US1012681A - Machine for molding top-lifts. - Google Patents

Description

v B. P MAYOL MAGHINB'POR MOLDING TOP LIFTS.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.20, 1907.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. MAYO, 0F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PA'IERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING TOP-LIFTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 26, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. MAYO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Molding Top-Lifts, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for molding and condensing, or for simply molding top lifts for the heels of boots and shoes, and it relates especially to the dies or molding parts used in such a machine.

It is desirable in molding a top lift to give to its edge a bevel or inclination so that in the manufacture of a heel having a considerable pitch or bevel, such as a military heel for example, there will be a minimum waste of material as a result of the heel trimming operation. With the molds or dies commonly used for producing beveled top lifts, however, a fin or ragged corner is very likely to be formed at the line of junction of the ,tread face and the curved edge during the molding operation by reason of the occurrence of a crevice between the die which acts upon the tread face and the die or dies which produce the beveled edge of the top lift. As a result, the corner and the portion of the edge of the top lift adjacent the tread face are poorly molded, impairing the appearance and wearing qualities of the finished heel and furnishing an irregular and uneven surface which, according to usual practice, must be used as a guide for the trimming cutters during the operation of trimming the heel upon a heel trimming machine. Moreover, since a narrow portion of the edge of the top lift adjacent the tread face serves as a guiding surface in the heel trimming operation, as just indicated, it is desirable, even although the greater portion of the edge of the top lift is beveled, to leave the portion of the edge immediately adjacent the tread face not beveled but perpendicular to such face.

It is a primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide molds for shaping, and preferably also for condensing, top lifts which shall include, in addition to the other necessary molding parts or dies, a die or dies, for acting upon the edge of the top lift, the acting surfaces of which shall comprise two portions, one beveled and another perpendicular to the molding surface of the die which acts upon the tread face.

Preferably, the die or dies which form the beveled edge are made adjustable, in the direction of the thickness of the top lift, relatively to the die which acts upon the tread face so that it is possible to vary the height of that part of the molding chamber which forms the perpendicular portion of the edge of the top lift. It is usually desirable also to have the bevel greatest at the rear of the top lift with less bevel or inclination at the breast edge, which is generally perpendicular.

Herein the term perpendicular, as applied to the description of the edge of the top lift, is employed to mean perpendicular.

to the faces, and especially the tread face, in contra-distinction to the term beveled.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section,'showing molding parts or dies embodying the present inventionin its preferred form, with a condensed top lift shown within the molding chamber; Fig. 2 is a view in perspective ofthe molding parts separated from each other; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view-of a top lift which is produced by the use of the dies shown in Figs. land 2. I

In the drawings, 2 represents the upper die, commonly called the follower; 4, the side dies; 6, the breast die or plate; and 8, the lower die or pressure plate, all of which together form the molding chamber. These parts, except as herein set forth, are or may be similar to the corresponding parts now in use in a well known machine employed for condensing top lifts, and these parts are or maybe actuated to mold the top lift in the same manner as in said machine and substantially as in Letters Patent of the United States No. 776,787, granted December 6, 1904. It will be sufficient to state that the dies 2 and 8 are moved toward each other to mold the top lift and that, during such movement, the side dies 4 and the breast die 6 are moved toward each other so that the top lift blank to be compressed and molded perpendicular surface 16.

is completely inclosed by the dies and subjected to the necessary pressure.

As shown in the drawings, the side dies are somewhat beveled near the top, as at 10, in order that the upper die 2 may easily enter between them. Below this beveled surface is provided a perpendicular surface 12 in which the die 2 moves during the molding operation. The portions of the side dies which give the final shape to the top lift comprise the beveled surface 14, just below the perpendicular surface 12, and the As indicated in the drawings, the lower die 8' does'not eX- tend upwardly into the molding chamber as far was the beveled surface 14 so that a portion of the surface 16 is effective to shape the lower portion of the edge of the top lift. During the molding operation, the die 8 has no vertical movement relatively to the side dies 4, but, in order that the height of the perpendicular portion 16, which is effective in molding the top lift, may be varied, plates or shims 18 may be interposed between the die 8 and the'movable cross-head or bed 20. These plates 18 may be removed readily from the machine and, if desired, others substituted so that while the vertical position of the lower die 8 relatively to the side dies 4 may be adjusted yet, after an adjustment has been made, the portion of the surface 16 which shall be eifective in the molding operation is positively pr ede termined. As above indicated the'angle of the bevel 14 is usually made greatest at the rear and less or, it may be, m'l at the front or breast.

In practical use, the adjustment of the machine is such that, when the top lift is under its maximum pressure and the dies are in final molding position, the side dies 4 and breast die 6 are tightly closed together to leave no appreciable crack or crevice between them, the upper die 2 fits tightly within the perpendicular portion 12 of the side dies with its lower face substantially in the plane of the junction of surfaces 12 and 14, and the lower die tightly fits the surfaces 16 of the side dies and the vertical surface of the breast die 6, the upper face of the lower die being a predetermined distance below the line of junction of surfaces 14 and 16. It will be noted that, when the dies are in this position, they inclose a molding chamber which has a total height equal to that of a condensed top lift consisting of a single thickness of sole leather and that the 1 beveled portion 14 and the active part of the perpendicular portion 16 are each of less height than a single top lift. It is to be understood, however, that the machine illustrated could be used for operating upon pieced top lifts as well as top lifts made of a single piece of leather.

By the use of a machine constructed as rental has just been described, the top lift A, produced will have an edge comprising a beveled portion, such as E, Fig. 3, and a perpendicular portion F, the breast edge D being generally perpendicular, although it may be otherwise if desired. The corner of the top lift, that is the line of junction be tween the tread face C and the perpendicu- Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine for molding top lifts, dies through which a molding pressure is exertr ed upon the faces and edges of a top 11ft consisting of a single thickness of sole leather, the portions of the dies which engage the edge of the top lift at the sides and rear having in section a shape defined by two angularly disposed straight lines, one inclined and one perpendicular to the acting surface of the lower face die, and means for positioning one face die relatively to the edge dies with provision for relative adjustment to a predetermined extent in a direction perpendicular to the face of said face die.

2. In a machine for molding top lifts, a

beveled and perpendicular portions of which the beveled portion comprises the greater part but not the whole of the acting surface of the edge dies, is of less height than the thickness of the molded top lift and has an inclination diminishing from the rear toward the breast.

3. In a machine for molding and condensing top lifts, a plurality of relatively movable dies through which great pressure is exerted both upon the faces and the edge of a top lift to shape and condense it, said dies being constructed and arranged to inclose, when in molding position, a chamber of the area and height of a condensed top lift consisting of a' single thickness of sole leather,

such engaging portions being of less height than the thickness of the top lift and the active perpendicular portion being of lesser height than the beveled portion.

4. In a machine for molding top lifts, relatively movable side dies, the inner surfaces of those side dies which act upon the edge of the top lift at the rear and sides being beveled at the top and having also another beveled portlon between two straight portions, a vertically adjustable bottom die for acting upon the lower or tread face of a top lift said'bottom die being non-movable vertically during the molding operation relatively to the side dies, and an upper die for acting upon the upper face of the top lift, all of said dies being relatively movable so that they may be brought together with the upper face of within a perpendicular portion of the side dies with its lower face at substantially the line of junction of the beveled portion with such perpendicular portion, whereby a top lift is produced which has an edge with an upper portion beveled and a narrow lower portion adjacent the tread face perpendicular to said face.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. MAYO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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