IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CHANNELLING AND TRIMMING SOLES FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton
Buildings, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
CHANNELLING AND TRIMMING SOLES FOR BOOTS AND SHOES." A commu-
nication from abroad by Frederick Sumner Potter, of New Bedford,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CHANNELLING AND TRIMMING SOLES FOR
BOOTS AND SHOES." [A communication from abroad by Frederick Sumner
Potter, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention of improvements in machines for channelling and trimming soles
for boots and shoes has for its object to channel or both channel and trim a sole
of a lasted shoe. By this machine and process the outline of the channel is
determined by the last, as is also the trimming of the sole.
This present Invention is of especial advantage in the preparation of soles for
sole sewing machines, and for nailed work in which the nailing is done in the
channel.
The Invention consists essentially in the production of a machine containing a
channel cutter and an edge-trimming device or blade to channel and trim a sole of
a lasted shoe or boot.
Also in a gauge to bear against the upper on the last combined with a channel
cutter and edge trimmer.
Also in a gauge, an edge-trimming blade and throat, and means to connect the
throat and blade-carrier to permit the said blade and throat to be adjusted together
toward and from the gauge.
Also in a channel-cutter and edge-trimming blade, combined with feeding
mechanism to intermittingly grasp and move the sole so as to be both channelled
and trimmed.
Also in that improvement in the method of preparing soles for boots and shoes,
which consists in applying the outer sole to the lasted shoe or inner sole, and then
[Price 6d1

page_text: channelling and trimming the edge of the said sole according to the outline of the
inner sole or last with which the sole is used.
The frame-work of the machine is of suitable shape to support the working-
parts, and the main-shaft is driven in any usual way.
This shaft has upon it a cam-grooved disk provided with a cam-groove to receive
a roller stud of a lever pivotted at and connected by a link with a slide or
carriage, upon which is attached the holder, to which is secured the edge-trimming
device or blade or chisel, or gouge-like device, which strikes through and cuts
away the sole edge.
By the connections thus far described the said trimming-blade is reciprocated to
enter and trim the edge of the sole at a uniform distance back of the acting face
or end of the gauge, which cooperates in defining the shape of the sole, and the
trimming is herein performed while the sole is held clamped and at rest after having
been fed forward.
The cam-disk is grooved to receive a roll or stud on an arm hung at its outer
end on a bolt extended through ears of an oscillating shaft.
The bolt also serves as the fulcrum of the calipering or pressing-jaw of the
clamping and feeding mechanism.
The upper member of this clamp or feeding mechanism has a sleeve-like part
which is entered between the shoulders of the frame and is attached to the shaft
by a pin.
The arm by the action of the groove is vibrated about the bolt, and as the roller
of the arm meets the edge-cam attached to the disk the said arm is moved laterally
to oscillate the shaft and its attached parts for the distance it is desired to feed
the sole or shoe forward, the two parts of the clamp or feed then grasping
the sole.
An adjustable spring connected with the frame and arm keeps the roll against
the cam, and also acts to move the feeding-mechanism backward, an adjustable
stop determining the backward position of the said clamping and feeding-
mechanism.
The lower-end of the upper-member of the clamping and feeding-mechanism has
its acting face made as a gauge with a lip to enter the groove between the lasted
upper and sole, or is so shaped as to act upon the upper next the edge of the
bottom of the last, or if desired the edge of the inner-sole, the said outer-sole
material being connected and moving with the said last and inner sole.
The under-side of this (member at the rear of the gauge face has a throat or
slot, into which is received the end of the trimming-blade after its passage through
the sole.
A block forming a part of this throat is connected with a finger slotted and
adjustably secured by a pin to an ear projected from the rear side of the guide-
way, which has a slotted stand dovetailed into and made adjustable horizontally
in the frame part whenever it is desired to trim the sole at a greater or less distance
from the rear of the gauge face so as to ensure the proper or desired width of sole
edge beyond the upper.
This finger is to ensure the movement of the block in unison with the trimming-
blade when the guide-way is adjusted horizontally, or to adjust the throat and
blade simultaneously.
The movable part of the clamp and feed and the arm each have toes, between
the sides of which is placed a wedge or movable fulcrum-block carried at the
upper end of a vertically-movable rod normally pressed upward by a spring in a
tube connected with the arm, the said spring being regulated as to its force by a
screw.
A pin extended through the wedge-block is acted upon by a slotted fork con-
nected by a link with the hand or foot lever pivotted at and held normally upward
by a spring.
When a sole is to be channelled the lever is depressed so as to lower the wedge-
block sufficiently below the fulcrum bolt to permit the clamp to fall far enough

page_text: below the lower face to receive the sole, and then the spring acts to lift the lever
and wedge block and cause the clamp to rest against the outer face of the sole
whatever may be its thickness.
The channel cutter is composed of a steel block and cutting-edge adjustably
attached to a bar contained in a sleeve, and is acted upon by a spring to hold the
channel-cutter pressed upward against the sole to be channelled.
The stress of this spring is regulated as may be desired by a screw and
set-nuts.
The channel cutter is depressed for the introduction of the sole by means of an
arm of a lever, it acting upon the set-nuts at the lower end of the rod.
The sleeve is attached to a horizontally adjustable block connected with the
frame within a slot in the stand, to thereby permit the channel-cutter and its sleeve
to be adjusted horizontally toward and from the gauge.
The stand has adjusting devices at each end of its slotted centre, and connected
with the said stand is a rod which is extended backward to one arm of a lever,
with which a treadle, under the control of the operator, will be suitably connected
so as to permit the operator by pressure thereonito move the stand, guide-way, and
trimming blade, and throat, horizontally as may be desired, to thereby trim the
sole more or less close to the channel.
The adjusting devices will be so placed as to permit the stand to slide more or
less before the ends of the said devices strike the block.
When one of the said devices is against one edge of the block the sole will be
trimmed, say, the greatest distance from the channel, as when working about the
fore-part, and when the other of the said adjusting devices is against the other
edge of the block the sole will be trimmed the least distance from the channel as
at its shank-part.
The sole while clamped between the clamping devices will be moved forward
against the channel-cutter and be channelled, and as the sole comes to a position
of rest the edge-trimming blade will be elevated to trim the sole edge, and then
the clamp and feed will be moved backward, and after that the trimming blade
will be retracted.
In the preparation of soles for solo sewing machines the sole is cut out by a die
or shaped by a pattern, and then it is channelled on a separate machine and placed
in position on the lasted shoe.
"
In some nailed work the same process is carried out. In pegged work and
surface nailed work the same process is carried out, except the channelling.
A workman is liable when placing a " died-out and channelled sole upon the
inner-sole to get it out of position, so that the line of channel does not conform
with the edge of the inner-sole, and the stitches or other fastenings will therefore
be made or inserted more or less near, and will sometimes run completely off, the
edge of the inner-sole, but by assembling the parts of the shoe and then subse-
quently channelling and trimming the sole this can never happen.
By this process the shoe is lasted in the usual way, and a piece of leather large
enough for an outer-sole is attached to the inner-sole by the usual sole tacks, and
then the shoe so assembled is placed in the machine, and the outer sole is simul-
taneously channelled and trimmed at a uniform distance from the upper or inner-
sole or edge of the last, the gauge cooperating therewith to define the outline of
the channel and edge of the sole, causing them to assume the contour of the last-
bottom or inner-sole, thereby making a more symmetrical shoe, and saving not
only time but reducing the number of different handlings, and consequently the
cost of manufacture of boots or shoes.
According to this process the channel and edge of the outer-sole are both defined
by the shape of the upper, where it touches upon the inner-sole next the bottom
of the last, and therefore the inner-sole and channelled outer-sole may always be
made to accord with each other in shape.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
February 1881.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CHANNELLING AND TRIMMING SOLES FOR
BOOTS AND SHOES." A communication from abroad by Frederick Sumner
Potter, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention of improvements in machines for channelling and trimming soles
for boots and shoes, has for its object to channel, or both channel and trim, a sole of
a lasted shoe. By this machine and process the outline of the channel is determined
by the last, as is also the trimming of the sole.
This present Invention is of especial advantage in the preparation of soles for
sole sewing machines, and for nailed work in which the nailing is done in the
channel.
The Invention consists essentially in the production of a machine containing a
channel cutter, and an edge trimming device or blade to channel and trim a sole of
a lasted shoe or boot.
Also in a gauge to bear against the upper on the last combined with a channel
cutter and edge trimmer.
Also in a gauge, an edge trimming blade and throat, and means to connect the
throat and blade-carrier to permit the said blade and throat to be adjusted together
toward and from the gauge.
Also in a channel cutter and edge trimming blade combined with feeding
mechanism to, intermittingly grasp and move the sole, so as to be both channelled
and trimmed.
Also in that improvement in the method of preparing soles for boots and shoes,
which consists in applying the outer sole to the lasted shoe or inner sole, and then
channelling and trimming the edge of the said sole according to the outline of the
inner sole or last with which the sole is used, substantially as hereinafter set forth.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a machine embodying the Invention;
Figure 2, a front elevation thereof; Figure 3, a section on the line x, x, Figure 1 ;
Figure 4, a partial vertical section on the line y, y, Figure 2; Figures 5 and 6,
details of the channel cutter and trimming blade, and Figure 7, a view of a part of
an outer sole partially channelled and trimmed, as it will be by this machine, and
in accordance with the process.
The frame work. A of the machine is of suitable shape to support the working
parts, and the main shaft B driven in any usual way.
This shaft has upon it a cam grooved disc C provided with a cam groove a,
shaped as designated in dotted lines, Figure 1, to receive a roller stud b of a lever D
pivoted at c, and connected by a link d with a slide or carriage e, upon which is
attached the holder f, to which is secured the edge trimming device or blade g
herein shown as a chisel or gauge like device, which strikes through and cuts away
the sole edge.
By the connections thus far described, the said trimming blade is reciprocated to
enter and trim the edge of the sole at a uniform distance back of the acting face or
end of the gauge, which cooperates in defining the shape of the sole, and the
trimming is herein performed while the sole is held clamped and at rest after
having been fed forward.
The cam disc E is grooved, as shown by dotted lines h, Figure 1, to receive a roll
or stud j on an arm G hung at its outer end on the bolt k, extended through ears
of an oscillating shaft H.
The bolt also serves as the fulcrum of the calipering or pressing jaw m of the
clamping and feeding mechanism.

page_text: The upper member I of this clamp or feeding mechanism has a sleeve like part n,
which is entered between the shoulders 2, 3, of the frame A, and is attached to the
shaft H by the pin o.
The arm g by the action of the groove h is vibrated about the bolt k, and as the
roller i of the arm meets the edge cam F attached to the disc E, the said arm is
moved laterally to oscillate the shaft H and its attached parts for the distance it is
desired to feed the sole or shoe forward, the two parts of the clamp or feed then
grasping the sole.
An adjustable spring L connected with the frame A and arm G keeps the rolls i
against the cam F, and also acts to move the feeding mechanism backward, an
adjustable stop p on a rod M (Figure 3) determining the backward position of the
Baid clamping and feeding mechanism.
The lower end of the upper member I of the clamping and feeding mechanism
has its acting face made as a gauge r with a lip to enter the groove between the
lasted upper and sole, or is so shaped as to act upon the upper next the edge of the
bottom of the last, or, if desired, the edge of the inner sole, the said outer sole
material being connected and moving with the said last and inner sole.
The under-side of this member I at the rear of the gauge face has a throat or
slot, into which is received the end of the trimming blade after its passage through
the sole.
The blocks, see Figure 4, forming a part of this throat is connected with the
finger N slotted at 1, and adjustably secured by pin 4 to the ear 5 projected from
the rear side of the guide way P, which has a slotted stand p³ dovetailed into and
made adjustable horizontally in the frame part A, as hereinafter described,
whenever it is desired to trim the sole at a greater or less distance from the rear
of the gauge face r, so as to ensure the proper or desired width of sole edge beyond
the upper.
This finger is to ensure the movement of the block s in unison with the
trimming blade when the guide way P is adjusted horizontally, or to adjust the
throat and blade simultaneously.
The moveable part m of the clamp and feed and the arm G each have tocs, as
at 7, 8, between the sides of which is placed a wedge or moveable fulcrum block 9
carried at the upper end of a vertically moveable rod 10, normally pressed upward
by a spring 11 in a tube 12 connected with the arm G, the said spring 11 being
regulated as to its force by a screw 13.
A pin 14 extended through the wedge block is acted upon by the slotted fork 15
connected by link 16 with the hand or foot lever 17 pivoted at 18, and held
normally upward by the spring 19.
When a sole is to be channelled the lever 17 is depressed, so as to lower the
wedge block sufficiently below the fulcrum bolt k to permit the clamp m to fall
far enough below the lower face of I to receive the sole, and then the spring 19
acts to lift the lever 17 and wedge block, and cause the clamp m to rest against the
outer face of the sole whatever may be its thickness.
When the toe 8 is thrown toward the toe 7, the wedge block will descend
more or less according to the stress of the spring 19, thereby controlling the force
or extent of pressure of m upon the sole, and as the toe S is moved away from 7,
as is the case when the clamp and feed is being moved backward, then the stress
of the spring is lessened a little, and the pressure of m upon the sole is somewhat
released.
During this backward movement of the clamp and feeding mechanism the
trimming blade is engaged with the sole to prevent the latter being also moved
backward.
The channel cutter 20 is composed of a steel block and cutting edge adjustably
attached to a bar 21 contained in a sleeve 22, and is acted upon by a spring 23. to
hold the channel cutter pressed upward against the sole to be channelled.
The stress of this spring 23 is regulated as may be desired by the screw 24 and
sot nuts 25.

page_text: The channel cutter is depressed for the introduction of the sole by means of
the arm 26 of lever 17, it acting upon the set nuts 25 at the lower end of
rod 21.
The sleeve 22 is attached to a horizontally adjustable block 28 connected with
the frame A, as herein shown, within a slot in the stand p³, to thereby permit the
channel cutter and its sleeve to be adjusted horizontally toward and from the
gauge r.
The stand p2 has adjusting devices 30, shewn as screws, at each end of its slotted
centre, and connected with the said stand is a rod 31 which is extended backward
to one arm of a lever 32, with which a treadle under the control of the operator
will be suitably connected, so as to permit the operator by pressure thereon to
move the stand, guide way, and trimming blade and throat horizontally, as may be
desired, to thereby trim the sole more or less close to the channel.
The adjusting devices 30 will be so placed as to permit the stand to slide more
or less before the ends of the said devices 30 strike the block 28.
When one of the said devices 30 is against one edge of 28, the sole will be
trimmed, say, the greatest distance from the channel, as when working about the
fore part, and when the other of the said adjusting devices is against the other
edge of block 28, the sole will be trimmed the least distance from the channel,
as at its shank part.
The sole while clamped between the clamping devices I, m, will be moved
forward against the channel cutter and be channelled, and as the sole comes to a
position of rest, the edge-trimming blade will be elevated to trim the sole edge, and
then the clamp and feed will be moved backward, and after that the trimming
in blade will be retracted.
In the preparation of soles for sole sewing machines, the sole is cut out by a die
or shaped by a pattern, and then it is channelled on a separate machine and placed
in position on the lasted shoe.
In some nailed work the same process is carried out. In pegged work and surface-
nailed work, the same process is carried out except the channelling.
A workman is liable when placing a "died-out" and channelled sole upon the
inner sole to get it out of position, so that the line of channel does not conform
with the edge of the inner sole, and the stitches or other fastenings will therefore
be made or inserted more or less near, and will sometimes run completely off, the
edge of the inner sole; but by assembling the parts of the shoe, as herein described,
and then subsequently channelling and trimming the sole, this can never happen.
By this process the shoe is lasted in the usual way, and a piece of leather large
enough for an outer sole is attached to the inner sole by the usual sole tacks, and
then the shoe so assembled is placed in the machine, and the outer sole is
simultaneously channelled and trimmed at a uniform distance from the upper or
inner sole or edge of the last, the gauge cooperating therewith to define the outline
of the channel and edge of the sole, causing them to assume the contour of the last
bottom or inner sole, thereby making a more symmetrical shoe, and saving not only
time, but reducing the number of different handlings, and consequently the cost of
manufacture of boots or shoes.
According to this process the channel and edge of the outer sole are both defined
by the shape of the upper where it touches upon the inner sole next the bottom of
the last, and therefore the inner sole and channelled outer sole may always be
made to accord with each other in shape.
I am aware that it is not new to channel and bevel an inner sole separate from a
shoe at one and the same operation, and at the same time pare the sole edge, the
sole being fastened upon a moveable carriage.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
1st. A channel cutter to channel the sole combined with the reciprocating

page_text: trimming blade, to trim and gave shape to the edge of the sole outside the channel,
substantially as described.
2nd. A gauge to bear against the upper of a lasted boot or shoe near the inner
sole or last, substantially as described, combined with a channel cutter and edge
trimming mechanism, to both channel and trim the outer sole to conform to the
shape of the inner sole or last of the shoe to be produced.
3rd. The gauge combined with the edge trimming blade and throat, and means to
connect them to permit the blade and throat to be adjusted in unison toward and
from the gauge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. The gauge and channel cutter combined with the edge trimming blade and
throat, and means to adjust them toward and from the gauge and channel cutter,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
5th. The channel cutter and edge trimming blade combined with the feeding
mechanism I, m, to intermittingly clamp and move the boot or shoe forward,
whereby its sole may be both channelled and trimmed, substantially as described.
6th. In a sole channelling and trimming machine, the clamping and feeding
mechanism, substantially as described, to automatically adapt itself to varying
thicknesses of soles, substantially as set forth.
7th. In a sole channelling and trimming machine, the channel cutter combined
with feeding mechanism to clamp and feed the sole forward intermittingly, and
with the reciprocating edge trimming blade and mechanism, substantially as
described, to operate it, the said blade holding the sole while the feeding mechanism
is moved backward, substantially as described.
8th. That improvement in the art or method of preparing boots and shoes to
be sewed by a sewing machine, which consists in first lasting the shoe, and then
at a single operation trimming the sole edge to shape it to correspond with the
shape of the last or inner sole employed, and channelling the sole for the reception
of the stitches to unite the outer sole, upper, and inner sole, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.