252,265. Denne, M. T., and Gimson Shoe Machinery Co., Ltd. Dec. 30, 1924. Sole-levelling.-Relates to machines of the kind having an oscillating form - and means to move the shoe support and form in synchronism during the levedling operation; and consists in the provision of feeler mechanism actuated by contact with the shoe on its support and determining the position of the form in relation to the plane in which the sole of the shoe moves during the levelling operation. The shoesupporting jack moves in a rectilinear path. The form 5, Fig. 3, is clamped by eccentric pins 6 to a sleeve 7 on a shaft 4, the sleeve being oscillated by toothed gearing in timed relation to the raciprocation of the shoe carrying jack. The vertical position of the shaft 4 is determined by the height of the sole as this passes under a feeler roll 35, Fig. 6, in its transit from the work positioning to the levelling situation in the machine. In this transit the sole lifts the roll 35 which is con. nected by links 41, 43 and levers to an arm 47 on a fixed pivot 46, the arm being retained by pawls 65 in the position to which it has been raised. The arm 47 is provided with a finger 48 co-operating with teeth 54 on an arm on an eccentric 52 engaging a bearing block 2<a>. The shaft 4 is pressed upwards by springs so that the block is kept in contact with the eccentric, this being urged clockwise by a spring and moved in the opposite direction by a rod 80 operated by a cam on the jack carriage so that when the work is being positioned the teeth 54 are clear of the linger 48, and as the carriage moves towards the levelling position the eccentric is turned to an extent determined by the position of the finger 48 and is then held. To allow regulation of the levelling pressure an adjustment is provided between the roll 35 and the finger 48, the roll being mounted on a lever pivoted to a slide 38 adjustable vertically by inclines 58, 60 adjusted by a hand wheel. If this adjustment is not required the roll may be mounted at the end of the rod 43. The jack carriage is reciprocated by a worm 26, Fig. 7, driving a worm wheel on which is a crank linked to a lever 16 restrained at one end by a link 18 and pivoted at the other end to a reciprocating slide 15. This slide is provided with a spring plunger 90, Figs. 9 and 10, the upper end of which is toothed to engage either of two correspondingly toothed members 94, 94<a> at the front and rear respectively, of the jack carriage. Each of these members is provided with a shield 98 operated by plungers 120, 122 to prevent the teeth engaging when this is not desired. This engagement is controlled by a cam shaft 103, Fig. 16, provided with a handle for the operator, the shaft having cams 104, 105 on opposite sides of the shaft and spaced apart so that by manipulation of the cam shaft the appropriate toothed members can be caused to engage and disengage, so that, after work positioning, the jack carriage may be first moved rearwardly to the forward extreme ot its levelling position, then reciprocated in the levelling position until the operation is complete, and finally returned to the operator for changing the work. The jack carriage, Fig. 15, comprises a heel rest vertically adjustable, having inclined plates 151, 152 with toothed surfaces. The toe rest 154 is similar and is also provided with a vertical adjusting nut 157. The toe and heel rests can be adjusted towards or from each other. Centralizing arms are provided comprising two pairs of levers 180, 200, Fig. 14, with pads at their free ends and screw-operated wedges 190, 204, for closing them on to the shoe. The jack may be raised or lowered as a whole by a handle 171, Fig. 15, connected by bevel gearing to screwed sleeves 164, 166 at the-front and rear of the jack.