IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LASTING BOOTS AND SHOES A com
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
"
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LASTING BOOTS AND SHOES
A com-
munication from abroad by George Warren Copeland of Malden, Massachusetts
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake and Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LASTING
BOOTS AND SHOES [A communication from abroad by George Warren Copeland
of Malden, Massachusetts United States of America.]
"
This invention relates to machines for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes and
especially to a series of lasting straps or bands which are arranged to extend across
the machine beneath the last from one set of side supports or fingers to the other,
or which extend upwardly from below the last to the supports or fingers, or as
hereinafter described. These straps or bands are made of leather, india-rubber, or
any other suitable material and they are so attached to the jaws and supported by
the side supports or side lasting fingers that in the operation of lasting the upper,
they have simply a compressing and conforming action, that is, the last being
jacked or held stationary in the lasting machine in any of the ordinary ways, the
jaws carrying the supports or lasting fingers and the straps or bands rising
substantially parallel with the sides of the last, bring the straps or bands to bear
along the median line of the last from instep to toe, or upon sections immediately
adjacent thereto, and from that line fit the upper to the last by a conforming and
compressing movement thereon, the straps or bands being arranged to yield at
their upper ends sufficiently to allow this movement to take place and also to
permit of their being used in folding the edge of the upper upon the surface
of the insole by the horizontal, or substantially horizontal movement, of the fingers.
I provide side lasting fingers which are preferably pivoted to the jaws and are
гр

page_text: thereby permitted to have a vertical movement in relation to the jaws; stops
limit the extent of the movement in a downward direction. These fingers carry
or support the series of straps or bands which pass over a roll, under guiding rolls,
and over other guiding rolls, to side springs, each band or strap being in one piece
and extending from one spring across the machine or over the ends of oppositely-
arranged fingers to the spring upon the other side; and any number of these bands
or straps may be used.
Instead of extending the straps or bands across the machine I may use two
straps or bands and extend each from its respective side-spring over the end
of its respective finger downwardly towards each other and over a suitable
guide to other springs. These straps or bands may cross each other under
the last.
For shank-lasting I prefer a construction consisting of fingers oppositely arranged
upon the jaws and pivoted to have a vertical movement against the stress of
a spring, stops limiting the extent of their downward vertical movement. To the
end of each of these fingers is secured the strap or band which passes over a
suitable guide to the spring. These straps or bands will have a vertical movement
in relation to the size of the last as the jaws advance.
In lieu of using the straps or bands with fingers in such a manner that they
shall act additionally to fold the edge of the uppers upon the surface of the insole,
I may attach them to independent side supports and use them for conforming
the upper to the last as far as the edge of the insole and employ independent
lasting plates or fingers for folding the edge of the upper upon the surface of the
insole, and in lieu of moving the jaws vertically in relation to a stationary last for
the purpose of causing the bands or straps to conform to the surface of the last
I may move the last vertically in relation to straps or bands which are held by
supports which are not moved or which are stationary during this vertical
movement of the last.
The straps or bands may be attached to, or held by, the side-lasting fingers or
side supports in any desirable way, and I may use a roll of peculiar construction
for this purpose.
It is quite necessary that the straps or bands should conform to the surface of
the last and bear upon each with a uniform force throughout its width. In order
that this may be accomplished, each strap or band should be supported in a
manner to permit it to swing or move laterally on what may be termed its vertical
axis and I provide it with this adjustment by means of a roll which has cone-
shaped bearings conversely arranged in relation to each other and extending from
the centre of the roll outwardly. This construction allows the strap to auto-
matically change its position to conform to the side of the last as the roll bas, by
this construction, a lateral movement upon its pivot or shaft.
There may also be used for the purpose of protecting the strap or band from the
laster's hammer, or from the tacking or pegging devices, a metal shield which may
extend over the strap or band and which is fastened to the jaw by a bolt, or in any
other suitable way.
There may be used with this lasting device pinchers, either hand or automatically
operated, for stretching the upper and removing wrinkles therefrom during the
operation of the girth.
I prefer to make the straps or bands of leather, but they may be made of any
other flexible material, and I may use in lieu of leather, a chain or metal band;
the straps may be of any desired width.
In operation, the jaws lifting, bring the straps or bands in contact with the last
at or near its median line, according to the form of construction used, and from
that line or section, by the continued upward movement of the jaws, the straps or
bands are made to conform to the surface of the last, the portion of the straps or
bands between the fingers gradually increasing in length automatically by the
yielding of the springs to enable this to be accomplished without dragging the
straps upwardly on the vamp, and the upper is fitted thereto by pressure and held

page_text: thereon while the closing in movement of the jaws causes the straps or bands to
fold the edge of the upper upon the surface of the insole, the straps or bands
still rendering against the stress of the springs through the fingers. Upon the
return of the jaws to their original position the retraction of the springs causes
the straps or bands to be returned to their original place in relation to the fingers.
The last preferably is held upon a jointed spindle which enters a hole at the rear
end of the last, the fore part of the last resting upon a toe-block and the last being
held against the upward strain of the girth by means of down-holds which
project over the toe and heel ends of the last upon the insole.
The method of lifting the jaws or girth supports and of closing them comprises
a lifting cam-groove in the side of a disk which is adapted to be revolved, and
which, by means of a cam-pin and connecting mechanism serves to lift and lower
a cross-head upon which the jaws have a horizontal movement. These jaws are
open and closed at intervals by means of a cam-groove which is also revolved,
guides or slots in a plate which is adapted to be moved vertically by said cam, and
levers pivoted to the cross-head.
I use in connection with the side-lasting devices, folding plates of any desired
construction and operated in any desired way to be caused to move substantially
horizontally upon the toe and heel portion of the last to fold the edge of the upper
thereon.

page_text: downward direction. These fingers carry or support the series of straps or bands B
which pass over rolls b as represented in Figure 1 under guiding rolls 6¹ and over
other guiding rolls 6° to the side springs 63, each band or strap is in one piece and
extends from one spring across the machine, through or over the ends of oppositely
arranged fingers, to the spring upon the other side; any number of these bands or
straps may be used
Instead of extending the straps or bands across the machine, I may use two
straps or bands, and extend each from its respective side spring, over the end of
its respective finger, downwardly towards the other and over a suitable guide to
springs b, as shown in Figure 6. These straps or bands may cross each other
under the last, instead of being arranged as described.
For shank lasting, I prefer the construction shown in Figures 3 and 7 wherein
the fingers C are oppositely arranged upon the jaws, and pivotted at c to have a
vertical movement against the stress of the spring c¹; stops c¹ limit the extent of
their downward vertical movement. To the end of each of these fingers is secured
a strap or band c³, which passes over a suitable guide to the spring c. These
straps or bands have a vertical movement in relation to the sides of the last, as the
jaws advance. The construction shown in Figures 1 and 6 by which the straps or
bands have only a conforming action may be used.
In lieu of using the straps or bands with fingers, in such a manner that they
shall act additionally to fold the edge of the uppers upon the surface of the insole,
I may attach them to independent side supports, and use them for conforming the
upper to the last as far as the edge of the insole, and employ independent lasting
plates or fingers for folding the edge of the upper upon the surface of the insole;
and in lieu of moving the jaws vertically in relation to a stationary last, for the
purpose of causing the bands or straps to conform to the surface of the last, I may
move the last vertically in relation to the straps or bands, which are held by
supports which are not moved, or which are stationary during this vertical
movement of the last
The straps or bands may be attached to, or held by, the side-lasting fingers or
side supports in any desirable way. It is also necessary that the said straps or
bands should conform to the surface of the last and bear upon it with a uniform
force throughout its width. In order to accomplish this each strap or band is
supported in such a manner as to permit it to swing or rock upon its supporting
finger, by means of a roller b, which has cone-shaped bearings d, conversely
arranged in relation to each other as shown in Figure 5, and extending from the
centre of the roll outwardly; each roller is thus capable of a rocking movement
upon its pivot or shaft d¹.
There may also be used for the purpose of protecting the strap or band from the
laster's hammer, or from the tacking or pegging devices, a metal shield d³, which
may extend over the strap or band as shown in Figure 4, and which is fastened to
the jaw by the bolt d³ or in any suitable manner.
There may be used with this lasting device pinchers operated either by hand,
or automatically, for stretching the uppers, and removing wrinkles therefro:n
during the operation of the girth.
The straps or bands are preferably made of leather, but they may be made of any
suitable flexible material. I can use in lieu of leather, a chain or metal band as
shewn in Figures 7, 8 and 9; the said straps may be of any desired width.
In operating the rising jaws bring the straps or bands into contact with the last
at or near its median line, according to the form of construction used, and from
that line or section, by the continued upward movement of the jaws, the straps or
bands are made to conform to the surface of the last; the portion of the straps or
bands between the fingers gradually increasing in length automatically by the
yielding of the springs 63; to enable this lengthening to be accomplished without
dragging the straps upwardly on the vamp the upper is fitted thereto by pressure,
and held while the closing-in movement of the jaws causes the straps or bands to

page_text: fold the edge of the upper upon the surface of the insole, the straps or bands still
being kept taut by the stress of the springs b³.
Upon the return of the jaws to their original position, the retraction of the
springs causes the straps or bands to also return to their original position in
relation to the fingers.
The principle of this part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 10, 11, 12
and 13.
The length, shape, and location of the straps or bands in relation to the last,
immediately prior to the lasting operation are shewn in Figure 10
In Figure 11 the lasting is represented as having commenced and shows that by
the relative change in position of the last and the lasting jaws, or strap supports,
the straps or bands have been drawn over the rolls b to some extent, and the
portions between the fingers have increased in length, sufficiently to accommodate
themselves to their new position.
Figure 12 represents the straps or bands as having been drawn still more over
the rolls to provide for the increased length between the fingers, which is
necessary, on account of the further change in the relative positions of last and
fingers or jaws.
Figure 13 Shows the straps or bands closed upon the surface of the insole.
It will be noticed, that whatever position the last occupies in relation to the
fingers, the bands or straps are always taut, because they act in opposition to the
stress of the spring b³.
The last is preferably held upon a jointed spindle D as shown in Figure 14
which enters a hole at the rear end of the said last; the fore part of the said last
rests upon a toe block D¹. The last is held against the upward strain of the
girth by means of clamps d d¹ which project over the toe and heel ends of the said
last upon the insole.
The method of lifting the jaws or girth supports, and of closing them is shown in
Figures 1 and 15, and comprises the cam groove E in the face of the disc e which
is adapted to be revolved, and which, by means of a cam-pin and connecting
mechanism, serves to raise and lower the cross-head e³, upon which the jaws have
a horizontal movement. This horizontal movement whereby the jaws are opened
and closed at intervals is imparted to them by means of the cam-groove E¹ which
is revolved, the guides or slots es in the plate e, which is adapted to be moved
veritcally by said cam, and the arms e pivotted to the cross-head.
I use, in connection with the side-lasting devices, folding plates of any desired
construction, and operated in any desired manner, whereby they are caused
to move horizontally upon the toe and heel portions of the last to fold the edge of
the upper thereon but I do not confine myself to any special means for so doing
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim in a lasting machine for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.
First A vamp-lasting device, comprising one or more straps or bands adapted to
be brought in contact with the vamp, at, or near, the median line of the last, and
from that line or section to conform the upper to the surface of the said last, fit it
thereto, and hold it thereon without its being dragged upon the said last, all
substantially as described.
Second The combination of one or more vamp-lasting straps or bands and supports
for the same, and means for providing them with an automatic yielding movement
at the upper end in relation to the said supports, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, described.
Third. The combination of side supports or fingers having the movements
specified and a series of vamp-lasting straps or bands carried or supported by the
said supports or fingers and adapted to be moved in relation to the said supports
or fingers during the operation of lasting, whereby the said straps automatically
conform to the surface of the last, from or near its median line to the insole,

page_text: without being dragged thereon during the relative change in position of the jaws
and last, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Fourth. The combination of a series of straps or bands, a last, and means for
causing the straps or bands to conform to the surface of the said last, without
causing the said straps to be dragged thereon, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, described
Fifth. A shank-lasting device consisting of the yielding fingers C, the straps ³,
and the springs c³, all substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the fingers A, rolls b, and straps or bands B,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified
Seventh. The combination of the straps or bands with the shields or guards d³,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Eighth. The combination of the straps or bands B, the fingers A, the guiding
rolls 61, 62, and springs b³, all substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination of a series of straps or bands adapted to yield at both
ends in conforming to the surface of the last, a jack, a last, means for preventing
the said straps from being dragged thereon, and toe and heel lasting devices, all
substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventh day of September in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
1
W. ROD. LAKE
YY
(L.B.)