US1117852A - Apparatus for moistening shoes. - Google Patents

Description

J. H JOHNSON. APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING SHOES. APPLIOATI'ON FILED MAY 23, 1912.

1,1 1?,8% Patented N0v.17,1914.

LWM 2; a

STATES PTENT CE.

JOY-IN H. JOHNSON, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATER-SON, NEVJ JERSEY,

A CGKEGRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING SHOES.

Application filed May 23, 1913.

To all III/L077} it may concern Be it known that 1, Joint H. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at lllanchester, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Mois tening Shoes, 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.

In connection with the pulling-over and lasting operations on boots and shoes it has been found very advantageous to moisten, by means of steam or vapor, the parts of the shoe that are pulled or stretched most severely during these operations. These parts are, of course, the toe and vamp portions of the upper, although it has also been proposed to treat the heel portions of the upper in a. similar manner. lVhile various forms of apparatus for steaming the toes of shoes have gone into general use, these devices are all, so far as I have been ablecto learn, open to the objection that it is almost impossible to use them without wetting the insoles and the lasts, and that great care must be exercised in order to avoid burning and discoloring the upper stock. The lasts, of course, are very likely to split or check if the moisture penetrates into the wood; and most insoles will either shrink when moistened with steam or hot vapor or will become very brittle on drying out after being moistened in this manner. Uppers made from certain grades of stock also require considerable care in handling since, if subjected. to vapor at too high a temperature they will shrivel up and burn, or if hot water is spattered on then) it will burn the stock and will spotcolored leathers.

It is an important object of this invention to devise a moistening apparatus of the character above indicated that will avoid.

these objections. To this end I have de signed a novel form of apparatus and have devised a peculiar construction of nozzle which, in the preferred form, is adapted to project foetwecn the last and the upper of the shoe and to direct steam or vapor against the part of the upper material which it is desired to moisten, while protecting the last and other portions of the shoe from contact with the steam or vapor.

Referring now to the accompanying draw Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Serial No. 769,434.

ings, Figure 1 shows in front elevation an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and designed particularly for moistening the toes of shoes preparatory to lasting them; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken on the plane indicated by the line 28. Fig. 1, the shoe rest being shown in side elevation.

The apparatus shown comprises a casing 2 supporting on its upper side two nozzles. Each of .these nozzles consists of a body l, having a base that is tapped to receive a nipple 6 by which it is connected to the casing, and a hollow semi-cylindrical portion inclined forwardly at a considerable angle and constituting the back wall of the nozzle.

This wall is curved forwardly at its upperend and is rounded to fit under the toe portion of a partly lasted shoe. The nozzle also has a front wall 8 that is removably secured to the body 4 by means of two screws 10, and this wall is concaved or recessed to receive the toe portion of a last, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 2. The two walls of the nozzle are spaced apart, to atford a free passage for steam or vapor between them and they unite at their upper ends to form a thin overhanging lip that is adapted to fit snugly between the toe of the last and the toe portion of the upper of a shoe. This lip is apcrtured on its upper side, as indicated at 12, to direct the steam or vapor passing through the nozzle against the under surface of the upper, the lower wall of the lip being impert'orate so that it will protect the last from'contact with the vapor or any water of condensation.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings only two nozzles are provided, since this number is sufficient for an apparatus designed to be used in connection with the lasting machine; but obviously any desired number of nozzles may be employed, and they may be modified in shape to meet particular conditions.

In order to support the shoes forthe moisteningoperation ashoe rest is provided consisting in the form shown of three metal straps 14, each secured to the side of the casing 2 by means of screws 16, and a fourth strap 18 that is riveted to the upcr ends of the straps 14: and is bent between the ad jacent members 14 to form depressed portions in which the shoe may convenlently rest, as shown in Fig. 2. The supports 14 are inclined away from the casing 2 at an angle such that thetoes of the shoes Will he properlypresented to the nozzles of the apparatus. v 5 in order to supply steam-to the casing a 20 is extended longitudinally through and is secured by the dismal nuts washers necessary to inahesteani-tight one end of the pipe being capped, as shown at This pipe is perforated on its lower side as indicated at to admit steam into the casing and a drip pipe 20, threaded n the bottom of the casing, carries away :11 water that may condense Within. 15 the casing. Steam may be supplied to the casing from any eom'enient source, b ii delivered directly from a supply -v3ll1 1t slmuld be conducted to the ca. lng at a very lei. pressure in order to avoid burning the uppe ate-rial. In this connectiozu however, it'shou'ld be noted that, with the pres ent arrangement, the steam does not come in direct contact with the upper leather but nnist first pass through the liningand toe sti'liener so that much of the danger o1 burning. the upper leather that is experienced uitlrother devices is avoided. It is preferable to have the steam supplied at such a low' 1 ssure that, when it issues from the delivery openings 12 it will not be steam, as that term is used in a technical sense, but will he merely a Warm moist vapor. It steam must be used at comparatively high pressures for this work it usually will be preferable to have the dr'p pipe .26 project into the body of the cash 2 to a height above the level of the apertui :s 24. in the steam inlet pipe 20 so as it is discharged from mat the steam, the inlet pipe. will be delivered into water.

The eoor rising from the body of Water in the shoe.

l't is obvious that, in the ar..'angein.ent

own. the casing 2 acts chiefly as s pport r'or tl nozzles and the shoe rest and as a conduit for the steam or vapor that is to be .L in treating the shoes. Consequently, this member may be replaced by any equivale t device, as for instance by a steam pipe ring a continuation of the connections by h steam is conducted to the apparatus.

using the apparatus in connection with i machine, the sides and heel of a are first lasted and the shoe is then "3 phi d on the rest 18 the toe portion of the last being positioned under the l p of the nozzle While the toe portion of thelupper of the shoe rests. on the nozzle. The steam or vapor emitted through the apertures 12 pen.-

63 BtltZLiQS the upper material and moistens an softens it so that it can be easily Worked over the bottom of the last and disposed smoothly about the toe of the man has two shoes in the apparatus Cally the The apertures in the nont 1e casing will travel. through the nozzlesto Usually the worle; practimisses zles are so located that they direct the vapor on to those port-ions only of the upper that it is desired to soften. The vapor finds its Way out along the toe of the shoe under lining and other part of the upper and d not come in cont-act with either the last, insolo or other part of time shoe that coul" be damaged by it. A further r arrangement is that very ll into the room. .v;

Any Water of condensation that 7 the nozzles drains into the casing; carried away. by the drip pipe 26. lit the a ertures l2 heconie clogged ey cleaned out readily by IGIHGVHI 10 and t .ing the front wall 0 zle. "it has also been found. advent use an apparatus si iilar to sci-both one having the same characteristics, to moisten the toe portions or shoes just before they are pulled over. This is particularly true Where the independent system of lasting is followed as distinguished from the team system, since in the independent system the shoes are usually assembled several days before they reach the pulling-over machine and, inth'e meantime, even the cement or gum used in the stiiieners has become thoroughly dry. A 1noisten ing apparatus designed to be used with a pulling-over machine should, however, be able to accommodate more shoes" than an apparatus designed for use with a lasting machine, one capable of handling four shoes at once being Well adapted for the former rnachine.

it will he readily understood that: While it havedisclosed the best form the invention of which I am at present aware. this dis" closure is made by way of illustration rather than limitation; and that the apparatus is susceptible of many changes While still employing the same principles and While still ters Patent oi the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for moistening the toe of a shoe while the last is in the shoe, a. nozzle shaped to extend between the toe oi the last and the upper of the shoe on the last and todirect vapor against the under side of the toe portion of the upper.

2. In an apparatus for moistening the ' toe of a shoe while the 'iast is in it, a nozzle shaped'to extend over the toe of the last and under the upper of the shoe, said nozzle being apertured in the wall next to the 1130 per to direct vapor against the under side of the upper.

3. in an apparaus for moistening tie toe of a shoe While toe i is the shoe a nozzle h rforate "front wall

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