Improvements in Lasting Machines Employed in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
Improvements in Lasting Machines Employed in the Manufacture of
Boots and Shoes.
A communication from abroad by THE INTERNATIONAL GOODYEAR SHOE MACHINERY
COMPANY, of, 158 Summer Street, Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, one of
the United States of America, Manufacturer.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-—
My invention relates to lasting machines in which lasting plates or wipers are
employed for wiping the upper over the last at the toe and heel, and more particularly
to an improved last band or clamp for use in such a machine.
The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of a lasting machine of
the type mentioned and to improve its operation by so arranging the last band or
clamp that it will be carried by the lasting plates or wipers and thus be quicker and
more accurate in operation than those heretofore used.
A further object is the production of a last band or clamp which shall be readily
adjustable to various sizes and shapes of lasts.
To this end my invention consists of a last band or clamp carried by and movable
with the lasting plates; also of a last band or clamp composed of sections elastically
connected together in order that it may adjust itself to the end of the last; and it
further consists of the details of construction which are hereinafter particularly
pointed out and claimed.
My invention is fully described in the following specification and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a plan of the lasting head of a lasting machine with the last band or
clamp attached.
Figure 2 is a reverse plan view partly in section of the lasting plates or wipers,
showing the relative location of the last band or clamp to the edges of the lasting
plates or wipers, and Figure 3 is a front edge view.
The parts of the apparatus designated by the numerals 5, 7, 8, 10, 14, 13, 24, -
6 and 19 it may be remarked represent apparatus which are usual parts of a lasting
machine to which the improved last hand or clamp is herein shewn as being attached,
but it is obvious that my invention relates generally to all that class or type of
lasting machine, wherein lasting plates or wipers are employed.
I have selected the toe lasting devices of this machine for the purpose of
illustrating my invention, but I desire to state that it is equally applicable to the
heel lasting devices. In the drawings the bearing 5, the worm gear 7, the worm 8,
the lasting plates 10, the stem 14, the cross bar 13, links 24 and hand lever 19 are,
or may be the same, as like usual parts of a lasting machine, the lasting plates being
slightly altered to adapt them to carry the last band or clamp.
My last band or clamp is shown as composed of three sections, but it is obvious
that any desired number of sections could be substituted therefor.

page_text: These sections may be formed of the blocks B, and the intermediate chain links A,
and I have found such a construction to be very satisfactory in use.
The blocks B may conveniently be square in cross section, and are each connected
to the intermediate section A, by some suitable flexible and preferably extensible
articulation or connection, so constructed that the sections may have a free relative
swinging movement and a limited relative extensible movement.
The connection shown has been found to be well adapted for the purpose, and
consists of short coiled springs W1, which are secured at one of their ends in
recesses W, in the blocks B, and at their other ends are pivotally connected to the
intermediate section A, by the pins a. The section A'is preferably formed of the
chain links which are pivotally connected to each other by the pin b. Instead of
forining the intermediate section of the links, I may substitute therefor a coiled
spring of sufficient length to span the distance between the blocks B, the ends being
fitted therein, as in the case of the springs W₁.
The blocks B are each provided with a guide support for the facing pad, which
may conveniently be formed of the headed guide rods H, which may be integral
extensions of the blocks B, or be formed separately and secured in recesses in the
ends thereof as shown.
The facing pad C, of leather, rubber, or any other suitable material is attached
to the last band or clamp, and secured by any suitable means, the ends being held
thereto by the clasps E, which loosely encircle the guide rods H, in such a manner
as to have a limited longitudinal movement thercou.
The lasting plates or wipers 10, are each provided with a slot S, and adjacent to
said slot, on their upper sides, with the rabbeted guides which are adapted to
support and guide the plates P. These plates P, have bearings in which are loosely
sustained the headed screws o, to which the blocks B are attached, the construction
being such that the blocks B may have a free pivotal movement and also a limited
sliding movement towards and from the working edges of the lasting plates, and
'thus the band or clamp of which the blocks form a part may readily adjust itself to
the toe of the shoe being lasted.
The operation is as follows: In lasting the toe of the shoe the lasting plates 10,
are forced forwards over the toe of the last, causing the central edge portion of the
plates to come into contact with the upper and wipe and turn the edge thereof over
upon the last.
Simultaneous with the forward movement of the lasting plates the last band or
clamp carried thereby is moved forward, and the section A of the last band or clamp
comes in contact with the upper and last at the extreme toe portion of the last, and
upon the continued forward and closing movement of the wipers, the section A
being restrained from further movement by contact with the upper and last, the
extensible articulation will permit a further movement of the blocks B, and at the
same time cause the blocks to turn on their supports and to be brought into close
contact with the upper at the sides of the toe portion of the last, the facing pad C,
at the same time moving on the guides H, and thus clamping or binding the upper
to the last all around the toe, causing it to be smoothed out and fitted to the last
and tightly holding it during the lasting operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination of the lasting plates or wipers with a last band or clamp
carried thereby, adapted to clamp the upper against the end of the last, substantially
as described.
2. In a lasting machine, the lasting plates or wipers in combination with an
adjustable last band or clamp carried thereby, adapted to clamp the upper against
the end of the last, substantially as described.
3. In a lasting machine the combination of the lasting plates or wipers, of a last
band or clamp carried thereby, adapted to clamp the upper against the end of the

page_text: last, and means for permitting a limited movement of the last band or clamp relative
to the plates or wipers, substantially as described.
•
4. In a lasting machine, the lasting plates or wipers in combination with a sectional
adjustable last band or clamp carried thereby, adapted to clamp the upper against the
end of the last, substantially as described.
5. In a lasting machine a sectional last band or clamp comprising swivelling end
sections and a flexible intermediate section, substantially as described.
6. In a lasting machine, a sectional last band or clamp and the flexible and
extensible articulation joining the sections, substantially as described.
7. A last band or clamp comprising pivoted blocks, and an elastic and flexible
connection between them, substantially as described.
8. A last band or clamp comprising pivoted and freely movable sections, and an
elastic connection between them, substantially as described.
9. A last band or clamp comprising the clamp proper and a facing pad carried
thereby, and having a limited movement on and along the ends thereof, substantially
as described.
10. A last band or clamp comprising the pivoted sections, guide bars thereon,
and a facing pad supported by and movable on said guide bars, substantially as
described.
11. A last band or clamp comprising the swivelling blocks, a flexible connection
between the same, and a facing pad secured to the blocks, substantially as
described.
12. A last band or clamp comprising articulated sections and a pad facing movably
attached to and sliding on the same, substantially as described.
13. A last band or clamp comprising recessed end sections and an extensible
intermediate section having its ends secured in the recesses in said end sections,
substantially as described.
Dated the 24th day of May 1897.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.