Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Tying or Connecting together Shoes in Pairs.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1389-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Tying or Connecting
together Shoes in Pairs.
I EDWARD HENWORTHY DUTTON of 1 St. James Square, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (communicated to me from
abroad by Isaac Parker Townsend Edmunds of 191 Congress Street, Boston, in the
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, and Francis Henry
Hathorn of Boston aforesaid, Gentleman,) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings:-
3
My invention relates to machines in which a cord is used for connecting shoes
together in pairs, said cord being put through the back of each shoe and secured
thereto by knotting the thread within the shoe the object of my improvement, being
to provide a more convenient, easily operated and simpler machine than any now in
use. To these ends my invention consists in the improvements which I will now
proceed to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1
represents a side elevation of my improved machine, the side plate being removed to
show the working parts more clearly, the clutch mechanism being drawn in section.
Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same. Fig. 2A represents a front, view of a
treadle used in operating the clutch mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal
section on line of Fig. L. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section on line y y of
Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section on line, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents
a section on line ww of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 represents a side view of part of the machine
to illustrate a gripping device used in clamping the presser foot in position when
down. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the same. Fig. 7 represents a detail,
showing in side elevation the mechanism for tying the knot. Fig. 8 represents an
end view of the same. Fig. 9 represents a vertical section on line of Fig. 8.
Figures 10 and 11 represent a similar section, showing the working parts in different
positions; and Figures 12 13 and 14 show the cord at several stages of the tying
operation.
A, Figures 1, 2 and 3, is the framework of the machine, having formed with it a
horn A over which the shoe is placed when the machine is in operation, the horn
being in a substantially horizontal position. a is the driving shaft of the machine,
having upon it the driving pulley A2 and the clutch mechanism or automatic stop
motion which will be described further on. The shaft a is supported in bearings
provided in the frame of the machine, and has affixed to it the cams b, band
gear c.
The cam is provided with two cam grooves b, the former being used to give
the necessary movement to the needle har E through the trundle roll and bell
crank lever B; while the cam groove 3 is used to give a reciprocating movement
through the trundle roll and connecting rod d to the shaft e, which carries the knot
tying devices and is located in the horn. Upon the periphery of the cam-b is a wiper
cam which bears against one arm of the bell crank lever ; the other arm of said
lever is provided with a forked end, within which slides a square block pivoted to the
presser foot bar D3; a flat spring D' presses upon the forked end of the lever C, the
iension of said spring being regulated by a sei screw, as shown.
The gear c meshes with a gear which is connected by a spline or feather with
the shaft e, so that it can not only rotate said shaft but also slide longitudinally thereon.
The proportion of the gears cf is such as to give three revolutions to the shaft e to
one revolution of the driving shaft. It will be seen therefore that the shaft e is

page_text: provided with a rotary and reciprocating movement, the gear through which it
slides being held in place by the fixed plato f having a projection which fits into a
groove formed in the hub of the gear f
•
With one end of the shafte is engaged, by a flange entering a groove in said shaft,
a sleeve or collar which is connected by a pivot e" with one end of the connecting
rod d the described engagement of the sleeve and shaft permitting the shaft to
rotate independently of the sleeve, the latter being prevented from rotating by its
connection with the connecting rod d. The other end of said connecting rod and the
trundle roll thereon are supported by a radius link d', which is fulcrumed on a
bearing fastened to the frame of the machine. The shaft e passes through a head g
which is splined to it, so that the shaft rotates said head and is capable of sliding
lengthwise in it. On the outer end of the shaft e is formed a hook e¹, the office of
which will be presently explained. The head is held in place and prevented from
reciprocating with the shafte by a fixed plate g" which engages a groove in the
head, as shown in Fig. 1, said plate permitting the head to rotate with the shaft e.
The end of the shaft e is milled out to form a groove h, in which is pivoted at a
swinging plate i.
On the swinging plate is formed a hook, and in said plate is formed a slot 3.
A pin g fastened to the head passes through the slot, and during the backward
movement of the shaft e constitutes a fixed pivot or fulcrum whereby the swinging
plate is thrown from the position shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 to the position
shown in Figures 10 and 11.
Pivoted atg on the head y is a hook j, the point of which slides in a groovej in
the shaft e (see Fig. 9). The point of the hook jis kept in contact with the shaft e
by the tension of the spring (Fig. 7) acting on the part 3 of the hook. During
the backward movement of the shaft e the point of the hook jis kept by said spring
in close contact with the shaft, and as soon as the shaft has receded far enough the
point leaves the groove and enters the groove it, as shown in Fig. 11. When the
plate is thrown over to the position shown in Figures 10 and 11, a space is
left between the hooks e and for the shoe tying cord or thread. The part
the hook projects beyond the surface of the head , as shown in Figures 4 and 8,
said projecting portion forming a cam surface which, during the rotation of the
heady, comes in contact with a cam plate & affixed to the horn A', as shown in
Fig. 4. The contact of the part 3 with said fixed cam plate forces the rear end of
the hook inwardly against the tension of the spring and throws the point of the
hook outwardly, thereby causing said hook to release the knot as presently
explained.
of
Affixed to the driving shaft is a cam 6 provided with two cam grooves; said
grooves being separated by a narrow rib 7 (forming a part of said cam), excepting
at one point where the continuity of said rib is interrupted by an opening 68 which
connects said grooves. The sides of the rib near said opening are curved inwardly to
a point, and the outer sides of the grooves are similarly curved to form inward pro-
jections at opposite sides of said opening, the form of the ends of the rib and of the
sides of the grooves at this point being such that a runner or shoe pivoted to a
lever, hereinafter described, and formed with pointed ends will be caused to pass
from one groove to the other through the opening 68, and thereby give said lover a
lateral movement.
The lever 60 is pivoted at to an ear on the frame, and the shoe or runner &
is connected with said lever by a pivot between the pivoted and swinging ends
of the lever. 13 represents a rod which has a collar & attached to it, said collar
having an ear which is pivoted to the swinging end of the lever 10. The opposite
end of said rod is pivoted to an arm q formed on the thread cutting blade Q, which
blade is pivoted at g' to the presser foot D.
The oscillating movements of the lever 60, caused as above described by the action
of the cam grooves on the shoe or runner 1, are communicated to the blade by the
rod, the cutting edge of said blade being thereby moved alternately forward and
back over the upper surface of the presser foot, the blade moving forward and

page_text: co-operating with a blade 6 forming a part of the presser foot in severing the cord
after two shoes have been connected by the operation of the machine.
"
It is necessary to provide means for holding the end of the cord after the part
which connects the shoes together has been severed, and to this end I provide a
plate which is located over the swinging blade and is pressed down upon the
upper surface of said blade by a spring located in a cavity in the presser foot
sleeve D, one end of said plate passing into or through said cavity and receiving the
downward pressure of the spring. The plate has an arm which projects over
and bears at all times on the oscillating blade Q, thus preventing the plate from
falling below the blade. The main portion of the plato is arranged so that it will
bear on the blade only when the latter is forced forward, to cut the cord. When the
blade is thus forced forward, its upper surface comes under the main portion of the
plate just before the cord is cut, the lower end of the main portion of the cord being
thus caught between the upper surface of the blade and the under surface of the
plater and held by the pressure of the spring r' on said plate. The blade remains
in the position last described during the operation of forming the first knot in tying
a pair of shoes, so that the end of the cord is clamped during said operation, as
hereinafter described.
The shear blade or cutting edge is on the presser foot is formed by the intersection
of one side of an orifice in the presser foot with the upper surface of said foot,
said side being bevelled as shown in Fig. 54. The orifice also constitutes the hole
through which the needle passes. The under side of the presser foot is provided with
a downwardly projecting lip or flange 1 at its outer end, said lip resting on one
side of the needle receiving throat Do on the horn when the presser foot is depressed,
and keeping the remaining portion of the bottom of the presser foot raised above said
horn, so that there is always a space for the free passage of the thread between the
horn and presser foot. represents a depression or recess formed in the upper
surface of the presser foot under the oscillating blade Q, to permit the thread to pass
freely under said blade without being clamped or held thereby against the upper
surface of the presser foot.
To prevent the presser foot D from being lifted when the needle bar begins to
recede (a common occurrence when heavy stock is being worked upon), a device
shown in Figures 6 and 6 is provided to hold the presser foot socurely at any point
to which it has dropped. Upon the upper part and upon one side of the presser
foot bar D³ is provided a feather or spline D, acting as a guide for the bar and also
as a projecting lip for the gripping lever m to act upon.
The gripping lever m in its normal position, that is when the machine is at rest,
lies in a horizontal position, being held in position by the tension of a spring m²
(Fig. 1) pressing it upward against the flat surface of the strap m² fastened to the
frame. One extremity of the gripping lover m is provided with a rectangular
shaped notch m, fitting loosely over the feather D', while the other extremity is
V-shaped and fits a corresponding notch in the lever n. The lever n is pivoted to
the frame at n' and is provided with a spring n², the tendency of which is to force
the notched arm of the lever n against the V-shaped extremity of the gripping
lever m.
The lower arm of the lever n is made of such a form as to be moved out
against the tension of the spring n when the needle bar arm B is on its upward
throw an anti-friction roll B being provided on said needle bar arm B to roll upon
the edge of the lever n, as shown in the details. Upon the downward movement of
the needle bar (the presser foot bar having already dropped upon the work) the upper
arm of the lever is forced in by the spring n against the V-shaped end of the
gripping lever m. The V-shaped extremity of the gripping lever is moved down-
ward by having the corresponding shaped notch pressed against it, throwing said
gripping lever out of a horizontal position, forming a grip upon the feather D and
preventing any upward inovement of the presser foot bar. It will be seen that the
presser foot is securely held in any position that it may be in when dropped upon the
various thicknesses of stock upon which it is used.
Loose upon the driving sliaft a is the driving pulley A³, while fast to said shaft

page_text: beside the driving pulley is the disk A having a slot a³, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
In the slot a³ is a sliding key or latch a provided with a spring a, which normally
throws the key into contact with a projection a (Fig. 1) on the driving pulley.
The key ais forced away from the driving pulley once during each rotation of the
latter, by means of the lever a which is pivoted to an arm bolted on the main frame.
The end of the lever which acts on the key at is wedge-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3,
and has a shoulder forming a stop for the key to engage. Said lever is also pro-
vided with a spring a whereby it is yieldingly held down upon the disk A. To the
other end of the lever af is attached a chain which is carried down to a suitable
treadle, the depression of which raises the wedge-shaped end of the lever a and
.causes the latter to release the key at, whereupon said key is forced by its spring to
position to engage the projection on the driving pulley. The release of said
treadle allows the wedge-shaped end of lever a to return to position to force back
the key a when the latter is brought by the rotation of the driving shaft to the point
where said wedge-shaped end is located.
c
Operation In tying two shoes together the operator takes the first shoe and
places it on the born until the heel bearing surface of the inner sole rests on the
adjustable stops, the back of the shoe resting on the upper surface of the horn, the
needle and presser foot being raised. The oscillating shear blade is at this time
closed over the fixed blade on the presser foot, this being the position assumed by the
blade in severing the cord after the tying together of the shoes of the last pair.
The shoe being in place the operator starts the machine by engaging the driving
shaft with the driving pulley in the manner described. On the commencement of the
rotation of the driving shaft the presser foot is released and drops upon the work and
becomes locked, and the needle descends through the back of the shoe. The shaft e
and head are continuously rotated during the entire operation, and at this stage the
relative positions of the shaft e, heady and hooks and are as shown in Figures 7, 8
and 9.
Upon the upward movement of the needle a loop is formed in the cord, which is
immediately caught by the revolving hook on the head g, said loop being carried
around the end of the spindle e by said hook, as shown in Fig. 8, the above
being accomplished by the first rotation of the head J. As said head begins its
second rotation the shaft e is moved longitudinally to the left, as viewed in Fig. 9,
the loop or bight of cord on said shaft being moved with the shaft in the same
direction, the hook e on the end of the shaft preventing said loop from slipping
off. The plate, holding the end of the loop, is by this motion of the shaft thrown
over on its fulcrum g' to the position shown in Fig. 10, carrying the end of the loop
downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 13. After this the shaft e is moved still
farther to the left, is shown in Fig. 11, thus allowing the hook to force itself under
the part of the loop first carried around the shaft e. The shaft e then begins its.
movement in the opposite direction and carries the partly formed knot outwardly from
the head, the point of the hook entering the groove, as shown in Fig. 11, and
holding the end of the loop which is over the hook and which lies in the opening &,
the end of the loop being thus drawn through the body of the loop. The position of
the end of the loop as held by the hook is shown approximately in Fig. 14.
When the head g has nearly completed its last revolution, the hook is thrown off*
from the end of the loop by its end j coming in contact with the cam plate k;
the loop being prevented from following the hook j in its outward movement by two
lips Larranged on the head g, said lips being separated by a slot just wide enough
to permit the hook to pass through without the loop; this completes the operation
of forming a knot within the first shoe.
When the needle bar operating lever B in rising has nearly withdrawn the needle
from the work, it acts on the lever n as shown in Fig. 6 and unlocks the presser
foot. As soon as the needle bar again arrives at its highest point the oscillating
knife is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the presser foot is raised. The
stop motion above described then disconnects the driving shaft from the driving
pulley, leaving the machine at rest, with the needle, presser foot and knife in the

page_text: position last described, the driving shaft having completed one rotation. The operator
then removes the shoe from the horn and applies the other shoe of the pair thereto.
The machine is again set in motion and anotlier knot is formed as before; but this
time after the needle has completed its upward movement the oscillating blade Q is
closed upon the blade 615, as shown in Fig. 5 and is thereby caused to sever the cord,
the plate and blade at the same time grasping the end of the main cord and
holding it for the next operation. This completes the operation of tying together u
pair of shoes, the machine being automatically stopped after the severing of the
cord.
It will be observed that the horizonial arrangement of the horn and the vertical
arrangement of the needle and presser bars contribute materially to the convenience
of the machine, by enabling the operator to more easily apply and remove the work
and to inspect the same during the operation.
The knot tying mechanism is operated by the longitudinal movements of the shaft e
within the horn, and the head g, shafte and the knot tying devices operated thereby
are arranged so that they take up but little room, hence the horn can be made slender
or contracted so that it can enter the smallest shoes.
As the several operations required in tying the knot are accomplished by one
revolution of the main shaft, it is desirable to provide some means to prevent more than
the one revolution at the time required.
In Fig. 2 a treadle is illustrated which accomplishes the desired result. Hinged
to a pivot are the levers T, the former being connected to the lever a' by a
chain a T is the treadle proper, to which is pivoted at t the tripping lever . Said.
lever is provided with a projecting lip to, resting upon the end of the lever, and
two projections t³ which come in contact with the base when the treadle is forced
down. A spring holds the treadle in its elevated position. When the treadle T is
depressed it carries with it lever by which, through the connected chain a and
lever a', the cluich is released and thrown into position, starting the main shaft ;.
further movement of the treadles downward brings the projections and in turn
against the base which throws the upper part of the lever outwardly, releasing the
lever and allowing the spring a to force the arm a' in position to engage the clutch.
block as it completes its revolution.
It will be seen that no further rotation of the shaft can be made by releasing the
clutch until the foot is removed from the treadle T, allowing it to ascend and making
the connection between the lip on and the end of the lever t.
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. In a shoe tying machine, the combination with a horn or work support, a presser
foot co-operating therewith, cutting mechanism carried by said presser foot, and a
thread carrying needle, of a knot tying mechanism composed of a rotating and
longitudinally reciprocating shaft within said horn, a head rotatively engaged with
said shaft, a stop whereby said head is prevented from moving endwise with the
shaft, a loop engaging hook pivoted to said shaft and having a connection with
the head whereby it is moved inwardly when the shaft is moved endwise in one
direction, and a second loop engaging hook pivoted to the head and adapted to
retain the end of the loop and draw the same through the body of the loop during
the endwise movement of the shaft in the opposite direction, as set forth.
2. In a shoe tying machine, the improved knot tying mechanism composed of the
rotating and longitudinally reciprocating shaft having an end hook, the head g
rotatively engaged with said shaft and prevented from reciprocating therewith, the
piece pivoted to the shaft and provided with a hook and with a slot engaged
with a fulcrum attached to the head, and the spring controlled hook j pivoted to the
head, as set forth..
3. In a shoe tying machine, the combination of the rotating and reciprocating
shaft e, the head g rotatively engaged therewith, a stop as. g" whereby said head is

page_text: :
prevented from moving endwise with the shaft, the loop engaging hooks and j,
pivoted respectively to the shaft and head, one of said hooks being engaged as
described with a fulcrum in the head, while the other is pressed inwardly by a spring,
and a fixed cam whereby the spring pressed hook is displaced at a given point in the
rotation of the head, as set forth.
4. In a shoe tying machine, the combination with the shaft e, head and hooks
and, of the link jointed to said shaft the lever d pivoted at one end to a fixed
support and at the other end to the link d, and a driving shaft geared to the shaft e
and having
a cam engaged with the lever d whereby the latter is oscillated and the
shaft e reciprocated, as set forth.
5. In a shoe tying machine, the combination with a reciprocating needle, a work
supporting born, and knot tying mechanism within said horn, of the presser foot
having an opening, one side of which constitutes the shear blade 615, the shear
blade pivoted to the presser foot and co-operating with the blade 1, and
mechanism for oscillating said blade Q, as set forth.
6. In a shoe tying machino, the combination with a reciprocating needle and knot
tying mechanism, of the presser foot having the fixed shear blade and the spring
pressed cord holding plate, the shear blade Q pivoted to said foot and pressed
downwardly thereon by the plate r, and mechanism for rociprocating the pivoted
blade, the said plate holding the cord against the upper surface of the blade. Q, as
set forth.
7. In a shoe tying machine, the combination with a reciprocating needle and knot
tying mechanism, of the presser foot having the shear blade 15, the she ar blade Q
pivoted to the foot, the sleeve or enlargement on the driving shaft having the cam
grooves connected by an opening 68, the pivoted lever 10 having a pivoted shoe
adapted to run in said grooves, and the rod connecting said lever with the plate Q,
as set forthi.
8. In a shoe tying machine, the combination of the driving shaft, the knot tying
mechanism composed of the shafte having the hook e', the head g and hooks, the
gears efconnecting the driving shaft with the shaft e, said gear farranged to permit
the reciprocating movement of the shaft e, means for reciprocating said shaft, the
driving pulley normally loose on the driving shaft and provided with a projection.
as a, a collar affixed to said driving shaft and provided with a spring impelled key
or latch adapted to engage said projection, and a wedge-shaped lever which
normally stands in position to retract the key or latch, as set forth.
9. In a shoe tying machine, the combination of the horizontally arranged horn
or work support, the horizontally arranged driving shaft, the non-reciprocating
hend in said horn, the horizontal shaft e adapted to move lengthwise through the
head and in the horn, and knot tying devices co-operating with said shaft and head
within said horn, said shaft, bead and knot tying devices being arranged so that the
horn is enabled to be contracted in size so as to be capable of entering the smallest
shoes, connections between the shaft e and the driving shaft whereby the shaft e is
horizontally reciprocated, the vertically arranged needle and presser bars provided
respectively with a needle and a presser foot, and devices communicating motion from
the driving shaft to the needle and presser bars, as set forth.
a
10. In a shoe tying machine, the combination of the horn or work support, the knot
tying mechanism, the vertically movable presser foot D, the presser bar D³ having
rib B, the gripping piece m slotted to receive said rib and normally held by a spring
in position to permit said rib to move freely, the needle bar actuating lever B, and
intermediate devices whereby when said lever is depressed the gripping piece is
displaced and caused to lock the presser bar, and when the lever B is raised the
gripping piece is released and allowed to resume its normal position, as set forth.
11. In a shoe tying machine, the combination of the horn or work support, knotting
devices below the saine, and the presser foot having an orifice 617, a portion of which
constitutes a guide and lateral support for the needle, while another portion constitutes
a guide between which and the needle the tying cord passes, and a downwardly pro-
jecting flange Do at one side of said orifice whereby space is left for the cord under

page_text: the cord guiding portion of the orifice and between the presser foot and the work
support, as set forth.
12. In a shoe tying machine, the combination with the knot tying mechanism, of
the oscillating blade Q, the presser foot having the orifice 6, one side of which
constitutes a blade 65, and the recess or depression d³ for the passage of the cord under
the oscillating blade, as set forth.
13. In a shoe tying machine, the combination of the presser foot having a shear
blade formed on it, the oscillating shear blade pivoted to said foot, the clamping plate
vertically movable in guides in the foot and hearing on the oscillating blade, and a
spring whereby said plate is pressed against said blade, as set forth.
14. The combination with the driving shaft and suitable mechanism operated
thereby, of a loose driving pulley on the driving shaft provided with a projection, a
collar affixed to said driving shaft and provided with a spring impelled key or latch
adapted to engage said projection, and a wedge-shaped lever controlled by the
operator and normally standing in position to retract the key or latch, as set forth.
15. The shaft a, the driving pulley thereon, the automatic clutch which connects
said shaft and pulley, and the lever a which disconnects said clutch from the pulley,
combined with the lever t¹ connected with said lever a', and the treadle T having a
dog or catch which normally engages the lever t¹ when the treadle is raised and is
disengaged therefrom during the downward movement of the treadle, whereby the
clutch lever a' is automatically released, as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1990
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.