US1980371A - Heel-seat fitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13, 1934. E. A. BESSOM HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE 12 heets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 24 1932 E. A. BESSOM 1,980,371

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1932 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13, 1934.

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Nov. 13,, 1934. E. A. BESSOM 1,

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HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1932 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Hiiii QW 25E //v VEN 70R.

Nov. 13, 1934. E A. BEssoM HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE F iled Dec. 24, 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet a Nov. 13, 1934. E. A. BESSOM 1,980,371

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1932 '12 Sheets-sheet 9 Nov. 13, 1934. BESSOM 1,980,371

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1932 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Fig. Z3.

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HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1932 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 Fig. 2

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HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1932 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 1 $3M A 22m I 1?: /////////////MlI El i. i w 162 patented Nov. 13, 1934 warren s'rATEs HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Earl A. Eossom, Marblehead, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 24, 1932, Serial No. 648,792

es Claims. (01. 12-315) 1 This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a heel-seat fitting machine.

In preparing shoes for the reception of wood 5 heels it is customary to trim the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole of the shoe, thereby to provide a reduced heel-seat portion shaped for reception Within the concave attaching face of the heel of the shoe, and to form at opposite sides of the reduced heel-seat portion a pair of laterally extending shoulders against which the breast of the heel abuts. The reduced heel-seat portion of the sole should be shaped to engage substantially the entire attaching face of the heel in order to provide a solid foundation of considerable area for supporting the heel, and should be reduced sufficiently to permit the rim of the attaching face of the heel snugly to engage the counter portion of the shoe upper. Moreover, the laterally extending shoulders should be accurately positioned lengthwise of the sole in order to engage the breast of the heel of the finished shoe.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine by the use of which the heelseat portions of the soles of shoes of different types of construction can be effectively and rapidly fitted for the reception of either Cuban or Louis heels. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved machine of the general type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,307,284, granted June 17, 1919 on an application filed in the name of Samuel J. W entworth.

One type of machine which has been used successfully for fitting the heel-seats of shoes, the soles of which are stitched or stapled to theshoe uppers, for the reception of wood heels, is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,856,057, granted April 26, 1932 on an application filed in the names of Bagshaw and Wardle. In the ma- -l0 chine disclosed in said Patent No. 1,856,057 the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe, after being positioned upon a matrix or crease plate which is constructed and arranged to engage the rand crease of the shoe and is provided with a U-shaped opening, has its margin pressed against the plate by a presser member while a bulger forces the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the opening and beyond a face of the plate. After the heel-seat portion of the sole has been properly distorted and clamped, a reciproeating cutter, commonly referred to as a heelseat reducing or having its cutting edge in engagement with the above-mentioned face of the matrix plate, is

tongue-forming cutter and moved forwardly to trim the margin of the heelseat portion of the sole thereby reducing the heelseat portion and providing a tongue shaped for reception within the attaching face of the heel which is to be attached to the shoe. After the heel-seat portion of the sole has been trimmed, a pair of cutters are operated to form heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole and to remove from the sole the U-shaped chip trimmed from the heel-seat portion of the sole by the back cutter.

When the hee1-seat portions of soles of compo shoes are distorted in the manner above described, the cement bond which secures the sole to the shoe upper is likely to be split forwardly of the breast line with the result'that the rear end of the shank portion of the finished shoe is not secured properly to the shoe upper. This condition may also be caused by using a matrix plate, the forward end of which is of such thickness as to cause the sole at its heel breast line to be pulled too far away from the shoe upper or it may be caused by using a matrix plate which extends forwardly of the heel breast line of the sole.

I The illustrated heel-seat fitting machine which constitutes a preferred embodiment of my invention, is of thegeneral type above referred to and is constructed and arrangedeffectively and quickly to prepare the heel-seats of shoes for the reception of heels whether the soles of the shoes are stitched. stapled or adhesively secured to their respective. shoe uppers. In order to insure that the sole will not be split forwardly of the breast line when the heel-seat of a compo shoe is fitted for the reception of a heel, the illus- 90 trated machine'is provided with matrix or crease plates having their forward portions of suitable shape to enter the rand crease of the shoewithout substantially distorting the sole. Furthermore, the back gage of the machine is initially positioned at a predetermined distance from the forward edge of the matrix plate so that when the shoe engages the back gage, the plate will extend to, but not forwardly of, the heel-breast line of the shoe. To prevent the distortion of the heel-seat portion of the sole from breaking the sole-attaching bond forwardly of the breast line, the illustrated machine is provided with mechanism constructed and arranged to operate knives forforming the heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole supported by the matrix plate before the bulger is operated to distort the heel seat portion of the sole preparatory to reducing a the heel-seat portion.

.The heel-seat reducing, cutter in moving forwardly of the sole forces the heel portion of the shoe away from the matrix plate and thereby causes the shoe to pivot progressively about the heel-breast line of the sole of the shoe. When the heel-breast receiving shoulders are formed prior to reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole, it will be noted that the margin of the heel-seat portion which holds the shoeagainst forward displacement under pressure of the heel-seat reducing cutter is removed from the sole by the cutter during the heehseat reducing operation. Accordingly, when the shoulder-forming cutters of a machine of the type above described arewith-- drawn from the sole immediately after the heelbreast receiving shoulders have been formed, it, will be noted that as the heel-seat reducing cutter arrives at a position adjacent to the heelbreast line of the sole, the forward pressure ex erted against the sole by the cutter frequently causes the U-shaped chip to be torn fromthe sole adjacent to thepreviously formed heel-breast receiving, Y shoulders, thereby forming ragged lumps at theforward lateral portions of the reducedhe'el-seat. Theoperator usually grips the forward part of the shoe while the sole is being trimmed and does not resist the above described pivotal movement of the. shoe, since suchresistance would cause the breast portion of the shoe upper to beforced away from the clamped margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole and would, therefore, increase the tendency of the ,U-shaped chip to be pulledfrom the sole. When the U- shapedchip is torn from the sole, as above described, the operator isrequired to remove from the sole the ragged lumpsof leatherwhich inte'rfere with the accurate positioning of the heel on the shoe.

With the foregoing in view the illustrated machine, in. accordance with a feature of this invention, is provided with a shoulder-forming cutten for making incisions in a sole to form heelbreast receiving shoulders upon the sole, a heelseat reducing cutter movable forwardly of the sole, and mechanism for operating the shoulderforming cutter in timed relation with the heelseat reducing cutter and for causing the shoulderforming'cutter to remain in the incisions as the heel-seat reducing cutter trims the sole, thereby to. brace the sole against the operating pressure of the heel-seat reducing cutter.

It is desirable that substantially the entire margin of the heel-seat portion of thesole be securely clamped to the matrix plate while the central part of the heel-seat portion'is being forced through the U-shaped opening andywhile the heel-seat ,reducing or tongue-forming cutter is reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole, in order that the sole will betensioned around the bulger and to prevent the tongue-forming cutter from pulling the margin of the heel-seat portion through the U-shaped opening. The margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole is seldom of uniform thickness and in order to clamp substantially the entire margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the matrix plate, and in accordance with a further feature of the invention, an illustrated pressermember, which clamps the margin of theheelseat portion-of the sole against the matrix plate preparatory to distorting and reducing the heelseat portion of the sole, is provided with a plur l't of art", at least one of which is movable a l y p a rightangles to the plane of a sole positioned uponunder pressurerelativelyto the other parts. Each of the three illustrated presser members vis mounted to tilt as a unit asnit presses the sole against the matrix plates, The pressermembers may be constructed of a plurality of sole-engaging parts which are pivotally movable relatively to each other, as illustrated in one embodiment of the invention, or may be provided with a U -shaped sole-engaging member made of rubber or like substance, as illustrated in another embodiment oi the invention.

When a shoeis being inserted lengthwise in a heel-seat fitting machine provided with a solesupporting plate, it sometimes happens that as the operator moves the shoe rearwardly of the machine toward the back stop, a nail which has not been properly driven into the heel-seat portion of the shoe engages the plate. When this occurs the operator, thinking that the rear portion of the shoe upper has engaged the back stop, may

, operatethe machine with the result that the reduced heel-seat portion is not properly positioned upon the sole. In order to enable the operator to tell at a glance when the shoe is positioned properly lengthwise, the illustrated machine, in

accordance with another feature of the invention is provided with a slide mounted for movement under pressure of the shoe, a stop constructed and arranged for engagement with the slide to limit the'movement of the same, means to adjust the stop, and a visible indicator which assumes a predetermined recognizable position when the memher is in contact with the stop.

Soles of shoes having their heel-seats fitted for the reception of heels are frequently thick as well as dry and in order to force the central parts of the heel-seat portions of such soles through'the U -shaped opening as much as 3,000 pounds of pressure is frequently required. In order to increase the production of the machine and to relieve-the operator of the burden of distorting the sole, the illustrated machine, in accordance with another feature of the invention, is provided with a stop for limiting the movement of the bulger toward the matrix plate and with power-operated mechanism comprising a spring-yielding mem her and an abutmentwhich engages the stop during each cycle of operation of the machine, to insure that the bulger, will force the central parts of the heel-seat portions of dry soles of different thicknesses through the U-shaped opening of the matrix.

As already stated, the margin of the heel-seat portion of the positioned shoe is clamped against the illustrated machine is provided with manual-,

ly operated means for forcing the presser member against the sole positioned upon the plate with an initial pressure, and with power-operated mechanism which applies a secondary pressure to the presser member and operates the bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening The shoulder-forming cutter of the illustrated-- the matrix plate. When operating upon welt Work there is a tendency for the above-mentioned knives", especially whensuch knives become dull,

to bend the end portions of the weltdownwardly instead of severing the same, together with the sole, to form heel-breast receiving shoulders. Accordin ly, the illustrated machine may be equipped with shoulder-forming knives which are mounted for movement in equal and opposite directions along the forward edges of the matrix plate. The illustrated transversely moving knives are power operated and form heel-breastreceiving shoulders upon the sole before the heel-seat portion of the sole is substantially distorted by the bulger and preferably come to rest temporarily, after forming the heel-breast receiving shoulders, in order to support the sole against displacement by the heel-seat reducing cutter and to serve as anvils against which the heel-seat reducing cutter operates.

In a machine of the type herein illustrated the U-shaped chip, which is removed from the heelseat portion of the sole, remains upon the matrix at the termination of the heel-seat fitting operation. In order to remove the chip from the matrix plate at the end of each operation, the illustrated machine is provided with a pivotally mounted chip ejector which is positively operated by mechanism carried by the sole clamping and distorting plunger.

In fitting the heel-seats of soles for the reception of Louis heels, it is sometimes the practice to provide at opposite sides of the base of the reduced heel seat a pair of laterally extending shoulders which taper rearwardly of the sole and are inclined at a slight angle to the plane of the sole. The illustrated machine can be quickly equipped to provide heel-breast receiving shoulders of the type above described by inserting a short matrix plate in the machine and by removing the carrier to which the shoulder-forming knives are attached from the machine and substituting therefor a member having a sole-engaging surface inclined to the path of movement of the heel-seat reducing cutter and constructed and arranged to press the lateral portions of the sole which are positioned forwardly of the matrix plate, across the path of movement or" the cutter. The sole-depressing member also holds down the lateral portions of the sole, which are positioned immediately in advance or" the breast line, against the shoe upper during the sole-distorting operation and thus prevents the distortion of the heelseat portion of the sole from splitting the soleattaching bond forwardly of the breast line when the shoe is operating on compo work. The angle which the shoulders form with the plane of the sole depends upon the inclination of the sole-enprogresses forwardly of the sole to the incisions while utilizing such incisions to prevent forward movement of the sole during the heel-seat reducing operation.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the illustrated Fig. -2is a side elevational view of the operating head of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side View showing portions of the operating mechanism of the machine when the treadle, which is operated to clamp the work against the matrix plate and actuates the trimming mechanism, is in a lowered position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the relative positions of the sole of a shoe and parts of the operating head of the machine after the sole has been initially clamped against th matrix plate;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4 but showing the relative positions of the sole and the parts of the operating head of the machine after the heel-breast receiving shoulders have been formed and after the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole has been forced through the matrix plate preparatory to reducin the heel-seat portion of the sole;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 5 and illustrating the relative positions of the sole of the shoe being operated upon and the parts of the operating head of the machine as the heel-seat reducing cutter arrives at the forward end of its stroke to complete the heel-seat fitting operation;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the operating head taken along line VIIVII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view taken along lin VIIIVIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing mechanism for positioning the sole of the shoe upon the matrix plate, part of the mechanism being broken away in order better to illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the shoulderforming cutter and a cutter carrier which is partly broken away to show the interior construction of 3;;

the same; i

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line ducing cutter and a cutter carrier for securing the' cutter to an operating member;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of one form of presser member;

Fig. l7'is a perspective view of the form of presser member shown as incorporated in the" illustrated machine; 1

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a modified form of presser member which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the rear end of a shoe the heel-seat portion of the sole of which has been fitted for the reception of a Cuban heel;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the rear end of a shoe the heel-seat portion of the sole of which has been fitted for the reception of a Louis heel;

Fig. 21 shows in perspective the U-shaped chip that has been removed from the heel-seat portion of the sole illustrated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along line XXII-XXII of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 23 is a front elevational view of the head of the illustrated machine equipped with knives which move transversely of the sole positioned upon the matrix plate to form heel-breast re- 153 ceiving shoulders upon the sole, and a carrier for supporting and operating the knives;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the shoulderforming knives and the carrier illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV of Fig. 24; Fig. 26 is a side elevational view partly in section of the operating head of the illustrated machine equipped with a presser plate for forcing the lateral margins of the sole positioned forwardly of the matrix plate across'the line of travel of the heel-seat reducing cutter to form a reduced heel-seat portion of the sole and heelbreast receiving shoulders such asfillustrated in Fig. 28;

Fig. 27 is a perspective view of portions of the machine illustrated in Fig. 26, part of the machine being broken away to show the shape of the heel-seat portion of the sole after it has been flexed preparatory to trimming the sole; and Fig. 28 is a perspective View of the rear end of a shoe, the heel-seat portion of the sole of which has been operated upon in the machine equipped as illustrated in Figs. 26 and 27.

' The illustrated machine is described with reference to the performance of the heel seat fitting operation on soles 30 (Fig. 19) attached to shoe upperswhich operation consists in forming upon the sole, heel-breast receiving shoulders 34 against which the breast of a Cuban heel 33 abuts, and in trimming the heel-seat portion of the sole to provide a tongue or reduced heel-seat portion 32 shaped for reception within the concave attaching or cup face of the heel.

The illustrated machine comprises a matrix or crease plate 36 (Fig. 1) provided with a U- shaped opening 38 and constructed and arranged to support the heel-seat portion of the sole 30, a U-shaped presser member 40 mounted for vertical movement to clamp the margins of the heelseat portion of the sole against the plate 36, a pair I of cutters or knives 42 which move past forward or breast edges 44 of the matrix plate 36 to form the heel-breast receiving shoulders 34 upon the sole, a bulger 46. (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) mounted for vertical movement to force the central partof the heel-seat portion of the sole through the opening 38, and a cutter or knife 48*mounted for horizontal movement along the bottom face of the matrix plate 36 to trim the margin of the heelseat portion of the sole to form the tongue or reduced heel-seat portion 32.

Itwill be noted that the illustrated machine is equipped to fit the heel-seat portions of soles for the reception of Cuban heels 33 (Fig. 19) 'as distinguished from Louis heels 3'7 (Fig. 2G). The heel-breast receiving shoulders 34 are of convex form in order to receive the concave breast of the Cuban heel 33 and heel-breast receiving shoulders 50 (Fig. 20), against which the forward edge of the projecting lip of the Louis heel 3'7 abuts, usually lie in a single plane extending at right angles to the lengthwise median plane of the sole. Althoughthe machine is illustrated with reference to Cuban work, it may be readily equipped for operating upon Louis work as will later be explained.

As already stated, when heel-seat fitting machines of the type which substantially distort the heel-seat portions of soles are used, it has been found that the sole in the vicinity of its breast line 52 (Figs. 19 and 20) is often distorted to such an extent that stitches which secure the sole to the shoe upper and are positioned forwardly of the breast line 52 are loosened. Such a condition is objectionable, and in fitting the heel-seats of compo shoes, the soles of which are attached by cement to the shoe uppers, the substantial distortion of the heel-seat portion of the sole is not permissible since the "distortion breaks the cement bond by which the sole is attached to the shoe upper, forwardly of the breast line 52 of the sole.

The shank portions 54 (Figs.,19 and 20) of soles attached to shoes are sometimes laterally curved and it will therefore be noted that when the sole supporting plate 36 is substantially planar as illustrated, there will be a slight distortion of the lateral margins of the sole forwardly of the breast line 52 as the plate 36 engages within the rand crease of the sole. Such distortion, however, is not sufiicient to break the cement bond forwardly of the breast line.

With the above and other considerations in view, the illustrated machine is constructed and arranged to form the heel-breast receiving shoulders 34 before the heel-seat portion of the sole is substantially distortedand therefore prior to trimming the heel-seat portion of the sole to form the tongue or reduced heel-seat portion 32. The upper and lower faces of the matrix plate 36 (Fig. 14) converge as they extend forwardly of the plate and terminate in the feather of breast edges 44 constructed and arranged to enter the rand crease of the shoe as far forwardly as the breast line 52 without substantially distorting thesole in the vicinity of the breast line. In operating upon McKay work the lines of sole-attaching stitches often extend rearwardly of the breast line and for this reason the breast edges 44 are sometimes sharpened to permit the operator, by forcing the shoe rearwardly of the machine, to cut the stitches which extend rearwardly of the breastline 52, thereby facilitating the accurate positioning of the shoe lengthwise in the machine. Afterthe heel-breast receiving shoulders 34 have been formed, the heel-seat portion of the sole can be substantially distorted,

preparatory to reducing the heel-seatportion of the sole, without distorting portions of the sole positioned forwardly of the heel breast line 52.

The operating parts of the illustrated machine are supported in a main frame 56 (Fig. 1) having an offset platform 58 provided with opposed slots 60 (Fig. 7) shaped to receive interchangeably one of a plurality of matrix plates 36 provided with U-shaped openings 38 of various sizes and shapes according to the size and the shape of the heel-seat desired. Each of the plates 36 is provided with a recess 62 (Fig. 14) for receiving a pin 64 carried by the platform 58 and normally held in engagement with the recess 62 by a spring 66, one end of which is secured to the pin 64 and the other end of whichis screwed to the platform 58. The portion of the plate around theU-shaped opening 38 is cut away to provide a beveled face 68 extending from one end of the opening to the other and terminating in a feather edge '79 which lies in a plane and defines the size and shape of the reduced heel seat portion 32 of the sole.

The sole of the shoe is positioned lengthwise uponthe matrix plate 36 by engaging the rear portion of the shoe upper withv a back gage '74 (Figs. 4 and 5) slidably mounted in the main frame 56 and normally urged by a spring '76 forwardly of the machine relatively to an adjustable stop or stop plate '78, the lengthwise position of which is controlled by a heel gage (Figs, 1, 2 and'B).

In order to centralize the rear portion of thesole the illustrated machine is provided with a slide 82 (Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 9) mounted upon the stop plate 78 and having a bifurcated portion 84 normally urged into a forward position with respect to the stop plate 78 by springs 86 (Fig. 9), the arrangement being such that as the shoe is moved rearwardly of the machine the rear counter portion of the shoe engages the bifurcated portion 84 and is moved rearwardly against the pressure of springs 86 until the rear end of the shoe engages the back gage '74 which, together with the bifurcated portion 84, is moved rearwardly against the spring 76 until stopped by the adjustable stop plate '78.

The heel gage (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) comprises a table 88 for engaging the attaching face of the heel, a block 90 shaped for engagement with the breast of the heel and a movable abutment 92 provided with an offset arm 94 which is attached to the adjustable stop plate '78. In order to adjust the stop plate 78 in accordance with the length of the heel to be attached to the shoe the heel is placed, attached face downwardly, on the table 88 with the breast of the heel engaging the block 90, and the abutment 92 is then moved into engagement with the rear end of the rim of the.

attaching face of the heel. Such a movement is effected by swinging a pivotally mounted hand lever 96 (Figs. 1 and 2), which is journaled in a bearing 98 and is secured to a cam 100, relatively to an index or latch plate 103. The cam 108 is provided with a groove 102 (Fig.4) shapedand arranged to receive a cam roll 104 mounted upon a depending pin 106 secured to the adjustable stop plate '28 which, as above stated, is connected to the abutment 92 of the heel gage.

Although the machine is described as comprising a gage 80 which actually measures the heel, and mechanism which connects the gage and the stop plate '78 to position the stop plate in accordance with the length of the heel being measured, it will be understood that the stop plate 78 may be positioned by using a size scale 101 formed upon the index or latch plate 103. It has been found that heels which are supposed to be of the same size vary slightly in length and for this reason it is preferable to gage from the heel.

The illustrated heel gage 80 is adjusted for the reception of Cuban heels, the rear face 108 of the block 90 being curved and located in a predetermined position upon the table 88. When it is desired to measure Louis heels the block 90 is turned 180 about a pin 109 (Fig. 8) so that a straight face 110 engages the lip of the projecting part of the breast of the Louis heel which is to be measured. In order accurately to position the block for gaging Louis and Cuban heels, the block is provided at its under side with a pair of recesses 112 either of which may be swung into registry with a spring-pressed plunger 114 (Fig. 2) carried by the table 88. The abutment 92 can be adjusted relatively to the offset arm 94 by a screw and slot connection 116 (Fig. 8) in order initially to set the adjustable stop plate 78 and the abutment 92 in predetermined relative positions.

As above stated, in fitting heel-seats for the reception of heels, it frequently happens that when the operator moves the shoe rearwardly to cause the matrix plate 36 to enter between the sole and the overlasted margin of the coimter portion of the shoe, an upstanding nail engages the matrix plate and prevents further rearward movement of the shoe. When this occurs the operator, thinking that the back gage '74 has been pushed againstthe stop plate- 78, operates, the machine with the result that the reduced heel-seat portion of the sole is not properly po-i sitioned for the reception of the heel. In order to insure against this condition, an indicator 118' (Fig.8) is secured to the offset arm 94 which, connects the stop plate 78 and theabutment 92 and another indicator 120 is secured tothe back gage '74. When the back gage '74 has been moved.

rearwardly against the stop plate ,78 the indicators 118, 120 are in alinement as illustrated.

in Fig. 8 and it is therefore possible for the;

operator to tell at a glance when the shoe has been properly positioned lengthwise.

To assist the operator incentralizing the shank;

portion of the shoe being operated upon, the illus:

trated machine is provided with an arm 122 (Figs.

1 and 2) which lies in the vertical central plane 124 (Fig. 8) of the matrix plate 36 and can be swung into different adjusted positions upon a screw 126. Y Y

The presser member 40 is operatedbyasleeve 130 which is mounted for reception in a bearing, portion 132 of the main frame 56 and is bored to receive a rod 134 to the lower end of which the bulger 46 is attached. In order to insure that the sleeve 130 and the rod 134 will not turn about their common axis during the operation of the machine, the bearing portion 132 is pro--; vided with a threaded opening-136 (Fig. 7) for receiving a screw 138 provided. with a reduced portion which is shaped to fit an elongated slot 140 formed in the sleeve 130 and asmaller portion which engages an elongated recess 142 out in the side of the rod 134. The lower part of the sleeve 130 is provided with an enlarged housing 144 having a pairof oppositely-disposed U-shaped slots 146 constructed and arrangedto receive interchangeably one of a plurality of presser members or clamps 40 of various sizes and shapes. The sleeve 130 is supported by an enlarged flange portion 148 of the'rod 134 and" is normally held in engagement with such por-- tion by a spring 150 encased within a cylindrical housing 152 which is mounted upon therod. 134. The upper end of the cylindrical housing normally engages a nut, 154 which is in. threaded relation with the rod 134 and is therefore adjustable along the same to insure that the bulger in its lowered position (Figs. 5 and 7) will extend arranged to abut against shoulders 164 (Fig.4) of the enlarged portion 148 in order further-to,

insure that the bulger 46 can not turn with respect to the rod 134.

It is desirable to clamp the sole against the beveled face 68 (Fig. 14) of the matrix plate 36 in order that the sole will be tensioned around the bottom of the bulger 46 as the bulger forces the central part of the heel-seat portion of the.

sole through the opening 38 andbelow the lower face of the plate 36. Accordingly, the presser member 40 leads the bulger 46 as the rod 134 is moved downwardly, through mechanism which I will be described later, and clamps the sole to the plate 36 before the bulger 46 becomes effec-' tive. As the bulger 46 forces the sole through the opening 38 the spring 150, which is compressed by the downward movement of the rod 134, forces the presser member 40 with considerable pressure against the sole supported on the matrix plate 36.

As already explained, it is desirable that substantially the entire margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole be pressed against the crease plate 36 as the bulger 46 forces the sole through the opening 38 and during the operation of the heel-seat reducing or tongue-forming knife 48. The practice of operating upon soles prior to the performing'of the heel-seat fitting operation is not uniform, the margins of heel-seat portions of the soles sometimes being skived during the shank-reducing and channeling operation as far as their rear ends and sometimes being skived only to the breast line of the sole. Moreover, the shank reducing or channeling cut often runs farther back on one side of the sole than on the other so as to form a sole, the heel-seat portion of which is much thicker at one side than at the other. Although it is desirable to clamp the sole around the entire margin of its heel-seat portion it has been found that if the rear portion'of the sole and portions of the lateral margins positioned adjacent to the breast line 52 of the sole are clamped, the sole will be suitably tensioned by the bulger 46 preparatory to reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole. With the foregoing in view, the presser member or clamp 40 (Fig; 17) has been found to be effective in compensating for variations in thickness of the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole. The clamp or presser member 40 has the general shape of the letter U and comprises a bight portion 166 pivotally mounted upon a pin 168jour- 'Jnaled in projections 1'70 of aplate 1'72 comprising leg or side portions 1'74. The leg portions 174 may be formed integrally with or maybe screwed or otherwise secured to the plate 172. A corrugated sole engaging face 176 of the bight; "portion 166 is normally urged beyond corrugated sole-engaging faces 178 of the leg or side portions 174 by a pair of springs 180. The sole engaging faces 176, 178 have agen'eral form which is substantially complemental to that of the beveled surface 68 of the matrix plate36 with l which the faces 1'76,"178'cooperateto clamp the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the plate. The above arrangement insures that the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole is tightly pressed against the matrix plate 36 irrespective of varying thicknesses of the margin of the heel-seat portion. I

In order further to insure that the presser member or clamp 40 will apply pressure 'to the lmargin of the heel-seat portion of the sole even though such margin varies in thickness, the opposing U-shaped slots 146 (Figs. 2 and 7) which receive the plate 172 of the presser member 40 are of a width equal to the thickness of the plate :172 at their forward ends and flare in width rear-,

wardly from their forward ends.- Such a-construction permits the plate 172 to pivot around its forward edge. The presser member orclamp 40 is inserted in the housing 144 from the rear and may be moved forwardly until an upstanding flange 186 of the plate 172 engages the rear face of-the housing 144, the presser member 40' beingheld against rearward movement with re-' spect'to the housing 144 through a spring-pressed plunger 1'88 carried by the housing and engagwardly, the plate 172 rocks about its forward edge to force the forward parts of the leg portions 174 into engagement with the marginxof the heel-seat portion which is positioned adjacent to the breast line 52. The bight portion 166 then swings about the pin 168 to compress the springs 180 and upon continued downward movement of the sleeve 130 the rear parts of the leg portions 174 are swung downwardly about the forward end of the plate 172 under pressure of the forward parts of the leg portions 174, thereby to cause leg portions which are positioned rearwardly of the forward end of the plate 172 to be pressed against the margin of the heelseat portion of the sole.

Other forms of presser member 192, 194 (Figs. 18 and 16, respectively) may be used in place of the presser member 40. The construction and operation of the presser members 192, 194 will be explained in detail after the illustrated machine has been more fully described.

As above stated, in order that the sole will not be substantially distorted forwardly of the breast line 52 during the heel-seat fitting operation, the illustrated machine is provided with mechanism for operating the shoulder-forming cutters or knives 42 after the presser member 40 has clamped the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the matrix plate 36 but be fore the bulger 46 has forced the central part of the heel-seat portion through the opening 38.

The illustrated shank portions 196' (Fig. 10) of the-shoulder-forming knives 42 are of cylin-' drical shape and have a radius of curvature corresponding substantially to'that of'the breast edges 44 of the matrix plate 36 past which theknives 42 are moved. As above stated, such an arrangement is suitable for fitting the heel-seat portions of soles for the reception of Cuban heels. It will be understood, however, that in order to fit the heel-seat portions of soles of shoes for the reception of Louis heels the plate 36' may be replaced by a plate the forward edges of which extend at right angles to the vertical central plane 124 of the plate, and shoulderforming knives the cutting edges of which lie in a single plane may be substituted for the curved shoulder-forming knives 42 above described.

The shank portions 196 (Figs. 10 and 11) of the knives 42 are provided with recesses shaped and arranged to receive projecting pins 198 secured to blocks 200 which are slidably mounted in a curved guideway 202 of a carrier head 2'04 and are spaced at opposite sides of and at equal distances from the vertical central plane 124 (Fig. 8) of the matrix plate 36. The blocks 200 are mounted for equal and opposite adjustment relatively to the plane 124 by turning a screw 206 journaled in a clamp plate 208 of the carrier head 204 and including right and left threaded portions which are in threaded relation with trunnions 210, respectively, carried by the blocks 200. Before adjusting the blocks 200 toward and. away from the central plane 124 along the guideway 262 the clamp plate 208, which is shaped to engage the rear face of the shank portions 166 of the knives 42 near pins 198, is released from binding engagement with the knives 42 by turning a screw 212, after which the operator rotates the screw 206 in order accurately to position the knives 42 widthwise of the matrix plate 36 and then turns the set screw 212 to cause the clamp plate 208 to bind. the knives 42 in adjusted position.

In order to vary the lowermost point of travel of the shoulder-forming knives 42 the carrier head 204 is mounted for vertical adjustment with respect to a block 214 which is secured through screws 216 to an operating slide 218 (Figs. 1 and 2). To effect such adjustment the forward face of the block 214 is provided with a dove-tailed slideway shaped to receive a correspondingly shaped dove-tailed projection of the carrier head 204. The carrier head 204 may be adjusted along the guideway of the block 214 by loosening the screws 226 upon which washers 221 are mounted and which are in threaded relation with the block 214 and pass through slots 222 formed in an upstanding flange of the carrier head 264.

In order to insure that the adjustment between the carrier head 204 and the block 214 will not be changed during the downward movement of the knives 42, a thrust pin 224 is adjustably secured in the block 214 and has its lower end in engagement with a face 226 of the carrier head 204.

When it is desired to change to Louis work the carrier head 204, together with the shoulderforming knives 42 and the block 214, may be readily removed from the machine by removing the screws 216 which connect the block 214 to a projecting arm 228 of the operating slide 218. By providing such an arrangement the operator can quickly replace the knife carrier head 204 after it has been removed from the machine in its former position, without having to adjust the shoulder-forming knives 42 with repect to the carrier head.

The operating slide 218 (Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted for reciprocation along a guideway 230 of a guide 232 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon an eccentric pin 234 (Fig. 2) and is provided with a threaded recess 236 (Figs. 2 and 22) which may be moved into registry with one of a plurality of openings 238 formed in the main frame 56. The guide 232 is clamped in adjusted position relatively to the main frame 56 by a screw 237 which passes through one of the openings 238 and is constructed for reception within the threaded recess 236. By providing the above arrangement, the path of reciprocation of the shoulder-forming knives 42 can readily be changed in accordance with the angle to be formed between the hee1-breast receiving shoulders 34 and the plane of the sole. A gib 242 of the guide member 232 forms the bearing surface for one side of the operating slide 218.

The eccentric pin 234 is formed integrally with a shaft 240 which is carried by and is rotatably adjustable in the main frame. The axis of the shaft 240 if continued would extend substantially along the breast edges 44 of the matrix plate 36. By turning the shaft 240 the operator can control the path of movement of the shoulder-forming knives 42 and thereby so position the guide 232 that the knives will move past the breast edges 44 of the matrix plate 36.

In order to operate the presser member 46 and the bulger 46, a head 244 (Figs. 1 and 2) adjustably secured to the rod 134 is linked to a lever 246 pivotally mounted on the main frame and connected through a link 248 to another link 250 which is pivot-ally mounted upon a pin 252 carried by the main frame. erated by a rod 254 which is lengthwise adjustable and carries a safety spring 256 constructed to yield before a force sufficient to strain the parts of the bulger-operating mechanism is imparted to the rod 254. Pivotally connected to the lower end of the rod 254 is an angular plate 258 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is pivotally connected to a shaft 260 of the main frame and is initially operated by a link 262 connected to a treadle 264. The treadle is normally held in a raised position by a spring 265. By the use of the treadle 264 the operator is able to control the presser member 40 during the initial clamping of the sole against the matrix plate 86. In order to force the sole, which has been clamped by the treadle 264, through the U-shaped opening 38 and to exert a secondary clamping pressure against the margin of the sole upon the matrix plate 36 preparatory to operating the heel-seat reducing or tongueforming knife 48, the illustrated machine is provided with power-operated mechanism which is thrown into operation by the treadle 264.

As the treadle 264 is lowered a link 266, the

lower end of which is pivoted to the treadle, causes a bell-crank lever 268, which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 270 of the plate 258, to rock in a counterclockwise direction and to swing a lever 272 rearwardly until a step 274 formed at the upper end of the lever 272 is positioned under an arm 276 keyed to the shaft 260. The bellcrank lever 268 operates the arm 272 through a rod 278 which is pivotally connected to the forward end of the bell-crank lever 268 and carries a spring 280 the rear end of which engages an extension 282 of the arm 272. The shoulder 274 of the arm 272 swings rearwardly into position just before a pin 284 secured to the treadle lever 264 is lowered against the pressure of a spring 285 into engagement with a trip lever 286 which is normally held in a raised position by a spring 287 and releases a one-revolution clutch (not shown) for setting in motion a two-groove cam 288 mounted upon a drive shaft 290. It will be noted that the spring 285 normally retains the pin 284 against the upper end of a groove 289 (Fig. 3) formed in the link 262 until the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole has been initially clamped against the matrix plate 36 and that upon continue-d downward movement of the treadle 264 the pin 284 is moved to the bottom of the groove 289. In order to insure that the step 274 is held in engagement with the arm 276 while the heel-seat portion of the sole is distorted, the lever 272 is swung with considerable force into its rearward position through the spring 280.

Power is supplied to the shaft 290 through a belt-driven pulley 292. Rotation of the cam 288 causes an arm 294, which is attached to the shaft 266 and is provided with a cam roll 296 shaped and arranged for engagement within a cam groove 298, to swing downwardly and thusv 42v are set in motion by the cam 288 before the bulger 46 is operated by the cam. As the treadle 264 is lowered by foot pressure the presser member 40 and the bulger 46 are moved to positions illustrated in Fig. 4 and the step 2'74 is swung to a position beneath but spaced from the arm 276. Upon further downward movement of the treadle 264 against the pressure of spring 285 the lever 286 is tripped to set into motion the cam 2'88. Movement of the cam 283 is immediately imparted to the shoulder-forming knives 42 which start to move toward the crease plate 36. As the shoulder-forming knives 42 move past the forward edges 44 of the crease plates, the arm 2'76 engages the step 2'74 and lowers the bulger 46 and continues to move the shoulder forming knives 42 downwardly with the bulger until the knives extend approximately one-eighth of an inch below the lower surface of the matrix plate 36, as shown in Fig. 5.

The lost-motion in the bulger-operating mechanism due to the providing of a gap between the step 274 and the arm 2'76 determines the lead of the shoulder-forming knives 42 over the bulger 46.

It will be understood that the size of the gap may be varied to increase or decrease the amount of lead of the shoulder-forming cutter 42 over the bulger by forming the step 274 upon a removable abutment 275, the lever 272 being constructedand arranged to receive interchangeably one of a plurality of abutments of different shapes. The step 274 may, if desirable, be mounted for adjustment relatively to the lever 272.

As above stated, it is sometimes necessary to 'exert three thousand pounds pressure in distorting the central part of the heel-seat portion of a thick sole which is not in temper. Accordingly, during each cycle of operation of the machine the cylindrical housing 152 is moved against the bearing portion 132 of the main frame which serves as a stop to limit the downward movement of the bulger 46. By driving the bulger through the spring 256 the operating parts which are used to distort the heel-seat portionof the sole are not strained when the cylindrical housing 152 engages the stop 132.

The tongue-forming cutter 48 is secured by mechanism which will later be described, to a slide 302 (Fig. 2) mounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine along a guideway 304 of the main frame. The slide 302 is operated by a link 306 pivotally connected to a bell-crank lever 308 positioned upon a pin 310 secured to the main frame, the forward end of the lever 308 being pivotally connected to a link 312 having at its lower end a cam follower 314 (Fig. 1) shaped and arranged to engage within a camway 316 of the cam 288.

The illustrated cutting edge of the knife 48 (Fig. 15) is incurved to correspond to the curvature of the rear faces of the shank portions 196 (Fig. 10)

rier 318 (Fig. 15) having an undercut slot shaped to receivea shank portion 322 of the knife and carrying a screw 324. The knife 48 may be adjusted relatively to the carrier 318 by loosening a set screw 326 and turning the screw 324 which is in threaded relation with a block 328 having a depending portion shaped to fit in an opening 330 of the shank portion 322 of the knife. After effecting such adjustment the set screw 326 is tightened to clamp the knife 48 to the carrier 318, The lateral portions 332 of the carriage 318 are constructed and arranged for reception in correspondingly shaped guideways formed in a transversely extending lug 334 of the operating slide 302, the carrier 318 being secured against movement lengthwise of the guideways by a. screw 336 carried by the transversely extending lug 334 and constructed for reception within a threaded opening 338 of the carrier 318.

The heel-seat reducing or tongue-forming knife 48 (Fig. 6) forces the heel end of the shoe away from the matrix plate 36 as it reduces the heel-seat portion of the sole and causes the shoe progressively to pivot about the heel-breast line 52 of the sole. When the heel-breast receiving shoulders 34 are formed prior to reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole it will be clear, as above explained, that since the heel-seat portion of the sole is held against movement by its margin which is to be removed from the sole, there is only a thin strip of uncut marginal material to hold the sole and the shoe from being moved forwardly as the tongue-forming cutter 48 arrives at a position adjacent to the breast line 52. Accordingly, when the cutter 48 is about a sixteenth of an inch away from the previously formed heelbreast receiving shoulders the forward pressure of the tongue-forming cutter 48, especially when such cutter is dull, causes the U-shaped chip trimmed from the heel-seat portion of the sole to be torn from the sole along the lateral portions of the base of the tongue 32. When the operator does not permit the shoe to pivot as above described there is a tendency for the U-shaped" In order to insure that the chip is not pulled from the sole as above described, the shoulderforming knives 42 of the illustrated machine move approximately an eighth of an inch below the bottom face of the matrix plate 36 and are temporarily held in such position until the tongue-forming knife 48 has removed the U- shaped chip 340 (Fig. 21) from the heel-seat portion of the sole. The shoulder-forming knives 42, which serve as supports about which the shoe pivots as the tongue-forming knife 48 approaches the heel-breast line of the sole, prevent the shoe from being moved forwardly by the tongue-forming cutter 48 and serve as anvils against which the tongue-forming cutter acts, thereby insuring that clean-cut dihedral angles are formed where the lateral margins of the reduced heel-seat portion of the sole join the respective heel-breast receiving shoulders 34.

In order to dispose of the U-shaped chip 340, which after the heel-seal fitting operation remains on the matrix plate 36, the illustrated machine is provided with an ejector 344 (Fig. 2) which is mounted for swinging movement upon the screw 138 carried by the bearing housing 132 and automatically moved forwardly the rod 134 is raised, thereby forcing the chip 340 off the matrix plate 36. The ejector 344 is normally held in its rearward position shown in Fig. 2 bya spring 346, the extent of rearward movement of the ejector being limited by engagement

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