IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR STAMPING OUT LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS & SHOES, &C.
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Horatio Hodges, Ruscombe
W. Ashley, and William Grosvenor, at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 14th August 1879.
SAML. HORATIO HODGES, and RUSCOMBE W. ASHLEY, and WILLIAM GROSVENOR,
all of the City and County of. Bristol. . "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR STAMPING OUT LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS & SHOES, &C.".
The object of said Invention is to produce such a machine as shall have power
sufficient to stamp or press out leather or other material used in the manufacture of
aforesaid with cutting dies to a given pattern, and yet to give the operator oppor-
tunity to examine the leather before placing his knives. With the presses in ordinary
use there are two main difficulties preventing this:-First. The press head is
made to span the whole extent or breadth of the table, and has two supports;
these supports prevent a ready movement of the skin for examination or for
cutting, and the press head across and over the material prevents examination.
Our object is to construct such a press as will effectually do the work and
yet allow of this ready, movement of skin and examination of material prior to
cutting.
On a strong bed a, a, a, we erect a cylinder "b, b," in which shall work a
hollow plunger "c, c," made to rise and fall by the ordinary means of eccentric
and strap at d on shaft driven by cog wheel "e." To the strap of eccentric shall
be attached a rod "d" reaching to the top of plunger "c, c," and in the rod shall
be a joint at "d" In the head of the plunger we insert a sleeve f, f, having
collar", i." Into this sleeve shall be screwed the top of the rod "d." As this
sleeve with the rod thus screwed through it protrudes itself above the top of the
hollow plunger c, c, a wheel "K" shall be screwed upon said sleeve until the boss
of the wheel is made to press upon a shoulder in it level with the top surface of
the plunger head, and there it will be held fast by means of a set screw, so that as
it is moved it will carry the sleeve with it, and thereby the plunger also, thus
regulating the pressure to be put upon the knives while cutting out material.
The top "e" of the plunger "c, c," may be screwed on or off at pleasure. Between
the top "e" and the shoulder "e², e²," of said plunger we rest a movable press-
head "L," which shall be made to revolve upon said plunger. On that part of
said plunger which is always above the cylinder "b, b," and beneath the shoulder
"e2" we attach a pinion m meshing into gear in the press head L. The
"
"

page_text: pinion m being turned by wheel or handle "p" the presshead L is made to revolve
at the pleasure of the operator.
Upon snugs in the cylinder b, b, and column "L" we place a bed on which a
board or other material suitable for cutting purposes will rest.
"
The machine thus described stands with the press head "L" swung back from
over the board, power being applied to wheel e" the plunger head is made to rise
and fall. The skin or other material to be cut is spread out upon the table, the
knife or cutting die adjusted, then by means of the pinion the head is brought over
the knife, and in its descent presses said knife through the leather or other
material; the head is then swung back by the same means and operation repeated.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of our said Învention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, we claim,-
First. A presshead removable from its obstructive position over the leather by
means of swinging it on a pivot or shaft.
Second. The pinion "m" or its mechanical equivalent meshing into gear for the
purpose of swinging or revolving a presshead as aforesaid.
Third. The sleeve "f,f," in combination.with wheel or handle "K" for purpose
of alteration of pressure.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism, as and for
the purposes héreinbefore mentioned and set forth, or any mere modifications
thereof.