IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING AND BURNISHING THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO THE SHAPING OF WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Keats of Bagnal near Stoke-upon-Trent in the
County of Stafford, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
TRIMMING AND BURNISHING THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES,
PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO THE SHAPING OF WOOD
AND OTHER MATERIALS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Keats at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1882.
JOHN KEATS of Bagnal near Stoke-upon-Trent in the County of Stafford
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING AND BURNISHING THE SOLES AND
HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO
THE SHAPING OF WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS"
The chief object of this Invention is to provide a machine of simple construction
which will enable shoe-makers to trim and burnish the soles and heels of Boots and
Shoes with great facility.
To this end I mount, in suitable standards on a bed plate two horizontal parallel
shafts, one of which I fit at its opposite ends with detachable rotary cutters, and
the other with one or more burnishing tool holders. To the cutter shaft I give
rotary motion by a band and pulley and to the burnisher shaft a reciprocating
axial motion which motion is imparted thereto by an excentric or its equivalent
on the cutter shaft. The burnishing tool holder consists of a box formed with a
hinged side or lid, by which access is gained to the interior for inserting and with-
drawing the burnishing tools. The box is formed with three recesses for receiving
these tools, and it is the middle or central recess which is intended to receive and
hold the operating tool which projects through the box to come in contact with
the work. The other recesses incline towards the middle recess, and they serve to
hold the burnishing tools which are not in use, in contact with the the opposite sides
of the tool which is operating on the work. The tools I prefer to make double
ended or reversible, and I fit them with pivot pins at the middle of their length,

page_text: which enter sockets formed in the sides of the box. The sockets for the pins of the
tools not in use are elongated in the direction of the inclined recesses for the
purpose of allowing the tools to slide down and bite the operating tool. This action
may be further assisted by the aid of pressure springs. The sockets however for
the pivot pin of-the-operating tool will take the upward thrust of the tool. By
these means the operating tool is held firmly in position and-is-enabled to sustain
the lateral strain and endway pressure to which it is subjected when traversed
over the work by the rocking of the tool holder shaft.
When it is required to replace the operating tool by another, it will only be
necessary to raise the hinged side of the holder and the tool may be reversed or
replaced by one of the retaining tools in the inclined recesses, the displaced operating
tool now serving in its turn to retain or steady the new tool in its holder. This
tool holder I propose to heat by gas which will at the same time heat the tools
contained therein.
The rotary cutters I propose to form of a series of radial blades fitted into
tangential grooves cut in the hub of the tool. The cutting edges of these blades
will correspond in contour to the profile of the work they are intended to produce.
The blades I secure to their hub by means of circular clamping plates or discs in
which radial recesses are formed to fit the ends of the blades. The bottoms of
these recesses are inclined transversely to fit the slightly bevilled ends of the blades,
and when forced tightly against the blade ends they will put a lateral pressure on
the blades. These recesses are also inclined longitudinally to correspond to the
slightly inclined ends of the blades, by which means the blades as they are
clamped will be forced in to the hub and will thus be held firmly in place.
This mode of forming rotary cutters permits of the facile removal of any damaged
blade, and of its replacement by a fresh blade; and it also facilitates the operation
of sharpening the blades.
By chamfering the edges of the clamping discs they will serve as guides for
passing the work under the cutter.
Rotary cutters constructed in this manner I propose to employ for the shaping up
of wood and other materials.
As a modification of the rotating cutter I propose to fit it with a sleeve-cap
furnished with radial blocks for fitting between the blades. By the advance of
this sleeve cap, the blades will be covered and their length of operating surface
reduced to suit the work in hand. The sleeve cap will have a tendency to recede
by reason of the pressure of a spring, and it will be advanced by a nut.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Keats in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd May
1883.
JOHN KEATS of Bagnal near Stoke upon Trent in the County of Stafford
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING AND BURNISHING THE SOLES AND
HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO
THE SHAPING OF WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS
"
The chief object of this Invention is to provide a machine of simple construction
which will enable shoe makers to trim or shape up and burnish the soles and heels
of boots and shoes with great facility.
To this end I mount in suitable bearings on a bed plate, two horizontal parallel
shafts one of which I fit at its opposite ends with detachable rotary cutters, and
the other with burnishing tool holders. To the cutter shaft I give rotary motion
by a band and pulley and to the burnisher shaft a reciprocating axial motion,
which motion is imparted thereto from an excentric or its equivalent on the cutter
shaft.
In Sheet I of the drawings Fig: 1 is a side elevation, and Fig: 2 an end
elevation of my improved trimming and burnishing machine. A A are standards
of cast iron carrying a bed plate B, also of cast iron and provided with two pairs of
arms at its extremities for supporting two pairs of horizontal sleeve bearings B¹ B'
in which the cutter shaft C and the burnisher shaft D are respectively mounted.
These shafts lie parallel to each other and are furnished with tools at their opposite
ends. Below the bed plate B, and at about the centre of the framing, the driving
shaft E is mounted. Keyed to this shaft E is a band pulley E' from which an
endless band E³ passes to a band pulley C¹ on the shaft C, to communicate rotary
motion thereto. E are fast and loose pulleys on the shaft E for receiving the
driving belt from any first mover, and transmitting motion to the driving shaft E.
A reciprocating axial motion is imparted to the burnisher shaft D from an
excentric C² on the shaft C, the metal strap of which excentric connects by a
rod C with the slotted radius arm D¹ of the shaft D. d. d. are the burnishing
tool holders keyed to the opposite ends of the shaft D. The construction of the
tool holders is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Sheet II at Figures 3. 4 and 5.
Fig 3 being an end view of the holder. Fig: 4 a side view of the same, and
Fig: 5 an interior view of the holder.
The face of the holder d, which is made of cast iron is covered by a binged
lid d' which is held fast in its closed position by means of a central button d³.
The face of the holder is rebated as shewn at Fig: 5, to receive the tools & three
of which are inserted at the same time, the centre one being the operating tool for
the time being, and the other two tools acting merely as wedges to hold the
operating tool in position. The tools consist each of a block of steel with parallel
sides, and furnished with a pivot pin at the middle of their length.―The opposite
ends of the tool are rounded and polished to form good burnishing surfaces and to
render the tools reversible end for end. Through a flange of the holder d, and in
a corresponding part of the hinged lid & holes are made to receive the pivot pin of
the acting tool for the time being and through the lid are made diverging slots to
allow of the pivot pins of the two tools which are to act as wedges, passing through
the lid to receive the pressure of a spring d' carried by the lid. Corresponding
slots are made in the recess of the holder to receive the inner ends of the pivot pins
of the side tools.-The use of the spring d is to depress the side tools and cause
them to bite against and hold fast in position the operating tool, the back pressure

page_text: of which is taken by its pivot pin, which enters, as before explained, the pivot holes
in the flange and lid of the tool holder. By these means the operating burnisher is
held firmly in position and is enabled to sustain the lateral strain and endway
pressure to which it is subjected, when traversed over the work by the rocking of
the shaft D.
When it is required to replace the operating tool by another, it will only be
necessary to raise the hinged lid of the holder, and the tool may be reversed or
replaced by one of the retaining_tools_in_the_inclined_recesses, the displaced
operating tool now serving in its turn to retain or steady the new tool in its holder.
This tool holder I propose to heat by a gas jet (as indicated at Fig: 2) which will
heat the tools contained in the holder and thus prepare them all for immediate use.
For burnishing the edges of the soles of boots and shoes I prefer to form the
tools with a flange guide as shewn at Figures 5 which guide will enter the
crease of the boot or shoe and thereby prevent the sole from slipping away from
the tool while the burnishing is proceeding
"
"
The rotary cutters fitted to the cutter shaft C, as shown at c. Fig: 1. I make of
shapes to correspond to the work required to be produced. The rotary cutter
mounted on the left hand end of the shaft C. Fig: 1 is intended to form heels for
Ladies boots of the prevailing fashion, while the cutter on the opposite end of the
shaft is designed for shaping the heels of men's boots, and also for trimming the
edges of the soles of boots and shoes generally.
In Sheet III of the drawings, Fig: 6 shews in plan view the end of one of the
sleeve bearings B¹ with the parts which it carries, the rotary cutter being in
horizontal section. Fig: 7 is a side view of the same parts, the cutter being in this
case complete, and Fig: 8 is an end view of the sleeve bearing showing more
distinctly the rest for the work, as it is presented to the cutter and also the guide
for gauging the position of the boot heel with respect to the cutter. Fig: 9 is a
transverse section of the cutter showing some details of it sconstruction; Figures 10
show one of the blades of the cutter detached. Figures 11 show one of the clamping
cones used to hold the blades of the cutter in place, and Fig: 12 shews detached,
the recessed central sleeve or hub into which the blades of the cutter fit.―This
cutter is formed of a series of steel cranked blades c¹ fitted into tangential grooves
cut longitudinally in and around a sleeve c* forming the hub of the tool, but
crossing the axis of the tool. The cutting edges of these blades will correspond in
contour to the profile of the work they are intended to produce.
The blades are secured to their hub by clamping cones fitted to a spindle c
which is passed through the sleeve or hub c. The inner cone interlocks with a
shoulder on the spindle, and by tightening up the outer cone by means of a nut
fitting a thread on the cutter spindle o* the blades will be forced into the hub, and
will thus be held firmly in place. To prevent the blades from springing I prefer
to fill the spaces between them with metal or wood blocks c³ (see fig: 9) securing
them to the central sleeve or hub c by means of screws.-The inner end of the
cutter spindle c fits into a threaded socket in the end of the shaft C, which socket
is coned to ensure a tight binding of the spindle to the shaft, the spindle being
screwed and coned to correspond to the socket of the shaft.-The thread of this
screw must be opposed to the direction of rotation of the cutter to enable it to
resist the axial strain of the cutter when in action.
If thought desirable radial recesses may be formed in the contact faces of the
cones ca as shown at Figures 13 to fit the ends of the blades and give them
additional support.
This mode of forming rotary cutters permits of the facile removal of any damaged
blade, and of its replacement by a fresh blade, and it also facilitates the operation
of sharpening the blades.
For presenting the work to the cutter, it is necessary to provide an adjustable
rest or support. For this purpose, the sleeve bearing is formed with a slide at right
angles to its axis to receive an adjustable bracket F, which is held in position on
the slide by means of a clamping nut and screw. Upon the face of the bracket F,

page_text: parallel to the axis of the sleeve bearing, a slide is formed to receive an adjustable
Bliding block F which is cast in one piece with the boot rest F. Made fast to
the sliding block F¹ is a chamfered guide F³ which is intended to enter the
" crease of the boot, and thereby ensure the maintenance of the boot in the proper
position for the cutter to act. The block F¹ when properly adjusted, is made fast
to the bracket F by means of a screw and clamping nut.
Fig 14 Sheet IV shows a modification of this cutter, the object being to
contract its acting length to suit heels of less depth than that shown at Fig: 7.
To this end a sleeve guard F4 is provided which is mounted on, or forms part of
the sliding block F¹, and surrounds the small end of the cutter.-By shifting this
guard forward to the position shown in the figure, it will cover a portion of the
cutting blades, and thereby render the cutter suitable for forming a shallower heel.
In this instance the guide which enters the crease of the boot is mounted on the
tubular guard, and thus is advanced with it to take up the desired position. This
guide I prefer to make adjustable on the guard to and from the work to enable it
the better to enter the crease.
The rotary cutter mounted on the right hand end of the shaft C is represented
on an enlarged scale in Sheet IV. Fig: 15 being a plan view of one of the sleeve
bearings B with the cutter in place. Fig: 16 a side view of the same, and Fig: 17
a cross section of the cutter taken in the line 1. 2 of Fig: 16 and looking to the
left hand. Figures 18 represent one of the blades detached in side and end views.―
The sleeve bearing, it will be seen, is formed with a slide parallel to its axis to
receive a sliding block F which carries, as in Fig: 14 a sleeve guard F* for
contracting the length of the cutter as already explained. On this sleeve guard is
fitted the adjustable guide F³ for entering the crease of the boot and ensuring the
proper relative adjustment of the boot and rotary cutter. The sliding block F¹
may if desired be fitted with a rest or support for the work, as shewn at Figures 8
and 14. The cutter is constructed in precisely the same manner as that above
described, the only difference being in the form of the blades employed. It should
be remarked that the position of the cutter and its appendages is reversed, as
compared with the cutter at the opposite end of the shaft C. This is simply for
the convenience of the workman, who would otherwise have to reverse the
position of the boot or shoe when presenting it to the trimming and shaping
up tool.
The facility which rotary cutters of this description afford for repairing them
when injured renders them very suitable for use in carpenters and Joiners shops,
the blades being capable of receiving any desired shape in profile to suit the work
in hand.
As these blades are set with a lead, they will have no tendency to tear the fibres
of the wood, but will in general cut with a smoothness approaching to that of a
chisel cut. The speed at which I have found it desirable to drive these cutters is
about one thousand two hundred revolutions per minute, but the experienced
workman will vary this speed to suit the work in hand.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
Machinery for trimming and burnishing the soles and heels of boots and shoes, part
of which improvements, is applicable to the shaping of wood and other materials,"
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim:-
First: In combination with a fixed guide, a rotary cutter consisting of an
assemblage of steel blades arranged with a lead in grooves formed in a sleeve or
hub, and held firmly in place by means of clamping end and filling pieces in the
manner and for the purpose above explained. I claim also the use of rotary
cutters constructed of an assemblage of detachable steel blades arranged and
held in place in the manner above explained for shaping up wood and other
materials.
Secondly: In combination with a reciprocating shaft, a heated tool holder for
carrying burnishing tools fitted with pivot pins, such tools being so arranged

page_text: with respect to each other, that the operating tool will be locked in position by two
other tools contained in the holder, and receiving the pressure of a retaining spring,
all such tools being held in place by a hinged lid or its equivalent as and for the
purpose described.
Thirdly: The construction of double ended or reversible burnishing tool with
pivot pin for sustaining the pressure put upon the tool when at work, as described
with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof I the said John Keats have hereunto set my hand
seal the eleventh day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
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