Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by The American Lasting Machine Company, a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States
of America and having its office in the City of Camden in said State) and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to certain improvements in machines for lasting boots and
shoes in which are combined a last support, nippers and presser pads.
The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of a machine of this
character and to make the parts adjustable in series so as to last shoes of different
sizes. This object is attained in the following manner, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which :
Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved lasting machine with the last in
position.
Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the different parts open to
receive the last and upper.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the upper grasped by the
nippers, the last forced into the upper, and the presser pad pressing at the sides.
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view showing the nippers released and the
presser pads pressing the upper against the insole on the last.
Figure 5 is a side view of the machine with some of the parts removed.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the upper part of the machine on the
line 1-2, Figure 1.
Figures 7 to 14 are views of the different. lifting and pressing cams.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the lifter carrier for adjusting the height of
the presser pads.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the shifters for controlling the lateral
movement of the presser pads to adapt the machine to shoes of different styles.
Figures 17 and 18 are detached views of the presser pads and carriers.
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the front presser pad carrying lever, and
Figure 20 is a plan view of the last.
Before describing the details of the invention an outline illustration of the
working of the machine will be given.
The machine has indicator marks in two places, one in connection with the presser
pad lifters and the other in connection with the presser pad shifters. The lifters
regulate the pads to accommodate a last for different sized shoes, and the shifters
are regulated to accommodate lasts of different shapes, but the operating mechanism
remains the same for all styles and shapes of shoes.
The presser pads themselves are numbered and lettered for the different sizes
aud shapes of shoes, so that if a number 4 shoe is to be lasted, style D, the lifter is
moved to the "four" index, and the shifter to the "4" index, and a set of "4-D"
pads are placed in their respective positions around the last support. The last is
now placed on the supports and the upper placed over the last, the edge of the
upper passing into the open jaws of the nippers around the last. The machine is
then put in motion, the nippers first closing upon the edges of the upper, merely
holding the upper by friction, and the last is forced up into the upper by the

page_text: movable last support, moving the upper in the jaws until a certain point near the
edge of the upper is reached, when the jaws take a positive hold upon the upper,
the last support moving to its final position at which point the upper is tightly
drawn over the last. The presser pads then bear upon the sides of the upper at
the lower edge of the last, the nippers are released from the upper and the
presser pads turned under the upper, so as to force it against the underside of the
last or insole, it being understood that the insole and inner edge of the upper are
coated with cement prior to the adjustment of the last in the machine.
The stop rods which press upon the upper portion of the last are then moved to
allow the shoe to be withdrawn from the machine, after which the operation can
be repeated on another last and upper.
Referring to the drawings, A is the base of the machine mounted on suitable
supports or legs a, and A' is the table mounted on legs or standards a' secured to
the base A, as clearly shown in Figure 5. It will be noticed that in the present
instance all the prime movers are slides adapted to slide vertically on ways on
the frame. These slides are moved by cams B', B2, B3, B4, on the can shaft B.
Both faces of the cams have cam grooves cut in them as clearly shown in
Figures 7 to 14.
D is a plate by which the pads are moved towards and from the last. This
plate is connected by connecting rods D' and links D², to levers D³ as clearly
shown in Figure 2. Each lever D³ has a pin or roller d one entering the cam
slot, Figure 7, and the other entering the cam slot c, Figure 14. These two
cam slots are cut alike so as to give the same vertical motion to the plate D.
E is a plate on which are mounted the series of nippers II and to which are
connected the series of presser pad blocks, the vertical reciprocating motion of this
plate not only lifting the nippers but also turning the presser pads on the last.
This plate is connected to levers E3 by rods E' and links E².
A pin or rollere on each lever enters the cam slot c¹ and cam slot, (Figures 8
and 13).
F is a plate to which are connected the jaws of the nippers, the vertical motion
of the plate opening and closing the jaws. This plate is connected by links F2
and rods F to levers F3, pins or rollers on the levers F3 entering the cam
slots and e, Figures 10 and 12.
GG are the last supporting rods which are adapted to move vertically in
suitable bearings, and which are connected by links G to levers G³, rollers or
pins on the levers G³ ³ entering the cam slot 2 and 3, Figures 9 and 11, these
two cams can be cut out of line with one another if necessary so as to give the toe
portion of the last a different movement from the heel portion.
The several levers D, E, F, and G³ are attached to brackets A secured to
the base A of the machine.
A³ are vertical guide rods on which the plates D, E and F slide, as clearly
shown in Figure 5.
H H are hollow spindles each carrying at its upper end a fixed head h to which
is pivotted a jaw and pivotted to this head or to the jaw is a jaw 2 having a
smooth surface and a serrated or roughened surface. For the heel portion of the
upper the jaw is preferably placed on the fixed jaw of the head h, while aroun
the tue portion of the upper the jaw is preferably placed on the movable
jaw ¹.
A sleeve acts upon the jaw, this sleeve being carried by a rod i', shown by
dotted lines in Figure 2, which is connected to a rod I passing freely through the
nipper plate E, and through the plate F. On each jaw rod I are springs,, the
spring being confined between a nut and the plate F, and the spring being
confined between the plate F and a nut, one spring being confined on one side o
the plate and the other spring being on the opposite side of said plate. These
springs can be adjusted by their respective nuts, so that more or less pressure can
be applied to the jaws, but in case of accident, the springs will yield sufficiently to
prevent any breakage of the jaws.

page_text: The spindles H H are carried by the vipper plate E, and have pins jj which are
adapted to bearings el on the plate E to allow the spindles to bave free movement
towards and from the last.
JJ are collars loose on the spindle H, and between them and the pins ; are
springs J which tend to keep the collars up against the bearings J carried by
projections J on the plate E. The underside of these bearings J' are slightly
V-shaped on the line of the pivot pins j, and the upper sides of the collars are
also V-shaped to correspond to the cut of the bearings J, so that while the nippers
can have free movement laterally towards and from the last, they are always
returned to the normal position, as clearly shown in Figure 2.
The slots in the cams which operate these two plates E and F are so timed that
the plate F moves first to close the jaws, after which the plate F returns to open
the jaws, and the plates E and F are lowered so that the jaws will clear the
pressers.
No special arrangement is necessary to adjust the series of jaws for different
sizes and shapes of shoes as sufficient play is allowed for the purpose.
The following is a description of the presser pad arrangement.
The presser pads m are carried by blocks M to which they are secured as clearly
shown in Figures 17 and 18. These presser pads are preferably made of rubber, and
are backed with a metallic plate m' having a grooved lug m² through which passes
a locking pin or bolt m₁ hence by operating this bolt, the pad can be readily
removed from the block M and another pad substituted therefor.
Passing through the block M is a pivot pin n, the two wings n of the block
passing on each side of a curved arm N of a lever N. This curved arm has a
curved slot n² through which the pin n passes, and by which the block is guided.
The lever N is pivotted at p to a vertically adjustable post P, the arm N2 of the
lever being connected by a ball joint to a post Q by a connecting rod R made in
two parts and between these two parts is a spring adapted to the spindle 3
in the part r.
The lower portion of the part forms a casing for the spring, as
clearly shown in Figure 2, so that there will be a yielding pressure on the pad when
forced against the upper.
SS are two slides situated on each side of the machine and adapted to slide
towards or from each other ou the pad plate D and on these slides are bearings S
in which are inclined slots s.
The posts are adjustable in the pad plate D, and have pins which are
adapted to the inclined slots s in the bearings S and the slides S have lags s' in
which are screw threaded orifices to which are adapted a screw rod S, having a hand
wheel by which it is turned, so that by turning this screw rod S in one direction,
the slides S are moved apart and the pivot points of the connecting rods Rare raised,
consequently throwing the pads nearer to the centre of the machine, while if a
reverse motion is imparted to the screw rod S, the slides are drawn together and
the pads are moved away from the centre of the machine, owing to the fact
that the pivots of the rods R are lowered, hence by this mechanism the pads are
adjusted to accommodate different shapes of shoes.
The posts P carrying the pivot pins of the levers N are adapted to sockets P¹
which have their bearings in the table A'.
Each post is adjustable vertically in its socket by means of a screw plug p'
between which and the end of the post is a spring surrounding a rod p³ screwed
into the shank of the post, as clearly shown in Figure 2, thus each post P can be
adjusted separately to make up for irregularities and for wear.
On each socket is a pin and each pin is adapted to ar inclined slot t' in a
yoke frame T, Figure 15, which is termed the litter." To the yoke proper T¹
are connected the arms T T in which are the inclined slots t', these arms being
secured to the yoke proper by pins or by bolts ².
A screw stem U mounted in bearings U on the table A' is adapted to a threaded
opening in the lifter T and this screw stem is provided with a handle U2, on
turning which the lifter can be moved on the table, and owing to the inclined

page_text: ways t', in which the pins of the sockets P¹ rest, the sockets, posts, levers, and
presser pads are raised and lowered and the pads are thus adjusted to accommodate
lasts of different sizes.
The lifter frame can be constructed in a different manner from that herein shown
without departing from the invention, but for convenience, it may be constructed
as described above.
Connected to the pin n of each block M or to any convenient point on the
block, is a rod M' connected to a vertical rod M2 which passes through ways in
the table A and through ways in the nipper plate E. Springs u u¹ are mounted
on the rods M² above and below the plate E and nuts 2 and 3 are adapted to the
threaded portions of the rod, so that the tension of the springs can be regulated,
and the rods M2 adjusted vertically to accommodate the blocks M. The rods M²
turn the blocks M from their position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in
Figure 3 and the presser pads are thus moved up to the last by the pad plate D
acting on the levers and after the pads are in position against the upper on the last,
the nipper plate E is lowered, consequently carrying with it the rods M and M',
which turn the block under the last as above mentioned.
On each lever N is a bumper which pushes the nipper bar that is directly in
front of the lever by which it is carried, so that the nipper will not be in the way
of the presser pads when acting.
On the toe presser lever shown in Figure 1, are two arms which project on
each side of the lever, as clearly shown in Figure 19. These arms are for the
purpose of enabling the operator to get a purchase on a fixed portion of the machine
with a pair of hand nippers which he uses in drawing the toe of the upper over the
last, while the nippers of the machine are drawing the remainder of the upper over
the last, as it is found that a much more satisfactory result is obtained by drawing
down the upper on each side of the toe by hand nippers, while it gives the
attendant sufficient to do to keep him at the machine and thus prevent bad work
by neglect of the operator.
The cam shaft B is driven from a driving shaft C through the medium of a
worm C, and a worm wheel C. The worm C¹is loose on the shaft C, but can be
clutched thereto by a clutch C³, a clutch lever C being in engagement with the
clutch, and connected by a rod C³ to a treadle C, shown in Figure 5.
On a standard A' is an arm we pivotted at w¹ which is for the purpose of guiding
the operator in placing a last on the machine, as it will be understood that the
heel of the last must be set in a certain position on the last support, and by having
the indicator arm w the last X, Figure 20, can be marked as shown at e, when
first applied to the machine, so that it can always he set in the same position in
respect to the arm w and the abutment rods W W'can be adjusted accordingly,
the abutment rod W fitting the ordinary orifice in the heel portion of the
last, Figure 20.
The abutment rod W₁ has a shoe which rests upon the toe portion of the last
as clearly shown in Figure 6.
Each rod is adapted to bearings carried by arms Z projecting from
the standard A. The bearings are adapted to slide on the arms Z Z, and
adjusting screws are mounted in bearings on the arms, and adapted to nuts on
the bearing, so that on turning these screws, the rods can be moved towards or
from each other, and thereby adjusted for lasts of different lengths.
=
On each bearing is a rod on which slides a sleeve :³ and between the sleeve
and a nut is a spring. Projecting from each sleeve is an arm and through
the arms pass the abutment rods, on each of which abutment rods is a fixed
collar so that it will be seen, on referring to Fig. 6 that the abutment rods W W
are forced upon the last by the spring, but will yield for any independent vertical
motion of the last.
Each sleeve is provided with a handle w³, Figure 1, by means of which the
arms can be thrown out clear of the rods to allow for the free adjustment of the
abutment rods.

page_text: aying bow particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination in a machine for lasting boots and shoes, of the vertically
movable last support, the nippers arranged on each side of the support, a vertically
movable plate to which the nippers are secured, a plate to which the movable
jaws of the nippers are attached, pressing pads arranged around the nippers and
last support and connected to the nipper plate, levers carrying the said pads, a
vertically moving plate attached to the said levers, and mechanism for moving the
said plates and last support, substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination in a machine for lasting boots and shoes, of the last support,
a series of nippers, a series of independent pressing pads arranged around the
last support, and a series of lifters controlling the height of the series of pressing
pads, the said lifters being connected together whereby they can be operated from
a single point to raise or lower the pressing pads to accommodate lasts of different
sizes, substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination in a machine for lasting boots and shoes of the last support,
the series of nippers, and the series of independent pressing pads arranged around
the last support, with a series of shifters connected together and controlling the
lateral movement of the series of pressing pads, whereby the machine can b
adjusted to lasts of different shapes, substantially as bereinbefore described.
4. The combination in a lasting machine, of the last support, a last having an
indicator mark thereon, mechanism for drawing down and turning the upper
against the last, a holding or pressing foot at the top of the last, a gauge arm on a
fixed portion of the machine, and mechanism for adjusting the holding foot,
longitudinally in respect to the last whereby it can enter the cavity in the last
when the gauge is in line with the mark on the last, substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
5. The combination in a lasting machine, of the last support, the nipper, pivotted
levers slotted at one end, a pad carrier adapted to the said slotted levers, operating
mechanism connected to the opposite arm of each lever for giving the forward
push to the pad carrier, and mechanism connected to the block whereby the carrier
is drawn down and turned under the last, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
6. The combination in a lasting machine, of the last support, a pivotted bell
crank lever, a cam at its upper end, a block adapted to the upper end of the lever
and to the cam, a presser pad on the said block, a vertically movable plate D
connected to the opposite end of the said lever, a cam, and a pin adapted to the
said cam and connected to the plate, substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The combination of the last support, the pads m, levers carrying the said pads,
mechanism for operating the said levers, posts to which the levers are pivotted,
sockets for the said posts, with means for vertically adjusting the posts in the
sockets, substantially as herein before described.
8. The combination of the last support, the pads m levers carrying the said pads,
mechanism for operating the said levers, posts to which the levers are pivotted,
sockets for the said posts, with means for vertically adjusting the posts in the
sockets, and a lifter engaging with a number of the sockets whereby the posts and
their levers and pads can be adjusted vertically in unison, substantially as herein-
before described.
9. The combination in a lasting machine, of the last support, the toe presser pad,
a lever carrying the said pad, and mechanism for operating the said lever, the lever
having two arms acting as fulcrums for hand pincers, substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described.
10. The combination in a lasting machine, of the last support, pads m, levers
carrying the said pads, a vertically movable plate D, a rod R connecting the levers
to the said plate, bearings S having inclined ways therein, pivot pins y connecting

page_text: the rods to the plate, the said pins being adapted to the inclined ways in the
bearings, bars to which the bearings are attached and a screw rod $ passing
through lugs on the said bars whereby the bars are moved towards the centre of
the machine on turning the screw rod, thereby raising the pivots of the rods
connected to the levers, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
11. The combination in a lasting machine, of the frame, cam shaft, mechanism
for driving the said shaft, a series of face cams on the said shaft, a series of levers
having pins adapted to the grooves in the face cams, the last supporting rods, the
nipper plate, the jaw plate, and the pad plate, the said plates and rods being
connected to their respective levers, the nippers carried by the nipper plate the
jaws of which nippers are acted upon through the medium of the jaw plates, presser
pads and levers therefor, the said levers being connected to the pad plate, the
whole being arranged and operated, substantially as herein before described.
12. The combination in a lasting machine, of the last support, lasting mechanism,
abutment rods pressing on the last, bearings for the said abutment rods adjustable
in the direction of the length of the last, a sleeve for each abutment rod, having
an arm which can be moved in the path of the said rod, a post carrying the said
sleeve, and a spring tending to force the sleeve down, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.