IM- PROVEMENTS IN CRIMPING MACHINES."
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CRIMPING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad
by Samuel W. Jamison, of New York, United States of America.

page_text: is communicated to me from abroad by Samuel W
York, United States of America.
Jamison, of New
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to
the Letters and Figures marked thereon, that is to say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery or
apparatus for crimping leather and relates:-
First. To the gearing for communicating motion to the crimping
plates.
Second. To the construction and arrangement of the crimping plates
or jaws, and their combination with the brackets which support them.
Third. To the arrangement of the crimping form or tree and its com-
bination with the movable jaws.
Fourth. To a system of, levers for lightening the pressure of the
crimping jaws upon the leather.
Fifth. To other features which will be herein-after specified.
The nature of this Invention and the manner in which the same is
or may be carried into effect, will be readily understood by reference
to the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Figure 2 a rear elevation of a
machine made in accordance with my Invention. The remaining Figures
represent views of detached parts, which will be referred to in the
course of this Specification.
I. The Gearing for Imparting an up and down Movement to the
Jaws The object of this portion of my Invention is to provide a means
whereby, when the jaws have moved the proper distance up or down,
they may be automatically thrown out of gear and their motion arrested,
the trip and clutch by which this result is attained being so arranged
that, although the main or driving wheel revolves continually in one
direction, the movement of the jaws may be either reversed or entirely
arrested by the shifting of the clutch. The clutch is so combined with
the gearing employed for moving the jaws up and down as that the jaws
shall move upward at a greater rate of speed than that at which they

page_text: move downward, toward, or upon the leather to be crimped. To attain
these objects I proceed as follows.
on the
The rack A of the cross head B is fitted in a recess in the frame of
the machine, and engages with a pinion 1, on horizontal shaft 2, mounted
in bearings on the top of the frame. On the other end of the shaft is
a wheel 3 with oblique teeth which engages with the worm
upright shaft 5 which is supported in suitable bearings by the side of the
machine. On this shaft two bevel wheels are loosely mounted, the
upper one 6 engaging with the large bevel toothed wheel 8 on the
horizontal shaft 10 which carries the pulley 11, which receives motion
from the prime mover, and the lower one 7 engaging with the pinion 9
mounted also on shaft 10. Between the two wheels 6 and 7 is the
clutch C, which is fitted upon the shaft, and is so held to it by a spline,
or equivalent device, that while it will communicate a rotatory movement
to it is also free to slide up and down on the shaft. The size of the
clutch is so proportioned to the distance between the two wheels 6 and 7
that the clutch may be either held out of contact with both of them
(in which case the shaft 5 would have no motion), or be thrown into
connection with either one according to the direction in which the
shaft 5 is desired to revolve, the usual teeth being formed on the ends
of the clutch, and the contiguous faces of the wheels 6 and 7 so as, to
admit of this connection as shown in the Drawing. Under the ar-
rangement described, when the clutch is out of connection with both
wheels 6 and 7 (supposing the pulley to be moving in the direction of
the arrow), they will revolve loosely upon the shaft 5, and no movement
will be communicated to the cross head. But if now the clutch be
thrown into connection with the upper wheel 6 the shaft will revolve,
causing the cross head through the intermediate gearing 1, 3, 4, and
rack A to rise in the frame. If, on the contrary, the clutch be thrown
into connection with the lower wheel 7 the shaft will be caused to
revolve in the opposite direction and the cross head instead of ascending
will descend. Thus by this combination of the two wheels 6 and 7 with
the clutch and cross head the movement of the latter can be instan-
taneously reversed or entirely arrested, as desired. As the wheel 8
which actuates the upper wheel 6 is of much greater diameter than the
pinion 9 which actuates the lower wheel 7 the upper wheel will revolve
at a proportionately greater rate of speed than the lower, so that the cross
head will rise much more rapidly than it descends, while on the other

page_text: hand although the cross head or the jaws which it carries have a
decreased speed, during their descent, they have increased power, thus
meeting the conditions required for their use, for while they may move
rapidly upward after the crimping has been effected they must in
descending upon the leather move slowly but with power, in order to
crimp perfectly and at the same time without injury to the material.
In order to render the action of the clutch to some extent automatic
I combine with it a lever a, pivotted to the frame of the machine, and
carrying on one end a pin or roller stud which fits in an annular groove in
the clutch. The other arm of the lever fits in a slot or suitable recess,
provided for it on the sliding trip-rod which is capable of moving up and
down in bearings attached to the frame of machine. The rod carries two
tripping fingers c, c, located in such relation to a corresponding tripping
finger d'on the cross head or other part moving in unison therewith,
that when the cross head in its ascent is raised sufficiently above the
crimping form the finger d will come in contact with the upper finger c
and raise the rod b. This movement of the rod will actuate the lever
to depress the clutch so as to throw it out of connection with the wheel 6
but not so as to throw it into connection with the wheel 7, so that the
movement of the cross head is arrested until it is required again to
descend, when by lifting the rod by means of the handle 6' which it
carrics, the clutch will be depressed until it is thrown into connection
with the wheel 7. The cross head will now descend, continuing to move
until the finger d presses upon the lower finger c, so as to depress the
tripping rod and throw the clutch out of connection with the wheel 7.
The movement of the cross head then ceases and it remains at rest until
the rod 6 by means of its handle is depressed sufficiently far to throw
the clutch in connection with the wheel 6, when the cross head will
recommence its ascent. The tripping rod is maintained in whatever
position it may happen to be by means of a spring a¹ or other friction
device applied between the lover a and frame, as shewn in the Drawing,
or in any other suitable manner.
II. Crimping Jaws and Stationary Tree or form :-The object I have
in view in this part of my Invention is to render the jaws adjustable;
first, to conform to the position of the crimping form; second, to adapt
themselves to inequalities in the leather; third, to admit of their being
moved bodily away from or toward each other, according to the thickness
of the material to be crimped.

page_text: My further object is to so arrange the crimping former that it may
be adjusted to crimp at varying angles to the heel, as herein-after ex-.
plained. The crimping jaws or plates are shewn at D, D. The one
jaw and the mechanism connected with the same are the counterparts
of the other jaw and its operative mechanism, so that a description for
one will answer for both. The form of the jaw is shewn in Figure 11,
representing a front view, and Figure 5 representing a rear view. The
face of the jaw is corrugated in any ordinary or suitable manner, and
if desired there is provided at the lower part or heel of the jaw a sliding
clamp e, which is held back by a spring so as to be about flush with
the face of the jaw, as shewn in cross section in Figure 3. This clamp
can be projected from the face of the jaw so as to take the required
hold upon the leather by means of the cam f and lever handle f¹ the
ćam being pivoted to the rear side of the jaw in such position that when.
rotated by means of its handle, it may strike against the projecting.
and beveled rear end of the clamp, which will thus be forced outward,.
the spring offering only a yielding resistance. Upon the rear side of
the crimping plate or jaw is a pin or stud 9 which constitutes the pivot.
úpon which the jaw can be turned so as to set it at varying angles,.
corresponding with the tilt or inclination of the stationary crimping.
form. The pin fits in a socket / formed in a plate E, Figure 4. The
latter is provided' on each side of the socket with a slot i curved in the
arc of a circle of which the socket is the centre. Through each slot
passes a clamping screw i, which enters a screw threaded hole i²-formed
for it in the jaw. In order to set the jaw at the proper angle tho
clamping screws are loosened, the jaw is then turned to the proper
inclination and the screws are then again tightened, so as to hold the
jaw tightly and immovably to the plate. Having thus provided for
the tilting in the plane of the jaws it. becomes necessary to provide a
means for allowing the jaws to conform to inequalities in the thickness
of leather, or for causing them to act more powerfully upon any desired
portion of the material. To this end the plate E is provided on its rear.
side with two sockets k, one at the top, the other at the bottom, and.
upon the face of the plate F, Figure 7, are formed two cars k¹, cor-.
respondingly located and provided with sockets. The two plates are.
placed together so that the four sockets will be in line, and then through.
the sockets is passed a spindle or rod 1, Figure 3, which holds the two.
plates together, and allows at the same time a limited lateral oscillation
of the plate E and consequently of the jaw attached to the plate. The

page_text: jaw therefore is capable of movement upon the two axes 9 and 1, so that
it can readily conform to the position of the tree and to the inequalities
of the leather. In order to limit the lateral vibration of the jaw the
plate F is provided with two set screws m, one on each side, the ends,
of which bear against the jaw as seen in Figures 1 and 2. By adjusting
these screws the jaw can be held more or less in contact with any part
of the leather, as desired. When the crimping is to take place at one
point without straining other portions of the material, the screw nearest
that point is set up while the other is retracted, thus allowing the jaw
to recede on one side, but holding it in close contact with the leather
on the other. In order to set the jaws closer together whenever desired
I combine with each jaw a disk G Figure 8 which fits upon a spindle H
whose head is held in the plate F. The rear side of this disk is formed
so as to constitute a double incline or double helical cam. The spindle
passes through a socket, in the bracket I Figure 10, which bracket has
formed upon its face a double helical cam, the counterpart of that upon
the cam disc G. These two cam surfaces fit together, and a nut n
Figure 3 on the end of the spindle serves to draw the disk and bracket
tightly together, the spindle being prevented from rotating while the
nut is screwed up by means of a spline in the socket in bracket I, which
fits in a groove in the spindle.. When the nut is loosened the cam
disk can be turned by suitable means, so as to set the one jaw as close
to the other as desired, after which by tightening the nut, all the parts
will be drawn together tightly and securely. A scale upon the peri-
phery of the disk (see Figure 8) serves to indicate to what extent the
cam should be rotated for different thicknesses of leather. The bracket I
slides in ways or guides K, and is connected with the cross head B by
means of a rod or arm L hinged both to the cross head and to the
bracket. The stationary crimping plate or form is shewn at N, Figures 1,
2, and 9. It is of any ordinary or suitable shape, and it only differs
from ordinary forms in that it is made adjustable or capable of being
tilted endwise, so as to elevate the toe more or less, according to the
different shapes of leather or uppers to be crimped, as, for instance, in
order to crimp the upper of a gaiter boot the toe must be elevated much
more than is required to crimp a "tongue boot," and a tongue boot
requires a greater elevation of the toe of the form than is required to
crimp the upper of an ordinary boot. To meet these requirements
tho form is made adjustable, or so that it may be tilted endwise. This
result may be attained in various ways, but I find it preferable to support

page_text: the lower part of the form at each end between two plates o, provided
with a set or holding screw p which passes through a curved slot r, in
the form so that by loosening the screws the form may be rocked or tilted
The curve of
endwise to cause a greater or less elevation of the toe.
these slots follows a circle of which the horizontal axis, g, of the jaws
is the centre, when the heel or lower part of the jaws have about
reached the corresponding depression in the stationary form, so. that
after the form has been adjusted in the desired position the jaws may
be correspondingly adjusted with ease and certainty.
III. The Weights for Drawing toward each other the Hinged and
Lateral adjustable Guides or Ways:-The guides or ways K are hinged
at their lower ends to the frame of the machine and connected together
and operated by a system of rods and levers 12, 13, and 14, the ends of
the rods 14, being hinged to levers 16 one end of which are pivoted or
jointed to the frame of the machine, and upon the other ends are hung
the weights 15. The ends of these levers are notched, so that tho
weights may be set a greater or less distance from the points where the
rods 14 are hinged, according to the nature of the work or the degree
of pressure required upon the leather.
IV. The System of Levers for spreading apart the Ways or Guides
It is necessary at times to spread apart the ways so as to separate the
jaws, for instance, when the cross head is ascending and there is no.
occasion for the jaws to be in close proximity. To this end I provide.
at the upper part of the machine a system of levers 17, 18, and 19,
clearly shown in Figure 2. The lower ends or arms of the levers 19:
bear against the inner faces of the guides K, and the longer arm of the
elbow lever 17 is hinged to the connecting rod 20, which extends down.
toward the bottom of the machine and is hinged to a treadle 21, as scen
in Figure 1. By pressing on the treadle the lower ends of the levers' 19,
are forced outward, thus spreading the guides apart. The arrangement
of these levers can of course be varied to a considerable extent, though
the arrangement shewn is simple and well adapted for the purpose.
V. Adjustment of the Guides or Ways:-As the extent to which the.
guides or ways may approach each other varies in accordance with the
nature of the work it is desirable to provide a means of adjustment
whereby the extent of the movement of the guides toward each other
may be determined and limited. To this end I provide set screws 8 at
the upper part of the machine passing through ears or bearings t, so

page_text: that their points shall bear against the upper ends of the guides. By
turning these screws in or out the extent which the guides may
move toward each other can be regulated and limited with great case
and accuracy. To assist in this adjustment of the guides pointers or
gauges are placed on the frame of the machine, so as to extend
upon or opposite the sides of the guides. By means of these gauges
the parallelism of the guides may be determined or the required adjust-
ment of the set screws for different kinds of work may be indicated;
suitable scales being formed on the side of guides opposite or in line
with the pointers.
VI. Adjustment of the supports or brackets by which the Crimping
Form or Tree is held :-The brackets o are held to the bottom of the
frame by set screws x, which pass through slots in the brackets and are
screwed into the frame. Under this arrangement of the brackets the
lateral adjustment of the crimping tree is readily effected. Another
advantage is that the form may be made self-adjusting during the
operation of crimping. It sometimes happens that the portion of
leather on one side of the form is thicker than that on the other. If
therefore the form were immovable during the crimping operation the
leather would, under ordinary circumstances, be pressed much more
forcibly on the one side than on the other, but. by slightly loosening
the set screws x this defect will be avoided, for as the jaws descend if
there be any inequalities in the leather, as specified, the brackets o will
move laterally in the one direction or the other to compensate for the
inequalities in the leather, rendering the form self-adjusting and causing
the pressure to be equalized and evenly distributed upon both sides of
the form.
VII. The Dripping pan and discharge Tube :--In the bottom of the
machine immediately under the crimping form is formed a pan P which
is for the purpose of catching the drippings pressed from the leather
during the crimping operation. From this pan there extends to the
rear of the machine a tube, or conduit w through which the drippings
pass, and from which they are discharged into any suitable receptacle,
thus preventing any accumulation of liquid in the pan.
In conclusion, I would say that while I have here specified the par-
ticular means preferred to employ in order to carry this Invention into
effect, yet the construction and arrangement of the parts may be variously
modified without departure from the principle of the Invention. I

page_text: do not therefore limit myself to the precise details herein described, but
what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination in a crimping machine of the sliding cross
head which carries the crimping jaws with the tripping rod, clutch, and
system of gearing for transmitting motion to said cross head under the
arrangement substantially as described, whereby the movement of the
cross head
may be reversed or arrested at pleasure as set forth.
Second. The arrangement of the reversing wheels 6 and 7 and clutch C,
by which motion is communicated to the sliding cross head with the
large and small toothed wheels which impart movement to said reversing
wheels 6 and 7 substantially as described, so that the cross head shall
be caused to ascend more rapidly than it descends, for the purposes
stated,
Third. The arrangement of the crimping jaws upon two axes, the one
horizontal, the other vertical, substantially in the manner set forth, so
that they may be tilted or rocked endwise to conform to the position
of the crimping form, and may also vibrate upon a vertical axis to allow
for inequalities in the material to be crimped.
Fourth. The employment with the laterally vibrating jaws of stops
or set screws to limit the vibration of the jaws and to hold them in close
contact with any portion of the leather to be crimped, substantially in
the manner shewn and set forth.
Fifth. The construction and arrangement of the crimping jaws, the
set screws and slotted plate by which it is supported, and the socketed
plate and spindle by which said slotted plate is held in position, sub-
stantially as shewn and set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the crimping jaws of the double helical
cam disks, the brackets provided with corresponding cams, and the
set screws or spindles and nuts for maintaining said parts in position
under the arrangement substantially as described, so that the jaws may
be set and held at a greater or less distance apart to conform to the
thickness of the material to be crimped.
Seventh. The employment in a crimping machine of an adjustable
form or tree, arranged so that the toe can be more or less elevated in
order to crimp at various angles according to the shape of the leather
or other material operated on.

page_text: Eighth. The combination with the adjustable tree or form of crimping
jaws oscillating in a plane parallel with the tree, so that said jaws may
be adjusted to conform to whatever position the tree may occupy, as
set forth.
Ninth. The arrangement of the adjustable tree or form, so that it
shall move in the arc of a circle of which the pivot or point of
oscillation of the crimping jaws is the centre; substantially as set
forth.
Tenth. The employment with the tree or crimping form of laterally
self-adjusting brackets for supporting the same, substantially as described,
so as to equalize or distribute evenly the pressure of the jaws upon the
leather on both sides of the form.
Eleventh. The combination with the crimping jaw of the sliding
clamp or corner stretcher and lever, and cam for operating the same,
substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The combination with the hinged ways or guides of a system
of levers operated by a treadle or otherwise, to spread said guides so as
to relieve the pressure and strain of the jaws on the leather, or form
whenever necessary, substantially as shewn and set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination with the hinged ways or guides of the
set screws and pointers or gauges for limiting the movement and deter-
mining the parallelism of the guides, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of
March One thousand eight hundred and seventy.