Improvements in or connected with Sole Levelling Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Sole Levelling Machines.
A communication from abroad by ERASTUS E. WINKLEY, of Lynn, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
I, JAMES GRIEve Lorrain, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E., of Norfolk House,
Norfolk Street, London, W.C., in the County of Middlesex, Chartered Patent.
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates generally to that class of levelling machines in which the
operation of levelling a shoe is performed by a vibrating levelling roll applied
under pressure to the sole, and more particularly to machines of the above class
which are provided with connecting mechanism rendering them automatic in their
operation.
My invention is an improvement upon the machine shown and described in the
Provisional Specification accompanying my Application for Letters Patent filed on
the first day of June 1895 and numbered 10,883. This Provisional Specification
I shall hereinafter refer to as my "prior specification."
In the machine of said prior specification, the relative lateral inclination of the
jack and roll is varied to give the proper shape or curvature to the sole, by a cam
and suitable connections which are arranged to tip the roll laterally and such
mechanism is provided with means of adjustment whereby a greater or less degree
of inclination may be given to the roll by action thereof, but the arrangement
of said mechanism is such that if adjusted to increase the inclination of the roll
while acting upon the shank of a shoe, a proportional increase will occur at the ball
portion.
It has been found in practice that the result above suggested is undesirable
upon certain classes of work in which a flat forepart and a round shank are
required.
My present invention consists of an improved adjustment device whereby the
action of said mechanism upon the roll or jack to vary their relative lateral inclination
at different parts of the shoe may be independently adjusted and my invention has
for its object to increase the utility of machines of this class.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a side view of the machine of said prior specification showing my
present invention applied thereto,
Figure 2 is a detached back view (enlarged) of a device embodying my present.
invention,
Figure 3 is a side view (enlarged) of same,
Figure 4 is a section on line o, o Figure 2,
Figure 5 is a section on line X X Figure 4.
Similar letters and figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the
several views.
In the drawings A represents a frame suitable..to support the working parts of
the machine.
In the frame A is mounted a shaft 8, free to rotate. in suitable bearings, and
carrying a wheel 1 which preferably rotates therewith..
I

page_text: R represents the levelling roll to which a motion of vibration is imparted
by an eccentric and suitable connections as fully described in said prior
specification.
B represents the shoe supporting jack arranged to oscillate longitudinally under
the vibrating roll R as described in said prior specification.
On the wheel 1 are formed the two path cams 2 and 3.
The path cam 2 controls the oscillation of the jack B under the roll R, and the
path cam 3 is arranged to impart a rocking motion to the bell lever 4 which is
pivotted at the angle to the frame A and which is connected by a connecting rod 5,
with the sliding rack rod 6 which is arranged to rock the roll R to change the
relative lateral inclination of the roll Rand jack B, all as fully shown and described
in said prior specification.
In said prior specification the bell lever 4 is provided with a circular adjustment
way 7 along which the connecting rod 5 is moveable to adjust the amount of tip
or degree of inclination imparted to the roll R by the rotation of cam 3, but it is
evident that such adjustment similarly effects the action of all parts of the cam 3
on the connecting mechanism above described and if set to give a greater
inclination of the roll R while operating upon the shank of a shoe, the amount
of inclination of roll R while operating upon the forepart will also be increased,
so that if adjusted to give a more rounded shank the machine will give a more
rounded forepart, and if set to flatten the forepart the machine gives a flatter
shank.
In my present invention I mount upon the shaft 8 an auxiliary cam 9 which
rotates with the shaft 8 and therefore with the wheel 1 and its cams 2 and 3.
In the cam 9 runs the cam roll 10 which is carried by a rocking lever 11
intermediately pivotted to the frame A or suitable bracket thereon.
Pivotted to the frame A or other suitable support, adjacent to the end of lever 11,
and on the opposite side of its fulcrum from the cam roll 10, is a vibrating or rocking
lever 12, which is connected with the lever 11 by means of the link 14. It will
be noted that in the form of my invention as shown in the drawings the plane of
the rocking motion of lever 11 is at right angles or nearly so to the plane of
the rocking motion of lever 12 and to allow for such notion of levers 11 and 12 the
link 14 is provided with the saddles 15 and 16 which are secured to the respective
levers 11 and 12 by pivotal connections also at right angles or nearly so to
each other.
Preferably above the lever 12 is a sliding rod or tongue 17 which is arranged to
reciprocate longitudinally in suitable guide way 18 and is connected with the lever 12
by the pivoted link 19.
The link 19 is pivotally secured to the lever 12 in the circular adjustment way 20
along which it may be moved and set in any desired position.
The adjustment way 20 may extend along the lever 12 on both sides of its pivotal
support 21 as, shown in the drawing and preferably does extend over such
support in such manner that the link 19 may be set if desired upon the rocking
centre of lever 12 so that the lever 12 may be rocked without imparting any motion
to the link 19.
To the tongue 17 is pivotted a connecting rod 22 which extends along one of the
arms of the bell lever 4 and is pivotally connected with the connecting rod 5 carried
by said arm.
As bereinbefore stated and as shown in said prior specification the bell
lever 4 is provided with a circular adjustment way 7 along which the rod 5
is moveable.
The connecting rod 22 is also provided with an adjustment way 23, preferably
straight, along which its connection with rod 5 is moveable.
As shown in the drawings the rod 5 is provided with a shoulder 24 which extends
through both adjustment ways above described.
The shoulder 24 may conveniently consist of a bolt a which extends through
the connecting rod 5 and carries the guide pieces a¹ and a' which are fitted to

page_text: the respective adjustment ways and 23, and are arranged to turn independently
upon the bolt a (see Figure 5).
by a nut a³.
The bolt a may be conveniently held in position
As shown in Figure 5 each of the guide pieces a¹ and a* is provided with
longitudinal slots a', a and a, a which engage the sides of the adjustment ways 7
and 23, and which guide the movement of the pieces al and a along the
adjustment ways 7 and 23. The slots a, a further act to hold the upper end of
the rod 22 in position.
The shoulder 24 is left moveable along the adjustment way 7 for the purposes
hereinafter described, but is locked in a predetermined position in the adjustment
way 23 conveniently by the following mechanism :-
As before stated the sides of the adjustment way 23 engage with the slots a as
on the shoulder 24, and upon one side thereof is formed a series of holes 25, 25, 25.
A longitudinally reciprocating spring pressed pin 26 is provided which passes
through a suitable bearing in the side of the slot a' and engages with one of the
holes 25, 25, etc.
A releasing lever 27 may be conveniently provided by means of which the pin 26
may be drawn out of engagement to allow the shoulder 24 to be moved along the
adjustment way 23.
For the purpose of lowering or raising rod 5 in the adjustment ways 7 and 23 the
shoulder 24 is conveniently provided with a handle 28, under which the lever 27 is
pivotted (see Figure 3) so that when the handle is laid hold of to raise or lower
the rod 5, the lever 27 is operated to release the pin 26.
The operation of my invention is described as follows:-
As the cam 9 rotates when the eccentric portion thereof reaches the cam roll 10
the lever 11 is depressed, raising the link 14 and the lever 12, and, when the
link 19 is upon the right side of fulcrum 21 (as shown in Figure 2), raising the
link 19, the sliding tongue 17 and the connecting rod 22, and thereby moving
the connecting rod 5. along the adjustment way 7 further from the rocking centre
of the bell lever 4, which increases the length of the stroke given to the connecting
rod 5 by the rocking motion of the bell lever, and correspondingly increases the
length of the reciprocation of the rack rod 6 and the amount of inclination given
to the roll.
If the link 19 is set upon the left of the centre 21, the tongue 17 is depressed by
the motion of lever 12 as above described, and the rod 5 brought nearer to the
centre of boll lever 4, and the amount of inclination given to roll R diminished.
By setting the rod 5 at different points along the adjustment way 23 the amount of
inclination given to roll R by the primary cam 3 may be adjusted, and by setting
the link 19 at different positions along lever 12, in the adjustment way. 20, the
change effected in the operation of cam 3 upon roll R by the auxiliary cam 9 may
be regulated.
As shown in the drawings when the link 19 is on the centre 21 the operation of
cam 3 is not affected by auxiliary cam 9, when at the right of the centre 21 the
amount of inclination given to the roll R during its operation on certain parts of
the shoe is increased, and when lever 19 is at left of centre 21 the inclination
of the roll R while operating on the same parts is diminished.
As shown in the drawings the cam 9 is so formed and timed with reference
to the cam 3 that it affects its operation on the roll R only while the latter
is shaping the forepart of the shoe, so that the machine may be adjusted
to give the required curvature to the shank by setting rod 5 at the required
point along the adjustment way 23, and may be made to further flatten or round
off the forepart by setting the lever 19 in the required position along the
adjustment way 20.
It will be noted that the auxiliary cam 9 does not substantially interfere with
the changes in the inclination of the roll R as effected by cam 3, but simply
increases or diminishes the extent of such changes.
It will be readily seen from the foregoing description that by the mechanism

page_text: herein described I am enabled to adjust the roll R to shape the shank and forepart
of a shoe independently of each other.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1895.
A communication from abroad by ERASTUS E. WINKLEY, of Lynn, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E., of Norfolk House,
Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C., in the County of Middlesex, Chartered
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to
me from abroad) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates generally to that class of levelling machines in which the
operation of levelling shoes is performed by a vibrating levelling roll applied under
pressure to the sole, and more particularly to machines of the above class which
are provided with connecting mechanism rendering them automatic in their
operation.
My invention is an improvement upon the machine shown and described in the
Complete Specification filed in pursuance of the Application for Letters Patent
No. 10,883 dated 1st June 1895.
In the machine of the said prior specification the relative lateral inclination of
the jack and roll is varied to give the proper shape or curvature to the sole, by
a cam and suitable connections which are arranged to tip the roll laterally and
such mechanism is provided with means of adjustment whereby a greater or less
degree of inclination may be given to the roll by action thereof, but the arrange-
ment of said mechanism is such that if adjusted to increase the inclination of the
roll while acting upon the shank of a shoe, a proportional increase will occur at the
ball portion.
It has been found in practice that the result above suggested is undesirable
upon certain classes of work in which a flat forepart and a round shank are
required.
My present invention consists of an improved adjustment device whereby the
action of said mechanism upon the roll or jack to vary their lateral inclination at
different parts of the shoe may be independently adjusted and my invention has for
its object to increase the utility of machines of this class.
My invention is illustrated in the drawings left with the Provisional Specification
in which,
Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine of said prior specification showing my present
invention applied thereto,
Figure 2 is a detached back view (enlarged) of a device embodying my present
invention,
Fig. 3 is a side view (enlarged) of same,
Fig. 4 is a section on line o, o Figure 2,
Fig. 5 is a section on line X X Figure 4.
Similar letters and figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the
several views.
In the drawings A represents a frame suitable to support the working parts of
the machine.
In the frame A is mounted a shaft 8, free to rotate in suitable bearings, and
carrying a wheel 1 which preferably rotates therewith.
R represents the levelling roll to which a motion of vibration is imparted

page_text: by an eccentric and suitable connections as fully described in said prior
Specification.
B represents the shoe supporting jack arranged to oscillate longitudinally under
the vibrating roll R as described in said prior specification.
On the wheel 1 are formed the two path cams and 3.
The path cam 2 controls the oscillation of the jack B under the roll R, and the
path cam 3 is arranged to impart a rocking motion to the bell lever 4 which is
pivoted at the angle to the frame A and which is connected by a connecting rod 5,
with the sliding rack rod 6 which is arranged to rock the roll R to change the
relative lateral inclination of the roll R and jack B, all as fully shown and described
in said prior specification.
In said prior specification the bell lever 4 is provided with a circular adjustment.
way 7 along which the connecting rod 5 is movable to adjust the amount of tip or
degree of inclination imparted to the roll R by the rotation of cam 3, but it is
evident that such adjustment similarly effects the action of all parts of the cam 3
on the connecting mechanism above described and if set to give a greater
inclination of the roll R while operating upon the sbank of a shoe, the amount of
inclination of roll R while operating upon the forepart will also be increased,
so that if adjusted to give a more rounded shank the machine will give a more
rounded forepart, and if set to flatten the forepart the machine gives a flatter
shank.
In my present invention I mount upon the shaft 8 an auxiliary cam 9 which
rotates with the shaft 8 and therefore with the wheel 1 and its cams 2 and 3.
In the cam 9 runs the cam roll 10 which is carried by a rocking lever 11 inter-
mediately pivoted to the frame A or suitable bracket thereon.
Pivoted to the frame A or other suitable support, adjacent to the end of lever 11,
and on the opposite side of its fulcrum from the cam roll 10, is a vibrating or
rocking lever 12, which is connected with the lever 11 by means of the link 14.
It will be noted that in the form of my invention as shown in the drawings the
plane of the rocking motion of lever 11 is at right angles or nearly so to the plane
of the rocking motion of lever 12 and to allow for such motion of levers 11 and 12
the link 14 is provided with the saddles 15 and 16 which are secured to the
respective levers 11 and 12 by pivotal connections also at right angles or nearly so
to each other.
Preferably above the lever 12 is a sliding rod or tongue 17 which is arranged to
reciprocate longitudinally in suitable guide way 18 and is connected with the lever 12
by the pivoted link 19.
The link 19 is pivotally secured to the lever 12 in the circular adjustment way 20
along which it may be moved and set in any desired position.
The adjustment way 20 may extend along the lever 12 on both sides of its pivotal
support 21 as shown in the drawing and preferably does extend over such support
in such manner that the link 19 may be set if desired upon the rocking centre
of lever 12 so that the lever 12 may be rocked without imparting any motion
to the link 19.
To the tongue 17 is pivoted a connecting rod 22 which extends along one of the
arms of the bell lever 4 and is pivotally connected with the connecting rod 5 carried
by the said arm.
As hereinbefore stated and as shown in said prior Specification, the bell
lever 4 is provided with a circular adjustment way 7 along which the rod 5 is
movable.
The connecting rod 22 is also provided with an adjustment way 23, preferably
straight, along which its connection with rod 5 is movable.
As shown in the drawings the rod 5 is provided with a shoulder 24 which extends
through both adjustment ways above described.
The shoulder 24 may conveniently consist of a bolt a which extends through
the connecting rod 5 and carries the guide pieces a' and a² which are fitted to
the respective adjustment ways 7 and 23, and are arranged to turn independently

page_text: 'upon the bolt a (see Figure 5). The bot a may be cопустены исти
by a nut a³.
As shown in Figure 5 each of the guide pieces a¹ and a² is provided with
longitudinal slots a, at and as, a which engage the sides of the adjustment ways 7
and 23, and which guide the movement of the pieces a¹ and a² along the adjust-
ment ways 7 and 23. The slots a, a further act to hold the upper end of the rod 22
in position.
The shoulder 24 is left movable along the adjustment way 7 for the purposes
hereinafter described, but is locked in a predetermined position in the adjustment
way 23 conveniently by the following mechanism :-
a
As before stated the sides of the adjustment way 23 engage with the slots a³,
on the shoulder 24, and upon one side thereof is formed a series of holes 25, 25, 25.
A longitudinally reciprocating spring pressed pin 26 is provided which passes through
with
engages
a suitable bearing in the side of the slot a and
holes 25, 25 etc.
one of the
A releasing lever 27 may be conveniently provided by means of which the pin 26
may be drawn out of engagement to allow the shoulder 24 to be moved along the
adjustment way 23.
For the purpose of lowering or raising rod 5 in the adjustment ways 7 and 23
the shoulder 24 is conveniently provided with a handle 28, under which the lever 27
is pivoted (see Figure 3) so that when the handle is laid hold of to raise or lower
the rod 5, the lever 27 is operated to release the pin 26.
is
The operation of my invention is described as follows.
As the cam 9 rotates when the eccentric portion thereof reaches the cam roll 10
the lever 11 is depressed, raising the link 14 and the lever 12, and, when the link 19
upon the right side of fulcrum 21 (as shown in Figure 2), raising the link 19, the
sliding tongue 17 and the connecting rod 22, and thereby moving the connecting
rod 5 along the adjustment way 7 further from the rocking centre of the bell lever 4,
which increases the length of the stroke given to the connecting rod 5 by the
rocking motion of the bell lever, and correspondingly increases the length of
the reciprocation of the rack rod 6 and the amount of inclination given to the roll.
If the link 19 is set upon the left of the centre 21, the tongue 17 is depressed by
the motion of lever 12 as above described, and the rod 5 brought nearer to the
centre of bell lever 4, and the amount of inclination given to roll R diminished.
By setting the rod 5 at different points along the adjustment way 23 the amount
of inclination given to roll R by the primary cam 3 may be adjusted, and by
setting the link 19 at different positions along lever 12, in the adjustment way 20,
the change effected in the operation of cam 3 upon roll R by the auxiliary cam 9
may be regulated.
As shown in the drawings when the link 19 is on the centre 21 the operation of
cam 3 is not affected by auxiliary cam 9, when at the right of the centre 21 the
amount of inclination given to the roll R during its operation on certain parts of
the shce is increased, and when lever 19 is at left of centre 21 the inclination of the
roll R while operating on the same parts is diminished.
As shown in the drawings the cam 9 is so formed and timed with reference to the
cam 3 that it affects its operation on the roll R only while the latter is shaping the
forepart of the shoe, so that the machine may be adjusted to give the required
curvature to the shank by setting rod 5 at the required point along the adjustment
way 23, and may be made to further flatten or round off the forepart by setting the
lever 19 in the required position along the adjustment way 20.
It will be noted that the auxiliary cam 9 does not substantially interfere with the
changes in the inclination of the roll R as effected by cam 3, but simply increases
or diminishes the extent of such changes.
It will be readily seen from the foregoing description that by the mechanism
herein described I am enabled to adjust the roll R to shape the shank and forepart
of a shoe independently of each other.
Having thus described my invention and its operation I desire to say that I do

page_text: not consider my invention limited to its application to the machine of the said prior
specification as herein shown, nor to the details of mechanism shown in the drawings.
or described in these Specifications.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion (as communicated to me from abroad) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a sole levelling machine the combination of a vibrating levelling roll, a shoe-
supporting jack, connected mechanism for relatively actuating the roll and jack
to level the sole of a shoe placed upon the jack, and an automatically operating.
adjusting device connected with said actuating mechanism whereby the same is
operated to shape the shank and fore part of a sole independently of each other,.
substantially as described.
2. In a sole levelling machine the combination of a vibrating levelling roll, a
shoe supporting jack, a canı and connecting mechanism for oscillating the jack under
the roll, a cam and connecting mechanism for changing the relative lateral inclina--
tion of the roll and jack, and an auxiliary cam and connecting mechanism for
adjusting said changes in lateral inclination, substantially as described.
3. In a sole levelling machine having a vibrating levelling roll, a shoe supporting
jack, and mechanism for changing the relative lateral inclination of the roll and jack,.
the combination of a rocking lever, independent means for actuating the same, and
suitable connections between said lever and the mechanism for changing the relative-
lateral inclination of the roll and jack, arranged to modify the operation of said.
mechanism, substantially as described.
4. In a sole levelling machine having a levelling roll and shoe supporting jack,.
the combination, with mechanisms for changing the relative lateral inclination of
the roll and jack, of means for adjusting said mechanisms to regulate the amount of
such change of inclination, and mechanism for automatically varying said adjustment
during the operation of the machine, substantially as described.
5. In a sole levelling machine having a levelling roll and shoe supporting jack,.
the combination of a rocking bell lever mounted upon a suitable support, a circular
adjustment way in said lever, a longitudinally reciprocating connecting rod provided
with a longitudinal adjustment way and supported adjacent to said bell lever, a.
connecting rod connected with suitable mechanism for rocking the roll and provided
with a shoulder extending through the adjustment way in the bell lever and into the-
adjustment way in the connecting rod and a device for locking said shoulder to said.
connecting rod, substantially as described.
Tand this 4th Jan of 1806
J. G. LORRAIN..