Improvements in Boot and Shoe Slugging Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot and Shoe Slugging Machines.
I, SOLOMON MArcella Cutter, of the City, County, and Province of Quebec,
Dominion of Canada, Mechanical Engineer, 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 inserting "slugs into the faces of heels
of boots and shoes for the purpose of increasing their durability and consists firstly
of a general combination of parts constituting a perfect working machine for
inserting the slugs and secondly the combination therewith of parts which act as
safeguards against any interruption to the working that might arise from the
clogging or too rapid feeding of the slugs.
The general combination includes: a vertically operating driver; a horn auto-
matically adjustable vertically and mechanism for effecting the automatic adjust-
ment; mechanism for feeding the work; an expansible guideway for the slugs,
formed preferably of a raceway portion leading to a chute through which they
travel to a position beneath the driver; a pot preferably of plunger form and
operating mechanism from which the slugs are supplied to said guideway; an
escapement device and means for controlling the feed of the slugs; a "placer" and
"holder" whereby the slugs are set in proper position to be driven; being
preferably used where the machine is high speeded the whole being arranged
upon a suitable frame and table and being operated through cams and like
mechanism on a suitable driving shaft.
The safeguards for preventing clogging by the slugs consist, first, of a removable
cover for the raceway portion of the guideway to prevent any possibility of foreign
articles coming in contact with the heads of the slugs, which travel outside, or of
their being knocked out; secondly, an agitating rod within the raceway extending
the full length of same beneath the points of the slugs and adapted to be thrown at
regular intervals against same, so as to free any that may possibly stick; thirdly, an
adjustable projection from the main support (slightly flexible) of the raceway against
which projection a cam on the driving shaft strikes and causes a vibration of the
raceway thereby preventing any possibility of the slugs clogging; fourthly an
adjustable spring retainer, parallel with the mouth of the chute down which the
slugs pass to the driver, for holding back the last slug which has passed the escape-
ment while another is being driven, together with an opener for acting on such
retainer to release the slug; and lastly a knocker for impelling the slugs down the
chute should there be any tendency to stick at the top.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures, on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine showing the base plate, table and the base
of the horn support in section ;
Figure 2 is a plan (drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1) of the operating parts
above the table;
Figure 3 is a transverse section (enlarged) on line 1. 1 Figure 1 and looking in
the direction indicated by arrows;
Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 2. 2, Figure 1 looking in the same direction
as Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the parts carried by the table;
Figure 6 is a transverse section on line 3. 3, Figure 1 looking in the direction
indicated;

page_text: Figure 7 is an elevation of a portion of the parts carried by the table looking
from the opposite side to that seen in Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a detail side view of parts in the vicinity of the junction of the
raceway and chute including portions of these latter ;
Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of raceway, supply pot, and a portion
of the chute ;
Figure 10 is a horizontal section on line 4, 4, Figure 1, looking down;
Figure 11 is a face view of the head in which the driver works showing the chute
in section ;
Figure 12 is a vertical section of the head and the foot of the chute showing the
driver and its cross head in side elevation, the clamp for holding the driver in place
being also shown in section ;
Figure 13 is a horizontal section of the head, cross head, driver and clamp ;
Figure 14 is a detail section (enlarged) of the upper portion of the chute showing
spring retainer ;
Figure 15 is an end view of the raceway (the chute being removed) showing the
escapement device in elevation ;
Figures 16 and 17 are side views partly broken away, of the adjoining ends of
the raceway and chute showing the main part of the escapement in section; and
Figures 18 and 19 are respectively a horizontal section and a plan of the same
parts, the escapement device being shown in section in Figure 18 and in plan
Figure 19.
The main frame of the machine comprises a base plate A, open work sides B,
and a table C. To the base plate A is bolted a bracket or foot D carrying a
vertical sleeve D' to receive the vertically sliding horn E. To this bracket or
foot D is pivotted a lever D' one arm of which engages in a notch e in the side of
the horn near its lower end the other arm D of the lever being connected to a rod K¹
for the purpose hereinafter described.
The driving shaft of the machine is horizontal and has its bearings in a
standard F, bolted to the top of the table near the rear, and in the vertical head G
(where the driver is located) of a piece G' attached to or formed on top of the table
and projecting out beyond the front edge thereof..
On the shaft F are mounted fast and loose band pulleys H and J, three cams KL
and M and a crank disc N.
Mechanism for throwing the driving strap from one pulley to the other is not
shown as it may be of any ordinary or other kind.
In vertical lines with the cams K and L which have their respective "rises
and on their peripheries, are rods K and L', the former (K¹) extending from a
bridge piece K (shown in Figure 3) down through such bridge piece and table C and
connected at its lower end to the lever D2 whilst the latter, that is the rod L', which
has its upper end bent horizontally to lie on the cam L extends down through the
table and through a ledge L2 on the end of a hanger L³ bolted to the underside of
the table.
Two clamp plates K K³ (shown in plan in Figure 10) are fitted to slide
loosely on the rod K₁ between which two plates is a coiled expansion spring K
encircling the rod and pressing the plates K and K respectively upward and
downward against the table C and the ledge L². The outer end of the plate K*
is perforated to receive a pin or projection K7 at the lower end of a bar K (shown
in Figure 3) passing freely through the table C and bridge K' the upper end being
in the path of the cam K so as to be depressed by the said cam. The outer end
of the plate K is forked to loosely fit in notches L' (Figure 3) on the rod L' so
that it is raised and lowered by the rod.
Another coiled expansion spring K encircles the rod K' between the bottom of
the ledge L2 and pins & located near the lower end of the rod, and a third coiled
expansion spring is arranged in a recessed boss A' cast on the base plate A at
a point beneath the end of lever D2 so that the spring can bear upward against
the lever.

page_text: The function of these rods, springs and clamps will be fully set forth in a
description of the operation of the machine to be given further on.
The relative location of the horn, driver and work feeding mechanism is shewn
in Figures 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13. The driver O consists of a comparatively thin
strip of steel, oblong in cross section, secured by a clamp 02 and screw O³ as shewn
particularly in Figures 12 and 13 to a dovetailed cross head O' working vertically
in a dovetail groove in the face of the head G, the axis of the driver being in line
with that of the horn. The work feeding mechanism proper consisting of a
serrated wheel P, ratchet wheel P¹ and lever P2 mounted on a stud P8 beneath the
head G as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the lever P2 carrying a spring pawl p
engaging the wheel P¹ a detent p' shown in Figure 6 being carried by the head G
engaging the wheel P' to prevent back motion.
The cross head 0¹ receives a vertical reciprocal movement from a spring
plunger O above it and a roller O' below it carried eccentrically on the front end
of the driving shaft F and passing through the head G to act on the cross head (as
shown in Figure 12).
The spring plunger O is held in place by a cross piece or plate 06 connected by
two rods 0x05x to the back of the head through which plate the plunger rod
passes, suitable washers 07 being provided to prevent jarring.
The cross head O' is cut away at its lower left hand corner, as shown at Os so
that as soon as the roller O³ passes out of the vertical axis of the driver the driver
can be driven down by the plunger O*.
The lever P2 of the work feeding mechanism is connected by a coiled retractile
spring P³ with the table C as shown at Figure 7, and a lever P' is pivotted at p¹
to a projection P on the portion G₁ of the table so that its upper arm carrying a
roller will be held in contact with the face of cam M which has a rise M' on
it to act on the lever to throw its lower arm outward and thus operate the
lever P³.
The feed can be lengthened or shortened as required by an adjusting screw P
carried by the lower arm of the lever P4 in position to make contact with a stop Pa
on the projection P5.
Figures 5, 7 and 11 show clearly the chute portion of the slug guideway
leading from the raceway portion S to the driver. It is formed preferably of a
separate block of metal with a widened foot portion secured to the face of the
head G and having in its rear or inner face three grooves which are transformed
into channels QQQ by the face of the head G for the lower portion Q' and by a
separate backing plate QFigure 9 for the remaining upper portion.
The driver O which has one edge in contact with the face of the head G is of
such section as to find easy movement in the channel Q' which is made vertical for
it to work in. The main portion of the chute is arranged at any desired angle, say
at about an angle of twenty degrees off the vertical, and contains the channel Q³
the channel Q being between this and the vertical channel Q' and both channels Q³
and Q converging to a point in the height of the channel Q slightly above where
the top of the longest size of slug used would reach.
23
Pivotted at on the face of the head G is a lever R to one arm of which is
pivotally secured the end of a flexible steel strip R' which I term the "placer its
opposite free end being located in the channel Q. The lever R is rocked by means
of two pins on the face of the reciprocating cross head O¹ between which pins the
free arm of the lever is located, and as it is rocked the free end of the "placer" is
caused to enter, and be withdrawn from, the channel Q³ down which the slugs fall.
In a groove Q at right angles to the axis of the groove Q and near the bottom
or nose of the chute is arranged what I term a "holder," consisting of a strip of
steel Qwith bevelled point forced into the channel Q' by a flat spring Q which
is attached to the side of the chute and carries the steel strip Qº.
The expansible raceway portion of the slug guideway shewn in longitudinal
vertical section in Figure 9 and in end view in Figure 15 is composed essentially of

page_text: a trough like body S having sides and bottom, and a top formed of two adjustable
strips SS having transverse slots ss shewn in Figure 6 through which set
screws S³ pass into the sides of the trough. The top edges of the sides of the
trough are bevelled so as to incline the cover strips S1 S2 upward laterally toward
the centre of the raceway and by bevelling their inner edges a proper channel S
(which leads into the channel Q³ in the chute) is formed for the bodies of the slugs
to pass down while the exterior surfaces on which their heads bear are reduced to
mere knife-edges or lines, whereby friction is reduced to a considerable extent.
This raceway is inclined longitudinally at about an angle of 30 degrees and
supported centrally by a strip S of metal, preferably of a slightly flexible nature,
bolted at its lower end to one end of the bridge K² so as to be in line with the
cam K, for purposes to be hereafter mentioned, and having its free end screwed to
the raceway; another point of support being the chute Q to the side of which an
extension Se from one of the sides of the raceway is screwed.
The upper end of the raceway enters the slug supply pot constructed and arranged
as shown in Figure 4 and now to be described :-
A vertical support T bolted to the table in rear of the crank disc N carries an
oblong pot or receptacle T¹ open at the top and having the lower portions of its
sides and part of its bottom inclined inwards towards a rectangular opening or
space T2 in the bottom, clear of the raceway. This space T2 is normally blocked
by the head T3 of a hollow rectangular plunger T adapted to be worked in guide
strips T extending down from the pot. The lower end of the plunger is connected
by a rod T to the crank disc N on the driving shaft. The head T3 of this plunger
has a lip or extension by which it is hinged to the exterior of the side of the
plunger which is nearest the raceway.
In the interior of the plunger T is a coiled retractile spring t', one end of which
is connected by a hook to the bottom and the other end is connected to an eye on
the inside of the head T³.
An inclined guide plate T8 has its bottom edge running along the raceway
parallel with and close to the channel S therein, and its top edge in the line of
vertical movement of the lip or extension on the hinged head Ta of the plunger so
that such lip will come in contact with the plate and be tilted as shewn by dotted
lines in Figure 4.
A vertical three-sided guard T7 partitions off the space occupied by the lip or
extension in travelling up and down in the pot so as to avoid any possibility of
slugs interfering therewith.
At the foot of the raceway as shown in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 is arranged
what I term the "escapement device" consisting of a steel spring U bent so that
one end can be secured to the extension S6 of the raceway, its other free end pro-
jecting across the line of travel of the heads of the slugs in the raceway, and a
shoulder or bearing point U is provided for the end of a reciprocating finger U² to
come against and move the free end out of the way of the descending slugs.
This finger U is adjustably secured by a set screw u in the head of a vertical
lever U³, pivotted at u³ to the rear side of the chute Q, (as shewn in Figures 6, 8
and 11) which lever carries also another finger U, beneath the one U2, adapted to
work through an opening provided for it in the raceway by cutting away a portion
of the end of the cover strip S2, the cover strip S¹ being also recessed to a certain
extent to accommodate its movement.
This second finger U is bevelled at the end and pointed as shewn in Figure 18
so that it can be inserted between the bodies of the slugs and while moving one
of them forward serve at the same time to hold the rest back it always acting
in concert with the spring U which is moved out of the way of the slug to be fed
just after the point of the finger U comes in front of the remaining body of the
slugs.
The lever Us is rocked by means of a finger U' extending from a lever U pivotted
at u to the back of the head G and bent so that one arm will extend frontwards

page_text: and its end have a position directly over the upper end of the chute Q the other
arm extending downwards and resting on the periphery of the cam M in which a
fall or depression m is made into which the end of the arm drops.
If desired the slug guideway may consist of the raceway portion alone which
could extend from the supply pot T¹ to a point beneath the driver and the "placer"
and the "holder" be entirely omitted.
A foot lever W (shewn in Figures 1 and 10) pivotted to one side of the foot D
of the horn support is provided for lowering the horn when the work is placed
thereon and removed therefrom.
I will now describe in detail the several safeguards hereinbefore alluded to,
which are:
Firstly, a removable cover X consisting of a thin strip of metal transversely
slotted and secured in place on top of the cover strip S₁ by the set screws S³ and
bent as shewn in Figure 6 so as to extend over the heads of but not touch the slugs.
Secondly, an agitating rod, shewn in Figure 7 consisting of a rectangular rod X¹
extending the full length of the raceway beneath the slugs and carried by a
block passing through an opening in the bottom of the raceway and pivotted on
the end of an arm X3 extending from the lever U³.
Thirdly, an adjustable projection or set screw X* shewn in Figure 3 carried by
the central support S of the raceway and adapted to be knocked by the rise k on
the cam K and so shake the raceway.
Fourthly, an adjustable spring retainer shewn in Figures 5, 11, 14, 18 and 19
consisting of a strip of steel X** slightly bent into bow form and secured to the side
of the chute Q at one end so that its other end will spring inwards at the mouth of
the channel Q3 into line with the channel edge of the cover strip S2 of the raceway
thus maintaining the width of the channel the same throughout. An adjusting
screw X, is threaded through the spring and bears against the chute, for adjusting
it to correspond with any adjustment of the cover strip S2. This spring or retainer
has an ear X projecting from it against which a pin X', (termed an opener" and
projecting down from beneath the end of the lever Us in which it is held by set
screw Xpresses to throw it, the spring, outward and allow the slug resting on it
to drop.
66
Lastly, a knocker, shewn in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 8, which consists of an adjustable
finger slotted and secured in place by a set screw Y' on the end of lever U³
directly over the mouth of the channel Q in the chute.
The lever U receives also an opposite movement to that caused by the fall or
depression m in the periphery of cam M by a rise m² on the cam immediately
following such depression this extra movement being to operate the agitating rod,
opener and knocker just mentioned.
To afford access to the interior of the nose of the chute Q, I make a portion of
the lower front plate thereof as shewn at q removable one of the screws for
securing the chute in place serving also to hold such removable section in
position.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
:―
I may here remark that the horn E is normally in what I term a state of
equilibrium, i.e. the force of the spring beneath the lever D' serves to make up
the difference between the force of the spring K and the weight of the horn, the
pressure of which latter is less than the spring K', this being necessary to allow the
automatic adjustment of the horn.
The supply pot T¹ being filled with slugs and the boot being placed on the horn
(which is temporarily lowered by pressing on the foot lever W) with the heel in
position under the driver O the machine is started the shaft F revolving in the
direction indicated by the arrows.
The rotation of the disc N operates the plunger T raising it and carrying a
number of slugs on its head T3 which remains horizontal till the lip t comes in
contact with the guide plate T8 when it is tilted as shown by dotted lines in

page_text: Figure 4 and throws the slugs down such plate into the raceway where a number of
them will settle themselves in the channel S* and others will fall to the bottom of
the pot again down between the raceway and the side of the pot. Those slugs
which enter the channel will slip down to the lower end of the raceway and be
checked by the escapement spring U till by the rotation of the cam M the end of
the lever U falls into the depression m in the cam M the lever moves and rocks
the lever U³ forward thereby causing the finger U2 to come in contact with the
spring U and press it out of the way of the slugs while at the same time the point
of the finger U inserts itself between the bodies of the first and second slugs and
by means of its bevilled end moves the former out of the raceway to be held
between the edge of the mouth of the channel Q³ of the chute on one side and the
edge of the retaining spring X** on the other.
66
The further rotation of the cam M restores the two escapement fingers to their
former position and then causes the opposite movement of the lever U³ by the
rise m' coming in. contact with its end, thereby lowering the pin or opener" X' so
as to press the retaining spring Xx out, and release the slug and also lowering the
"knocker" which, if the slug fails to fall down the chute of itself; hits it and
thus impels it down.
The rebound in the return of the lever U³ to its normal position throws the
agitating rod X' in the raceway against the points of the slugs thus loosening any
that might be sticking.
The slugs falling down the channel Q³ of the chute are detained at the point Z
as indicated in Figure 11 by the "placer" R₁ which ascends as the driver O
descends although this detention is not absolutely necessary when the escapement
device is working properly.
By the time the "placer" has passed up into its own channel Q2, leaving the
slug free to drop lower, the driver O is blocking the point of entry into its channel
and therefore the slug is arrested at such point, but as the driver is ascending the
"placer" nears the slug and finally pushes it into position between the "holder" Q
and the side of the channel Q¹.
As the "placer" retreats the driver descends to drive the slug but just before
this occurs the horn is automatically raised, to press the work firmly in place, by
rise of cam K coming in contact with and pressing down the bar K³ which
depresses the outer end of the clamp plate K₁ causing it to grip the rod K¹ and
move same down, thus, through the lever D³, raising the horn.
As soon as the slug is driven the rise on cam L comes in contact with the bent
end of the rod L' and in raising it causes the clamp plate K³ to be tilted upward
and grip the rod K¹ so as to move it up, thus lowering the horn, through the
lever D, easing the work and the feed mechanism to be operated by the rise M¹ of
cam M through the levers P and P2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In a boot and shoe slugging machine, the combination of a vertically operating
driver; a work supporting horn automatically adjustable vertically and means for
effecting the automatic adjustment thereof; work feeding mechanism; a supply
pot for the slugs, and an inclined guideway leading from such pot to the driver,
with means for feeding the slugs from the pot to the guideway; retaining devices
for controlling the feed of the slugs to the driver; and means for supporting and
operating the whole, substantially as herein before described.,
2. In a boot and shoe slugging machine, the combination with a vertically
operating driver and means for feeding slugs into position to be operated thereby,
of a work supporting horn held at a normal height by yielding pressure devices and
capable of movement above or below such normal height, and means for effecting
such movement in either direction as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 3: In a boot and shoe slugging machine, the combination with a vertically
operating driver and a work supporting horn, of an inclined expansible guideway,
means for supporting same and means for feeding slugs to same, as set forth.
4. In a boot and shoe slugging machine, the combination with a guideway for the
slugs, of a pot or receptacle for slugs, a plunger adapted to work vertically up
through the pot and having a hinged head normally flush with the bottom of such
pot and extended in part out beyond the hinging point; a guard for preventing
slugs interfering with such hinging point; an inclined guide plate extending from
the top of said guideway to a point within the line of movement of the extended
part of said head, and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said
plunger substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
5. In a boot and shoe slugging machine, a driver for the slugs secured to a
vertically reciprocating cross head, the upward movement of which is effected by
means of a projection on the face of the driving shaft and the downward movement
by a spring plunger substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. In a boot and shoe slugging machine, the combination with an inclined guide-
way for the slugs, of an escapement device located at the foot of same and consisting
of a spring with an end normally inserted in the way of the heads of the slugs and
a finger plate with bevelled end adapted to be inserted between the bodies of the
slugs and means for imparting to said spring and finger a reciprocating movement
transversely to the guideway so that the spring will move out of the way of the
slugs and the finger enter between the two lowermost slugs substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described.
7. In a boot and shoe slugging machine, the combination with the chute Q
having a channel Q¹ for the vertical driver to work in and a channel Q³ for the
slugs to pass down, of a channel Q2 converging with that Q3 to a point of entry
into the said channel Q', a spring holder projecting transversely across the
channel near the lower end thereof and a reciprocating "placer" working
through said channel Q2 and adapted to push the slug into position between the
end of said holder and the side of the channel Q¹ and means for operating same
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
8. The combination with the perforated and grooved head G and guiding
channel Qin chute Q-of the driver O, cross head O₁, cut away at 08, means.
for securing the driver to the cross head; driving shaft F and roller projection O
on the end of same, spring plunger 0 and means for supporting same substantially
as hereinbefore described.
9. The combination with the horn E, its stand D D' and the driving shaft F,
of lever D²; rods K' and L'; ledge L2: clamp plates K K³, springs K K
and bar Ks and cams K and L substantially as herein before described.
10. The raceway for the slugs composed of body S and cover strips S' S² inclined
and bevelled substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
11. The combination of the raceway body S cover strips S₁ S* having transverse
slots & s and set screws S³ substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
12. The combination with the raceway cover strip S' and screws S³,-of the
removable cover X substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
13. The agitating rod X located in the raceway and means for carrying and
operating same substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
14. The combination with the raceway support S³, of the projection or set
screw X* projecting into the line of movement of the rise k on the cam K substan-
tially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
15. The combination with the chute Q-of the spring retainer X** having a
projecting ear X and being located at the mouth of the channel Q-the adjusting
screw threaded in such spring; the opener X' and means for carrying and
operating the same substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
16. The knocker Y located above the mouth of the channel Q³ in chute Q and

page_text: means for carrying and operating same substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
TY
11
1
ד
1001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.