Improvements in Stitch Separating and Indenting Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Stitch Separating and Indenting Machines.
I, JOB LEE, of 15, Gladstone Street, Kettering, in the County of Northampton,
Boot and Shoe Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to stitch separating and indenting machines for use in the
manufacture of boots and shoes and consists of an improved construction of machine
whereby both the welt and the marginal edge of the bottom or tread surface of the
sole may have the stitches separated and indented simultaneously at one operation.
In a machine constructed according to this invention the feed of the work under
the tool is obtained through the medium of the work rest or support which moves
laterally in one direction independently of the work and while the latter is being
held by the indenting tool, and returns in the opposite direction, carrying with it the
work, during the time the indenting tool is being raised.
The distance which the work rest or support moves in a lateral direction is
adjustable and represents the distance or space located between the stitches.
Means are also comprised in the present invention by which the spaces are
automatically located between the stitches or indentations and also for automatically
varying the width of the space at the will of the operator.
A machine constructed according to the present invention comprises an indenting
tool carried on a spring governed rocking arm receiving its requisite motion through
the medium of a rod or piston operated by a suitable cam on the countershaft of the
machine.
The work rest or support and the other indenting tool for the opposite edge of the
sole are carried by a swing or rocking plate pivotted to the front of the machine.
This plate and its attachments have a lateral to and fro movement, the extent of
which corresponds to that of the space between the stitches and the said movement
is obtained by a cam on the countershaft revolving between two rollers on the said
plate one or each of the said rollers being adjustable relatively to the other and to
their operating cam to vary the extent of its stroke and thus of the space between
the stitches.
One of the said rollers may be carried on a pivotted plate or pendent, and a wedge
shaped sliding piece may be interposed between or against the adjustable roller so as
to vary the position of the latter relatively to the actuating cam and thereby increase
or decrease its stroke so as to impart a corresponding difference in the spaces between
the stitches.
This sliding piece may be under the control of a foot or knee pedal, so that the
spaces between, the stitches may be varied, as for instance. round the toe of a boot or
shoe, at the will of the operator.
The bottom tool for indenting the welt or edge of the sole adjacent to the upper is
carried on the swing plate hereinbefore referred to and is raised and lowered at the
required times by a slide, cam surface, or equivalent. actuated by a cam on the
countershaft.

page_text: This bottom indenting tool is located in a bifurcation in the work rest or support
and is raised above the said bifurcation just immediately prior to the descent of the
upper tool so that the pressure of the latter forces the boot sole on to bottom
tool and both sides of the sole are indented at the same operation.
The bottom tool is then lowered in its bifurcation beyond the level of the rest or
support so that as the latter moves into position to feed the work it does not damage
the stitches.
The edge of the boot sole is pressed against a guard block or rest on the swing
plate.
Just immediately prior to the descent of the indenting tool the swing plate and its
attachments are locked against a stop so as to prevent movement while the tool is
descending.
The details of construction may be varied within reasonable limits without departing
from the principle of the invention.
It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of two
indenting tools as when desired one of such tools may be omitted if it be desired to
separate and indent the stitches one side only of the sole, or means may be provided
by which one of the said tools may be kept out of action while the other is in
operation.
1000
Improvements in Stitch Separating and Indenting Machines.
I, JOB LEE, of 15, Gladstone Street, Kettering, in the County of Northampton, 2
Boot and Shoe Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:----
This invention relates to stitch separating and indenting machines for use in the
manufacture of boots and shoes and consists of an improved construction of machine 3
as hereinafter fully described.
In a machine constructed according to this invention the feed of the work under
the tool is obtained through the medium of the work rest or support which moves
laterally in one direction independently of the work and while the latter is being held
by the indenting tool and returns in the opposite direction, carrying with it the work, a
during the time the indenting tool is being raised.
The distance which the work rest or support moves in a lateral direction is
adjustable and represents the distance or space located between the stitches.
Means are also comprised in the present invention by which the spaces are
automatically located between the stitches or indentations and also for automatically 4
varying the width of the space at the will of the operator.
The invention also comprises other improvements all of which are hereinafter set
forth.
The invention will be fully understood from the following description in reference
to the accompanying drawing wherein,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the face plate, tool carrying arm and piston and cam for
raising the said arm.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the inner face of the feed plate and operating mechanism
therefor.
'.

page_text: Figure 5 is a detail of the slide, for varying the movement of the feed plate and
work support and its co-operating foot lever.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are drawn to a smaller scale than Figures 1 and 2.
Like letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the figures.
A represents the standard or framing of the machine in bearings A¹ in the upper
end of which is the shaft B upon which is mounted the hand wheel C at one end
thereof, the three speed pulleys D D1 D2 about the centre, and the shouldered tool
raising cam E and the feed cam F, at the opposite end of the said shaft.
A belt D³ is shown passing round the pulley D¹ to drive it, the said belt also
passes under a pulley on a driving shaft on the lower part of the standard A, but not
shown in the drawings.
Movably mounted on a pin G¹ in the upper end of the framing is a horizontal
arm G.
This arm near its other end is located between two horns A3 A4 on the face plate A²
and has connected thereto the tool stock G2 centrally bored to receive the indenting
tool H which being inserted from underneath is secured therein by a set screw H¹.
The shank of a screw H2 enters the passage in the upper end of the tool stock and
meets the upper end of the indenting tool, the said screw being fixed against
movement by the lock nut H³ so as to intercept the shock from the tool when
suddenly depressed.
The tool carrying arm in its normal position as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is by
means of the spring G³ maintained pressing on the upper end of a slide or piston
rod J located in a vertical groove K¹ formed in the rear of the face plate A2, the
lower end of the said rod resting on the shouldered cam E.
The face plate is screwed to the front of the standard and has a central
opening A Figure 3 therein, in which are located the cams E F and the trucks or
rollers RS hereinafter described.
The cam E lifts or raises the piston J and arm G against the force of the spring G³
and when the highest part of the said cam passes from under the end of the piston
the spring causes the latter and the arm G and indenting tool H to suddenly and
forcibly descend to cause the said tool to indent the sole of a boot or shoe.
The spring G³ is connected one end to the arm G and the other to a hook L the
threaded stem of which passes through a lug L¹ projecting from the framing and has
thereon a milled edge nut L² the turning of which regulates the tension of the spring
and the descending force of the indenting tool.
M is the work support consisting of a vertical bar pivotted at M¹ between two
lugs M² M³ projecting from a feed plate N movably fulcrummed or supported on a
bolt N¹ passing through its lower end into the face plate A2 and furnished at its
upper end with a flange N2 fitting under a similar flange 01 on the bottom of a
guide plate O fixed by two screws 02 03 to the face plate A².
The work support is located between two projecting guide ribs M4 M5 formed on
the feed plate N and is maintained pressed yieldingly forwards by a spring N³
interposed between it and the feed plate N, a shoulder Me on the bottom of the
work support and in contact with the boss N* prevents the work support coming too
far forwards.
+
Immediately above the work support is a serrated guard block P fixed by
screws P¹ P² to the feed plate and against which the edge of the sole is pressed by the
operator while the indenting tool is in action.
The feed plate N carrying with it the work support M has a lateral to and fro
movement on its fulcrum as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 the extent of
which is coincident with the distance or space between the stitches or indentations.
The said feed plate to locate the distance between the stitches moves to the left as
indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, while the indenting tool is in its lowered
position momentarily engaging the work so as to prevent its movement also, and it
returns to its original position while the indenting tool is being raised and at the
same time feeds forward the work in readiness for the tool to again descend and
make the next indentation.

page_text: The feed plate as shown most clearly in Figure 4 has on its inner side a recess No
and to obtain its lateral movement it is provided on one side with a cam truck or
roller R on a plate R¹ fixed by screws R2 R³ within the recess, and on the opposite
side with a similar trunk S on the bottom of a pendent arm S¹ movably fulcrummed
at S² to the feed plate.
The feed cam F is located between the two trucks R S and interposed between the
pendent truck S and an adjusting screw T is the upper wedge shaped end of a slide
rod U.
The feed cam F at each revolution acts alternately upon the said trucks or rollers
and moves the feed plate N and attached work support M to the right and left
respectively.
The extent of the lateral movement of the feed plate may be altered by the adjust-
ing set screw T passing through the side of the feed plate and bearing against the
edge of the slide U.
By turning the adjusting screw T to the right the truck S is moved towards the
feed cam to increase the movement of the feed plate and also of the spaces between
the indentations and by turning the set screw to the left so as to partly withdraw it,
the truck S at the next revolution of the feed cam is moved by the latter farther
away therefrom so that at every subsequent revolution of the feed cam the travel of
the feed plate is decreased and the spaces between the indentations correspondingly
diminished.
A lock nut T¹ is employed to lock the screw in position.
Sometimes, as when going round the toe of a boot or shoe it is desirable to vary,
generally by decreasing, the spaces and subsequently when leaving the toe it is
necessary to revert to the original uniform spaces on the opposite side of the sole.
The upper edge of the slide might be projected between the feed cam and either
of the trucks R S with similar results.
To effect this change in the spacing automatically without stopping the action of
the machine the slide U as hereinafter described is under the control of the operator
and can be raised or lowered between the adjusting screw T and the truck S to move
the latter towards or from the feed cam the result of which is to increase or diminish
the length of the spaces as hereinbefore described..
The slide is furnished with a slot U₁ through which the shank of the bolt N¹ also
passes.
The lower end of the said slide is close against the upper end of another slide V
movably supported on a screw V₁ passing through a slot V2 therein and into the face
plate A2
The said slide has on its face a pin V3 Figure 5 resting on the inclined upper
end W¹ of a foot lever W fulcrummed at W' to the standard A and shaped at its lower
end (as shown) which is near the ground, to receive the foot of the operator.
When the said foot lever is moved about its fulcrum into a position indicated by
dotted lines in Figure 5 the pin V is thereby caused to ascend the inclined end of
the latter raising the slides V and JJ the latter being forced upwardly between the
adjusting screw and truck S and when the foot lever is returned to its normal position
the action is reversed.
To indent or separate the stitches in the welt of a boot or shoe the operation is as
follows:-
The operator takes a boot or shoe in his hand and places the marginal edge of the
tread surface of the sole thereof upon the top of the work support with the edge of
the sole pressed against the guard block P when the feed plate is in its normal
position, i.e. moved to the extreme right as shown in Figure 2.
The operator holds the boot in this position until the indenting tool descends on to
the welt or upper edge of the sole next to the upper to indent it.
While the indention tool is in this lowered position in contact with the sole it
rests for a short interval in the indentation it has made until the feed plate is moved
by the feed cam to the left, into a position as indicated by the dotted line in
Figure 2, to locate the distance between a stitch.

page_text: The piston rod J under the influence of the cam E now commences to raise the
arm G with its tool H and during the time these latter are reaching their full upward
limit, the feed cam F returns the feed plate to its original position, bringing with it
also the boot which is thus fed or shifted a distance equivalent to the length of a
stitch. When the feed plate has finished its movement to the right, the highest
part of the cam E passes from under the piston rod and the spring G³ suddenly
depresses the arm and tool to cause the latter to indent the sole, after which the
operation is repeated.
If the machine is to be employed for indenting or separating the stitches on the
bottom or tread surface of a boot or shoe, which process is also known as 'chopping
up stitches the sole is placed the reverse or tread side under the indenting tool and
the process and operation are the same as herein before described.
In chopping up the stitches, the welt rests upon the work support and the latter,
as hereinbefore stated, being arranged to yield against the action of the spring is
prevented cutting into the upper if the edge of the sole is held with slightly
excessive pressure against the guard block P.
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. A machine for separating the stitches on a boot or shoe sole, having a work
support which is moved in one direction to locate the distance between the
stitches while the work is held by the indenting tool, and is returned in the opposite
direction to feed the work when the tool is released therefrom.
2. A machine for separating the stitches in the sole of a boot or shoe having a
reciprocal indenting tool arranged to hold the work after indenting it while the work
support moves thereunder to locate the distance between the stitches and to release
the work while the work support returns and feeds the work ready for the next
indentation substantially as described.
3. In a machine for separating the stitches on the sole of a boot or shoe the
combination with an indenting tool of a movable work support and means for moving
the latter in one direction to locate the space between two stitches while the tool is
holding the work and for moving the said work support in the opposite direction to
feed the work.
4. In a machine for separating the stitches on the sole of a boot or shoe the
combination with a work support arranged to move in one direction to locate the
space between two stitches and to move in the opposite direction to feed the work,
of an indenting tool and means to cause the said tool to indent the work and hold it
while the work support moves in the one direction and to release the work while the
said work support returns in the opposite direction.
5. In a machine for separating the stitches on the sole of a boot or shoe the
combination with a work support operating as described of an indenting tool, a tool
stock and its carrying arm, a cam and means between it and the said arm for raising
the latter and a spring for forcibly depressing the said arm and its tool substantially
as described.
F
6. In a machine for separating the stitches on the sole of a boot or shoe the
combination with the indenting tool of a feed plate; a work support connected thereto,
fixed and movable cam trucks on the said feed plate and a cam located between the
said trucks to move the feed plate to and fro for the purpose described.
7. In a machine for separating the stitches on the sole of a boot or shoe the
combination with an indenting tool of a feed plate, a work support connected thereto,
fixed and movable trucks on the said plate, a cam located between the said trucks to
move the feed plate to and fro and an adjusting screw for varying the position of the
movable truck relatively to the cam to increase or decrease the movement of the
feed plate for the purpose described.
8. In a machine for separating the stitches on the sole of a boot or shoe the
combination with an indenting tool of a feed plate, a work support connected to the

page_text: latter, a cam rotating between trucks on the feed plate to move the latter to and fro
and a slide adapted to be projected between the feed cam and one of the said trucks
or between the latter and the side of the feed plate for the purpose described.
9. In a machine for separating the stitches on the sole of a boot or shoe the
combination with an indenting tool of a feed plate, a work support connected thereto,
a feed cam rotating between two trucks on the feed plate to move the latter to and
fro, a slide to automatically vary the stroke of the feed plate as described and a foot
lever or equivalent means for actuating the said slide for the purpose described.
10. The improved stitch separating and indenting machine, consisting of the parts
constructed arranged and operating substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of November 1897.
Witness:
-
E. N. LEWIS,
Berridge Street Chambers,
Leicester.
JOB LEE.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.