US1085385A - Lasting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

E. 1. LA UHAPELLE.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.21,1912.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

K725872302; LMJ? x2 '5 E. 1. LA GHAPELLE.

v LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1912.

2 sums-sum z.

Patented Jan. 27., 1914.

witnesses:

EUCLID I. LA CHAPELLE, F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

LASTIN G- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented J an. 27, 1914.

Application filed August 21, 1912. Serial No. 716,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUCLID L La Cine reruns, of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massacluisetts, have invented certain new and useful lmprove1uents 1n Lastingdslachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates-to lasting machines and more particularly to such machines having a plurality of lasting grippers and fats telling inserting devices.

This invention is illustrated in the drawings as applied to the United States patent to Ronald Mcl eely, No. (363,777, dated Dec. 11, 1900. This machine is selected as a type of the lasting machines to which this invention may be applied and it is to be understood that the invention may equally well be applied to various other lasting machines.

It is well known to those skilled in the art of making shoes, that the most satisfacttu'y shoe is obtained by securing the upper to the sole with the tip-seam diagonally disposed to the longitudinal median line of the shoe. A machine for lasting shoes in this manner is shown in the patent to Arthur Bates, bio. l.UUtJ,-l;5U, dated October 2 t, lllll.

One object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for securing the above described diagonal position of the tipseam and setting the upper to the wood of the last. This feature is carried into ell'ect by ctmstructing the grippers which engage the marginal portion of the upper near each end of the tip-seam so that the grippers at one end of the seam are stopped and held in a predetermincd position lengthwise ot' the last at one side while the seam is set diagonally of the last by the movement of the grippers. In some cases I may impart the foredraw movement: to each of the grippers so as to strainthe upper toward the toe of the last as is usual. In such a case 1 would set the stopping means prior to the toredraw movement to positively stop the grippers at one side or" the last to set the tip-seam as has been described. The devices for positively stopping; the toredraw movement of the grip iers are adjustable so that the degree at the angle of the tip-seam and the point at which the s am is held toward the toe of the last may be varied according to the different styles of lasts. One end of the tip-seam being thus held at a predetermined position at one of the last, brings about. uniformity in length of tip at that side of the last, provided that the toe of the last is set at each operation against the toe-end gripper, by the operator. t

In lasting a shoe by hand, some workmen first pull the toe-end of the vamp or of the tip, as the case may be, and then move the ramp and its seams laterally of the last, toward the big toe-side, and they then secure the toe-end of the upper to the last. hey next pull the upper at the little toe side of the last at sutlieient distance to allow for the lasting tacks to be inserted properly. They then fasten the vamp to the last, Or to the sole 0n the last, as the case maybe, They next strain from the big toe side of the last. upwardly and forwardly and finally apply fastenings to that side of thelast. It has been found that it is productive of better results and easier for the worlnnan to strain the upper mostly from the big toe side of the last as above explained.

The general object of this invention is to provide a lasting machine producing uniformly lasted shoes, whether or not one. side of the upper has been pulled more than the other side. it is also an object of this invcntion to provide means in a lasting maehine for lasting a shoe in a manner 1'1'es1) )hding to the hand operation above explained. To the aceoiuplishineni; of this object a fut ther feature of the inn-union comprises means for causing the grippers on one side of the uppe. preferably the outside or little toe side, to pull or hold without pulling the upper toward the bottom of the last so as to provide the desired margin of iro n'r to be secured to the last. The linal strausingg and setting of the upper is done by the grippeiu: t on the 1ns1de, or big toe side of the laat. An adjustable stop is provided for each gripper to limit the distance through which it moves to pull the upper in readiness to be fastened to the last. Ordimzrily the stops controlling the grippers at the l'iig toe side at the last are ren h=red inoperative so that the upper is strained at that side of the last against the usual spring tension of the grippers. In some instances however, it is desirable that the stops on both sides of the last shall be operated so that there will be a positive limit to the movement of the grip persat each side of the last. Uniformity in length of tip will then result as both ends f the tip-seam are thus set at predetermined positions lengthwise oi the inst.

In some cases I per actuating levers so that the grippers do not reach the predetermined limit of their movement at a single Operation of the machine. The hand levers controlling the grippers shown in the'aforementioned Mc- Feely patent are then manually operated to complete the movement of the grippers to their positive stopping point. It is desirable that the final pulling movement of the upper shall be slow on some styles of lasts in order to avoid tearing the vamp or the lining. I

The updraw straining movement of the grippers is of greater importance than the foredraw movement and in. some cases,

the foredraw movement may be dispensed.

with, as for instance, when an upper has been pulled lengthwise prior overoperation proper.

The two features of this invention hereinbefore described may be however very conveniently combined as is illustrated in the drawings. These features in their simplest form would be exemplified by a single pair of grippers at or near each end of the tip-seam of an upper on a last. The grippers at the little toe side of the last having a limited movement and the grippers at the big toe side having a movement which may or may not have a positive limit to set the upper to the lines of the last and a foredraw movement to move the tip-seam about an airis passing substantially through the other grippers that have already been moved to a predetermined position. The two grippers described may be sufficient, in some cases, to properly last a shoe.

The strain required to properly last an upper as contemplated by this invention is considerably less than that required by the machines at present in use. Another advantage in the manner of operation of this invention is apparent when used on welt shoes. In making welt shoes it is customary to secure an insole to thelast'with the pe-. riphery of the big toe side of the forepart of the sole coincident with the corresponding part of the last, thus allowing any surplus width of the sole to. project over the bottom of the last at the little toe side. In the pulling over machines heretofore employed the upper on each side of the last has been drawn upwardly. A projecting edge of the insole would then be bent away from the bottom of the last by the friction of the vamp against the sole edge during the updraw movement of the grippers. At the welt sewing operation the needle would then be liable to engage the edge of the insole,

, so that the stitches would, in some instances,

pass through the edge of the insole after passing through the between substance. In the present invention, the final strain of the upper is preferably at the big toe side of set the tension of the grip.

to the pulling ping means the last where there is no projecting insole edge. Thus the edge of the insole at the little toe side is bent by the friction of the vamp, toward the last and against its side out of the path of the needle during the well: sewing operation. This is made possible by the grippers at the little toe side of the last yielding under the influence of the grippers at the big toe side of the last at the end of their straining movement on the vamp. This advantage may also be of value in other kinds of shoes wherein the edge of the sole projects over the edge of the last at one side.

As has this invention is to secure uniformity in lasting, and for this reason, positive stopping means are always preferable whenever the nature of the work will vantage, in some cases, to pull an upper to indefinite points at both sides of the last and to have positive stopping the grippers at one side of the last from movement toward the last under the influence of the grippers having greater pulling power at the other side of the last.

A. novel and important feature of this invention resides in the provision of means to render the stopping means operative or inoperative as may be desired. The stopshown in the drawings are the These may berendered inoperthe hooks away from the actuating levers 6 or hooks 26. ative by turning path or the gripper 7 which will allOW the grippers at both sides of the last to pull the upper to an indefinite point. After the gripper actuating lever at one side of the last has passed the hook 26 while it is in operative position, the hook may be tu'rned'so as to lie beneath the lever and thereby prevent it from being drawn toward the last by the pull of the grippers at the opposite side of the last transmitted through the upper. t hook should be turned under the lever having the lesser pulling power. In this manner, a predetermined stopping point is provided to limit the movement of the grippers toward the last after the upper has been pulled.

In some cases it may be desirable to employ the hooks 26 to hold the grippers at a predetermined distance from the last without exerting any pull on the upper by the grippers so held. In this instance, the operator would move the/grippers at one side of the therefrom by moving the gripper actuating levers 6 or '4' as is described in the aforementioned patent to movement of the levers causes the grippers to close automatically on the upper. After the operator has moved the grippersthrough a suthcient distance to cause them. to engage the upper, the hook or hooks at that side of the last can be turned, as

means-t0 hold McFeely. The upward has open described,

permit. It is of adis apparent that the last to a predetermined distance so as to hold the grippers a positive distance away from the last at that side.

Another novel and important feature of this invention relates to means for supporting the last which may be laterally inclined to the plane of the upper engaging devices, which as herein described, are the grippers.

I provide supports at each side of the last with means for independent adjustment toward and from the last. The supports may be actuated at any time. In some cases, the supports are preferably actuated after the upper has been-strained so as to alternately-move the sides of the last in the upper to secure a better adjustment of the upper to the lines of the last. These adjustments of the supports are necessary only in special cases where Vamps or vamp linings do not properly fit the last. I have also found it desirable to provide means for adjusting the grippers toward and from the last and for holding them in adjusted posi tions as will be hereinafter set forth.

lVhen a lasting machine includes means for supporting the last against lengthwise movement, the toe gripper may be dispensed with. Supporting means of this character are set forth in a United States Patent No. 950,179, dated Feb. 22, 1910, issued to the present applicant. The advantages of these features and such others as may hereinafter appear will be apparent to'one skilled in the art from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which z- Figure l is a side elevation of the lasting machine shown in the United States patent to Ronald F. McFeely, No. 663,777, dated Dec. 11, 1900, having the preferred form of the present invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the machine to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail showing the means for stopping the straining movement of the grippers; Fig. 4 is a detail in section of the means for guiding the toe grippers and for permitting a lateral movement. thereof; Fig.-

5 1s a sectional detail showing the means for adjusting the support of the side grippers to be hereinafter explained; Fig. 6 is a perspective of a shoe which has been lasted in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention; Fig. 7 is-abottom view of the last supporting means; and Fig. 8 is a sectional detail showing particularly the means for adjusting the last supporting means. i

The gerieral construction and operation of the machine illustrated in the drawings may be identiqil with the construction shown in the patent to McFeely. A toe gripper 1 is carried by a support 2 (Fig. 4) and adapted to be operated in the usual manner. Side grippers 3 and 4 are carried by guides 5 and actuated to pull the upper through suitable connections to levers (Sand 7. These levers are actuated to move the side grippers from an eccentric cam 8 which is constructed to move the levers through springs 9 and 10 at each side of the machine, as is set forth in the patent hereinbefore referred to.

As described in the patent the springs 9 and 10-may be adjusted to vary their tension by means of thumb nuts 9 and 10. In the use of my invention I adjust one of the springs by means of its nut to preferably give a greater strain on one side of the shoe than upon the other. It is usual for the operative to adjust the springs so as to produce equal strains on each side of the vamp. In the general use of my invention, I find it desirable to have the greater spring tension on the gripper at the big toe side of the last for welt and turn shoes, and at the little toe side of the last for McKay shoes. A greater strain is also secured upon the upper on one side of the shoe than upon the other by an appropriate adjustment of the last supporting devices hereinbefore mentioned. These devices engage the last near the sides. A third foot 13 is provided to engage the forepart of the last near the toe. In order to produce a greater strain upon one side .of the upper than upon the other, the feet 11 and 12 are independently adjustable so as to hold one side of the last lower 9 than the other. The feet 11 and 12 are both 0 mounted in the same manner, so that but one of these need be described. Referring to Fig. 8 the foot 11 is pivoted on one end of the lever 14 which is in turn pivoted at 15 on a plate 16. The foot 11 may be adjustetL to hold the bottom of the last nearer to or farther from the grippers by moving the lever 14.

A lock is provided to secure the lever in its adjusted position. The lock may consist of a latch 17 pivoted on the lever 14 and having one end constructed to engage notches 18 in a segment 19 which is fixed upon the plate 16.

The toe engaging foot 13 is carried on the end of an arm 20 which has the usual adjustments well known to those skilled in the art. It is at present the custom to provide a-rigid toe engaging foot. In the pres ent invention it is desirable that the foot shall be capable of a turning movement so that it may retain its work engaging surface at all times parallel to the bottom of the last. To this end, the foot 13 is freely pivoted on a stud 21 so that it is capable of rocking in accordance with the angular position of the last.

The feature of the invention, above described will secure desirable rcsults in the lasting of uppers that do not properly fit the last, as hcrcinbcfore stated. The quality of the work is greatly improved in some cases by the use of certain adjusting and pout-rolling devices for the grippers. In

' illustrated in the 'at the same time it skilled hand lasters take up some some instances grippers shall be adjusted the work and it is also desirable that the grippers at each side of the last shall be capable of independent adjustment. 1 secured this adjustment by lengthening the connection between the grippers 3 an with their actuating levers 6 and 7. As drawings the connection threaded studs 23 carried and studs 22 secured consists-of screw by the levers 6 and 7 to the'gripper bars. Each pair of studs is connected by a turn buckle. It is apparent that the rotation of the turnbuckle will move the grippers toward or from the work. In order that the gripping action of the pincers of the side grippers 3 and a may occur at the proper time, mechanism is pro vided for adjusting the point of support of the side grippers in accordance with the adjustments'of the turn-buckle 24. This is illustrated in Fig. 5, which also shows a section through the point of support of one of the grippers. The stud 22 is mounted to slide in a collar 35. 'The position of the collar 35 determines the time at which the pincers will open or close. The roller is provided with ears 36 which are .engaged above and below by set screws 37 and 38. A plurality of these screws may be provided. when necessary, to form a path for the collar. It is apparent that the screws on one side of the cars 36 may be loosened and the screws on the other side tightened so as'to cause the grippers to be actuated at the same time on both sides of the last. It will be necessary to readjust the collar 35 whenever one of the turn-buckles 24 is adjusted, in order that the timing of the grippers may be simultaneous. This feature is most desirable for shoe uppers that are very small for the last.

It has beenv found desirable to pull the upper toward the toe, at the sides of the last, is drawn over the last. Machines have been built in which the upper was pulled toward the toe during the lasting operation, but these machines have not been capable of pulling over the upper as well as a skilled hand operator. T he reason for this is that there is more slack material at the shank of the big toe side of the shoe than there is at the other side. The most of this fullness by drawing the side of the tip or the vamp more toward the toe at the big toe side of the last than what they do at the other side. This not only gives a better lasted shoe, but improves the appearance of the shoe by giving the tip-seam a slight slant toward the toe at the big toe side of the shoe. An important feature of this invention comprises means for accomplishing this result in a better manner than hereto fore a cco m pl ished it is desirable that the side toward or fromv side of the last possess It is old to'provide cams indicated at 25 to draw the upper'toward the toe on each side of the last. In the machine of the present invention I contemplate a provision of means for positively stopping at predee i termined points the pulling movements, toward the toe and toward the bottom of the last. This is preferably accomplished by providing means for adjusting the stopping means prior to the pulling movement upon the upper at a predetermined ,point, for stopping the movement 'of. one of the lovers 6 or 7. Two hooks 26 are secured by their screw threaded shanks in a fixed portion at 27 of the machine frame. The hooks are provided with knurled heads 28 by which a they may be adjusted in their supports 2? and also to provide means-for turning one of the hooks away from its cotiperating gripper actuating lever so that the lever may move freely past the hook, as is shown onthe right of Fig. 3. In this figure the upward movement of the lever (B will be stopped while the other lever continues to the full limit of its motion. The point at which the motion of the lever is stopped may be varied by turning the hookin the support 27 and then locking it in its ad" justed position by a set screw 29. As shown in the drawings, the lei-er at the little toe is stopped, while the lever at the other side passes the hook unail ected.

The cams 25 controlling the grippers at the sides of the last, as shown in the drawings, have two distinct motions or paths. 106 The first cam motion is straight upwardly. The second motion is upwardly and forwardly. I preferably adjust-the stopping means at the little toe side of the last to stop the grippers at that side of the last, before the start of the second motion, for imparting a foredraw movement to the grippers,

When the upward movement of one of the grippers is stopped the foredraw is of course also stopped, while the movement toward the 1m toe on theother side continues. It is also evident from the foregoing description that the updraw movement of the grippers, at one side of the last, will be longer than the other and will-have greater straining power. In the operation of this machine I prefer to have the excess length of the pull and strain at the big toe side of the last, so as to move strain, and set the upper and its seems more toward that side of the last, than toward the other side. r '5 V The toe grippers with the tip should move slightly sidcwise of the last under the indie ence of the side grippers, at one side of the last. It is desirable that the toe gripper 1 shall be capable of a slight lateral movement in order that it may not retard the action of the side grippers, or exert torsional strain on the vamp. To this end the casing 80 is provided at its upper end with a collar 31 13p routines wiitiou d 5.; in relatively iargc holc, 3:4 in the suoport 2 in which it 13 normally cenll; vo

ilimgcrs 33. The 'ultahie pocluets 1n pressed toward onc It is obvious that both siccs of the vamp coouai there will ha no tendency ppcr to move toward oncside o hcr. out; when the pull on one side i the vauui and tip excccds the puli on the othcr side there will he a strain on the toe gr ppers toward the side having thc greater null With a toe gripper constructciil as has 15 hos-u (lost-filled, tho pull on tho tip, or upper at the side of the last will produce a slight latcral movement of the too grippers without interfering with tho continued strain of tho side of last grippc s.

Fig. l; shows an orijhrrirf; :ppsr which has hccn strained and set; over last a and at tachcd to a sole 11 by my improved machino. The tipseam at the point a has been drawn toward the toe more than the ip'seanl at tho point I). This figure also snows a greater portion of the vamp strained and set over on the bottom of the last at the big toe side part of the last than on the other side. Having described the preferred embodiment of my invention. What i claim as ncw and desire to secure by Let 5 Patent isz-- l. A lasting machine, having, in mmoina- "on. means for straining an upper over a at the sides and at the toe-end, means for moppingthe straining movcmcut at a predel ocrmit a grater straining movement at other sidc of the last and. means to allow ining means ic of the last. n, ombina a a last. ing the pull points, i-tans :t'or

tno'vcuicnt tor opening hings to on after said proan up inst and automoving the 'hc straining having. in combinaninz or. upper ov iusting the from the upper: means Unit mcans to a nod point at. one/side of the last. means ,iulermirtcntly into the upper. and

Cli

cd positions and moans for limiting the straining movcnzcnt of the straining means.

5. A lasting machine having, in'combinalion. grippers for pulling an upper on a last. actuating means to impart a reciprocating movement to tho grippers, and stops adjacent thc path of movement of the grip: pm actuating means constructed to he positioned with relation to said actuating means n the path of n'iovement of the actuating rncans to limit the movement of said means toward the last and constructed to be posi- Iioncd rvlative to the actuating, means so as to limit tho movement of said means away from the last.

6. A. lasting machine having, in comhination. grippers for pulling an upper at the sides of a last. moans adapted to hold the side of the last at a predefrom the last after tho upper has hc-cn cugag'cd by the grippers, and means for pulling the upper by tho grippers at the other side of the last against the side thus hold. said holding means being capable of assuming an inoperative position during, the movement of the grippers away from the last and an opc'ativc position during the movement of the grippers tovard the last.

7. A lasting machine having. in combination, grippers actuating devices to move tlu grippers toward and from the last, stops 3. i lasting machinc having, in combinasidcs ot' a last through unequal distances, moans adapted to he positioned to hold the pulling means having the lesser pulling movcmont against thcv strain of thc pulling mains having tho greater pulling movement. and means adapted to lock said holding means as positioned by the operator.

9. A lasting machine havingiu comhination. mains for pulling an upper at oppositc sitlcs of a last with unequal strain, u'pins uaiaplcd to permit tho operator to more the pulling moans away from the last. and un ons adapted to hopositioncd to hold tho pulllu power against, the strain of the pulling means having the greater straining power.

10. it lasting machine. having. in combination. grippers adaptcd to engage an uppcr on a last. means, undcr control of the operator. whereby the last may ho means whereby the said means, under control of the operator, may he held in adjusted position after tha movcmcnhof the last into the nppcr,

1011, means for pulling on upper at opposite moved means having a lesser straining 0 nation, grippers adapted 11. A lasting machine, having, in oomhitional means, under control of the operator,

whereby the,last may be moved into the upper after the automatic actuation of the means to move the last into the upper.

12. A. lasting machine, having, in combito be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage an upper on the last, means, under control of the op- 'ipemee emtor whereby the last may ,be moved at one si ie of the upper, and means, under control of the operator, whereby the lastmay 15 be held as finally positioned into the upper before the application of testenings to hold the upper in lasted condition.

In testimony whereof l have afiixed my signature, in presence 0 two Witnesses.

EUGLlD 1. LA CHARELLE. Witnesses A. C. CONNOLLY, R. F. HATCH.

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