Improvements in Machinery for Setting Heel and Sole Protectors for Boots and. Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 2nd June, 1900
[Communicated from abroad by FRANK WESTON WHITCHER, Merchant, of Boston, in
the County of Suffolk, and HENRY WALLACE WINTER, Machinist, of Lawrence, in the
County of Essex, both in the State of Massachusetts, United States of North America.].
Improvements in Machinery for Setting Heel and Sole Protectors
for Boots and. Shoes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention consists in a machine for setting heel and sole protectors for boots
and shoes, the said protectors being made of metal of substantially horse-shoe shape
in horizontal cross-section, and being in practice driven into the work until the
exposed or wearing ends of the protectors are substantially flush with the adjacent.
surface of the work.
The machine may be constructed for setting the protectors singly, or for setting a
plurality of protectors simultaneously. In its most complete form it is constructed
and arranged to set a series at one time, and this form thereof will be referred to in
the course of the following description. In the course of the said description,
reference will be made more especially to the setting of protectors into the top-lift of
the heel of a boot or shoe. The said top-lift being thereafter attached to the heel
in usual manner, but from the description it will be clear that by employing in the
machine a work-support adapted to receive a last, the protectors may be set into heels
or soles. directly.
The machine is provided with a main or driving shaft, a continuously-driven
actuator which may be in the form of a band-pulley, a clutch intermediate the said
shaft and hand-pulley, manually-operable means to throw such clutch into operation,
and means to cause the clutch to be disconnected 'automatically after the shaft .has
made one revolution. The clutch is provided with a lug which in the rotation of the
clutch, comes in contact with a stop made movable into and out of the path of
rotation of the lug, and by the contact or engagement of the lug with the stop the
clutch is opened, i.e., released. The clutch is provided, also with a throw-off cam
rotating in unison therewith and operating to shift the said stop into the path of
revolution of the lug, so as thereby to open or release the clutch and arrest the
working of the machine after a single revolution of the main or driving shaft, even
though the operative should continue to hold the clutch-operating means in position
to occasion working of the machine. One rotation of the main or driving-shaft
completes the cycle of operation of the machine. For convenience, the stop is
provided on an arm or lever, and the throw-off cam acts against the latter.
A spring
nets on the said arm or lever with a tendency to hold the stop normally in the path of
the lug of the clutch. The manually-operable means to withdraw the stop comprises,

page_text: for instance, a rock-shaft provided with a dog or tappet to act against the said arm or
lever in opposition to the spring aforesaid, an arm fitted upon the said rock-shaft and
held thereto by friction, a treadle normally held raised by the action of a spring, and
connections intermediate the arm and the treadle, made yielding by the, inclusion of
a spring as a part thereof. The frictional engagement between the rock-shaft and its
arm is sufficient to turn the rock-shaft when the said arm is moved through the
actuation of the treadle, in order, through the dog or tappet aforesaid acting against
the arm or lever provided with the stop-to withdraw the stop from engagement with
the lug of the clutch, to permit the clutch to operate. If the frictionally held arm is
held depressed by failure on the part of the operative to release the treadle, the action
of the throw-off cam in moving the arm or lever carrying the stop will cause the rock-
shaft to slip relatively to the frictionally-held operating arm. This slipping prevents
the breaking or smashing of the parts. After the operative releases the treadle, the
frictionally-held arm is restored to normal position on the rock-shaft by the action of
a spring.
The connections intermediate the treadle and the frictionally-held arm of the rock-
shaft are constructed and arranged to permit a predetermined amount of lost motion,
in order that the first part of the movement of the treadle may be utilized to move
the work-support into operative position before the machine is started. Normally
the work-support stands in a position a little removed from the setting devices, in
order to facilitate the application of work to the work-support, and subsequent
removal of the work from the latter.
A rotary hopper is provided for the reception of a supply of protectors. Into the
same through an opening in the front wall thereof, project the upper ends of a series
of blade-like raceways on which the horse-shoe shaped protectors are intended to be
deposited, and along which the said protectors are intended to slide on their way to
the setting devices. Within the hopper are arranged elevators for lifting the
protectors and placing them a straddle the raceways. The hopper is rotated from the
actuating band-pulley by means of an operating train embracing bevel-gears, a
worm and worm-gear, and spur-pinions. A grooved cam rotating in unison with one
of the spur-gears actuates the elevators. A continuation of the said operating train
actuates selecting devices for removing from the raceways such protectors as present
themselves wrong-end foremost, detent-devices which temporarily hold the protectors
above such selecting devices stationary upon the raceways, and let-off devices
operating to prevent the continued passage of protectors until the selecting devices
have acted, and then acting to permit the said protectors to pass along. One of the
gears comprised in the said operating train is loose upon its shaft, it being mounted
between a disk which is fast on the said shaft and a second disk which is splined on
the latter. A bushing on the said shaft is threaded exteriorly and set into a
correspondingly-threaded opening in the head of the machine, a series of anti-friction
balls being interposed between the bushing and the splined disk. The bushing is
provided with a handle, by means of which to turn the same in its threaded support,
imovement of the handle in one direction acting to press the balls against the splined
disk and to cause the gear to be held firmly between the two disks, so as to rotate
with the carrying shaft. When it is desired to throw out of operation the hopper-
rotating mechanism, the elevators, and the means for controlling the passage of the
protectors along the raceways, it is necessary simply to turn the handle sufficiently
to retract the bushing and decreases the friction upon the loose gear.
The selecting, detent, and let-off devices, are contained within a chamber that is
connected with the front wall of the hopper, the upper portions of the blade-like
raceways passing through the chamber, and the latter enclosing the opening in the
said wall through which the said raceways enter the hopper. The detents are
mounted on a plate controlled by a rotating cam operated by the said continuation of
the operating train, the selecting devices being carried by a second plate controlled
by a second rotating-cam, and the let-off devices being provided on a third plate
controlled by a third rotating cam. The detents consist of small movable spring-
pressed parts applied to their carrying plate to co-operation with the successive

page_text: protectors. The selecting devices consist of up-turned fingers which are shaped to
pass by protectors on the raceway which are properly presented and mounted thereon,
and to engage and lift from the raceway improperly presented protectors, that is to
say, protectors which are presented wrong-end foremost. The form of protector which
the machine is mainly intended to set has a head end and an entering or pointed end.
The let-off devices consist of pairs of lugs provided on the carrying-plate therefor and
arranged to slide upward at opposite sides of the respective raceways to act as stops
to prevent the passage of the protectors.
With the selecting device and the let-off devices are combined resilient detectors,
which may consist of elastic plates or fingers, the same being arranged respectively to
extend over the adjacent raceways and a little to one side of the middle of each
thereof. When a protector is improperly presented to the selecting device and is
raised by the latter above the raceway, in being lifted it engages and pushes to one
side the free end of the deflector. As soon, however, as the protector is lifted clear of
the raceway the resiliency of the deflector causes it to spring back to normal position,
thereby snapping the protector to one stde of the raceway and into the bottom of the
chamber, from which latter it can return to the hopper. When a raceway below the
corresponding let-off devices becomes filled or loaded with a series of protectors,
the let-off fingers will lift from the raceway the protector with which they engage in
their ascent and the corresponding deflector will act as just stated to snap the lifted
protector away from the raceway.
As will be perceived from the foregoing the machine contains a hopper, a chamber
connected therewith, one or more blade-like raceways passing through the said
chamber and entering into the hopper, elevators within the hopper for lifting horse-
shoe shaped protectors contained in the hopper and depositing them on the raceway
or raceways, selecting devices within the chamber to engage and lift above the
raceway or raceways protectors presented wrong-end foremost, detent devices for
engagement with the protectors in advance of the selecting devices, let-off means
located below the selecting devices within the chamber, forming temporary stops for
the protectors during the operative movement of the selecting devices, and also
serving to strip protectors singly from a raceway which is fully loaded below said
let-off means, and resilient deflectors adapted each to yield when engaged by a
protector that has been lifted from one of the raceways and to thereafter return to
normal position and throw such protector to one side of the raceway to cause the same
to fall to the bottom of the chamber..
The lower ends of the raceways are given a half turn so that as the protectors slide
down the raceways they are reversed in position, placing their open sides toward the
front. The raceways are enlarged or beaded along the upper edges thereof above the
twist or turn, and below the latter along their inner or rear edges, to prevent
the protectors from dropping off.
A plunger is mounted to reciprocate vertically in the head of the machine, the said
plunger being operated in convenient manner from the main or driving shaft of the
inachine, as, for instance, by means of a crank-pin or wrist-pin carried by the said
shaft and provided with a roll playing in a transverse groove or slot with which the
plunger is provided. The plunger carries a driver-plate or carrier to which is secured
a series of depending drivers for the protectors, the said driver-plate being movable
horizontally with respect to the plunger. Below the series of drivers is located a
driver-block having a series of driver-passages formed therein of proper shape and size
to permit the protectors to pass through the same. A guide rib projects centrally
into each driver-passage, and serves to position and guide the protector, the lower end
of the said rib being enlarged laterally and slitted to form spring projections, which
last yieldingly press upon the interior of the protector which is contained within the
driver-passage and serve to retain it in the latter until it is positively driven there-
from by the descent of the corresponding driver.
The driver-block is detachably inounted within grooves in arms pertaining to the
head of the machine; it being held in position by means of a suitable spring-operated

page_text: catch or other convenient device. The underside of the said driver-block forms a.
fixed rest against which the work is upheld during the insertion of the protectors.
The lower ends of the raceways do not connect directly with the driver-passages in
the driver-block. The said driver-passages are somewhat offset, or out of alignment,
with respect to the ends of the raceways. Between the said driver-block and the lower
ends of the raceways is arranged a transferrer mounted on a slide-plate. The said
transferrer is provided with inclined raceway sections. In one position of the trans-
ferrer the upper ends of the said sections register with the lower ends of the
main raceways, they then forming continuations of the main raceways to receive
protectors from the latter, while the lower ends of the said sections register with the
driver-passages in the driver-block, to thereby complete the path between the main
raceways and the driver-passages. The raceway sections may for convenience be
termed movable transfer-raceways. The lower ends of the series of transfer-raceways
extend almost to the top of the driver-block. Bars fastened to the driver-plate or
carrier pass through holes in the slide-plate of the transferrer so that the horizontal
movement of the said transferrer and the driver-carrier will be in unison. Springs
operating in connection with the transferrer hold the latter normally in its outer or
inoperative position. When it is desired to transfer one or more protectors to the
driver-passages of the driver-block, the operative pushes the transferrer inward,
bringing the transfer-raceways into operative position. This movement also carries
the driver-carrier inward out of the way so that the protectors can pass directly from
the main raceways down the transfer-raceways to the driver-passages. After the
driver-block has been loaded, the operative releases the transferrer, and if the protectors
have cleared the ends of the transfer-raceways the springs acting against the
transferrer will return the latter and the driver-carrier to their normal position.
However, should a protector hang part way in a driver-passage and part way on a
transfer-raceway, the transferrer will not return to normal position. This fact will
constitute a signal to notify the operative that something is wrong and it will then be
his duty to correct the fault. The driver-carrier is provided with an ear having a
beveled underpart. A correspondingly beveled shoulder is formed on the fixed head
of the machine. In case the springs should fail to return the transferrer to its normal
position after having been pushed inward by the operative as described above, and in
case the fact should pass unobserved by the operative, the descending movement of
the driver-carrier would in the operation of the machine cause the said ear to wipe
over the said beveled shoulder, which would act to positively force the driver-carrier
and the transferrer into proper outward or inoperative position before the drivers
reached the driver-block. As will be perceived from the foregoing, this portion of the
machine comprises a driver-block separated from the fixed raceways and having driver-
passages to receive the protectors to be driven, drivers, a transferrer manually
movable into operative position to complete the path from the raceways to the driver-
passages, yielding retracting means to return the transferrer to inoperative
position when the protectors have been properly transferred to the driver-passages,
and means controlled by the drivers to positively move the transferrer back into
inoperative position before the protectors are driven.
.
With the main raceways are combined let-off devices located at or near the
discharge or delivery ends of the said raceways and arranged to be operated at the
proper time to permit the passage of the lowermost protectors from the main race-
ways. Thus a series of let-off slides is arranged in connection with the said discharge
or delivery ends of the main raceways, the said slides being normally held pressed
toward the raceways by springs. The said slides are provided with lugs which are
adapted to be engaged by an actuator moving in unison with the transferrer, the said
actuator being usually, for convenience, in the form of a plate engaging by its inner
edge with the said lugs. As the transferrer is pressed inward by the operative, to
place the movable transfer-raceways in register with the main raceways and driver-
passages in the driver-block, the said actuator by its engagement with the lugs of the
let-off slides operates to withdraw the said slides and permit the endmost protectors
on the main raceways to pass therefro.n. down the transfer-raceways into the driver-

page_text: passages. When the transferrer is returned to normal position the let-off slides are
restored to their normal operative position by the action of their springs. Above the
Jet-off slides is disposed a detent-plate, which is pressed toward the main raceways by
a spring. It engages the next to the lowermost protector on each raceway, it being
understood that the lowermost protector of each raceway rests upon a corresponding
let-off device. After the let-offs have been retracted to permit of the descent of the
lowermost protectors, and subsequent to their return to normal position, the detent-
plate is retracted for the purpose of permitting the protectors which have been held
by it to pass down and rest upon the respective let-offs. This retraction is effected
preferably through the agency of the plunger, which in one arrangement is caused
to operate a small lever that engages with the detent-plate.
The operation of the let-off-devices is dependent upon the transferrer being moved
into operative position, and, inasmuch as the detent is operated by or through the
driver-actuating means, it is apparent that the'detent will not be moved to release
protectors until after the transferrer has been caused to resume its normal inoperative
position.
The driver-passages, drivers, raceways, etc., are arranged in a curved line corre-
sponding with the back part of a heel. If desired, the whole number of protectors
may be set at one time in the work in a corresponding curved line. To effect this,
it is simply necessary that the actuator for the let-off devices at the lower ends of the
main raceways should be arranged to act upon all of the said let-off devices when the
transferrer is pushed inward into its operative position, thereby supplying every
driver-passage with a protector. If it is desired to set a smaller number of protectors
at a time, this may be effected by arranging the actuator to retract only the
predetermined part of the let-off devices, when the transferrer is pressed inward by
the operative. In usual practice, the machine is equipped with five driver-passages,
drivers, and raceways, and there is one let-off slide arranged in connection with the
middle one of the main raceways; another let-off slide being adapted to co-operate
with the two left-hand main raceways, and a third let-off slide being adapted' to
co-operate with the two right-hand main raceways. By setting the actuator so as to
engage with the middle and right-hand let-off slides, the protectors will be set at one
side of the work, while by setting the said plate so as to engage with the middle and
left-hand let-off slides the protectors will be set at the other side of the work. In
other words, the position of the actuator for the let-offs determines which raceways
shall contribute protectors to the transfer-raceways and driver-passages, and according
as the said plate is set to the one side or the other the protectors will be set for a
right" shoe and a "left" shoe, while if the actuator occupies mid-position the full
number of protectors will be inserted simultaneously.
65
The actuator preferably is mounted pivotally upon the tranferrer, its inner end
being of a width suitable for engagement with all the lugs of the let-off devices
simultaneously. By adjusting the said actuator about its pivot by hand, its inner
end may be disposed in position to engage the middle lug and either of the side lugs.
Since the actuator is mounted upon and moves with the transferrer, the movement
of the latter into operative position will bring the actuator into engagement with the
desired let-off devices, moving the samne into inoperative position as the transfer-
raceways are moved into operative position.
The work-support is mounted on a spindle or standard having a threaded lower end
entering a corresponding threaded plunger, adjustment of the work-support vertically
thereby being provided for. The said plunger is movable vertically in a bearing
forming part of a slide that is mounted to move horizontally in guide ways on the
supporting frame-work of the machine. An up-turned finger attached to the bearings
engages a rib or groove on the spindle or standard to prevent accidental rotation of the
latter. The inner end of the slide connected with a lever which in turn is joined
by a strong spring to the treadle, so that when the latter is depressed the turning
movement of the lever will draw the slide, and the spindle or standard with the
work-support at the top of the latter, into position below the driver-block. In such
position, the lower end of the plunger rests upon a cain that is mounted loosely on a

page_text: shaft supported in suitable bearings on the framework of the machine, the shaft
being extended through the disk-like hubs of arms which are connected by a rod
with a plunger which actuates the drivers. When the said plunger descends, the
disk-like hubs will be turned and by their frictional engagement with the cam will
rock the latter and elevate the plunger, thus raising the work toward the under face
of the driver-block, the pressure continuing while the drivers operate to insert the
protectors into the work.
The spindle or standard has mounted upon it for use in setting protectors into
heel-lifts a laterally-swinging head provided with a depending pivot pin which enters
a suitable hole in the top of the spindle or standard. A second pin which is eccentri-
cally disposed on the head is intended to enter either one of a series of other holes
in the top of the spindle or standard. At one end, the said head is provided with
ribs or projections which are curved properly to receive and position the back-end of
a heel-lift, while at the opposite end of the head a movable breast-gauge or stop is
provided for engagement with the breast of the lift. The said breast-gauge or stop
is mounted to slide longitudinally of the head, and is pressed toward the curved ribs
or projections aforesaid by means of a spring. The said breast-gauge or stop is thus
yieldingly controlled, and is readily adjustable for lifts of different lengths. For the
purpose of inserting protectors in the right-hand edge of a lift, the head is swung
into one.extreme position with the eccentrically-disposed pin thereof in one of the holes
in the top of the spindle or standard. When it is desired to insert the protectors
near the other edge of a lift, the head will be swung to the other side until the
eccentrically-disposed pin enters the opposite hole in the top of the pillar or
standard.
Since the head is particularly adapted for use in driving protectors into top-lifts
which are thereafter to be applied to heels, and since the protectors are of greater
length than the thickness of the ordinary top-lift, it is necessary to provide a soft
impact surface into which the leading ends of the protectors may sink as they are
driven through the top-lift and flush with the outer face thereof. For this purpose,
the head is recessed and provided with a block of suitable yielding material, such
as indurated rubber.
By merely changing the character of the head, the machine may be utilized for
inserting protectors directly into heels rather than into top-lifts.
Dated the 10th day of tune 1000.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Machinery for Setting Heel and Sole Protectors
for Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil 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:-
The invention consists in a machine for setting metallic heel and sole protectors
for boots and shoes, of that class of protectors which are of substantially horse-shoe
shape in horizontal cross-section, and which, in practice are driven into the work until

page_text: the exposed or wearing ends of the same are substantially flush with the corresponding
surface of the work.
The machine may be constructed for setting the protectors singly, or for setting a
plurality of protectors simultaneously. In its most complete form it is constructed
and arranged to set a series at one time, and to set the same for either a "right" or
a "left" shoe, and this form thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings and will
be referred to in the course of the following description. In the said description,
reference is made more especially to the setting of protectors into the top-lift of the
heel of a boot or shoe, the said top-lift being thereafter attached to the heel in usual
manner but from the description it will be clear that by employing in the machine
a work-support adapted to receive a last, the protectors may be set into heels or
soles directly.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the upper portion or head of a
machine embodying one form of my invention.
Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the work-support -shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 is a right hand end elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1,
with the lower portion of the base or standard also shown, illustrating the starting
and stopping mechanism.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of a portion of the starting and
stopping mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation of the throw-off device for disconnecting the hopper
and adjacent mechanism from the driving means.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the deflectors, to be described.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the driver block, transferring means, and
the lower or discharge ends of the main raceways.
Fig. 7 is a top or plan view thereof, the main raceways being shown in section.
Fig. 8 shows in plan view the driver block and the tranferring device above it,
the latter partially in section.
Fig. 9 is an underside view of the driver carrier or head, omitted from Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a sectional detail through one of the passages of the driver block, with
the protector guide therein.
Fig. 11 is an underside view of the guide shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is an enlarged top or plan view of the work-support.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view thereof on the line x-x, Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 shows a heel lift provided with protectors.
Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a protector adapted to be set by the machine herein
shown.
Fig. 16' is a view in vertical section on a plane at the right of the hopper in Fig. 1,
and closely adjacent thereto.
Fig. 17 is a view showing in perspective part of the stepped receiver which is
contained within the hopper.
Fig. 18 is a view in section showing chiefly the detent, selecting, etc., devices which
are employed in connection with the upper ends of the main raceways.
Fig. 19 shows a portion of the said device in plan.
Fig. 20 shows in perspective a detent.
Figs. 21, 22, and 23 are views in vertical section of portion of the said devices,
illustrating the action thereof.
Figs. 24 and 25 are views in transverse section of different portions of a main
raceway, showing protectors thereon.
The working parts of the machine are shown in the drawings as mounted on
an upright standard or column A of suitable construction, and which may be
provided with feet A¹ to form a firm and extended base, the said standard or column
being surmounted by a head A² of suitable shape to provide bearings for the said
working parts.
The machine is provided with a main or driving shaft B, the said shaft being
suitably supported in bearings A³ A4 in head A2, a continuously-driven actuator

page_text: which may be in the form of a band pulley B' loose on the said shaft, a clutch C inter-
mediate the said shaft and band-pulley and by means of which the band-pulley may
be connected to the shaft when required, manually-operable means to throw such
clutch into operation, and means to cause the clutch to be disconnected automatically
after the shaft has made one revolution.
The clutch, (see Fig. 2) is the well-known Horton clutch. It is provided with a
lug c which, in the rotation of the clutch, comes in contact with a detent or stop c¹,
the latter being made movable into and out of the path of rotation of the lug, and by
the contact or engagement of the lug with the said detent or stop the clutch is
opened, i.e., released. The clutch is provided, also, with a throw-off cam c* rotating in
unison therewith and operating to shift the said detent or stop into the path of
revolution of the lug c, so as thereby to open or release the clutch and arrest the
working of the machine after a single revolution of the main or driving shaft, even
though the operative should continue to hold the clutch-operating means in position
to occasion working of the machine. One rotation of the main or driving-shaft
completes the cycle of operation of the machine.
A
For convenience, the detent or stop c¹ is provided on one arm of a three-armed
lever c². The throw-off cam acts against a second arm, 3, of the latter.
spring so, acts on the third arm, 5, of the said lever with a tendency to hold
the detent or stop ¹ normally in the path of the lug c of the clutch. See Fig. 2.
The manually-operable means to withdraw the detent or stop comprises, for instance,
a short rock-shaft, c, mounted in the head A2, and provided with a dog or tappet cli
to act against the said arm c of lever c² in opposition to the spring 870 aforesaid, an
arm fitted upon the said rock-shaft, a treadle, T, Fig. 2, and connections intermediate
the arm and treadle.
The arm is frictionally connected to the rock-shaft c7 by means of a fibrous or
other friction pad c, Fig. 3, the pressure of the pad upon the rock-shaft being
regulated by means of a suitable set-screw c¹0. The frictional engagement between
the rock-shaft c and its arm cs is sufficient to turn the said rock-shaft, when the said
arm is depressed through the manual actuation of the treadle T, in order, through the
dog or tappet c6, aforesaid, acting against the arm c to move lever c² and withdraw
the detent or stop c¹ thereon from engagement with the lug c of the clutch, to permit
the clutch to operate. If the frictionally held arm 8 is held depressed by failure
on the part of the operative to release the treadle, the action of the throw-off cam c
in moving the lever c² carrying the detent or stop will cause the rock-shaft c to slip
relatively to the frictionally-held operating arin c³. This slipping prevents the
breaking or smashing of the parts. After the operative releases the treadle, the said
frictionally-held arm is restored to normal position on the rock-shaft by the action of
a spring, S, Fig. 2.
The treadle T is mounted upon the base A' of the standard or column A. See
Fig. 2.
To the said treadle is applied the enlarged lower end of a rod T2 shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 2, the said end being slotted to fit upon the treadle, and being
pivotally connected therewith by means of a transversely extending pin 5. The rod T
passes through a sleeve T3, and to its upper end is applied the coupling T4, to which
latter is pivotally connected the lower end of a rod c. The upper end of rod c¹² is
connected to the frictionally engaged arm c³.
The treadle is shown in its normal position in Fig. 2, and it will be apparent that
when the treadle is depressed by the operator it will act through rods T2 and c¹²; and
the arm to move shaft-rock c7 and thereby cause dog or tappet ce to move the three-
armed lever c³ so as to permit clutch C to operate. Spring S surrounds the rod T
between the coupling T* and the sleeve T³. The upward movement of rod T2 is
limited by contact of its enlarged lower end with the lower end of sleeve T³.
At W is shown the work-support. Normally it occupies an inoperative position,"
that is, removed laterally relatively to the protector-driving or setting appliances in
order to facilitate thereby the application of work to the work-support by the
operator, and its removal therefrom.
The connections intermediate the treadle T and the frictionally-held arm c of the

page_text: rock-shaft c' are constructed and arranged to permit a predetermined amount of lost
motion, in order that the first part of the movement of the treadle may be utilized to
move the work-support W into operative position before the machine is started. Thus,
the treadle T is slotted, as at T, see dotted lines in Fig. 2, for the passage of the
pin 5. It is held raised into its highest position by the action of a spring S**, Fig. 1,
with the lower end of slot T¹ in contact with the pin 5.
When, now, the treadle is depressed by the operator, the rods T2 and c¹² will not
be drawn down until after the treadle has moved through a part of its full stroke,
owing to the slot and pin connection between the treadle and the rod T². During
this first part of the said stroke, the work-support is moved into its operative position
relatively to the protector-driving or setting appliances, through the connections
which are described hereinafter. The remainder of the stroke of the treadle acts
through rods T and c¹² to depress the arm c8, thus operating the dog co to move three-
armed lever c² so as to withdraw detent or stop c¹ from lug c and allow the clutch
to operate. Since, as aforesaid, in this machine one rotation of the main shaft
completes the cycle of operations, I have provided for stopping the machine
automatically, through the action of cam-lug c as aforesaid, in order to prevent the
main shaft from making more than one revolution at a time should the operator
fail to release the treadle after starting the machine.
After the rotation of the main shaft has been started, as described, the engagement
of the cam lug c with the arm will operate to throw the detent or stop c¹
automatically into the path of the lug c to release or disconnect the clutch after the
completion of one revolution.
Supposing that the arm c is maintained depressed through failure of the operator
to release the treadle, the positive return of the arm c³ to the position shown in
Fig. 2 will tend, through the arm c, to move the dog co into its normal position, and
this is permitted by the slip of the shaft c³ in the arm c'. This prevents breakage or
smashing of the parts.
After the machine has been stopped and the operator releases the treadle, the
expansion of the spring S operates to lift the rod c¹ longitudinally sufficiently to
return the arm es to normal position.
Undue movement of the dog co in returning may be prevented by stop 6 on the
frame.
A rotary hopper H is provided for the reception of a supply of the protectors P.
One form of the protectors is shown in elevation in Fig. 15, and in plan in Fig. 14.
Into the said hopper, through an opening in the front wall thereof, project the
upper ends of a series of blade-like raceways R R on which the horse-shoe shaped
protectors P are intended to be deposited, and along which raceways the said
protectors are intended to slide on their way to the setting devices. Within the
hopper H are arranged elevators E* for lifting the protectors and placing them
a-straddle the raceways.
The Lopper H is rotated from the actuating band-pulley B¹ by means of an
operating train shown in Figs. 1 and 16, and embracing a bevel-gear d, Fig. 1, on the
hub of said band-pulley, a similar bevel-gear d¹ meshing therewith, a
worm 12
connected with bevel gear d', a worm-gear ³, a short shaft d, a gear d5 on said shaft
meshing with a gear secured to or forming part of a cam-disk D, and an annular
gear on the hopper-body in nesh with the gear d".
The groove d of the said cam-disk I receives a roller or other stud carried by the
depending arın E¹ of a plate E on which the elevators are mounted, and thereby
actuates the elevators.
•
A continuation of the said operating train actuates selecting devices for removing
from the raceways such protectors as present themselves wrong end foremost, detent
devices which temporarily hold the protectors above such selecting devices stationary
upon the raceways, and let-off devices operating to prevent the continued passage of
protectors until the selecting devices have acted, and then acting to permit the said
protectors to pass along. The said continuation of the operating train comprises a
ring gear on the hub of cam-disk D, a gear engaging with gear and fast on
D

page_text: a shaft 3, a bevel pinion 2 fast on said shaft 3, and a bevel-gear on a shaft K*.
On shaft Kx is mounted a set of cams for operating the detent selecting, and let-off
devices.
The gear comprised in the said operating train is loose upon its shaft d', it
being mounted between a disk 43 which is fast on the said shaft and a second
disk d, which is splined on the latter. A bushing d on the, said shaft d' is
threaded exteriorly and set into a correspondingly-threaded opening in the head of
the machine, a series of anti-friction balls " being interposed between the bushing
and the splined disk a. The bushing is provided with a handle d", Fig. 4, by
means of which to turn the same in its threaded support, movement of the
handle in one direction acting to press the balls against the splined disk d¹²
and to cause the gear d to be held firmly between the two disks 42 43
so as to rotate with the carrying shaft d. When it is desired to throw out of
operation the hopper-rotating mechanism, the elevators, and the means for con-
trolling the passage of the protectors along the raceways, it is necessary simply to
turn the handle sufficiently to retract the bushing and decrease the friction upon
the loose gear . The operation of the rest of the machine is not interfered with by.
such operation of this throw-off device.
The hopper H comprises a revoluble cylindrical body h², see more particularly
Fig. 16, and stationary upright ends between which the said body is mounted to
turn, preferably on ball-bearings, as shown. The hopper-body 2 is furnished with
suitable lifters 4, Fig. 16, adapted to lift protectors from the lower portion of said
body and to discharge them on to a suitable receiver or shelf, from which last it is
intended that they shall pass to the elevators Ex, the said elevators presenting the
protectors to the upper ends of the raceways RR.
The rear end wall of the hopper H is provided with suitable guides, Fig. 16,
for the carrier or plate E of the elevators. The said end wall also is provided with
a series of vertical slots 6, five of such slots being shown herein, to receive a corres-
ponding number of the elevators Ex. The elevators consist of thin plates set vertic-
aily and secured to the carrier E in any suitable manner; they extend as shown in
Fig. 1 into the interior of the body of the hopper and are reciprocate vertically
therein in consequence of the movement that is imparted to the carrier E through
the action of cam D. The upper edges e .of the elevators are inclined towards the
front of the hopper, as shown in Figs. 1, 21 and 22.
The receiver F which is located within the hopper H is shown in part separately in
Fig. 17.
It comprises a series of upright separating walls ff, alternating with the
elevators Ex, the said walls having their tops stepped, as at 11, with the treads of the
steps, as they may be termed, inclined from the rear of the hopper toward the front,
thereof. Below the stepped tops of the respective walls ff the vertical faces of the
latter are provided with other tiers or series of steps ff, the tread portions 3ƒ³ of
these last being parallel to the treads of the top, to form a series of recesses slotted at
, and in which the elevators rise and fall.
The protectors which are carried upward from the bottom of the hopper by the
lifters of the body of the hopper are discharged upon the walls and into the.
recess of the receiver F. The inclined treads of the steps of the latter serve to con- 4
stantly turn and alter the positions of the protectors as these last are agitated and
lifted from time to time by the elevators, to thereby prevent a number of protectors
from massing together in one of the recesses and simply rising and falling as a mass
with the movements of the elevators.
Some of the protectors which are carried to the treads of the steps of the receiver
slide down the said treads and against a guard plate G, which is located in front of
the opening in the front end wall of the hopper through which the upper ends of
the raceways R R extend, the said guard plate serving to return such protectors to the
.bottom of the hopper.
The upper ends of the blade-like raceways R R rest on edge upon the front of 5
receiver F, immediately in front of the paths of movement of the front ends of the

page_text: elevators Ex, the lower ends of said raceways being secured in a bracket A' on the
head of the machine.
As the elevators rise, such of the protectors in the recesses between the walls ff
of the receiver Fas are in proper position will straddle the respective elevators, and
will be lifted thereby into position to slide from the elevators, when these last are in
their uppermost position, onto the upper edges of the adjacent ends of raceways
RR, a dwell in the groove d* of cam D, Fig. 16, maintaining the elevators stationary
for a short time at the upper end of their stroke.
After the protectors have been delivered upon the raceways, they move into position
upon the latter to be acted upon by selecting devices, which last are arranged to
remove from the respective raceways such protectors as present themselves wrong end
first. While the selecting device for a raceway is operating, a detent acts to hold the
series of protectors above it stationary upon the raceway, while at the same time a
let-off device is operative to form a stop or wall to prevent the passage beyond it of
a protector until the selecting device has been moved into operative position, the
relative movement of the detent and let-off being such that one moves out of and
into operative position again before the other moves into inoperative position, and vice
versa.
As will presently appear, the detent is so constructed as to form a guide for and
direct the movement of an improperly positioned protector as it is moved from the
raceway by the selecting device.
The let-off also has an additional function, viz. to clear the raceway of protectors
as it moves into operative position, provided the raceway below said let-off should be
filled, as shown in Fig. 23.
A box-like chamber or casting K is attached to the front wall of the hopper, the
said casting enclosing the opening h³ in said hopper wall, and within and upon this.
casting I have arranged the selecting, detent and let-off devices, the upper sections R
of the raceways passing through the casting. K to the bracket A7, from which the
second sections of raceways t t conduct the protectors still further on their path
towards the drivers.
Referring now to Figs. 18 to 23 inclusive, the sides of the casting K are grooved
to receive three adjacent slide plates M N and O, arranged in the order named from
rear to front, and substantially at right angles to the raceway sections R.
The plate M is cut away centrally to leave top and bottom bars m m³, respectively,
the latter having a depending foot m² to enter a slot in a boss K', and engage the.
periphery of a cam M* fast on the short shaft K*, the upper bar m being provided
with a series of undercut upright grooves, as shown in Fig. 19, to receive each a
sliding detent member m³, shown separately in Fig. 20, the lower end of the detent
being concaved as at me, Figs. 21, 22 and 23, to rest upon one of the protectors P
when the detent is in operative position, as shown in any one of Figs. 21, 22 and 23.
A stud in the back of each detent enters a slot or recess me in the top bar m,
to limit the movement of the detent relative to its carrier bar or support m, while a.
suitable spring 3 fast on said supporting bar rests at its free end on the top of and
normally depresses the detent, thus compensating for slight variation in the sizes
of the protectors.
The series of detents m³ are arranged in their support m above the series of
raceways R, as clearly shown in Fig. 18, and in this figure the detents are elevated
to permit the free passage of the protectors beneath them.
Suitable springs S, fixedly attached at one end to the side walls of the chamber K
and at their other end to pins or studs projecting from the frame M, serve to depress
said frame and maintain the foot m² in engagement with the periphery of the con-
rolling cam M.
Iminediately in front of and adjacent the plate M, a second plate N is mounted.
o slide in the casting K, said plate being U-shaped and having a depending foot n³
o travel upon the periphery of a cam N fast on the shaft K, similar springs to
prings S (but not shown) depressing said plate and maintaining its foot in
ment with its controlling cam.
engage-

page_text: A series of upturned fingers n are secured to the plate N, the endmost fingers
being shown as single in Fig. 18, while the intermediate fingers are made double for
convenience in construction, said fingers being beveled at at their upper corners as
at n', the bevels of two co-operating fingers being opposite and corresponding to the
external bevel of the foot or lower end of the protector, as shown in Fig. 19, so that
when a protector presents itself with its lower end or foot foremost, the fingers as
they rise will pass at each side of the beveled foot, as shown in Fig. 19, the
protector P being therein illustrated as properly positioned to pass down the
raceway.
If, however, the protector should present itself head end foremost, as shown by
dotted lines at P1, Fig. 19, the bevel of the protector will be opposite to the beveled
corners of the fingers, and as the latter rise the fingers will engage said protector and
lift it from the raceway.
Referring now to Fig. 20, the detent is shown as provided on its outer face with
two wings or lips m³, outwardly beveled on their inner faces and projecting, as shown
in Figs. 21, 22 and 23, just back of the path of movement of the lips n.
When the lips which form a selecting device encounter a properly positioned
protector, they normally pass at each side thereof as described, but if there should be
any slight fin or enlargement of the protector, the lips would tend to lift or tip
it, and to prevent this the wings m³ of the detent, by their engagement. with the
head of the protector, hold it down against such upward movement of the selecting
lips so that it will not be removed from the raceway, as at P, Fig. 19.
On the other hand, when a protector, as P1, is improperly positioned, it will be seen,
by reference to Fig. 19, that the bevel of the wings m² then corresponds to the bevel
of the foot of the protector, and acts as a guide for the latter when it is lifted from
the raceway by the selecting device, and serves to direct it forward toward the front
inclined wall of the casting K, from which it travels by gravity back to the hopper.
In Fig. 21 the detent is shown in engagement with an improperly positioned
protector P¹, while the selecting device has moved into operative position and
consequently has not disturbed the other of the protectors P which is properly
positioned and ready to travel along the raceway as soon as the let-off is withdrawn to
permit it.
The let-off mechanism comprises essentially a second U-shaped bar, O, adapted to
slide in the side walls of the casting K and provided with a depending foot o2 to bear
against the periphery of a cam Ox fast on the shaft K*, similar springs to springs S
(but not shown ;) connected at their free ends with the plate O serving to depress it
and to maintain the foot against the cam.
The said plate has attached to its transverse portion a series of upturned lugs o
arranged in pairs, as clearly shown in Fig. 18, said pairs of lugs being so located
relative to the several raceways that when the plate O is raised, the said lugs will
slide upward at each side of the raceway and act as a stop to prevent passage of a
protector through one of the openings in the front wall of the casting K.
.
In Figs. 21 and 23, and in Fig. 18, the let-off device is in operative position, while
in Fig. 22 it is retracted into inoperative position, so that the lugs o¹ are below the
path of travel of the protectors.
The three cams M*, Nx, and Ox are of such shape, see Fig. 18, and so set relatively
to each other, that, in the rotation of the shaft K*, supposing the parts are in the
position shown in Fig. 21, the endmost and properly positioned protector shown
therein will pass down the raceway as soon as the let-off lugs o are depressed.
In Fig. 22 the let-off for one raceway is shown in inoperative position and the end-
most protector has started and is just about to pass through the opening * in the
front wall of the casting K, while the detent m³ for such raceway still holds stationary
the endmost protector of the series thereupon.
Further rotation of the shaft K* operates to move the let-off lugs into operative
position and to withdraw the selecting device, and when the latter is in inoperative
position the cam M* operates to raise the detent device and release the series of pro-
tectors, so that the endmost one will slide down into position above the path of the

page_text: selecting device, and as the latter rises, the detents are again lowered into operative
position as before.
Now, as has been described, the protector which is in the path of the selecting
device will be engaged by the latter or not, according to whether said protector is
head end or point end foremost.
The let-off mechanism has an additional function, viz., to clear the raceway of the
down-moving protectors if it should happen that the raceway beyond the said let-off
mechanism should be full, and referring to Fig. 23, it is supposed that the lower part
of the raceway is so loaded with protectors that the latter have backed up, as it were,
into the position shown.
Under such circumstances the let-off lugs as they rise will engage that protector
which is located on the raceway above them, and will lift and tip it from the race-
way, to fall back again into the hopper, a protector being shown in Fig. 23 as tipped
and just about to be thrown from the raceway.
This function of the let-off mechanism will be called into play whenever the race-
way is crowded, and by its action prevents any improper presentation of the protectors
to the action of the selecting and let-off devices.
The front wall of the chamber K is shown as provided with deflectors to deflect the
protectors laterally from a raceway when they are removed therefrom, either by the
selecting device when they are improperly presented, or by the let-off lags o¹ when
the latter act to strip the raceways.
Thus, the front wall of the chamber. K has attached to it suitable stands 1,20, on
which are mounted elastic plates or fingers 21, each of which, in its normal position
extends over the corresponding adjacent raceway, and a little to one side of the middle
of the thickness thereof, the length of the deflector at its lower edge being sufficient
to extend above the corresponding selecting device and let-off members o¹.
When a protector is improperly presented to the selecting device, said protector is
raised above the raceway, and, as it is so lifted, it engages with the free end of the
deflector. This form of deflector usually is so set that as it is being lifted the
protector pushes to one side the free end of the deflector, as indicated in dotted lines
in Fig. 5, but as soon as the protector is lifted clear of the raceway the resiliency of
the deflector causes it to spring back to normal position, thereby aiding in directing
the protector to one side of the raceway and into the bottom of the adjacent chamber,
from which last it can return to the hopper. The operation of this deflector is the
same when a protector is lifted from the raceway by the let-off fingers o¹.
As will be perceived from the foregoing the machine contains a hopper, a chamber
connected therewith, one or more blade-like raceways passing through the said
chamber and entering into the hopper, one or more elevators within the hopper for
lifting horse-shoe shaped protectors contained in the hopper and depositing them on
the raceway or raceways, selecting devices within the chamber to engage and lift
above the raceway or raceways protectors presented wrong-end foremost, detent
devices for engagement with the protectors in advance of the selecting devices, let-off
means located below the selecting devices within the chamber, forming temporary
stops for the protectors during the operative movement of the selecting devices, and.
also serving to strip protectors singly from a raceway which is fully loaded below
said let-off means, and deflectors adapted each to cause a protector that has been
lifted from one of the raceways to fall to one side of the raceway and to the bottom of
the chamber.
The lower ends of the raceways R R are given a half turn so that as the protectors
slide down the raceways they are reversed in position, placing their open sides toward
the front. See the protector shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 on the lower end of one of
the raceways R. The said raceways are enlarged or beaded along the upper edges
thereof above the twist or turn, and below the latter along their inner or rear edges,
to prevent the protectors from dropping off.
A plunger B is mounted to reciprocate vertically in a groove in the head of
the machine, see Fig. 1, the said plunger being operated in convenient manner from
the main or driving shaft B of the machine, as, for instance, by means of a crank-pin

page_text: or wrist-pin b carried by the said shaft and provided with a roll playing in a transverse
groove or slot with which the plunger is provided.
The plunger B is furnished with an overhanging projection 6 which is grooved to
receive a driver-plate or carrier 6%, shown in bottom-view in Fig. 9, to which driver-
plate or carrier is secured a series of depending drivers 67 for the protectors, the said
driver-plate being movable horizontally with respect to the plunger in the projec-
tion b³, and provided at its inner end, see Figs. 1 and 9, with an ear 68 beveled on its
under face, for a purpose to be described.
Below the series of drivers is located a driver-block F having a series of driver-
passages formed therein of proper shape and size to permit the protectors to
pass through the same. A guide rib f projects centrally into each driver-passage,
and serve to position and guide the protector P, the lower end of the said rib, as
shown in Figs. 10 and 11, being enlarged laterally and slitted at f³ to form spring
projections ff which last yieldingly press upon the interior of the protector which is
contained within the driver-passage f and serve to retain it in the latter until it is
positively driven therefrom by the descent of the corresponding driver.
The driver-block F, see Fig. 6, is detachably mounted within grooves in arms
pertaining to the head of the machine, it being held in position by means of a suit-
able spring-operated catch F10 or other convenient device. The underside of the said
driver-block forms a fixed rest against which the work is upheld during the insertion
of the protectors.
The lower ends of the raceways RR do not connect directly with the driver-
passages f f in the driver-block F4. The said driver-passages are somewhat offset,
or out of alignment, with respect to the ends of the raceways. See Fig. 1. Between
the said driver-block and the lower ends of the raceways is arranged a transferrer
comprising a slide-plate t* and a series of inclined raceway sections tt, etc., the said
slide-plate having an opening t¹ through which the lower ends of said raceway-sections
extend almost to the top of the driver-block F. In one position of the transferrer
the upper ends of the said raceway-sections tt register with the lower ends of the
main raceways RR, they then forming continuations of the main raceways to receive
protectors from the latter, while in such position the lower ends of the said sections
register with the driver-passages in the driver-block F, to thereby complete the
path between the main raceways and the said driver-passages.
The raceway-
sections tt may for convenience be termed movable transfer-raceways. The lower
ends of the series of transfer-raceways extend almost to the top of the driver-block.
Bars 6 fastened to the driver-plate or carrier 60 pass through holes in the slide-
plate of the transferrer so that the horizontal movement of the said transferrer and
the driver-carrier will be in unison, the said bars passing through slots f20 f20 in
driver-block F. A headed stop-pin fs applied to the driver-block passes through a
slot in the inner end of the plate 1.
A substantially rectangular, open frame t' is secured in an upright position to the
plate near its outer end, and having upturned ears 15 against which rest the outer
ends of plungers to, provided with heads t7, see dotted lines Fig. 7, which move freely
in recesses a20 in the bracket A7, said recesses being reduced in diameter at a to
receive the inner ends of the plungers.
Strong springs S2 in the recesses a20 bear at their outer ends against the plunger
heads, and keep the plungers normally pushed out, with the transferrer plate tx in
inoperative position shown in the drawings.
When it is desired to transfer one or more protectors to the driver passages the
operator pushes the plate t inwards, bringing the transfer-raceways into operative
position, and at the same time the driver carrier be will be pushed in, by virtue of the
bars 69, and a protector can pass directly from its main raceway R down the section t
to the driver passage.
After the driver block is loaded the operator releases the plate and if the
protectors have cleared the ends of the sections t the spring plungers to will return 5
said plate and the driver carrier to normal position.
Should a protector hang part way in a driver passage and part way on a transfer.

page_text: raceway & the plate t will not, return to normal position, and the operator is then
made aware of the fact that something is wrong, and the fault is corrected.
When the carrier is pushed in, as described, the heveled under part of its ear bª
engages a correspondingly beveled shoulder a3 on the head A2, and if the spring
plungers should fail to retract the transferrer the descending movement of the driver-
carrier causes the ear 8 to wipe over the shoulder 23 and positively force the carrier
and the transferrer into proper outward position.
The protectors as they slide down the raceways R must be held upon them until
such time as the transfer-raceways are in operative position, and I have provided
detent and let-off mechanism located at or near the discharge or delivery ends of the
raceways to operate at the proper time to permit the passage of the lowermost
protector from a raceway, and to permit the protector next above it to pass down into
position to be engaged by the let-off mechanism.
The arms A10 secured to the head of the machine are substantially L-shaped, and
their upturned portions A20 have secured upon their faces, as by suitable screws 55,
Figs. 6 and 7, the shelf or bracket A7 to which the main raceways are secured, the
shelf being cut out at As, see Fig. 7, to admit free passage of the protectors.
A guide block A12 is suitably secured to the top of the bracket A', as by screws 60,
said block being horizontally recessed to receive a series of sliding let-off
inembers m30 31 32 shown in dotted lines Fig. 7, the central member m³ being
shown in section in Fig. 1.
The main raceways are herein shown as five in number, and the central let-off
device m³ is normally held at its outer end against the central raceway by a
spring, see Fig. 1, set into a recess in the bracket A7 and bearing against a down-
turned lug on the let-off m³1
The let-off m30 is adapted to co-operate with the two left hand raceways and it is
maintained in position by a spring 83, see Fig. 7, a similar spring controlling the
let-off m which co-operates with the two right hand raceways.
These springs are let into recesses in the bracket A7, and are held in place by
suitable screw plugs 63, the downturned lug 3 on or attached to each let-off device
passing through a suitable slot, as 64, Fig. 7, in the bracket.
These downturned lugs 3, only one of which is shown in Fig. 1, are adapted to be
engaged by an actuator shown as a plate a pivoted on a suitable boss (50 on the
open upright frame t, said plate being slotted segmentally, as at a, Fig. 7, to
receive freely therethrough the several transfer-raceways t, the inner end of the plate
being reduced in width, as at a7s, to engage all of the let-off lugs 3 or the center and
either side one.
Ia Fig. 7 the actuator is shown in position to engage the lugs of the central and
right hand side let-off, so that the endmost protectors on the central and two right
hand main raceways R will be permitted to pass therefrom when the let-off devices
are retracted.
As the actuator is mounted upon and moves with the transferrer carriage *, the
movement of the latter into operative position will bring the actuator into engage-
ment with the desired let-off devices, moving the same into inoperative position
as the transfer-raceways are moved into operative position.
When the transferring means is returned to normal position the springs 12
return the let-off devices to normal operative position.
The top of the guide-block A12 is recessed to receive therein a detent plate, held
in place by the cover A of the block, the front edge of the detent d being shaped,
as shown in Fig. 7, to present a series of slightly beveled scallops or indenta-
tions 75, which are respectively opposite to the several raceways R, a spring 50
acting on a depending lug 76 on the detent plate normally maintaining the latter
in operative position with its front edge engaging the next to the lowermost protector
on each raceway, it being understood that the leading end of the lowermost protector
rests upon its let-off device m31.
After the let-offs have been retracted, as described, and returned to normal position
the detent will be retracted to permit such protectors as have been held by it to pass

page_text: down to and to rest upon the respective let-offs, thus bringing the next to the end-
most protector on each raceway into position to be engaged by the detent when it is
in turn moved back to normal operative position.
A slot d is made in the plate o to receive the lower end of a lever ³, pivotally
mounted at 2 on ears A16 forming a part of the shelf or bracket A7, the upper end of
the lever resting in a notch or depression 75 in the base of the plunger B³ when
the latter is elevated, as shown in Fig 1.
As the plunger descends the upper end of the lever d³ is forced out and the inner
end thereof acting upon the detent plate 100 retracts the same and releases those
protectors which have been held between the plates and raceways.
When the plunger returns to its elevated positions the spring $50 returns the
detent to normal position and causes the upper end of lever to again enter the
recess in the plunger.
The operation of the let-off devices is, it is manifest, dependent upon the move-
ment of the transferrer mechanism into operative position, and as the detent
mechanism is operated by or through the driver actuating means it will be obvious
that the detent will not be moved to release protectors until after the transferrer
mechanism has resumed its norinal inoperative position.
The actuator for the let-offs determines which raceway shall contribute protectors to
the transfer-raceways according as the heel is for a "right" or a "left" shoe, the
actuator a being swung to one side or the other accordingly, and if the full number
of protectors is to be inserted simultaneously then the actuator occupies mid-position.
The work-support is shown as a spindle W, threaded at its lower end at W2 to enter
a plunger W vertically movable in a bearing 100 forming part of a slide W5 mounted
to slide horizontally in guideways A25 at the upper end of the column A and
extended beyond the same, as shown at A20 Fig. 1.
An upturned finger w attached to the bearing 100 engages a rib w on the spindle
to prevent rotation of the latter when its supporting plunger is reciprocated.
The inner end of the slide W is connected by a slot and pin. connection 102, 103,
with the upper end of a bell crauk lever. We fulcrumed at W7 within the column or
standard A, the other end of said bell crank lever being connected by strong
spring S with the treadle T so that when the latter is depressed the rocking of the
lever will move the slide and the spindle W into the dotted line position shown in
Fig. 1, with the spindle below the driver-block F*.
When in such position the lower end of the plunger rests upon a cam W8 loosely
mounted on a shaft 5 mounted in suitable bearings on a part of the guide A2 it
may be, the shaft being extended through disk-like hubs w" of the arms 9.
When the driver plunger B5 descends the disk hubs 26 will be turned in the
direction of the arrow 120, Fig. 1, and by frictional engagement with the cam will
rock upon the latter and elevate the plunger W thus raising the work towards the
fixed holder or pressure block F4, the pressure continuing while the drivers operate to
insert the protectors into the work.
The spindle or standard W has inounted upon it a laterally swinging head H³,
provided with a depending pivot pin h¹ which enters a suitable hole in the top of the
standard, a second pin 12 eccentrically located on the head entering either one of two
holes 300, 400, the position of which is shown in Fig. 12, the head overhanging the
top of the standard, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 12 and 13, and at one end
the head is provided with ribs or projections 3 curved to position the back end of
a heel lift, while at the opposite end of the head a movable breast gage or stop h¹ is
provided to engage the breast of the lift, such a lift being shown at Lin Fig. 14 and
in dotted lines Fig. 12.
The head is longitudinally slotted at 15 and grooved to receive a slide plate 10 to
which the breast stop 14 is attached, a depending lug h" on the slide plate bearing
against one end of a spring 100, the other end of the spring being held by a screw
plug screwed into a threaded hole in the end of the head.
The breast stop h¹ is thus yieldingly controlled and is readily adjustable for lifts of

page_text: different lengths; to insert protectors in a lift, as in Fig. 14, the head is swung
into the position shown in Fig. 12 with the pin in the hole 400 in the standard.
Were the protectors to be inserted near the other edge of the lift the lead would
be swung to the left, viewing Fig. 12, until the pin 12 could enter the hole 300, it
being understood that the head is lifted slightly from the standard sufficiently to
disengage the stud 12 from either one of the holes in the top of the standard
when it is desired to swing the head to one side or the other.
As this head is particularly adapted for driving protectors into top lifts which
are thereafter to be applied to a heel, and as the protectors, one of which is
shown in side elevation in Fig. 15, are of a greater length than the thickness of
the ordinary top lift, it is necessary to provide a soft impact surface into which
the leading ends of the protectors may sink as they are driven through the top
lift and flush with the outer face thereof.
For this purpose the head is recessed and provided with a block Hio of fibrous
material, such as indurated rubber fibre or other suitable yielding material into which
the projecting ends of the protectors can sink without damage.
By merely changing the character of the head the apparatus herein shown can be
utilized for inserting protectors directly into the heels, or into soles, rather than into
heel lifts.
I have shown one practical embodiment of my.invention herein without attempt,
ing to show or describe the various modifications or rearrangements which may be
made therein, and my invention is not restricted to the construction, arrangement,
and operation of parts as herein shown, as it will be manifest that various devia-
tions therefrom can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my
invention.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to mé
by my, foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved mechanism for setting heel or sole protectors, comprising, essen-
tially, a driver, a raceway, devices for transferring the protectors one at a time from
the raceway into the path of the driver, a block having a driver-passage therein to
receive the protector to be driven, and the guide fixed within said passage to enter
the protector and position it while it is being driven.
2. The improved mechanism for setting heel or sole protectors, comprising, essen-
tially, a series of raceways, a gang of drivers, a block having a corresponding number
of driver-passages therein, a movable transferrer working between the block and the
raceways, to receive the protectors singly from each raceway and deliver them collec-
tively to the driver-passages, detents for the raceways to hold the protectors thereon,
and means to release the detents to permit the protectors to be taken by the
transferrer.
3. The mechanism for setting heel or sole protectors, comprising, essentially, a
block having a series of driver passages therein to guide the protectors while being
driven into the work, a gang of drivers corresponding in number and arrangement to
said driver-passages, means to deliver protectors to the respective driver-passages,
and means to determine to which driver-passages the protectors shall be delivered, to
thereby provide for a "right" or a "left" heel or sole.
•
4. The improved mechanism comprising the blade-like raceway to receive upon it
headed horse-shoe shaped protectors, the selecting device to engage and remove such
protectors as present themselves wrong end foremost, and the detent and let-off,
arranged respectively above and below the selecting device.
5. The improved mechanism comprising, essentially, a hopper to receive protectors
in bulk, a plurality of raceways, means to cause the protectors to straddle the said
raceways, detents to retain stationary on the respective raceways the protectors
between said detents and the hopper, let-offs to form temporary stops for the said
protectors during the action of the selecting devices, and selecting devices to remove
from the raceways such protectors as are presented wrong-end foremost.

page_text: 6. The improved mechanisin comprising, essentially, a raceway, detent and
selecting devices, and a deflector to deflect to one side a protector wrongly placed on
said raceway and rejected by the selecting device.
7. The improved mechanism comprising, essentially, a raceway, detent let-off and
selecting devices, and a deflector to deflect to one side protectors rejected by said
selecting and let-off devices.
8. The machine for setting heel or sole protectors, comprising, essentially, a fixed
raceway, a co-operating detent. to control the discharge of a protector therefrom, a
fixed block having a driver-passage therein to receive the protector to be driven, a
driver, a movable transfer raceway section to receive a protector from the fixed race-
'way and deliver it to the driver-passage, and means to withdraw the detent when said
movable transfer raceway section is in operative position.
1
9. The machine for setting heel or sole protectors, comprising, essentially, a fixed
raceway, a fixed block below it having a driver-passage to receive a protector to be
driven, a driver, á movable transfer raceway section to at times complete the path
from the fixed raceway to the driver-passage, and discharge-detent and let-off devices
co-operating with the protectors on the raceway.
10. The machine for setting hee! or sole protectors comprising, essentially, a fixed
raceway, a block having a driver-passage to receive the protector to be driven, a
driver, a transferrer, and means to positively insure the movement of said transferrer
into inoperative position before the driver acts.
11. The machine for setting lieel or sole protectors, comprising, essentially, a
plurality of raceways, a block having a series of driver-passages to receive protectors
to be driven simultaneously, a gang of drivers, a group of transfer raceway sections,
detent-devices for the protectors on the raceways, and a controller whereby to effect
the release of protectors from a predetermined sub-group of raceways, for a "right"
or a "left" heel or sole..
:
12. The mechanism comprising, essentially, a driver-block having a passage to
receive the protector to be driven, a driver, a work-support, means to move it into
and out of operative position, and mechanism to effect automatically a relative move-
ment of said work-support and driver-block to compress the work as the protector is
driven thereinto.
..
13. The machine comprising, essentially, a block having a driver-passage therein
to receive a protector to be driven, a driver, actuating means for said driver, a
manually-controlled starting device for. said means, a work-support, connections
between said work-support and the said starting device to move the work-support
into operative position before the driver is actuated, and mechanism controlled by or
through the driver-actuating means to effect relative movement of the work-support
and block when the fortner is in operative position.
14. The improved machine; comprising, essentially, a standard, a laterally-swinging
head thereupon, means to lock said head in position for a "right" or a "left" heel,
a block having passages for the protectors to be driven, a gang of drivers, and means
to control the driving of protectors for a "right" or a "left" heel.
15. The work-supporting devices comprising, essentially; a standard, a laterally-
swinging head thereupon, means to lock said. head in position for a "right" or
"left" heel, and fixed back-stops and a yielding breast-stop on said head to hold the
work between them.
16. The machine for setting heel or sole protectors comprising, essentially,
mechanism for setting a protector in the work, actuating means therefor including a
.clutch baving a lug and a throw-off cam rotatable therewith, a stop for said lug,
manually operable means to withdraw the stop and release the clutch, and a movable
support on which the stop is mounted, engagement of the said support by the throw-
off cam moving the stop into the path of the lug.
1 1000