An Improved Machine for Forming Spiral Tags on Boot and other Laces and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Forming Spiral Tags on Boot and other
Laces and the like.
I, FREDERICK THOMAS ADAMS, of 25, Howard Street, in the County Borough
of Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
The object of my invention is to provide a machine that will be continuous
in its action and will automatically cut, point and pierce the ends of the laces,
will feed and cut off lengths of wire and twist the said wire forming the tags
of boot and other laces and will also cut the tags off to given lengths.
In carrying out my invention I provide a pillar or frame upon which is
mounted or arranged the different parts of the machine as will be hereinafter
explained. Upon this said pillar are fixed a lower and an upper platform set
apart by suitable distance columns or pieces, on the lower platform is mounted
a table revolving upon a fixed spindle which also forms one of the distance
columns; this revolving table has mounted upon it a number of recessed or
slotted cones near its outer and upper edge the periphery of the plate being
cut or formed to receive same and to admit of the end of a lace being placed in
each recess or slot, a spring jaw is pivotted to the top of the plate the extreme
end of which firmly grips the end of the lace in the slotted cone it being under-
stood that there is a jaw and a slotted cone for each lace; each one of these in
turn comes to the different devices for cutting, pointing, piercing the lace feed-
ing cutting and twisting the wire and for finally cutting off the tag as the
table revolves step by step.
The whole apparatus is driven from one pulley on a vertical spindle upon
which is also mounted a worm communicating motion through a worm wheel
to a cam shaft below the bottom platform, this shaft carries three cams, or two
cams an eccentric, which for the sake of convenience we will call the near
cam, the eccentric, and the outer cam. As the cam shaft revolves the eccen-
tric moves a complex lever to and fro, the lever operating through the means
of a connecting rod a pawl and ratchet wheel, the latter being a fixture under-
neath the revolving table,. moves the said table round with it; the outer cam
holding the cutting and piercing device out of contact with the table while
it-revolves one step at a time.
After the laces are placed between the jaws the table is revolved one step
and one of the slotted cones comes under the cutting and piercing device.
When in this position the outer cam is arranged to allow the cutting and pierc-
ing device to descend this has a recessed cone in its base accurately fitting
cach cone on the table and so acts as a stop to keep the table stationary while
each successive operation is taking place, a spring being employed for assisting
the downward action of the device for cutting and piercing the end of the lace
and locking the table; when this device descends the lace end passes into a
slotted opening in which is fixed a stationary pointed knife the device also

page_text: The machine may be driven in any suitable manner such as by, treadle or
power and it will be understood that although I have described it in the form
I at present prefer I do not wish to bind myself to the exact arrangement or
details mentioned herein, it being evident that without departing from the
spirit of my invention various slight alterations may be made therein.
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.
An Improved Machine for Forming Spiral Tags on Boot and other
Laces and the like.
I, FREDERICK THOMAS ADAMS, of 25, Howard Street, in the County Borough
of Derby, 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 objects of my invention are to provide a machine that will be continuous
in its action and will automatically cut, point and pierce the ends of the laces,
will feed and cut off lengths of wire and twist the said wire forming the tags
of boot and other laces and will also cut the tags off to given lengths.
In describing my invention reference will be had to the accompanying sheets
of drawings upon which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine
viewed from the driving end in the direction of the arrow on Figure 3.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of my improved machine looking from right to
left of Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a part back elevation shewing the eccentric outer cam
and piercing device to be afterwards explained.
Figure 5 is a section on line a, a of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of the upper platform and part of the top side of the re-
volving table to be hereinafter described.
and
cutting
Figure is a greatly enlarged section taken longitudinally through the
twisting device to be hereinafter explained.
Figure is also a greatly enlarged longitudinal section through cutting
and piercing device on line b, of Figure 8.
Figure 8 is a cross section on line e, of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional elevation on line k, k of Figure 11.
Figure 10 is a vertical sectional elevation on line 7, of Figure 11.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan on line m, m of Figures
and 10.
In carrying out my invention I provide a pillar or frame A upon which is
mounted or arranged the different parts of the machine as will be hereinafter
explained. Upon this said pillar are fixed a lower and an upper platform B
and C respectively set apart by suitable distance columns or pieces I), on the
lower platform B is mounted a table E revolving upon a fixed spindle D₁ which
also forms one of the distance columns; this revolving table has mounted upon
it a number of recessed or slotted cones F near its outer and upper edge the
periphery of the plate being cut or formed to receive same and to admit of
the end of a lace being placed in each recess or slot, a spring jaw G is pivotted
to the top of the plate the extreme hooked end of which firmly grips the end
of the lace in the slotted cone it being understood that there is a jaw and a
slotted cone for each lace, see plan of table Figures 3 and 11 each one of these

page_text: of the table commencing to revolve one more tooth, which brings it in position
for twisting the wire; the upward action of the rack closing the wire guide,
this is also assisted by means of a spring w³, see Figures 1 and 9.
The wire being very light in weight is carried on suitable plates X X until
it comes to the twisting device Y it being cut off so that it projects some dis-
tance, say for example three inches or so, on each side the lace.
The twisting device is held up from the table while the pointed lace comes
underneath it by means of the near cam N on the cam shaft being at its highest
position in a similar manner to that described for the cutting and piercing.
device; this twisting device consists of a pair of jaws y y (see Figure 6) pivotted
between two side plates y y said jaws being connected to each other by springs y
(see Figures 2 and 10) the plates being carried by a hollow spindle y, see
Figure 6, through which passes a plunger y the end of which is suitably shaped
for opening the jaws yy; the sides of the plunger are grooved to receive a
pair of pincers or jaws y which pass upwards and are connected by means
of the collar y, see Figure 2, short rods passing from this collar through the
small top plate y a tension plate y with springs bearing on the rods prevent
the pincers rising until forced up by the cam N, the hollow spindle is connected
to a suitably weighted lifting rod y, see Figures 1 and 2 the lower end of
which rests upon the near cam N and near the upper end of this rod is pivotted
a small arm or lever 70 one end being connected to the framing carrying the
rod and other being adapted to engage a projection on the side of the plunger y
so that upon the downward action of the rod this lever forces down the plunger
and opens the jaws as they descend and enclose the wire, the outer end of this
lever or a projection thereon engages an inclined plane y, see Figures 1
and 2 carried from the platform or framing Z which is arranged so that imme-
diately the wire is enclosed by the jaws the end of the lever yo slips off the pro-
jection on the side of plunger which is raised by means of a spring 7 and
the jaws come together, at the same time and by the same means the pincers yi
(see Figure 6) are operated, and take hold of the lace and steady it during
the twisting operation and rise with the jaws: motion is communicated to the
jaw-spindle by suitable gear y3 from the pulley shaft, the cam N gradually
raising the lifting rod y' and the whole of the twisting device as the wire is
twisted round the end of the lace, an opening (see Figure 6) being left
sufficiently large between the enclosing jaws to allow the tag end of the lace
to pass through.
By one more step of the table the tag comes to a suitable cutting off device
which is composed of another pair of suitable jaws d d¹, see Figure 1, to which
are attached scissor-shaped knives: one knife d is fixed, the other dis pivotted
and operated by the inclined plane at the top of the cramped lever through
the medium of a projection on the side of the worm wheel L.
For opening the spring jaws G after the tag has been cut off a cam o is
employed on the top of the table E and being fixed to the spindle D engages
one end of each spring jaw as it comes round (see Figure 11) thus releasing the
lace which now drops out;. I may provide any suitable means for expelling
the lace from the slotted cone such as the plate X fixed on the cam e to engage
the lace as the table passes, round.
To open the jaws while the lace end is being put in I may either employ the
same cam or one to be operated by means of a treadle f and rod f engaging
and operating the lever f which comes in contact with each jaw as it comes
round.
Any suitable trough or conduit will be provided to keep the laces out of the
working parts of the machine while they pass round this is shewn by dotted
·lines g.
The machine may be driven in any suitable manner such as by treadle or
power and it will be understood that although I have described it in the formi
I at present prefer I do not wish to bind myself to the exact arrangement or

page_text: bination with a device for cutting off the said tags after leaving the wire twist-
ing device,, consisting of a fixed knife to which is pivotted a movable knife
with an inclined edge, the said movable knife being operated by a rod having
a suitably shaped extremity through the medium of a cramped lever engaging
a projection on worm wheel on cam shaft substantially as described.
6. In a machine for forming spiral tags on boot and other laces and the like
the employment of a rotary revolving table with details as set forth in Claim 1
in combination with a cutting, pointing and piercing device as set forth in
Claim 2, a wire feeding and cutting device as set forth in Claim 3, a wire twist-
ing device as set forth in Claim 4, a cutting off device as set forth in Claim 5,
the whole being mounted in suitable bearings and framings and driven from
one pulley or its equivalent substantially as
W. SWINDELL.
Imperial Chambers, Albert Street, Derby,
Agent for the Applicant.