Improvements in Sole-laying Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1995-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
[Communicated from abroad by EDWARD CHARLES Judd, of No. 54 South
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Sole-laying Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention 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 machines for applying pressure to a sole laid upon the
portions of the upper of a boot or shoe that project over the bottom portion of the
last, and maintaining such pressure while the cement which has been applied to
the contacting surfaces of the sole and upper is setting or hardening, the object
being to temporarily secure the sole to the upper preparatory to the permanent
attachment of said parts by stitches or other fastenings.
The invention has for its object, first, to provide an improved construction of
the platen or presser which bears upon the outer surface of the sole during the
pressing operation and co-operates with the jack which supports the lasted upper in
securing the desired intimate contact between the inner surface of the sole and
upper. The invention also has for its object to provide improved means in a
power-operated machine for bringing the upper and sole into contact with each
other before the power of the machine is applied to complete the pressure.
To these ends, the invention consists in the improvements which
proceed to describe and claim.
will now
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification,―
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a machine embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 represents a section on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1, and a plan
view of portions of the mechanism below said line.
Figure 3 represents an elevation of a part of the jack-raising mechanism shown
in Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a portion of the jack.
Figure 5 represents a sectional view of a portion of the machine on a larger
scale than shown in Figure 1.
Figure 6 represents an enlargement of a portion of Figure 5.
Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams showing the foot-power actuated means for raising
the jack into contact with the presser or platen.
Figure 9 represents a sectional view showing a different construction of the
means for supporting the presser or platen.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings-
a represents the supporting standard or pedestal of the machine, upon which is
mounted to rotate horizontally a frame carrying the sole-pressing and shoe-
supporting devices hereinafter described, said frame comprising a vertical tubular
portion b, a base portion 61 and a top portion or head. The rotary frame is
provided with a plurality of jacks which support the lasted uppers of a series of
boots or shoes, and with a plurality of sole pressers or platens which co-operate
with the jacks and the lasts thereon in pressing the cement-coated soles against the
cement-coated uppers; and as all the jacks and pressers or platens are alike,

page_text: I will describe the construction and mode of operation of one jack, and the
accompanying presser or platen.
34
The head is provided with a spring-pressed coupling or joint-member c, which
is movable vertically in a guide or socket 6 forming a part of said head, and is
pressed downwardly by a spring e bearing at its upper end on a shoulder in
the socket and at its lower end on the coupling-member c. The under side
of the coupling-member is concave, and constitutes a seat upon which bears a
coupling or joint-member a formed on the platen or presser, said coupling-
member d being convex and constituting with the coupling-member the
equivalent of a ball-and-socket joint, which permits a free oscillating movement
of the sole-presser or platen not only lengthwise but crosswise. In other words, the
said presser or platen has a universal tipping motion.
The presser or platen is composed of a holder d' upon which the coupling-member d
is formed, a sole-pressing pad d, and a heel-pressing pad d³, affixed respectively to
rigid back-pieces d' d' which have dovetail ribs d by means of which they are
detachably affixed to the holder. The rib d of the heel-pressing pad d³ is engaged
with a dovetail groove formed in the holder d', while the rib of the sole-pressing
pad is engaged with a dovetail groove formed in an arm d' which is adjustably
connected to the holder, in order that the sole-pressing pad may be given various
inclinations although at all times rigidly connected with the holder, said arm d' being
pivoted at de to the holder and engaged at its outer end by a ball-and-socket joint
with a screw-threaded adjusting-rod d which works in a spherical nut d¹º contained
in a socket d¹ formed on the holder d'. By rotating said rod d³, the outer end of
the sole-pressing pad d may be raised or lowered, as the case may be, and said pad
thus adjusted to the curvature of the toe-portion of the last, the toe being higher in
some lasts than in others. I do not limit myself to the employment of an adjustable
sole-pressing pad, however, and may attach the said pad to the holder in the same
manner that the heel-pressing pad d³ is attached, the two pads being in all cases
rigidly attached to the holder and incapable of independent yielding or self-adjusting
movement excepting such movement as may be due to the elasticity of the pads
themselves, the latter being preferably comparatively thick blocks or pieces of
rubber fixed to the backs d₁ ds.
It will be seen that the spring c¹ exerts a downward yielding pressure upon the
coupling-member C, and through the latter upon the presser or platen, the latter
being therefore adapted to yield bodily to the pressure exerted against it by the
jack, as hereinafter described, this yielding movement of the presser or platen
enabling it to conform to the thickness of the sole and the size of the last
interposed between it and the jack.
To limit the yielding movement imparted to the presser or platen by the spring c',
I provide a stop e, which in the construction shown in Figures 1 and 5 is a collar
having a convex upper surface fitting the concave under side of the coupling-
member d. Said collar e is provided with a tubular stem or shauk e', which extends
upwardly through the socket 3 and constitutes a connection between the stop e and
the head which rigidly supports the stop and causes it to support the presser or
platen against the downward pressure of the spring c³, said stop permitting the
yielding movement of the presser or platen. I prefer to make the connection
between the stop and the supporting-frame adjustable, so that the stop may be
depressed or raised to vary the initial position of the presser or platen from which
its yielding movement commences. To this end, I have shown in Figures 1, 5,
and 6, an internally screw-threaded nut or bushing 2 fitted to rotate in a socket
formed in a block 6* resting on the head 2 and engaged with an external thread
formed on the tubular stem e', said bushing e2 being provided with a hand-wheel e³
by which it may be rotated to raise or depress the tubular stem e¹ and stop e.
When the said stem and stop are depressed, the spring c forces the presser or
platen downward, so that its cormal position is lower than before; and when the
stop is raised, it raises the presser or platen with it, the spring c¹ yielding, so that
the normal position of the presser or platen is higher than before.

page_text: The holder d¹ is formed so that the sole and heel pressing pads are separated
from each other by an intervening space of sufficient width to receive a shank-
presser, which is composed of a rigid holder f and a pad or strip f¹ affixed thereto
and formed to bear upon the shank-portion of the sole. The shank-presser is
supported by a rod or stem f2, the lower end of which is affixed to a block or
head to which the holder f of the shank-presser is connected by a segmental
rib ffixed to said holder and entering a segmental groove formed in the head f³..
said rib and groove being arranged to permit the shank-presser to tip or rock
crosswise of the sole. The shank-presser does not partake of the oscillating
movements of the sole and heel-pressing platen above described, but is adjustable
vertically independently of said platen, so that it can be depressed to any desired
distance below the surfaces of the sole and heel pads, and thus act to confine the
sbank-portion of the sole against the corresponding portion of the upper before the
pads d and d act on the fore-part and heel portions of the sole. The shank-
presser and its rod f2 are subjected to the downward pressure of a spring f which
bears upon an adjusting-nut f which is engaged with a screw-thread on the upper
portion of the rod 2, said spring being supported by a yoke or frame fi secured to
a suitable support such as a hand-wheel e. The spring f5 holds the adjusting-
nut against a suitable support or bearing, which as here shown is the upper end
of the bushing e² above described. The adjusting-nut fe has a hand-wheel f8, by
which it may be rotated to raise or depress the rod and the shank-presser. The
shank-presser can therefore be adjusted vertically independently of the sole and
heel-pressing platen, and is at all times yieldingly supported, the yielding support
being due to the spring when the shank-presser is adjusted, so that its head f³ is
separated from the stop e. When said head f³ is brought in contact with the stop e
by the yielding of the spring f, the shank-presser partakes with the sole-pressing
platen of the yielding movement permitted by the spring c¹ and the sliding
coupling-member c.
It will be seen that the presser composed of the heel and fore-part pads affixed
to an oscillating holder common to them both, said holder having also a yielding
movement, and the shank-presser adjustable independently of the heel and fore-
part presser and having an independent yielding movement as well as a yielding
movement in common with that of the heel and fore-part presser, constitutes a
simple and effective means for co-operating with a jack in pressing a sole against
the lasted upper and maintaining the pressure while the cement is setting or
hardening.
I do not limit myself to the details of construction above described, and may
modify the same without departing from the spirit of the invention. In Figure 9,
I show a modification in which the coupling-member on the holder d' is a socket d14,
and the spring-pressed coupling-member is a ball d, the adjustable stop which
limits the downward movement caused by the depressing spring d being a
sleeve d¹s having a flange at its lower end adapted to support the sliding part d' on
which the ball d¹5 is formed. The sleeve dis is adjusted by means of a nut d²º
engaged with a screw-thread on the exterior of said sleeve.
The jack comprises a base-portion having a telescopic standard h¹ provided
with a toe-rest h³, and a slide 3 having a standard provided with a spindle ½³
formed to enter the socket in the heel-portion of the last, the slide ³ being
adjustable by means of a screw h. The jack is suitably engaged with a jack-
carrier i, which is vertically movable on the supporting-frame, and is moved
vertically to apply and remove pressure by means of a power mechanism which
comprises toggle-links jj connected respectively to the jack-carrier and to a power-
driven gear-wheel k which rotates with the supporting-frame on the standard a, and
a cam m affixed to the standard a and formed to be engaged by an overhanging
trundle-roll connected with the meeting ends of the links jj. The base portion
is guided in its vertical movements by a shank or arm 8 formed on and projecting
downwardly from its lower side and a socket h° formed on a standard 70 supported
by the gear k. The trundle-roll is mounted on a frame or holder j³ which is

page_text: connected with the links jj and is provided with a trundle-roll bearing on the
outer surface of the cam m, the trundle-roll bearing on the inner surface of said
cam. The cam is formed to simultaneously hold the links of all the toggle-joints in
alignment with each other, thus elevating the jack-carriers excepting at one point,
where the meeting ends of the links are thrown inward, thus, depressing the jack-
carrier and jack, as shown at the right in Figure 1, so that the jack-carriers and
jacks are elevated at all points excepting at one side of the machine, each jack-
carrier and jack being depressed when it reaches said point, which is the operator's
station. Each jack-carrier is provided with two cams un affixed to a rock-shaft n¹
journalled in bearings in the jack-carrier, said cams bearing on the base-portion h
of the jack. The cams when free to assume their normal position, are depressed
by the weight of the jack, so that the jack rests upon the inner portions of the
cams. A partial rotation of the rock-shaft n' and its cams will raise the jack to
the position shown at the left in Figure 1, the object of thus raising the jack being
to bring the last and the upper and sole thereon into operative relation with the
platen or presser before the application of the power which applies the final
pressure.
I have added to the jack-carrier and the mechanism for operating the jack and
jack-carrier thus far described, a treadle adapted to be operated by the foot of the
operator, and devices operated by said treadle whereby the cams of each jack-
carrier may be moved by the operator's foot, to give the jack its preliminary
upward movement, so that the operator's hands are left free to attend to the other
parts of the mechanism.
o represents a vertical rod located in the standard a and connected at its lower
end to a treadle by the operation of which the rod may be depressed, the rod being
normally raised by means of a spring o¹. On the upper end of the rod is formed an
arm or hook o² which is in position to engage a lug p¹ formed on a slide p² which is
movable in a slot p³ formed in the tubular portion b of the supporting-frame. The
slide p² is connected by means of a link pt with an arm n³ affixed to the rock-
shaft n¹. When the jack is depressed and the cams held by the weight of the jack
in a depressed position, the slide p² is elevated by the connection between it and
the cams, and is in position to engage the hook o², so that when the said hook is
depressed by a movement of the treadle, the rock-shaft n' and cams n will be turned
to raise the jack independently of the jack-carrier. A segmental ratchet g is
affixed to the jack-carrier in position to engage a spring-pawl q' on the arm n³, said
ratchet and pawl locking the cam in its jack-raising position, as shown in Figures 3
and 4.
It will be understood that as the supporting-frame rotates on the standard a, the
slide p² connected with each jack-carrier is raised when the jack-carrier is permitted
to drop by the action of the cam m and the toggle-links, as above described, so that
said slide is in position to be engaged by the hook o² and operated to raise the jack
after the operator has removed the completed shoe and applied another to the jack.
The operator is therefore enabled to change the position of the jack by foot-
power.
The diagram shown in Figure 7 shows the positions of the slide, cam, and
treadle before the jack has been raised by the depression of the treadle; and the
diagram shown in Figure 8 shows the position of said parts after the jack has been
raised by the depression of the treadle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a sole-laying machine, a sole and heel presser or platen composed of a
holder having at its central portion a universal coupling or joint member, and
yielding sole and heel pressing pads affixed to said holder and separated by an
intervening space; combined with a sliding universal coupling or joint member
engaged with the coupling-member of the presser, a spring which exerts a yielding

page_text: pressure on said sliding member and presser, an independently movable shank-
presser located in said space, and an independent spring for depressing the shark-
presser.
2. In a sole-laying machine, a sole and heel presser or platen composed of a holder
having a coupling-member adapted to co-operate with a supporting coupling-
member, a yielding heel-pressing pad affixed to said holder, and a sole-pressing pad
pivotally secured to the holder and provided with means for adjusting its inclination
and holding it positively in any position to which it may be adjusted.
3. In a sole-laying machine, a sole, and heel presser or platen composed of a
holder having a coupling-member adapted to co-operate with a supporting coupling-
member, a yielding heel-pressing pad affixed to said holder, an arm jointed at one
end to said holder and connected at its other end with the holder by an adjusting-
screw, and a sole-pressing pad affixed to said arm.
4. In a sole-laying machine, the combination of a yielding-surfaced presser or
platen having a coupling-member, a spring-pressed coupling-member which exerts
a yielding pressure on said platen, a supporting collar or stop engaged with the
coupling-member of the platen, and connections between said stop and the frame of
the machine whereby the stop is rigidly supported and caused to limit the movement
imparted to the platen by said spring.
5. In a sole-laying machine, the combination of a yielding-surfaced presser or
platen having a single central coupling-member, a sliding coupling-member engaged
with the coupling-member of the platen, a fixed guide for said sliding member, a
spring which exerts a yielding pressure on said sliding coupling-member and presser,
a movable stop for limiting the movement of the platen by said spring, and means
for adjusting said stop and for positively holding it in any position to which it may
be adju ted.
6. In a sole-laying machine, a shank-presser provided with a depressing spring
aud with adjustable means for limiting the downward movement caused by said
spring, combined with a heel and sole presser composed of a holder jointed to the
supporting-frame and adapted to oscillate independently of the shank-presser, and
sole and heel pressing pads affixed to said holder and located at opposite ends of
the shank-presser.
7. In a sole-laying machine, the combination of a sole and heel presser or platen
composed of a holder having a central coupling-member, heel and sole pressing pads
affixed to the ends of the holder, a presser-supporting stop having an adjustable
tubular supporting standard, means for holding said standard at any position to
which it may be adjusted, a spring-pressed coupling-member which holds the
coupling-member of the presser yieldingly against the stop, a shank-presser
composed of a holder and a yielding pad or strap affixed thereto located between
the heel and sole pads, a rod secured to the shank-presser and extending through
the said tubular standard, a spring which exerts a downward pressure on the shank-
presser, said nut being held by the spring against a fixed support or bearing and
co-operating with the spring in holding the shank-presser yieldingly at various
heights.
'
8. In a sole-laying machine, the combination of a shank-presser having a rod or
stem, an adjusting-nut engaged with said rod, a spring exerting downward pressure
on the shank-presser through said nut and rod, the said nut determining the extent
of depression of the rod and presser by said spring; a sole and heel presser
composed of a holder having a coupling-member surrounding the rod of the shank-
presser, and sole and heel-pressing pads attached to said holder, a supporting stop
having a tubular shank or stem surrounding the rod of the shank-presser, an
adjusting-nut engaged with a fixed support and with said tubular stem, whereby
the sole and heel presser may be adjusted, and a spring-pressed coupling-member
bearing yieldingly on the coupling-member of the sole and heel presser.
9. In a sole-laying machine, the combination of a supporting standard; a frame
mounted to rotate on said standard; a series of jack-carriers vertically movable on
said frame, each having a jack-raising cam ; a series of jacks mounted on said

page_text: an
carriers and movable independently thereof by the cams; slides movable in guides
in the frame and connected by suitable intermediate devices with said cams;
operating rod located in the standard and formed to engage the slides, one at a
time; a treadle connected with said rod and adapted to depress the latter, the
depression of the rod actuating the slide engaged therewith and raising the cam
connected with said slide; and devices for locking said cams in their jack-raising
positions.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.