22,461. Pearson, M. H., Jerram, A. E., and British United Shoe Machinery Co. Oct. 17. Eyeleting; lacing fastenings.-A machine for punching, eyeleting, lacing-hook setting, and like purposes is adapted to operate at a high speed. The eyelet-die bar B, Fig. 3, is operated from the main shaft D by means of a connection consisting of a link which connects the bar with a crank on an adjustable spring bar sliding in a recess in a disc B<2> on the end of the shaft, this arrangement serving to give a yielding reciprocation to the bar B to enable the die to work on material of varying thicknesses. The lower end of the bar B has a slot B<14>, Fig. 5, to receive a nipple-pin B<15>, which is held by friction. Projecting through a slot in the bar B, and above the nipple-pin B<15>, is a pin B<16> on the frame. Thus, when the bar B rises, the nipplepin is punched downwards from the die B<1> so as, on the return movement of the bar B, to pick an eyelet from the eyelet-shoot C, and bring it into position. The eyelet-shoot C, which is pivoted at C', is oscillated to bring the eyelets into position to be engaged by the nipple-pin, by means of a bell-crank lever C'‹, actuated by a cam on the disc B<2>. The pivot of the lever C<10> is eccentrically formed on an angularly-adjustable hub to enable the shoot to be adjusted in its line of movement. The usual eyelet hopper E<8>, and eyelet pot E, Fig. 1, are provided, the latter having brushes, actuated by connection with the bar B, to assort the eyelets. The work-retaining presser G is carried on a sliding bar G', Fig. 5, operated by an arm G<2>, Fig. 3, fixed on a rocking shaft G<3>, the arm G<2> having a spring connection with a pivoted arm G<4>, actuated by a cam-disc G<7>. The presser is held to the work by a spring pin acting on an arm on the shaft G<3>, and is raised to insert the work by a treadle, connected with the shaft G<3> by a bell-crank lever. The anvil or work-support H<1>, which is mounted on a horn H of usual construction, is provided with a curved surface H<2> of a concavity corresponding to that of a sphere, the centre of which coincides with the centre of oscillation of the punch, or the concavity may be formed to correspond with that of a hollow cylinder, the punch being correspondingly shaped. The punch P is carried on a punch-bar P' which engages in a slot in a block P<2> mounted on a stud P<3>, the bar sliding in the slot when raised or lowered for punching purposes, and oscillating about the stud for feeding purposes. The punch is raised and lowered by toggle-levers P', P<5>, connected with the bar P' and with a pivot pin P<6> which is actuated by a cam on the disc G<7>. Arrangements are provided to compensate for the wear of the punch, or to adjust its pressure on the anvil. In a modified arrangement for suspending and operating the punch-bar, the toggle-lever P<4> is connected to the bar P<1> through a connecting-arm which is pivoted to a spring pin, thus preventing undue pressure of the punch against the face of the anvil. The punch is moved laterally for feeding purposes by a lever P", Figs. 3 and 10, connected at one end with the bar P<1> and at the other end with a vibratory crank P<15>, or equivalent, and having intermediate of its ends a flattened portion sliding in a vertical slot in a stud P<17>, rotatably mounted in a cavity in a pendent block P<18>, the stud thus forming a fulcrum for the lever. The crank moves through an angle of 180‹ or so, and will be about its dead centre at the beginning and end of each return movement. The punch having operated, is, before it is fully withdrawn, thus used to feed the material. The feed may be varied by swinging the block P<18> to change the position of the fulcrum. This may be effected by means of an arm P<25> on the shaft P<24> to which the block P<18> is fixed, the arm P<25> moving over a pivoted segmental plate P<26>, Fig. 1, having holes to receive stops P<28>, P<29>, which limit the movement of the arm. The arm is normally held against the stop P<28> by means of a spring, and is moved against the stop P<29> by means of a treadle. The feed may be also regulated by varying the effective throw of the crank. To enable the operator to punch holes and insert eyelets, or merely to punch holes, the segmental plate P<26> is arranged to move on its pivot between two positions, and to be locked at will in either position, it being provided with a tooth P<35> which may thus be brought in or out of the path of movement of an extension C<14> of the bell-crank lever which operates the eyelet shoot. When the tooth engages with the extension, the eyelet shoot is not operated. The spacing between the perforations, or eyelets, may be regulated by adjusting the segmental plate. The positions of the punch on the line of its feed movement, may be adjusted in any of several ways described. The lower eyelet die is carried in a block adapted to slide vertically in the horn H. The block is connected by links or toggles to a curved arm or slide by which it is actuated. An improvement of the clutch described in Specification No. 22,667, A.D. 1902, may be used for the driving-shaft D. The continuously-rotating member R<6>, Figs. 3 and 12, of the clutch is mounted on the end of the shaft D, the other member R<1>, which is connected with the shaft by a key D<1>, consisting of a sleeve R provided with a flange having an inclined face R<4> for engagement with the face R<5> of the member R<6>, and a vertical face R<2> for engagement with a brake ring R<3> at the rear. On the sleeve R is a thrust-ring R<8> which abuts at one end against a collar R<9> on the sleeve, and at the other end is connected with a fixed bearing A<7> by ball-ended studs, which, when the ring R<8> is rotated, serve to move it longitudinally, thus pushing the collar R<9> against the action of the springs R<11> and throwing the clutch out of action. Within the ring R<8> is a ring R<16>, surrounding a cam-shaped part R<15> of the sleeve R. A screw R<17>. passing through the ring R<8>, connects the ring R<16> with a bell-crank lever R<18>, R<21>, the arm R<21> being connected with one link R<22> of a toggle, the other link R<23> of which is connected with a pivoted lever R<24>. The end R<27> of the lever R<24> is withdrawn from a slot in the ring R<8> when the treadlerod R<28> operates to break the toggle, thus permitting the springs R<11> to move the clutch into action. When, however, by means of a spring, the toggle is expanded, as shown in Fig. 12, the end R<27> engages in the slot, and by means of the cam and mechanism as shown, the ring R<8> is rotated to withdraw the clutch. The cam may be replaced by an eccentric and strap.