and Shoes.
Year: 1886

page_text: and Shoes.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Frank Chase and Orlando Ethelbert
Lewis, both of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts in the United States of
America and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The object of this Invention is to produce a mechanism by which the upper of a
boot or shoe may be conveniently, smoothly and with a substantially uniform
strain, fitted to the last, notwithstanding the irregular form of the latter.
The Invention can be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which,'
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a lasting machine embodying these improvements.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the toe clamp of the machine with its top plates
removed.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same on line 4-4, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross-section' on line 5-5, Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a side view of one of the retarding nippers.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the wiper lifting mechanism.
Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section of the machine.
Figure 9 is a vertical section on line 9-9 of Figure 1.
$
Figure 10 is a plan of the guides which support and direct the toe clamping
devices,
Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the toe clamp.
Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view, and
J
Figure 13 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the nipper-wipers.
A is a standard supporting a table like frame A¹, baving a central opening,
around which are arranged the devices which hold the last and operate upon the
upper.
B is a rod or post situated in the opening referred to and which fits into and
forms a rest for the last at one end. At t is shown a rest for the other end of the
last consisting of a plate preferably hollowed upon its surface to fit the last and
vertically moveable upon guides consisting in this instance of pins to.
may be supported by springs t³ which tend to press the last upwards.
which bears against the underside of rest t. Both this rod and the
arranged to be operated simultaneously by a foot treadle and lever
The rest t
T³ is a rod
post B are
T to press

page_text: the last upwards. In order, however, that each end of the last may be raised the
proper distance, or supported with the proper amount of force, relative to the other
end, I have interposed equalizing devices between the posts B and Ts, and the foot
lever or other actuating device, the same consisting of a lever B¹ pivoted at one
end to the post B and at the other to the rod T³, and connected between said
pivotal points with the foot lever .T by means of a rod T. This arrangement
permits independent movement to the two ends of the last as it is pressed upwards
against the wipers.
The last is to be held between two part heel-clamps H H, and toe clamps T T,
the ways a of which slide upon corresponding converging ways a belonging to the
frame A, under the operation of screws H H₁ engaging with puts h¹ t¹, which
latter fit in recesses in the clamps. The two parts of the clamps are thus caused
to approach each other as they advance upon the last. The parts are kept in
engagement with the ways a by springs dd. The screws are actuated by hand
wheel C through gearing c and shafts c¹. The heel clamp is properly shaped at
its inner end to hold the. last, and is provided at said point with a rubber
cushion h. The toe clamp engages by means of recesses t₁ with a toe support T².
The latter rests upon an inclined plane D which is longitudinally adjustable upon
the frame A¹ by means of a thumb nut D¹ passing through a slot in the frame and
engaging with the part D. By this arrangement the forward or backward move-
ment of the toe clamp, carrying with it the toe support T. is accompanied by an
upward or downward movement of the latter to compensate for the various
thicknesses of various lengths of lasts. The height of the toe support is regulated
by the longitudinal adjustment of the inclined plane.
At its forward end the toe support carries the pins t°, already referred to, which
guide the rest t. The rod Ts which bears against the underside of the rest, passes
up loosely through a hole in the toe support. The rod is carried with the toe
support as the latter moves, the part D being slotted vertically at to to permit the
entrance of the rod.
E E are plates carried respectively by the heel and toe clamps, and projecting
inwards so as to lap slightly over the last at each end. They are provided with
downward projections e e' which engage with recesses in the clamps upon which
•press laterally spiral springs g, seated in the recesses to keep the plates centered in
the clamps as the latter open and close.
The heel and toe wipers J are pivoted to these plates at j. They also have a pin
and slot connection with actuating plates F F F F adapted to slide in semi-
circular ways in the end clamps, under the action of the cords L passing around
pulleys f, which cords also operate the side wipers. The plates F F are retracted
by springs G.
The side wipers are indicated at W, consisting of nipper-wipers carried by
slides R which are actuated horizontally from shaft Q by a system of cords and
pulleys. Each nipper-wiper (see Figures 12 and 13) consists of a base I which
screws and oscillates upon a pivot W (Figure 13) on the slide R; the stationary
jaw 2 swiveled to the base 1 on a vertical axis 3; the locking lever 4 hung to the
stationary jaw on a horizontal axis 5; and the movable jaw 6; jointed to the
locking lever by a horizontal joint or pivot 7. m (Figure 13) is the leather
grasped by the jaws; and X2 is a rubber or other yielding buffer to prevent the
wiper in moving forward from injuring the leather. The bowed portion of the
shank of the movable jaw forms a stiff bow spring which allows the acting end of
said jaw to yield when necessary. In this way a spring action is provided by which
the lever when depressed far enough to bring the joint 7 below a line passing
through the two points 5, 8, is caused to snap down into place.
The wiper-carrying-slides R are held in ways in the blocks P which latter are
pivoted to slides O at p and held up at their inner ends by springs q. Slides O fit
in ways N on the frame A¹ at each side of the lasting opening and in proximity to
and parallel with the shafts c¹. The slides O through the medium of half nuts O¹,
theld in the slide by screws o engage with screw thread upon the shafts c¹. (See

page_text: Figure 9). Six of the slides are shown upon each side of the lasting opening.
A description of those upon one side will suffice for both. One of the sides, near
the middle of the series, is provided with a half bearing 0%, instead of a half nut.
On one side of this slide (which, obviously, as the shaft revolves, remains
stationary) the shaft c¹ is provided with right hand screw threads, 1, 2 and 3, and'
upon the other side with left hand threads, 4 and 5 which threads engage with the
half nuts mentioned. The threads are also of different pitch, threads 2 and 5:
being twice the pitch of 3 and 4, the thread 1 being three times the pitch. The
result of this arrangement is that as the shaft c¹ is turned in one direction or the
other the distance between the slides 'O are all uniformly increased or diminished.
The slides are properly arranged at the sides of the lasting-opening and between
the heel and toe clamps, and as the screws HH' are geared with shafts c¹ c' a
uniform arrangement of the slides and side wipers will be preserved at all times as
the clamps advance or retreat, though greater or less spaces between the slides will
adapt them to lasts of different lengths.
The wipers are advanced by cords or chains L L, which pass from winding-
drums L'L' over suitable guide-pulleys and alternately around the outer sides of
a series of pulleys r, carried by the slides R, and around the inner sides of a series
of pulleys p¹, carried by the blocks P, and thence over guide pulleys back to the
winding drums L' L'. The drums are carried by a shaft Q which may be actuated
by a hand or belt wheel Q1 or equivalent means, either directly or through the
medium of a counter-shaft S, and gearing St as shewn by which latter arrangement
greater power may be applied. Preferably the same cords which advance the side
wipers W, are passed around the pulleys as shown. As the drums L¹ L¹ therefore,
take up the cords L L the slides F¹ with their wipers, are forced inward.
The retraction of the side wipers is effected by a system of cords U U, and
pulleys ru-The pulleys are arranged in a series upon the slides R, and the
pulleys u in a corresponding series upon suitable brackets or extensions, U¹ U', of
the frame A¹. Drums U" U" upon the shaft Q serve to take up cords U U when
said shaft is turned backward, the drums L L by the same motion giving off the
cords L L. The wipers are therefore balanced or held positively between the
advancing set of cords and pulleys and the retracting set. More friction is
encountered in actuating those of the slides R which are near the middle of the
series than in moving those at the ends, due to the greater number of pulleys
around which the operating-cords L are obliged to pass to reach the former slides:
As a result the end slides of the series R will be brought up to the last before the
others, this is not ordinarily objectionable; but in order that the slides may be
caused to advance together I have provided them with friction devices whereby
those near the ends, which advance more readily, may be retarded. The devices
consist of plates 8, (see Figure 8) which may be forced against the blocks P by set
screws 8, engaging with 'the slides R and bearing against the plates 8.
By an inspection of figure 8 it will be seen that one of cords L L and drums L'L'
operate to last one side of the shoe, and the other cord and drum the other side.
Where one side of the last is more concave than the other, which is generally the
case, as with rights and: lefts, or the upper at one side is more elastic than at the
other, it is necessary for the wipers upon that side to advance farther than those
upon the opposite side. I have therefore devised means by which the lasting
mechanisms of the two sides of the shoe may operate independently of one another,
and by which one of said mechanisms may come to rest while that upon the
opposite side of the shoe may continue in operation and advance farther without
special previous adjustment of the machine. I accomplish this preferably, by giving
each of the drums L' L' a yielding connection with their common shaft which
enables one of them and the wipers which it actuates to be retarded or to come to
rest, while the other drum and its wipers may continue to operate. These yielding
connection are formed by two spiral springs V V each of which is secured at one
end to one of the drums and at the other end to the shaft Q, through the medium
of a sleeve V¹; secured to the shaft by a screw v.. A slight tension is given to the
.

page_text: springs, and the drums are then held against their action by pins 111, inserted in the
drums in the paths of arms of the sleeve. The cords L L are passed' around
the drums in a direction to act against the springs. When shaft Q is turned and
the wipers advanced, and the resistance of the upper to the wipers upon either side
of the shoe becomes greater than the force of that one of the springs V through
which said wipers are actuated, the spring will yield till its tension becomes
sufficient to overcome the resistance of the upper, and properly stretch and last it.
In the meantime the shaft Q continues its revolution..and the other spring V
independently actuates the wipers and effects the lasting upon the other side of
the shoe. Thus the springs VV yield relatively to one another, according to the
shape of the last and the elasticity of the upper upon the two sides of the shoe, till
the lasting of both sides is properly effected.
.
Shields or guards X carried by supports x, serve to retain the cords L and U
upon their drums, the latter being grooved as shown. Guards may be provided
with all of the pulleys to retain the cords in place, if found desirable.
Instead of lasting the upper upon all sides at once, I find it desirable to operate
first upon one part of the upper, say the sides, and then upon the other parts, in
this case the ends. The final strain upon the upper is, however, equally distributed
by means of the yielding of the various wipers to each other.
In the construction shown the machine is adapted to last first the sides and then
the ends of the upper.
FFFF indicate catch levers, pivoted to the end clamps at f, there being a
lever for each of the plates F F F F¹, adapted to engage with the plates, when
the latter are retracted, by means of teeth f¹.—ƒ ƒ indicate lateral arms of the
levers extending beneath the rear ends of the plates E E¹. f3 are stop blocks,
situated in recesses in the end clamps and carried by pins f* which pass up through
said plates and are sustained by yielding springs f5. When in their higher position
the upper portion of the blocks f³ lie in the same horizontal plane with and
upon the inner side of the lateral arms of the catch levers, thus keeping the teeth f¹
in engagement with the wiper operating plates F F F F¹. At fo the catch levers
are provided with spurs which project into the path of the wiper operating plates,
and the spurs are of such length and the play of the levers is so limited that the
spurs are always kept in said path, while the teeth f¹ are out of engagement with
the plates. The plates therefore as they are retracted will come in contact with
the spurs and so move the catch levers as to automatically bring the teeth f₁ back
into engagement.
The springs f immediately raise the blocks f³ and lock the catch levers in such
position.
G¹ is a spring clasp arranged to gather the upper around the toe of the last and
prepare it for operation of the toe-wipers. It is situated just below the wipers and
carried by a pin which enters a longitudinal bearing in the plate E¹. A spiral
spring G² bears against the rear of the pin and presses the clasp against the last at
the same time permitting the clasp to yield as the clasp advances.
At I are shown nippers, one for each of the toe wipers. They are mounted on
ears carried by the top plates I of the end clamp, (see Fig. 6) and may be pressed
down upon said plates or held back in an inoperative position by springs ³. They
are so arranged relative to the wipers that the edges of the upper may be laid
back over the retracted wipers and held between said nippers and the plates F¹.
It will be understood that the nippers I may be used at the heel as well.
To facilitate the seizing of the upper by the side nipper-wipers the wipers are
made vertically moveable. In this action, also, the wipers are arranged to auto-
matically conform to the shape of the bottom of the last, so that each wiper will
descend individually the necessary distance to reach that portion of the last above
which it is situated.
Y Y are horizontal bars arranged at the side of and somewhat below the
lasting-opening, and adapted to reciprocate vertically upon bolts 2. Each of these
bars is provided with a series of pulleys y and a corresponding series of pulleys y',

page_text: is mounted on the inner face of the blocks P. A single cord Z, connects the
series y with the series y'. (See Figure 2). The bars Y Y are each loosely
connected at the middle, as by. a link, with the end of a transverse equalizing-
bar Y', (see Figure 8) to the middle of which latter is pivoted a vertical rod Y*.
The rod Y is operated to draw down the bars Y Y Y by a lever y", having a foot
treadle z. By this mechanism the nipper-wipers turning on the pivots p and com-
pressing the springs q may, by the foot of the workman, be drawn down upon the
bottom of the last to receive the upper, the wipers of the two sides moving
independently by virtue of the equalizing-bar Y, and the individual wipers having
an independently though simultaneously movement through the system of cords and
pulleys Z y y¹.
As soon as the treadle z is allowed to rise the two series of springs q will force
up the blocks P slides R and wipers W. It will be noted that this action very
efficiently draws up and stretches the upper over the instep and the other portions
of the top and sides of the last before its capability for being so stretched is
impaired by the friction resulting from folding its edge over upon the bottom of.
the last.
In case of a very stiff and heavy upper however, such springs are insufficient
for the purpose, therefore the following mechanism is devised and will now be
described for positively raising the wipers and thus stretching the upper, which
may be used either as auxiliary to the springs q or in place of them.
desired
Q is an upright rod which is arranged to be forced upwards with any
amount of force by a treadle lever Q3. It is pivoted at its upper end to the outer
arın Qof a lever which is pivoted to the main frame at q¹. The inner arm of the
lever is forked (see Figure 7) each arm q³ of which carries an equalizing bar R¹
pivoted to the arm at *. Each equalizing bar is connected with two of the
blocks P by links R². The operation of this mechanism to raise the block and
stretch the upper is obvious.
It is shown as adapted to operate but four of the side wipers, those near the toe
of the last where an upward stretching is most necessary; but it is evident that by
a system of equalizing bars and links all of the side wipers could be operated.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The last having the insole and upper applied thereto is placed in the machine,
its rear end being supported by the post or rest B, and its toe sustained by the
rest and held by the clasp G₁. The end clamps are then caused by the hand
wheel C to advance upon the last and firmly secure it, it being at the same time
raised into the plane of operation of the wipers at both the heel and toe and there
forcibly held by the treadle T* and rods B and T³. The side nipper-wipers having
been depressed by treadle z are now given a hold upon the edge of the upper, and
the latter drawn upwards by depressing the treadle lever Q. The power shaft Q
is now rotated by wheel Q1, and the heel and toe wiper operating plates being held
back by the catch levers F³, the rotation of the power shaft acting upon the cords L
causes the side nipper-wipers only to advance and perform their lasting operation.
The upper at the toe, and at the heel also if provision has been made for it, is now
laid back over the wipers J and held by the spring controller nippers I². The heel
wipers and the toe wipers either simultaneously or successively as may be preferred,
are then brought into operation. This is effected by tapping upon the tops of pins f*
which releases the lateral arms of the catch levers; upon which the latter are
thrown out of engagement with plates F.F F F by the strain of the cords L, and
the advance of said plates permitted. This sweeps forward the wipers J which
by reason of the dragging action of nippers L² draw the upper very tightly over
the instep of the last.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
First. The combination, with the last clamping devices, and the wipers of a
movable plate T longitudinally adjustable to different sizes of lasts, vertical guides

page_text: carried by the plate, a rest for the last movable in said guides, and springs for
giving a yielding support to the rest, substantially as described.
Second. The combination with the last clamping devices and the wipers, of a
rest for one end of the last, a rest or support for the other end of the last, and
actuating and equalizing devices whereby the rests may be simultaneously but
independently moved towards or maintained in the plane of operation of the wipers,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Third. The combination with the side wipers and the end wipers operated from
a common power mechanism through yielding devices which pull upon the wipers
simultaneously but independently of devices substantially as described for locking
one or more sets of said wipers in their inoperative position while the other wipers
perform their lasting operation substantially as herein before set forth.
described.
Fourth. The combination with the wiper of a retarding nipper I³ situated
behind the wiper and adapted to hold the upper in a folded position over the
wiper and
cause a tight and smooth lasting of the upper, substantially as
Fifth. The combination with a longitudinally movable end clamp for the last,
of a support for the last, engaging and longitudinally movable with the clamp, an
inclined plane forming a bed for the support, and means for adjusting said plane
longitudinally substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The. combination with the end wipers, of a yielding spring clasp G¹
arranged just below the plane of operation of the wipers said clasp being adapted
to fit around the end of the last and to gather evenly, and prepare the upper for
the operation of the wipers, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination with the lasting wipers adapted to obtain a bold
upon the leather, of equalizing mechanism substantially as described whereby said
wipers are positively forced upwards simultaneously but for different distances
relatively to one another, thus evenly stretching the upper substantially as
described.
Eighth. The combination with the horizontally sliding and pivoted wipers
having means for grasping the leather, of a mechanism for, forcing the inner ends
of said wipers upwards to stretch the upper substantially as bereinbefore set forth.
Ninth. The nipper-wiper comprising the combination of the stationary jaw,
the locking lever pivoted thereto, and the movable jaw pivoted to the locking
lever so that its acting end may by the movement of the locking lever be caused
to move to and from the acting end of the stationary jaw, the pivots or axes of
the said movable jaw and locking lever, being arranged relatively to the point at
which the jaws nip the leather between them substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the jaw-support or base, of the nipping jaws
swiveled thereto upon a vertical axes, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the slide, of the nipper wiper mounted thereon
substantially in the manner herein shown and described so that its acting jaws
may as a whole be capable of bodily oscillation in both a vertical and a horizontal
plane as and for the purposes herein before set forth.