IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR TRIMMING, SETTING, OR OTHERWISE OPERATING UPON THE SOLES OR HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.
Year: 1873

page_text: .
LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Horatio Hodges, of Lynn, County of
Essex, and Henry Franklin Wheeler, of Boston, County of Suffolk,
both of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of
America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
TRIMMING, SETTING, OR OTHERWISE OPERATING UPON THE SOLES OR HEELS OF
BOOTS AND SHOES.'
"
Sealed the 3rd June 1873, and dated the 16th April 1873.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Samuel Horatio Hodges
and Henry Franklin Wheeler at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition and Declaration, on the 16th
April 1873, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SAMUEL
HORATIO HODGES, of Lynn, County of Essex, and HENRY FRANKLIN
WHEELER, of Boston, County of Suffolk, both of the State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR TRIMMING, SETTING, OR OTHERWISE OPERATING UPON THE SOLES

page_text: OR HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES," and have petitioned Her most Excellent
Majesty Queen Victoria, to grant unto us, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that we are the first and true Inventors thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges and
Henry Franklin Wheeler, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention to be as follows:-
In this machine the "jack" is susceptible of a three-fold motion, a
sliding motion to and fro in either direction in a horizontal path by
which the sides of the sole are acted upon; a semi-rotary motion upon
an axis whereby the toe or heel of the sole or boot is operated upon;
and a vibratory or swaying motion in a horizontal path, the more
perfectly to adapt the irregular outline of the sole edge to the action of
the tool.
The operative tool or its "stock" is carried by an arm which is :
swiveled to its support in such manner as to be capable of universally
variable motions while the support is in turn applied to the machine
frame in such manner that the position of the tool with respect to the
jack may be varied bodily, in order to accomodate varying sizes or
numbers of boots or shoes.
The imperfect results heretofore incident to machinery of the character
to which this Invention appertains, has been owing mainly to the
unsteady, unreliable and shaky manner in which the boot or shoe has
been carried through its motions, and our present improvements will be
found to relate in part and mainly to the employment of mechanical
means, whereby in a uniformly steady and positive manner the boot or
shoe may be driven through such a path of movement as shall enable a
knife held against the edge of the sole or other part of the boot or shoe,
to trim or shave the same in a manner more nearly perfect and in much
less time than the same results can be reached by manual labor.
€
The more important features of these improvements consist mainly
as follows:-
First, in the adoption of an upright rotary disc or carrier pivoted
horizontally to a standard which in turn is pivoted vertically within'a
post or column constituting the main features of the machine frame, the 3
said disc bearing upon its periphery a spur geer or series of geer teeth,

page_text: and upon the boundary of its front face a beveled geer or rack of geer
teeth, while disposed upon the face of the disc and extending across the
same we arrange a transverse rectangular carriage, within which carriage
and longitudinally thereof and extending from end to end of the same
we dispose a screw, the support or axis of this screw being a central
shaft or rod which passes through the screw and finds its bearing in the
ends of the carriage and carries upon each end outside of the carriage a
clutch head, which operates in connection with an oppositely disposed
clutch head or clutch teeth affixed to or making part of a tubular
beveled pinion which encompasses the adjacent end of the screw before
named, or more properly a journal of the same. The screw and its
supporting shaft being united by means of a spline and groove con-
nection, which permits of longitudinal slip of the two, while the screw
meshes into a sectional or half nut affixed to the back or rear side of a
sliding plate or jack carrier which plays or slides upon the outer face of
the transverse carriage and is driven to and fro at times across
such carriage by the screw, the said plate or head block carrying
the jack which supports the boot while subjected to the work executed
upon it.
The arrangement of the above named disc and carriage,
and their adjuncts being such and the movements of the clutches
being guided and controlled by certain shipping rods and sloping
abutments or wipers in manner substantially as herein-after explained,
that the carriage at times revolves in company with the disc or while
the toe or heel of the boot is being operated upon, and at other
times remains at rest while the remaining portion of the sole is being
operated upon; the screw in the former instance being motionless and
inactive within the nut attached to the jack block; but in the latter
instance rotating within the nut and driving the jack block across the
carriage in one or the other direction until the toe or heel of the sole is
brought below the trimming or other tool (the rotary disc at such time
serving to operate the screw by means of its beveled geer and the pinion
before named in such manner as to effect the said traverse movement
of the carriage), at which point the carriage is released from its
connection with the disc, and the two rotate in unison upon the axis of
the disc which is at such time the common axis of the two.
Secondly, in an original construction of jack whereby we avoid the
necessity of employing a great number of lasts and of inserting a last

page_text: feature of our improvements consisting in mounting a last upon an arm
which projects outwardly from the sliding jack carrier, and the employ-
ment in connection with the two of a setting or an adjusting lever or
its equivalent, whereby the said last is retained firmly in place, the only
labour requisite to jack the boot in this instance being to slip it over the
last to which it adheres with sufficient tenacity, the last being changed
only, at such times as a different size or number of boot is to be operated
upon.
Thirdly, and in detail these improvements consist in arranging upon
opposite sides of the rotary disc and jack carriage stationary cam grades
or sloping abutments, whereby the next approaching clutch head is
forced inwardly into engagement with the adjacent tubular beveled
pinion, and so that the revolving beveled geer which makes part of the
disc shall rotate with the clutch; and by means of the central shaft
with which the clutches and screw at all times revolve, rotate the screw
and feed the sliding jack carrier in one or the other direction, it being
understood that the tubular pinions are driven loosely about their seats
upon' the screw, without effect upon the latter until such times as they
are locked to it by engagement with the neighboring clutch; and that
while the jack carriage is effecting a semi-rotary movement by and with
the disc, the two pinions are revolving loosely upon the screw as stated.
The employment of two sets of spring catches and sloping abutments
is to enable the direction of the jack to be reversed; in order that the
action of the tool upon the boot may be repeated, as if this was not
desirable and the jack was always to travel in one direction, but one set
of agents would be requisite.
Fourthly, in detail these improvements consist in mounting the
support of the tool bearing arm or lever upon a duplex carrier composed of
two plates or blocks sliding within or upon one another, and applied
respectively to the said arm or lever and the machine frame in such
manner that such arm or lever or its support may be advanced or
retracted bodily in either direction with respect to the jack inde-
pendently of or in addition to the free variable motion of which the tool
is susceptible, and also in constructing the support of the arm in two
parts in order that the height of such arm may be varied as desired.
Fifthly, and in details of construction these improvements consist in
the employment in connection with the rotary disc and traverse
carriage hercin before named, of spring catches for locking the carriage"

page_text: in a given position independent of the disc, and allowing the latter to
rotate the screw and cause the jack to traverse the face of said disc
or the carriage until the toe or heel of the last has been reached; and
also in the employment in connection with such catches or their
equivalents of sliding shipping rods which at times take into such
catches and are advanced into contact with the catches by springs
which envelope them, and are removed or withdrawn from contact with
the said catches by studs affixed to the sliding jack carrier as herein-
after fully explained.
Sixthly. In detail these improvements consist in attaching two or
more operating tools to the stock or handle, and swiveling the latter to
its supporting arm or beam, in order that by reversing its position end
for end, or turning it upon its pivot tool of different character, may
instantly be brought into play, the accompanying Drawings showing
an edge trimming tool upon one end and a rand trimmer upon the
other.
Seventhly. In detail these improvements consist in the introduction
of antifriction rollers or balls between the seat of the parti-rotary arm,
which supports the jack operating mechanism and the standard upon
which such arm is mounted, the purpose of these rollers or balls being to
reduce the friction consequent upon the weight of the parts, and relieve
the operator of what would otherwise be an irksome labor.
And lastly. These improvements consist in a general grouping or
organization of parts into an operative whole, whereof the clements com-
bine to perform in a perfect and expeditious manner the work desired.
The Drawings which accompany and illustrate our Invention
represent in Figure 1 a front elevation, in Figure 2 a side elevation, and
in Figure 3 a vertical section, the latter being taken in two parts in
order to obtain an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a section of the mechanism for shipping the clutch
mechanism, which effects the reversal of motion of the jack actuating
mechanism.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism for operating the
clutches attaching to the jack carriage, and for locking and unlocking
the said carriage with respect to the rotary disc. Figure 6 is a cross
section of the traveling jack carriage.

page_text: Figure 7 is a section of the upright plate which supports the rotary
disc in order to show the construction of the spring catches herein-
before named, while, finally, Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the
semi-clutches and beveled tubular pinions, with a portion of the feed
screw. The last five Figures being taken on the same scale as Figure 3,
and enlarged from Figures 1 and 2.
In the accompanying Drawings as above described A represents an
upright tapering hollow column or pedestal, which constitutes the main
support or frame for upholding the operative parts of the machine, to
one side of which column we attach a standard B, which at the top
terminates in a horizontal shelf or tablet C, disposed somewhat above
the top of the column, and serving as a receptacle for the various im-
plements or tools required by the operator, and, in some instances as a
support for his right arm.
D in the Drawings represents a transverse hollow beam or crane,
mounted at one end upon the top of the pedestal A, and turning freely
thereupon, a series of antifriction rollers a, a, etc., being interposed
between the two to reduce friction, as before premised. The outer or
free end of the beam D terminates in an upright standard or plate E,
which is provided with a handle b, by which the vibratory or swaying
'motions of the beam and standards are controlled by the operator.
The driving shaft of the machine is represented in the Drawing at F
as passing through the lower part of the pedestal A, and upon the outside
of such pedestal being mounted within suitable boxes G, G, applied as
shown, one end of the said shaft carrying two pulleys H, H', the first of
which is a fast and the second a loose pulley. Within the interior of
the pedestal A, and affixed centrally to the shaft F, are two bevelled
geers I, I, which engage alternately with a second and like sized beveled
geer J, which in turn is affixed to the lower extremity of an upright
shaft or rod K, which revolves in bearings within the standard, and
protrudes through the top of the latter, and is provided thereat with a
beveled pinion L similar to the first, which is secured to it; the arrange-
ment of all these last described parts being shown in Figure 3 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Within the horizontal hollow beam or crane D we dispose axially a
shaft M, which revolves in bearings N, N, making part of such beam,
and to one end of such shaft we secure a beveled geer O, which meshes
into the geer L last named, and is substantially of like size with it,

page_text: while to the opposite end of the shaft M we affix an upright spur geer P,
which engages and drives a second and somewhat larger upright spur
geer Q, mounted upon a horizontal pivot or stud R, projecting from the
lower part of the upright portion or standard E of the beam D, while
the geer Q in its turn engages and drives a third and much larger spur
geer T affixed to or making part of the periphery of an upright circular
disc or head S, which is disposed against the front face of the standard or
plate E before named, and is pivoted to such plate by a horizontal stud
or boss, which forms part of and extends rearward from a carriage U, to
be herein-after explained, such stud extending through the disc S and
standard E, and serving both as an axis of rotation for such disc indepen-
dent of the said carriage, and as a common axis of the two, according to
conditions herein-after explained, the disc S being further provided or
formed with a concentric beveled geer or annular rack W, which is
produced upon its front face and near its circumference, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings; this disc while the machine is in
motion being constantly in rotation.
The carriage U before referred to which supports the "jack" is
represented in the Drawing as a hollow rectangular box disposed
diametrically across the face of the head or disc S, and confined to it, as
before stated; while within the chamber of the carriage and extending
from end to end thereof we dispose a rotary tubular feed screw X, which
has for its axis of rotation a central rod or shaft Y, which finds a bearing
at each end in a tubular beveled pinion Z or Z³, which encompasses the
rod, and in turn finds a bearing c within one end of the carriage U, each
pinion revolving freely within its bearing and about and independent of
the feed screw by the action of the beveled rack W of the disc S, except
at such times as it may be locked to such screw, or more properly
speaking its shaft, by engagement with a clutch affixed to the latter, as
will be explained, each pinion being formed with one or more teeth or
spurs
d to take into the notches of said clutch.
The semi-clutches or clutch heads alluded to are in the present
instance two in number e, e¹, and of like size and construction, and are
affixed one on each end of the shaft or rod Y, and are each formed with
a series of spurs or teeth ƒ, f, etc., to engage with the teeth d of the
pinions Z, Z', before named, the distance between the inner extremities
of the two clutch heads e, e¹, being a distance greater than that between
the outer ends of the tubular pinions Z, Z', and equal to the length of

page_text: one of the teeth d of such pinions, in order that when one clutch is in
engagement with the pinion next adjacent to it the opposite clutch and
pinion shall be free from connection with each other, since as the screw
rotates in the same direction with its axial shaft, and the pinions are
necessarily driven in opposite directions to each other by the disc, it
follows that when one pinion is locked to and rotates with the screw and
shaft by engagement with a clutch, the opposite pinion must turn freely
upon the screw and within the carriage.
As the position of the clutches with respect to the pinions must be
reversed át each semi-rotation of the rotary disc, we effect such an act
by disposing upon opposite sides of the disc stationary abutments or
walls A' which may constitute part of the standard or plate E before
alluded to, and to one or both of these abutments and upon the inner
face thereof we apply a centrally disposed crowning or double sloped
swell or cam grade B¹, as shown in Figures 5 and 7 of the Drawings, the
extent of this swell or slope inwardly beyond the remainder of the inner
face of the wall being equal to the length of a tooth of the pinions Z, Z',
in order that as one clutch arrives at and passes the apex of such slope
from either direction, such clutch shall be pushed inward and locked to
the adjacent pinion.
As before stated the jack carriage at times must rotate by and with
the head or disc S, and at times must be stationary with respect thereto,
and in order to effect automatically the arrest and release of the carriage
we proceed in one manner as follows:-
Within the hollow box or carriage U and upon opposite sides of the
tubular feed screw we dispose a rod or bar g or g², each bar being some-
what longer than the entire carriage, and sliding within bearings created
in the heads or ends of such carriage, as shown fully in Figures 5 and 6
of the Drawings. The shipper rods g operate in connection with spring
catch bars C¹ which are of the form and are pivoted at their upper end
to the walls A', as shown in Figures 5 and 7 of the Drawings, each rod
in turn taking under the tool h of the catch bar, and remaining there
and locking the carriage to the walls A' until the feed screw by the action
of the disc and one of the pinions has fed the jack carrier which is mounted
upon the carriage (by means as herein-after stated) to the extreme of a
its movement in one direction when the rods are withdrawn from
contact with the walls, and the carriage released and allowed to rotate
with the disc while the toe or heel of the boot is being operated upon.

page_text: To effect the necessary sliding movements of the rods 9, 91, in one
direction or forward into contact with the tooth of the catch bar we
coil about each a helical or other spring 9* the stress of which exerted
between a collar i fixed upon each near its end, and a stop or stud k
fixed centrally within the chamber of the carriage, and through which
each rod passes, while to retract each rod at its proper time and with-
draw its extremity from contact with the adjacent catch bar we apply
to each rod at about its center a second and adjustable collar or slide 7,
while to the inner or obverse side of the plate D, which supports the
jacking last we affix a block m which abuts against one or the other of
the slide 1, according to the direction traveled, and drives such slide and
consequently the rod before it, until such rod is released from contact
with the neighboring catch bar, and the carriage left free to turn with
the rotary disc; each slide being situated at such a distance from the
block or stud m as not to be reached by the latter until the jack carrier
or plate D has arrived at the extreme of its traverse of the face of
the carriage U, and abuts against the slide which it is approaching,
and drives the rod to which such slide is attached before it, and removes
such rod from contact with the adjacent catch bar, which frees the
carriage U from the control of the said bar, and allows such carriage to
describe a semi-rotation with the rotary disc, until the opposite rod
which protrudes beyond the opposite end of the carriage abuts against
the tooth of the catch bar last named, and the carriage is again locked
in position and the disc rotates alone, driving the feed screw during its
rotations until, as stated, the screw has driven the jack carrier to the
extreme of its traverse, and the carriage is again released and per-
mitted to rotate with the disc; it being observed that with cach semi-
rotation of the disc and carriage in company the jack carrier or plate D¹
reverses its movement upon the carriage, and as the stud or block m
recedes from before the slide of the rod with which it was last in
contact, such rod is advanced beyond the end of the carriage by the
action of its spring in readiness to abut against the next succeeding
catch bar.
As the distance between the slides 1, 1, determines the extent or range
of traverse of the jack upon the carriage U, as well as the time of semi-
rotation of such carriage by and with the disc S, and as the former
movement effects the work upon the sides of the boot sole and the latter
upon the toe and heel, the said slides 1, 1, are applied to the rods in an

page_text: adjustable manner in order that their relative positions thereupon may
be varied, and changes it the extent of movement of the carriage effected
thereby to adapt the machine to boots or shoes of greatly varying sizes.
The stud m. before alluded to is a sectional nut, and in addition to its
functions of effecting the reversals of the rods g, g', it also constitutes
the means whereby the rotary motions of the screw which it engages
imparts the necessary traverses to the jack supporting block or plate D¹.
The "jack" of this machine is composed of an arm or bracket E¹
departing from the plate or carrier D, as shown in Figure 3 of the
accompanying Drawings, a prong or finger F departing from such arm
at an angle of about thirty degrees to a perpendicular, as this slope has
been found in practice to give the best results.
To the outer face of the prong F we apply the last G, which is to
support the boot or shoe while being operated upon; and as his last
must be changed with the varying numbers of boots it is desirable to
apply it to the prong in such manner to enable it to be readily detached
therefrom. To this end therefore we affix to the prong a short stud or
spur a³, which enters a correspondingly formed hole in the top of the
last, while to the heel of the prong we pivot a lever 6³, the lower and
shorter arm c² of which enters a hole & formed in the heel portion of
the last, the opposite and longer end of such lever extending inward
toward the carriage U, and being acted upon by a screw e³, which is
screwed through the arm E', and abuts against it as shown in Figure 3.
Screwing the screw e³ inward causes the arm c³ of the lever to drive
the last forward against the stud a² and clamp the last firmly to the
arm E¹, while a retraction of the screw relaxes the parts and allows the
last to be instantly removed.
In order to effect a reversal of the movements of the rotary disc and
carriage U instantly and automatically, we employ the two beveled geers
I and I', before named, as applied to the driving shaft and meshing into
the geer J, and in connection with these geers I and I' we employ a
sleeve H³, which encompasses and slides upon the shaft and between the
said geers, a suitable clutch connection being formed between the three,
and this sleeve being forced in one or the other direction by means of a
pendant sectoral lever. g³, which is fulcrumed upon a horizontal rock
shaft ² extending across the interior of the pedestal A, a short distance

page_text: below the driving shaft and at right angles to the latter, the front
extremity of the rock shaft h², which protrudes through the front of the
pedestal, being provided with an upright rocker arm or shipper 1,
which is affixed to it, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, the
upper part of such shipper terminating in a curved band or clasp h³, in
which he is enabled to throw the sleeve or male clutch H³ into engage-
ment with one or the other of the geers I or I' and drives the rotary
disc in the desired direction or reverse its motions at pleasure, thus
permitting the operating tool to repeat its functions as. often as may be
desirable upon any portion of the sole should the work have been
imperfectly executed at first.
The rocker arm or lever g² is provided at the bottom with three
notches, a, a³, and a, into which notches the tooth 66 of a spring catch
c* extends, such catch being applied to an adjacent part of the pedestal
A, and serving to relieve the labor required of the workman's knee by
maintaining the sleeve or male clutch H¹ either in contact with one of
the geers I or I' or equidistant between the two.
The tool stock or carrier of this machine is shown at k² as a handle of
suitable form pivoted within or upon a curved arm 1, which in turn is
swiveled to the front end of a swinging bar m², such bar being pivoted
at its rear part to an upright furcated block n², the lower part of which
block screws into a vertical post o² erected upon a horizontal plate p²,
which in turn is mounted upon and slides within a slider q², this latter
slider in its turn being disposed and sliding upon a horizontal bracket
2 departing rearwardly from the standard B, herein-before named, the
outer end of the bar m² being provided with a balancing weight S³,
whereby its poise may be adjusted.
The adjustable unison of the furcated block n² and post o² enables the
height of the bar m² to be varied, while the adjustable connection of the
plate p² and slider q² enables the lateral and forward and backward
movements of the said bar to be varied.
The variable mode of attaching the tool stock to the bar m² enables.
the operative tool to be brought to bear upon the sole at any desired
angle. The tool stock in the present instance carries two tools, one at
each end, one, or that marked S², being the edge trimming knife, and
the other being a rand trimming tool."
66

page_text: :-
Other tools, however, may be substituted for them, as although the
herein-described organization of our machine is intended mainly for
trimming sole or heel edges the machine is equally available for polishing
or setting such edges, and its operation in either instance is as follows:-
It being understood that in beginning work the last stands in a hori-
.zontal position with the toe portion in advance, and its heel portion
about opposite the operating.
The slides 1, 1, and the last being adjusted to a given size of boot and
the operator being supplied with a number of boots of this size seizes
one and slips it over the last to which it adheres with sufficient
tenacity.
The driving shaft is in rotation in the direction of its arrow in Figure 2
of the Drawings, and the operator by means of his knee pushes the
shipper arm to the right and locks the sleeve H¹ to the geer I, and
puts the rotary disc in revolution in the direction of its arrow in said
Figure 2. As the jack carrier or plate D¹ is at this time nearly at its
extreme forward position upon the carriage U, and the latter is locked
to the walls A' as stated; the rotation of the screw X drives the said
carrier in the direction of its arrow in Figure 2, the operator holding
the tool stock in his right hand and properly directing it upon the sole
edge, while with his left he seizes the handle 6 by which he is enable to
control the swaying or swinging motions of the jack and adapt the sole
edge to the action of the tool.
a,
The carriage U remains locked in position and the disc to rotate inde-
pendently of it, but feeding the jack carrier upon it until such carrier
reaches the extreme of its rearward traverse, when the stud block m,
of the jack carrier removes the uppermost rod g from contact with the
adjacent catch bar C', and permits the jack and its carriage to execute
a semi-rotary movement with the disc, the toe of the boot at this time
standing about opposite the axis of the said dise, by which means the a
said toe describes a semicircle beneath the operating tool and allows the
latter to act upon it to great advantage.
The semicircular movement last named having been executed the
lowermost shipping rod now assumes the place of the uppermost one and
is locked to the spring catch last named, and the rotation of the disc a
and screw drives the jack carrier and in a direction opposite to that first
taken until the heel portion of the sole arrives at the operating tool.

page_text: The operator may now continue the motion of the jack in the same
direction and cause the tool to act upon the heel portion of the sole, or
may remove the boot, and after applying another reverse the motion of
the machine and operation upon the sole in a direction opposite to that
first taken.
As the toe of the last passes the operating tool as above stated, and
the jack completes a semicircular movement, the end of the rod g im-
pinges against the cam, grade, or wiper B¹, and compels the adjacent
clutch to engage with the pinion nearest it in manner as before stated,
which puts the screw X in rotation and starts the jack on its next
ensuing traverse.
'
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges and
Henry Franklin Wheeler, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Twenty-seventh day of March, 1873.