IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Boyce Lecky and William Hugh Smyth, both of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
"
Sealed the 13th June 1879, and dated the 14th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Boyce Lecky and
William Hugh Smyth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
14th March 1879.
FRANCIS BOYCE LECKY and WILLIAM HUGH SMYTH, both of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SOLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
This Invention which relates to improvements in the manufacture of soles for
boots, shoes, sandals, and similar articles, and in the machinery or apparatus
employed therefor, has for its object the manufacture, by machinery, of soles from
material such as jute, flax, and analogous fibrous substances.
:
For the purpose of manufacturing the said soles of the materials aforesaid, the
said materials are put together into the form of a flat plait or band. This plait or
band may be passed through a pair of rollers to flatten and compress it. A portion
of such flat braid or band about sufficient to form a sole is wound in the form of a
coil, upon, or confined in a carrier capable of being moved in guides around an
opening in the bed plate of a machine, which carries apparatus for sewing through
the said plait or band. The needle or needles of the said machine pass from
outside the said carrier through the plait or band of material upon the carrier and
to the opening aforesaid, slots or openings being made in the said carrier and the
guide around the aforesaid opening to allow of the passage of the said needle or
needles. The sewing apparatus may consist of two needles situated and working
in the same line towards the centre of, but on diametrically opposite sides of the
carrier. The hooks which take up the loops from the needles are situated inside
the opening aforesaid, with their centres at the side of the path of the needles, so
that they take up the thread from the needles after they have passed through the
plait or band into the aforesaid opening. The motion of the needles may be
obtained from a rod sliding in guides under the table, its ends being respectively
connected with each needle bar, and to this rod a reciprocating motion is given by
[Prins ill

page_text: a crank pin upon a disc on the driving shaft of the machine engaging in a cam
groove or slot in a plate forming part of the aforesaid rod. The motion of the
hooks for taking the loops from the needles may be obtained by toothed gearing on
the driving shaft, transmitting motion of rotation therefrom to the said hooks
through pinions on their stems, which turn in bearings on the machine. These
gearing wheels are so arranged, and the cam groove or slot in the plate of the rod
by which the needles are driven is so formed, that the needles have the necessary
rest whilst the hooks take the thread. As each stitch is made, a feed motion of
partial rotation is given to the carrier for the next stitch. This may be effected by
a pawl or pawls upon a lever or levers whose tails are tipped by the back move-
ment of the needle bar or bars, the said pawl or pawls engaging with ratchet teeth
on the carrier, and giving it the necessary feed for the next stitch. To facilitate
the placing of the plait or band upon the carrier, its lower part is made to slide in
dovetail grooves in and around the central opening of the machine, and the coil or
plait being placed therein is secured by the top part of the carrier being placed
thereon and secured by bars, or in any convenient way. The said carrier may be
made in two separate parts forming arcs of one circle, each part receiving move-
ment from a pawl as described. By this machine the plaît or coil of fibrous
material is sewn together at two diametrically opposite points, these points when
the sole is finished being situate at the heel and toe portions thereof respectively.
The coil or plait thus sewn (and with additional pieces of material inserted at
wide parts if desired) is placed in a mould consisting of a box, one of the pieces of
which forming one of the sides slides therein. This mould is placed on the
horizontal bed of a press formed with recesses to receive it, and the rammer of the
press sliding forward when power is applied forces the sliding side of the mould
thereinto, and squeezes and compresses the fibrous material into the shape of a sole,
the moveable side being retained in position when pressure is fully applied by pins
or otherwise. The press may be made to press more soles than one at a time. The
moulds are formed with slits in their sides for the passage of the needle and awl in
the next operation, for which operation the mould containing the sole is removed to
the bed of a machine provided with apparatus constituting it a sewing machine,
where it is placed in a cradle to which a feed motion is given as the sole is sewn
through from edge to edge, so as to bring it into position for the successive stitches
of the sewing apparatus. The said apparatus may be constructed as follows:-The
cradle carrying the mould and sole slides in guides, and on one side of it the needle
bar has motion at right angles thereto. The shuttle is on the other side sliding in
a race parallel with the cradle. As the soles have to be sewn through transversely
to their thickness or in the direction of their width, the stroke of the needle must
be a long one. It is preferred to drive both the needle bar and the shuttle by
means of a bevel pinion on the driving shaft on a bevel wheel at whose upper
part is a crank pin which engages with a cam, groove, or slot, in a sliding plate to
which the needle bar is affixed, and gives reciprocating motion to the said.bar and
causes the needle to pass through the sole. The shuttle receives its motion from
the same crank pin, which passes through a slot in one end of a lever turning upon
a centre, the other end being connected to the shuttle. The cam groove or slot in
the plate which drives the needle bar is so shaped that the needle after being
receded slightly to form a loop will have a short rest whilst the shuttle passes
through its loop, and the slot in the end of the lever which drives the shuttle is so
shaped that the shuttle remains at rest till the loop is formed, when it rapidly
passes through it, and then remains at rest till the needle has been drawn back
clear of the shuttle race, when the said shuttle recedes, the movements being
obtained by the crank pin aforesaid bearing on the ends or sides of the slot in the
lever of the said shuttle. The feeding forward of the cradle carrying the mould as
the sewing proceeds may be effected by means of a pawl on a lever actuated by a
horn on the crank pin disc, the said pawl engaging in a ratchet rack on the bottom
of the said cradle; so as to feed it forward the width of a stitch at each stroke.
+,
1.4

page_text: A hook may be substituted for the shuttle if desired, and a motion of rotation
given to it from the driving shaft.
As the thickness of material of the sole which the needle has to penetrate is
considerable, an awl may be fixed to the needle bar the width of a stitch in advance
of the needle, so that as the needle makes one stitch the awl makes the hole for the
next stitch. The sole, when the last described sewing is completed, is removed
from the mould, and may then if desired be sewn longitudinally down its middle
(through its thickness) in a sewing machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Boyce Lecky and William Hugh Smyth in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 24th June 1879.
FRANCIS BOYCE LECKY and WILLIAM HUGH SMYTH, both of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of
SOLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Our said Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of soles for boots,
shoes, sandals, and similar articles, and in the machinery or apparatus employed
therefor, and has for its object the manufacture, by machinery, of such soles from
material such as jute, flax, and analogous fibrous substances.
For the purpose of manufacturing the said soles of the materials aforesaid, the
said materials are put together in the form of a flat plait or band which may be
passed through a pair of rollers to,flatten and compress it. A portion of such flat
plait or band, about sufficient in quantity to form a sole, is wound in the form of a
coil upon or confined in a carrier, and is sewn through at diametrically opposite
parts. The coil or plait thus sewn is placed in a mould, and pressure is applied so
as to squeeze and compress the fibrous material into the shape of a sole. The
mould containing the sole is then removed to a machine where it is sewn through
from side to side, and the sole is then removed from the mould, and may be finished
by stitching it longitudinally down the middle.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
Figure 1 of the said Drawings represents in plan (with a portion of the table
broken away), and Figure 2 in elevation, partly in section, a machine or apparatus,
by means of which is effected the sewing, at diametrically opposite parts of the
plait or band, of fibrous material from which the soles are made. A portion of the
said plait or band about sufficient to form a sole is wound in the form of a coil
upon the parts a of a carrier A, formed in two parts and sliding in an undercut
circular groove b in the bed plate or table B of the machine, in which is an opening ·

page_text: surrounded by a rim b'. The parts a with the coil x thereon are fastened to the
parts of the carrier A by bars a² passed through snugs a³, and over the said parts
a.
The needles C are actuated through the plate d upon a bar D, to either end of
which the needle bars c are connected. The said plate d has therein a cam groove
or slot, in which engages a pin e' upon a disc e upon the driving shaft E of the
machine. The hooks F are for taking up the loops of thread from the needles, they
being situated sufficiently to one side of the needles' path to effect this. The said
hooks are rotated from the driving shaft through the bevel pinion e² thereon,
engaging with the pinion f, the toothed pinion f¹ upon its back engaging with the
pinions upon the stems of the said hooks F. This gearing is so arranged and
the cam groove, or slot in the plate d is so formed that the needles have the
necessary rest whilst the hooks take the thread. The carrier A. has ratchet teeth
formed upon its sides with which engage pawls 9 upon bars G turning upon studs
g¹ on the table. When the machine is in operation the needles C pass from out-
side the carrier through the plait or band of fibrous material x, and to the opening
in the bed plate, slots or openings being made in the parts a of the carrier, and in
the rim b', as at 62, to allow of the passage of the needles. The hooks F here take
up the thread from the said needles to form a stitch. As each stitch is made the
projections c. upon the needle bars bear against the ends of the levers G, and
cause their pawls to give feed motions of partial rotation to the carrier A, a, for
the next stitch. By this machine the coil of fibrous material a is sewn together at
two diametrically opposite parts, these parts when the sole is finished being situate
at the heel and the toe portions thereof respectively. It will be evident that one
needle only may be used if desired, the stitching being first done on one side and
then on the other.
In place of hooks vibrating shuttles may be used as in a double thread sewing
machine, but we prefer the hooks. The machine is shewn in the Drawing as being
arranged for its needles to penetrate alternately on either side, that is to say, the
one needle is withdrawn whilst the other is inserted, but it will be evident that by
the use of two cam bars D and cam plates d, the needles may be caused to be
simultaneously inserted and withdrawn. In this case the carrier A may be made
in one piece if desired, when but one pawl g and set of ratchet teeth on the carrier
will be needed.
The coil or plait of fibrous material sewn as hereinbefore described is placed
(with additional pieces, if desired, in the parts of the sole where it is widest) in a
mould which is illustrated in plan with the cover raised in Figure 3, in side
elevation in Figure 4, and in transverse section in Figure 5 of the accompanying
Drawings, where it is marked H. The said mould H is like a flat shallow box with
its interior of the shape which the finished sole is to have. The top is covered by
a lid h, capable of being raised upon its hinges at 1, and being fastened down by
a fastening h². One of the sides h³ is movable and capable of sliding into the said
mould; are spring catches which retain the said moveable side when pressed
over them. The fibrous material being placed in the mould as aforesaid, the said
mould is placed in the bed of a press formed with recesses to receive it. A press
for this purpose for acting on two moulds at once is shewn in plan in Figure 6, and
in side elevation in Figure 7 of the accompanying Drawings. It consists of a
table I, having rammers K, which run upon right and left hand screws on a rod L.
The moveable sides h³ of the moulds are urged forward by the rammers K, when
the screwed rod L is rotated by means of a -hand wheel or by power, and the said
sides being forced into the moulds H squeeze the fibrous material into the form of a
sole, the catches h* (Figure 3) retaining the sides 3 of the moulds in position when
fully driven home. The parts of the bed of the press whereon the moveable sides
³ are placed are level with the bottom of the inside of the moulds (which are
indicated at H in Figure 6). That the said sides may move easily into the moulds,
slots or openings ho are formed in the sides of the mould (both the immoveable
side and the moveable side), for the passage of the needle and awl in the next
operation..

page_text: When removed from the press the mould contaning the sole is fastened to a
cradle sliding on the bed or table of a machine, by which the sole is sewn through
from side to side. This machine is shewn in plan in Figure 8, and in side elevation
(with one of the needle bar guides removed) in Figure 9 of the accompanying
Drawings. The mould (indicated at H) is fastened to the sliding cradle M. The
needle bar is operated through the plate Q, sliding in guides q underneath the bed
plate. The plate Q has in it a cam groove or slot q, in which engages a pin
upon a disc upon the back of a toothed wheel 2, which is driven by the pinion ³
(Figure 8) upon the main driving shaft R. The shuttle P is driven by a lever T, to
one end of which the carrier 8 of the said shuttle is attached by a pin s¹ engaging
in a slotted hole t therein. The said lever turns upon the pin t¹ as a fulcrum, and
has in its other end a cam groove or slot 2, in which engages the same pin r¹,
which engages in the slot q2 for driving the needle. The cam groove or slot q² in
the plate is so shaped that the needle after being slightly receded to form a loop
will have a short rest whilst the shuttle passes through its loop, and the slot t³ in
the lever T is so shaped that the shuttle remains at rest until the loop is formed
by the needle, when it is shot forward through the loop, and is then slightly
receded to prevent the strain of the thread upon the shuttle, and then remains at
rest till the needle has been drawn back clear of the shuttle race when the shuttle
recedes, these movements being obtained from the rotating disc r through the pin
engaging in the cam slots q2 and 2. As each stitch is made the cradle M is fed
forward into position for the next stitch by a projection (Figure 8), upon the
disc r, urging out the end of a lever U turning on a pin at u, and having at its
other end a pawl u¹ engaging in ratchet teeth m in the bottom of the said cradle.
The lever U is returned to its original position by means of the spring u². An awl
V is fixed to the needle bar the width of a stitch in advance of the needle, so that
as the needle makes one stitch the awl makes the hole for the next stitch.
first hole is made by an awl before the mould is placed in the cradle M.
The
The sole when thus sewn is removed from the mould, and it may, if desired, be
finished by sewing it through its thickness down its length in a sewing machine of
ordinary or convenient construction. In Figure 10 we have shewn a plan of a
finished sole wherein the stitches formed by the first machine (Figures 1 and 2) at
the heel and toe are marked y, and the stitches formed by the last machine
(Figures 8 and 9) are marked z. w indicates pieces placed in the wide parts of the
sole previous to pressing.
A hook may be substituted for the shuttle P in the machine Figures 8 and 9, if
desired, a motion of rotation being imparted to it from the driving shaft.
We do not limit ourselves to the precise details of the machinery nor to the
methods of driving the sewing mechanism herein described, and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be considerably varied without departing
from the nature of our Invention; for example, although we have shewn in the
apparatus illustrated in Figures and 2 the needles as operating in a horizontal
plane, yet the said apparatus may be constructed to act otherwise, the essential
feature being that the sewing apparatus shall be so combined with the carrier or
holder (A), that the band, or plait, or rope of fibrous material shall be sewn
together at two diametrically opposite parts. The needle of the sewing apparatus,
illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, is also shewn as operating in a horizontal plane, but
it may be arranged to act otherwise, the essential feature being the combination of
sewing apparatus having a needle of long stroke with the carrier or cradle holding
the mould containing the sole to be sewn.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion
that what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The apparatus constituting the plant for the manufacture of soles from

page_text: fibrous materials, essentially as herein before described, and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The carrier (A, a,) (whether. formed in one or in two parts), the said
carrier baving slots for the passage of the needle or needles of sewing apparatus,
essentially as herein before described, and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. The apparatus for sewing together at two opposite parts a band, plait, or
rope of fibrous material to be afterwards formed into a sole, the said apparatus
consisting of the combination of the aforesaid carrier (A, a,) with sewing apparatus,
the, needle or needles of which operate from the exterior of the said carrier, and the
hook or hooks, or shuttle or shuttles of which revolve or vibrate inside the said
carrier, essentially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
moulding press illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The moulds for moulding fibrous materials into the form of soles, the said
moulds being made with slots to allow of the passage of the needle through the
soles contained in the said moulds in the sewing operation succeeding the pressing
operation, essentially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5
of the accompanying Drawings.
'
Sixth. The apparatus for sewing through the pressed soles, the said apparatus
'consisting of a sliding mould, carrier, or cradle combined with sewing mechanism,
essentially as herein before described, and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The combination of an awl V with the said machine to make the holes 1
for the needle.
In witness whereof, we, the said Francis Boyce Lecky and William Hugh
Smyth, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.