IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OUT THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES, PARTS OF SADDLERY, AND OTHER ARTICLES FROM LEATHER, AND FOR CUTTING OUT PAPER, SHEET METAL, AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Silman, of Washwood Heath, near Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OUT THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES,
PARTS OF SADDLERY, AND OTHER ARTICLES FROM LEATHER, AND FOR CUTTING
OUT PAPER, SHEET METAL, AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES."
Sealed the 10th April 1879, and dated the 22nd November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Silman at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1878.
"
JAMES SILMAN, of Washwood Heath, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OUT THE
SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES, PARTS OF SADDLERY, AND OTHER ARTICLES
FROM LEATHER, AND FOR CUTTING OUT PAPER, SHEET METAL, AND OTHER MATERIALS
FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES."
My Invention consists of machinery the parts of which are constructed and
arranged and worked in the manner hereinafter described to be used for cutting
out the soles and heels of boots and shoes, parts of saddlery, and other articles from
leather, the said machinery being also applicable to the cutting out of paper, sheet
metal, and other materials for various purposes.
For convenience of description I will describe my Invention as applied to the
cutting out of leather soles for boots and shoes.
The said machinery consists essentially of a pair of feeding rolls between which
the strip or piece of leather to be cut is gripped, a cutting table on which the leather
is carried by the said feeding rolls, and a cutter shaft carrying on two of its opposite
faces a knife or cutter of the figure of the sole to be cut out. The lower roll of the
feeding rolls, which said lower roll is toothed or notched, has an intermittent
rotatory motion given to it, and the plain upper roll is pressed towards the lower
roll by springs so as to cause the leather to be gripped between the two rolls. The
upper feed roll is capable of being raised from the lower roll by means of a treadle
for introducing and adjusting the strip of leather between the rolls.

page_text: The cutting table on to which the strip of leather is intermittently fed is capable
of a rising and falling motion to and from one or other of the two knives or cutters
carried by the cutter shaft, the said cutting table in its rising motion carrying the
strip of leather towards and forcibly pressing it against the cutting edge of the
temporarily fixed knife or cutter, and thereby cutting out a sole from the said
strip.
The shaft carrying the two knives or cutters has an intermittent semi rotatory
motion given to it, the said shaft after each semi rotation coming to rest and bringing
the acting face of one of the cutters opposite the cutting table beneath it. The
cutter shaft is locked in its position of rest after each semi-rotation and during the
cutting operation by the mechanism hereinafter described.
The action of the machine is as follows:-A strip of leather being passed between
lateral guides on the feeding bed of the machine the said strip is introduced between
the feed rolls, the upper roll having been raised from the lower roll by means of the
treadle described. The machine being set to work the feed rolls feed forward the
required length of the strip to the cutting table, the cutting table rises and carries
the strip, upon it forcibly against the cutting edge of the temporarily fixed cutter
and a sole is cut out from the strip.
The cutting table descends and the sole is "stripped" or removed from the cutter,
and the said sole is carried forward from off the cutting table by the next feed of
the strip.
As the cutting table descends the cutter shaft is unlocked and a semi-rotation
given to it so as to bring a fresh cutter opposite the cutting table when the latter
again rises and carries the strip against the cutter and a second sole is cut from the
strip, and so on. I will now describe the novel construction of some of the parts of
the machine, and the arrangements for actuating the moving parts of the
machine.
The intermittent motion of the lower feed roll is effected by a pawl engaging with
a ratchet wheel on the end of the axis of the said feed roll, the pawl lever being
worked from a rocking lever beneath it, a stud on the face of a wheel fixed on the
excentric shaft of the machine gives the forward or feed motion to the rocking lever,
the return motion being effected by a spring. As the rocking lever descends it operates
the pawl lever, and the latter causes the pawl to move the ratchet wheel on the feed
roll and the said feed roll through the required angle. The angular motion of
the rocking lever described and consequently the length of feed is regulated by
means of a screw stop.
The rising and falling motion of the cutting table is effected by excentrics on the
excentric shaft, the rods of the excentric clips, which rods are adjustable, being con-
nected to a shaft working in the cutting table. The vertical adjustment of the
cutting table is effected by right and left handed worm wheels moved by a worm
between them. These worm wheels are carried by screwed tubular prolongations
of the excentric rods which work on the screwed ends of the said rods.
The knives or cutters are connected to and adjusted on the cutter shaft by hook
like projections taking into holes in the ends of the knife or cutter. These hook
like projections are connected to screw boxes which work on screws in the axis of
the shaft, each screw being turned by an independent hand wheel. Across the
longer direction of each knife or cutter is a presser bar forced outwards by springs
during the cutting operation, this presser bar is forced into the cutter, but on
the descent of the cutting table the said presser bar is forced outwards and "strips".
or removes the cut out sole from the cutting edge of the knife or cutter.
The intermittent semi-rotation of the cutter shaft is produced and the said shaft
locked after each semi-rotation in the following manner.
On one end of the cutter shaft are two locking arms situated at opposite points,
and under the said end of the shaft is a locking bolt having a rising and falling
motion. This locking bolt is connected to a rocking lever to which a downward
motion is given by a stud on the face of a wheel fixed on the excentric shaft. The
return or upward motion of the locking lever is effected by a spring. By the

page_text: motion of the rocking lever the locking bolt is raised against and withdrawn from
one or other of the locking arms on the cutter shaft, and the said shaft either
locked or released at the proper times.
The cutter shaft is driven by a loose pulley which transmits motion to the shaft
by the frictional contact therewith of a bow spring fixed to the shaft. As the
cutting table descends the locking bolt also descends and unlocks the cutter shaft,
which is now free to rotate after it has moved through a semi circle, the shaft is
arrested and locked in that position by the locking bolt rising against one of the
locking arms on the shaft. When the locking bolt is in action the loose pulley does
not transmit its motion to the cutter shaft, but immediately the locking bolt is
withdrawn the said pulley and the bow spring rotate together, and the motion of
the pulley is transmitted to the shaft and the latter moves through a semi-circle,
when it is again brought to rest and locked in the manner before described.
Instead of using a rotating cutter shaft a stationary cutter may be employed, and
the cutting table in addition to its rising and falling motion may have a slow
rotatory motion given to it, so as to bring a fresh portion of it opposite the cutter
after each cutting operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Silman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th May
1879.
JAMES SILMAN, of Washwood Heath, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OUT THE
SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES, PARTS OF SADDLERY, AND OTHER ARTICLES
FROM LEATHER, AND FOR CUTTING OUT PAPER, SHEET METAL, AND OTHER MATERIALS
FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES."
My Invention consists of machinery, the parts of which are constructed and
arranged and worked in the männer hereinafter described, to be used for cutting
out the soles and heels of boots and shoes, parts of saddlery, and other articles from
leather;
the said machinery being also applicable to the cutting out of paper, sheet
metal, and other materials for various purposes.
For convenience of description I will describe my Invention as applied to the
cutting out of leather soles for boots and shoes.
The said machinery consists essentially of a pair of feeding rolls, between which
the strip or piece of leather to be cut is gripped, a cutting table on which the
leather is carried by the said feeding rolls, and a cutter shaft carrying on two of its
opposite faces knives or cutters of the figure of the soles to be cut out. The lower
roll of the feeding rolls, which said lower roll is toothed or notched, has an inter-
mittent rotatory motion given to it, and the plain upper roll is pressed towards the
lower roll by springs so as to cause the leather to be gripped between the two rolls.
The upper feed roll is capable of being raised from the lower roll by means of a
treadle for introducing and adjusting the strip of leather between the rolls.
The cutting table on to which the strip of leather is intermittently fed is capable
of a rising and falling motion to and from one or other of the two knives or cutters
carried by the cutter shaft, the said cutting table in its rising motion carrying the
strip of leather towards and forcibly pressing it against the cutting edge of the
temporarily fixed knife or cutter, and thereby cutting out a sole from the said
strip.
The shaft carrying the two knives or cutters has an intermittent semi-rotatory
motion given to it, tho said shaft after each semi-rotation coming to rest and
bringing the acting face of one of the cutters opposite the cutting table beneath it.
The cutter shaft is locked in its position of rest after each semi-rotation and during
the cutting operation by the mechanism hereinafter described.
I will now describe the novel construction of some of the parts of the machine
and the arrangements for actuating the moving parts of the machine.
The intermittent motion of the lower feed roll is effected by a pawl engaging
with a ratchet wheel on the end of the axis of the said feed roll, the pawl lever
being worked from a rocking lever beneath it. A stud on the face of a wheel fixed
on the eccentric shaft of the machine gives the forward or feed motion to the
rocking lever, the return motion being effected by a spring. As the rocking lever
descends it operates the pawl lever, and the latter causes the pawl to move the
ratchet wheel on the axis of the feed roll and the said feed roll through the required
angle. The angular motion of the rocking lever described and consequently the
length of feed is regulated by means of a screw stop.
The rising and falling motion of the cutting table is effected by eccentrics on the
excentric shaft, the rods of the excentric clips, which rods are adjustable, being
connected to a shaft working in the cutting table. The vertical adjustment of the
cutting table is effected by right and left handed worn wheels moved by a worm
between them. These worm wheels are screwed internally, and are carried by
screwed prolongations of the excentric rods, the screwed worm wheels working on
the screwed ends of the said rods.

page_text: The knives or cutters are connected to and adjusted on the cutter shaft by hook
like projections taking into holes in the ends of the knife or cutter. These hook
like projections are connected to screw boxes which work on screws in the axis of
the shaft, each screw being turned by an independent hand wheel. Across the
longer direction of each knife or cutter is a presser bar forced outwards by springs.
During the cutting operation this presser bar is forced into the cutter, but on the
descent of the cutting table the said presser bar is forced outwards and "strips" or
removes the cut out sole from the cutting edge of the knife or cutter.
The intermittent semi-rotation of the cutter shaft is produced and the said shaft
locked after each semi-rotation in the following manner :-
On one end of the cutter shaft are two locking arms situated at opposite points,
and under the said end of the shaft is a locking bolt having a rising and falling
motion. This locking bolt is connected to a rocking lever, to which a downward
motion is given by a stud on the face of a wheel fixed on the excentric shaft. The
return or upward motion of the locking lever is effected by a spring. By the
motion of the rocking lever and the action of its spring the locking bolt is raised
against and withdrawn from one or other of the locking arms on the cutter shaft
and the said shaft either locked or released at the proper times. The cutter shaft
is driven by a loose pulley which transmits motion to the shaft by the frictional
contact therewith by a bow spring fixed to the shaft. As the cutting table descends
the locking bolt also descends and unlocks the cutter shaft, which is now free to
rotate. After it has moved through a semicircle the shaft is arrested and locked in
that position by the locking bolt rising against one of the locking arms on the
shaft. When the locking bolt is in action the loose pulley does not transmit its
motion to the cutter shaft, but immediately the locking bolt is withdrawn the said
pulley and the bow spring rotate together, and the motion of the pulley is trans-
mitted to the shaft and the latter moves through a semi-circle, when it is again
brought to rest and locked in the manner before described.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will now proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same is to
be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, Figure 2 in side elevation, Figure 3 in
plan, Figure 4 in transverse vertical section, and Figure 5 in longitudinal vertical
section, machinery constructed according to iny Invention to be used for cutting
out the soles of boots and shoes. The transverse section, Figure 4, is taken on the
line A, A, Figure 3, and the longitudinal section, Figure 5, is taken on the line B, B,
Figure 3. Figures 6, 7, 8, and represent parts of the machinery as hereinafter
explained. Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1, 2,
3, and 4.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 the machinery is represented in the act of cutting out
a sole, the cutter shaft and the cutter being stationary, the cutting table having
been raised and the strip of leather carried by it forced against the stationary
cutter and the stripper of the cutter compressed; and in Figure 5 the cutting table
is represented in its lowest position and the stripper forced outwards.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
Drawings.
a is the frame of the machine; b is the feeding bed on which the strip of
leather be from which the soles are to be cut is placed, the said strip be being passed
between the adjustable lateral guides b³, b³, provided with pressing fingers, as
represented. The said guides 68, 69, are adjusted nearer to or further from one
another to suit the width of the strip being fed by the right and left handed
screw b* turned by the hand wheel 65, the right handed part of the said screw
working in a screw box in one of the guides bs, and the left handed part of the
said screw working in the other guide b³, as will be understood by an examination
of the elevation, Figure 1, and the plan, Figure 3. The longitudinal motion of the
screw b' is prevented by the set screw at 60 engaging with an annular groove at the
middle of the said screw b. By turning the hand wheel 6º in one or other direction

page_text: the two guides 68, 63, are simultaneously separated from or made to approach one.
another. One of the lateral guides 63 is represented drawn to a larger scale in
Figure 9.
c, d, are the feed rolls, between which the strip of leather 62 is gripped and carried
forward on to the block e² of the cutting table e, which table has a rising and falling
motion, as hereinafter explained. The lower notched or toothed roll d of the feed
rolls has an intermittent rotatory motion given to it, and the plain top roll e is
pressed towards the lower roll d by springs, one of which is shown at c², Figure 4,
fixed to the connecting rods c³, c³. The upper jointed parts of the connecting rods
c³, c³, have hooked ends, which are hooked upon the top roll c so as to connect the
said rods to the roll while permitting the latter to turn freely in the said hooked
ends (see Figures 1 and 4); c' is a treadle connected to the bottom ends of the
rods c³, c. By pressure upon the said treadle c¹ the upper feed roll c may be raised
from the notched or toothed lower roll d for introducing and adjusting the strip of
leather between the rolls. fis the cutter shaft situated above the cutting table and
its block e, e, the said cutter shaft carrying on two of its opposite faces knives or
cutters g, g, having the figure of the sole to be cut out (see Figure 3). The cutter
shaft is shown separately in Figure 6; it has an intermittent semi-rotatory
motion given to it, so that after each semi-rotation the acting face of one of the
knives or cutters is brought opposite the cutting table e, the said shaft being locked
in that position during the cutting out of a sole, as herein-after particularly
explained. The cutter shaft f carries on opposite faces and between the cutters 9, 9,
brushes h, 7, for clearing the cutting table of the leather cuttings or dust.
I will now proceed to describe the details of the machinery and the different
mechanisms for giving the motions to the several moving parts of the machinery.
i is the driving shaft provided with fast and loose pulleys i, 3, and fly wheel 2*;
is a parallel shaft, hereinafter called the excentric shaft, from which all the motions
of the machinery are taken. The said excentric shaft is geared to the driving
shaft by the pinion on the latter gearing with a large toothed wheel 3 on the
former (see Figures 1, 2, and 3). The intermittent rotatory motion of the lower
feed roll d is effected in the following manner :-On the shaft of the said roll d are
two ratchet wheels 1, l, with which pawls m, m, on the pawl levers n, n, engage.
The said pawl levers n, n, turn loosely on the shaft of the feed roll d, and are
secured to the connecting rod n³, and the latter is jointed to the rocking lever n³,
turning at on the fixed frame of the machine (see Figure 4). A descending
motion is given to the rocking lever n³ by a stud on the inner face of the pulley
75 fixed on the excentric shaft / acting upon the curved arm on the rocking lever n³.
The return or ascending motion of the rocking lever n is effected by the spring 7.
As the rocking lever n³ descends it operates the pawl levers n, n, through the con-
necting rod n², and the said pawl levers cause the pawls m, m, to move the ratchet
wheels , l, in the axis of the feed roll d, and the said feed roll through the required
angle for feeding forward the strip b³. m² is a screw top taking into the screw box
at m on the frame of the machine, and worked by the hand wheel m' for regulating
the feed. The rocking lever 3 in its upward motion strikes against the screw
stop m², and the angular motion of the said lever and consequently the length of
the feed is regulated, as will be understood by an examination of Figure 4. The
cutting table e is constructed and adjusted, and its rising and falling motion effected
in the following manner--The said cutting table has the rectangular form best
seen in the plan, Figure 3, and in the sections, Figures 4 and 5, and its ends slide
in the square guides p, p, in the fixed framing of the machine. The said table e
carries an adjustable block e², on which the cutting operation takes place. Turning
in bearings in the lower end parts of the table e is a rocking shaft 7 (shown
separately in plan in Figure 8). Connected to the said shaft q (in the manner
hereinafter described) are excentric rods q, q, the clips of which rods work upon
the excentric q3 on the shaft k (see Figures 1, 4, and 5). By the rotation of the
shaft a rising and falling motion is given to the table e through the excentric
rods q², q³, and rocking shaft q, the said table in its rising motion pressing the

page_text: leather strip be upon it forcibly against the cutting edge of the temporarily fixed
cutter g. The excentric rods q, q, are connected to the rocking shaft q, and the
vertical adjustment of the cutting-table e effected by the following mechanism :-
In the bearing holes at q, q', in the rocking shaft q the axes of the right and left
handed worm wheels 95, 95, work, and between and gearing with the said worm
wheels is a worm 9. Figure 7 represents the shaft 9 and its worm wheels q³, 2°,
and worin q detached from the machine. The axes of the worm wheels q³, q³, are
tubular and formed into screw boxes, and the upper ends of the excentric rods q², q*,
are screwed, and upon the said screwed ends the screw boxes of the said worin
wheels work, as best seen in Figure 5. The worm wheels q³, q³, are connected to
the shaft q by the rings or washers q', q', which are shrunk upon the ends of the
tubular axes of the said worn wheels. When the worm qⓇ is turned by its axis
and land wheel q³ in one or other direction the worm wheels q³, q, are made to
rise or fall upon the screwed ends of the excentric rods q², 92, carrying with them
the shaft q and table e, e2. The vertical height of the table may be thus adjusted
with great nicety.
The intermittent semi-rotation of the cutter shaft f is produced and the said shaft
locked after each semi-rotation by the following mechanisin:-
On one end of the cutter shaft f are two locking arms 7, 7, situated opposite one
another. Under the said end of the shaft is a locking bolt 2 sliding vertically in
the guide, and having a rising and falling motion given to it in the manner
herein after described. The said sliding bolt is connected by the link 7 (see
Figures 1 and 2) to the rocking lever jointed at to the fixed frame a of the
machine, the said lever being pressed upwards by the coiled spring 7. On the
inner face of the toothed wheel is a stud 78, which on the rotation of the said
wheel bears upon a curved armi 710 on the rocking lever, and depresses the said
lever and with it the locking bolt. By the motion of the lever and the action
of the spring the locking bolt is raised against and withdrawn from one or
other of the locking arms r, r, on the cutter shaft f, and the said shaft either locked
or unlocked at the proper times; as will be understood by an examination of Figures
1 and 2. On the cutter shaft is a loose pulley 8 which is driven by a band from
the pulley on the excentric shaft k, as seen in Figures and 5. From the loose
pulleys the cutter shaft f is driven by the frictional contact therewith of the bow
spring t fixed to and rotating with the cutter shaft. Simultaneously with the
descent of the cutting table e the locking bolt 3 descends and unlocks the cutter
shaft f, which is then free to rotate, the said shaft f being carried round by the
action of the pulleys upon the spring t. After the cutter shaft f has moved through
a semi-rotation it is arrested and locked in that position by the locking bolt r²
rising against one of the locking arms on the shaft f, as represented in Figures 1
and 2. When the locking bolt is in its raised position the loose pulley & turns
upon the shaft without transmitting motion to it. On withdrawing the locking
bolt the said pulleys and bow spring t again rotate together, and the motion of
the said pulley is transmitted to the shaft, and the latter is moved through a semi-
circle, when it is again brought to rest and locked by the locking bolt r², as herein-
before described.
I will now describe with reference to Figures and 6 the connection of the
knives or cutters g, g, to and their adjustment on the cutter shaft f, and also the
construction of the presser bars of the said knives or cutters. The basis of the
knives or cutters g, g, rest upon the flat faces of the cutter shaft, as represented.
Working in longitudinal slots f, f, in the said cutter shaft fare plates or bars
fs, fs, having hook like ends which take into holes in the ends of the two knives
or cutters g, g. The middles of the hook like plates f³, f³, are made into screw
boxes in which independent screws f, f, work, the said screws f* being turned by
the hand wheels.ƒ³, ƒ³. By turning the screws fƒ ƒ, in one direction the hooked
plates f,, may be made to slide towards each other and their hooked ends inade
to take into the holes in the opposite ends of the two knives or cutters g, g, thereby
securely connecting the said knives or cutters g, g, to the shaft. By turning the

page_text: hand wheels in directions proper to cause the hooked plates f³, f³, to separate from
one another the two knives or cutters are released and may be removed from the
cutter shaft. The longitudinal motion of the screws f, f, is prevented by pins
taking into grooves in the said screws. By the arrangement described the knives
or cutters g,, are readily removed for setting or repair, and refixed for use.
are also readily adjusted at the required places on the cutter shaft.
They
Across the longer direction of each knife or cutter is a .presser bar 2, the said
presser bars 2, u, being connected together by the pins v, v, passing through holes
w, w, in the cutter shaft f. Around the said pins are tubes, as represented in
Figure 5, and coiled springs x, x, between the shaft ƒ and the presser bars u, u,
force the latter outwards. When by the rising of the cutter table e the strip of leather
is forced against the under cutter g the lower presser bar u is forced into the said
under cutter, and the coiled springs of the said lower presser bar are compressed, as
represented in Figure 4, the said presser bar occupying the position shown in the
said Figure 4 during the cutting operation. After the cutting out has been effected
and the cutting table has descended the said presser bar u is forced outwards by its
springs a, a, as represented in Figure 5, and the said presser bar strips or removes
the cut out sole from the cutting edge of the knife or cutter.
"
The action of the machine is as follows:-The strip of leather b² being passed
between the lateral guides 63, 63, on the feeding bed b, the said strip is introduced
between the feed rolls c, d,. the upper roll e having been raised from the lower roll
d, by means of the treadle ct. The machine being set to work, the feed rolls c, d,
feed forward the required length of the strip b² to the block e of the cutting table
e; the cutting table e, e rises and carries the strip 62 upon it forcibly against the
cutting edge of the temporarily fixed lower cutter or knife g, and a sole is cut from
the strip as represented in Figure 4, where the table is shown in its highest position.
The cutting table e, e descends and the sole is " stripped or removed from the
cutter by the presser bar u of the said cutter, and the said sole is carried forward
from off the cutting table by the next feed of the strip. The waste strip from
which a series of soles has been cut out is represented in Figures 3 and 4, the parts
from which the soles have been cut being marked y, y. As the cutting table c, e
descends the cutter shaft is unlocked by the descent of the locking bolt 2, and a
semi-rotation given to the said shaft f, by the action of the pulley and spring
8, t, so as to bring a fresh cutter opposite the cutting table, when the latter again
rises and carries the strip, a fresh portion of which has been fed forward against the
under cutter and a second sole is cut from the strip, and the operations hereinbefore
described are repeated.
Instead of using a rotating cutter shaft, a stationary cutter may be employed,
and the cutting table in addition to its rising and falling motion may have a slow
rotatory motion given to it so as to bring a fresh portion of it opposite the cutter
after each cutting operation, but I prefer to use the arrangement of parts herein
before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In applying my Invention to the cutting out of the parts of saddlery and other
articles from leather, and for cutting out paper, sheet metal, and other materials for
various purposes, I make such changes in the shape and strength of the knives or
cutters as will fit them to cut the required shape out of the materials to be operated
upon by the machinery.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention.
But I claim as my Invention of improvements in machinery for cutting out
the soles and heels of boots and shoes, parts of saddlery, and other articles from
leather, and for cutting out paper, sheet metal, and other materials for various
purposes,-
First. The combination of the. rising and falling cutting table on which the
material to be cut is fed with a cutter shaft, having an intermittent semi-rotation

page_text: given to it, the said cutter shaft carrying on two of its opposite faces knives or
cutters of the required shape, the parts of the said cutting table and cutter shaft
being constructed and operating substantially as described and illustrated; also the
combination of the said rising and falling table with a stationary knife or cutter or
knives or cutters, as herein before described.
Secondly. The combination or arrangement of parts herein before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for feeding the strip or material to be cut
on to the cutting table.
Thirdly. The combination or arrangement of parts herein-before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for giving the rising and falling motion
to the cutting table, and for adjusting the vertical height of the said cutting
table.
Fourthly. The combination or arrangement of parts herein before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for driving the rotating cutter shaft
carrying the knives or cutters.
Fifthly. The combination or arrangement of parts herein-before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for arresting the motion of and locking
the cutter shaft after each semi-rotation.
Sixthly. The combination or arrangement of parts herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for connecting the knives or cutters to
and disconnecting them from the cutter shaft.
Seventhly. The combination or arrangement of parts herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, of the spring presser bars for stripping or
removing the cut out articles from the knives or cutters on the descent of the
cutting table.
Lastly. The combination of the parts and mechanisins enumerated in the pre-
ceding claims in a machine for the purposes substantially as herein before described,
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Silman, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JAMES SILMAN. (L.S.)