
As shown in Figure 2 the metal blank as it passes down the guide way projects
in front of the upper knife and the cross head, its lower end being held tightly
against the upper knife and the cross head by a spring finger Z as shown, such
spring finger also serving to hold the end of the blank sheet in place after it passes
out of its guide ways.
Before describing the operation of the machine we will first describe the
construction of the finished heel or sole plate, referring particularly to Figure 10,
which illustrates one of such plates.
It will be noticed that the body 10 of the plate, has a curved front end 11,
straight sides partially turned up as at 12, which sides terminate at their inner end
in pointed prongs 14 at the ends of the inner curved edge 15. The body 10 has
triangular slots 16, the bases of which terminate in pointed prongs 17.
The manner in which our machine operates is as follows: The sheet metal
blank being in place as shown in Figure 2 is snugly held against the upper cutter C
and the punches G. Now as the plunger M moves forward, and presses it against
the punches G, the upper convex front edge of the upper die cuts the curved
edge 11 of the plate by forcing it under the edge of the upper cutter; and as such
blank is pressed against the punches, such punches will press inward the prongs 17,
a complete triangular cut in such blank being avoided, in that, the ends of the
punches incline inward, from the point to the base, and the displaced metal being
forced into the space m³ in the die M.
During this operation, the lower corners of the blank are engaged by the lateral
members m', and crowded against the dies J, J, whereby such ends are turned up
to form the prongs 14.
In some cases it is preferable to have the shoe plate slightly dish shaped, to
make it adhere more firmly to the sole, and for such purpose the outer face of the

page_text: die M is slightly convex, and the cross head contact face slightly concave, its edge
having offsets,, whereby the edges of the plate 10 are crowded over the
beveled front edges of the die M to form the curved edge 15.
After the plunger M has moved forward its full stroke and recedes, the
springs k*k* will force the cross head outward and cause it to move the finished
plate 10 off from the punches, when it drops down between the arms f¹, f¹.
Should, however, the plate bind on such punches, it will be forced off as the cross
head is moved forward through the medium of the reciprocating carriage.
In case the plate 10 should hang to the front of the die M, it will be forced off
by the stationary arm n.
From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings it will
readily be seen that by securing the punches in the manner described they can be
adjusted longitudinally outward as their ends become worn, the lower dies J being
also adjustable for such purposes.
By constructing the upper cutter in the manner shown it can be quickly adjusted
longitudinally, and also vertically as it becomes worn, and its cutting edge can be
easily sharpened by filing the face or end straight across, the cutting edges of the
movable die being also sharpened by filing the face across.
Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is―
1. A machine for the purpose described, comprising a fixed cutter, and a fixed
head block having prong forming dies, a reciprocating plunger die, having a cutting
edge opposing the fixed cutter, and portions adapted to lap the fixed prong forming
dies, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a machine as described, in combination, a fixed cutter, a stationary head
having projecting punches G and fixed dies J, arranged substantially as shown, a
cross head movable on such punches G, and a movable plunger having a cutting
member adapted to oppose the fixed cutter and portions adapted to lap the dies J,
all substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In combination, a blank feed mechanism, the fixed upper cutter C, the head
block F, punches projected longitudinally therefrom, the dies J projected towards
such punches, a reciprocating platen, the plunger die secured thereto, said die
having a cutting member adapted to slide under the upper cutter, and lateral
members adapted to pass over the fixed dies, the driving shaft, and operating
connections between the blank feed mechanism and the operating shaft, all
substantially as shown and described.
4. In combination with the fixed cross head, the lower dies J J secured thereto,
and the movable die M having a cutting member at its upper end, and portions m²,
at its lower end adapted to lap the dies J, and the feed devices of the upper
cutter C, longitudinally adjustable, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In combination with the fixed head block F F, the lower dies J J secured
thereto, the movable die M arranged substantially as shown, of the supporting
block B, the cutter C adapted to be fixedly held thereon, and held for vertical and
longitudinal adjustment, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In combination with the fixed head block F F, the lower dies J J, secured
thereto and the movable die M, arranged substantially as shown, of the supporting
block B, the cutter C, means for holding it to its seat on the block B, and the
adjusting bolts E, adapted to bear against the upper face of such cutter C,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. In combination with the upper fixed cutter, the fixed bead block F, and
projecting punches G, the plunger die M, having a cutting portion at its upper end
and a socket portion m² to receive the punches G, of the cross head fitted to slide
on the punches G, and means for normally holding such head to its outermost
position, substantially as shown and described.
8. In combination with the fixed cutter C, the movable die M, having an upper
cutting edge adapted to slide under the cutter C, and a recess m³, of the fixed head

page_text: block F, and the punches G projected from such block, and means for adjusting
such punches longitudinally, substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In combination with the fixed support B, the cutter C, and the plunger die M
having an upper cutting portion and a recess m², and flanges m', of the head block F,
having longitudinally projecting adjustable punches G, and adjustable dies J, all
arranged substantially as shown and described.
10. The combination with the supporting block, the upper cutter, the head block
and punches, and the movable die, of the clamp finger Z, secured to the supporting
block adapted to hold the blank against the upper cutter, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
11. The combination with the fixed head block F, the punches G G. and the
fixed cutter C, the movable platen and the movable die held thereon, of the cross
head K fitting on the punches G, and having rearwardly extending arms L L,
having offsets 11, adapted to be engaged by the moving platen and arranged
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
12. In a machine substantially as described, the movable die M formed of an
upper and lower section M' and M2, the section M' having a cutting edge m at its
upper end and the section M' a central rib and lateral cut out portion, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
13. In a machine as described, the movable die M formed of detachable
sections M' M³, the section M' having a cutting edge m at its top, and formed with
a concaved under face, the section M having a central depending rib and laterally
extended portions m', all substantially as and for the purpose described.
14. In a machine as described the combination with the main frame and the
reciprocating die M, said die having a longitudinal slot on its lower face, of the
guide finger N, secured to the frame and projected up into the said slot, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.
15. A sole and heel plate formed of a body portion having upwardly projecting
barbs 17, 17, substantially as described.
16. A sole or heel plate formed of a plate 10, having end prongs 14, 14 and
central prongs 17, 17, integral with the body portion, substantially as shown and
described.