US1421394A

US1421394A - Pulling-over machine

Info

Publication number: US1421394A
Application number: US126422A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brothers Eli
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1916-10-18
Filing date: 1916-10-18
Publication date: 1922-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1939-07-04

Description

Patented July 4,1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. BROTHERS-.

PULLING OVER MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-18,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. Ptented July 4,1922.

N QFFlE.

ELI BROTHERS. OI LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

UNITED SHQE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF EATER-SON, NEW JERSEY, A GOR- PORATION OF NEW' JERSEY.

PULLING-OVER MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 4, 1922.

To all who/i2 it may concern:

Be it known that l, ELI BROTHEPS, a c1t1- Zen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Pulling()ver Machines, of wh ch the following description. in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several [igurcs.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and particularly to the upper pulling devices of pulling-over machines. I

The present improvements are shown as embodied in a machine of substantially the same type as that shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 1,029,387, granted June 11, 1912, on an application of R. ll. McFeely. In such machine the upper is pulled by power driven mechanism which acts, through yielding connections with the grippers. to pull the upper and then comes to rest to permit the operator to inspect the shoe and make the necessary adpistments of the upper. hen the machine is restarted the grippers are, by the power mechanism. caused to draw the upper over upon the innersole where it is secured in pulledover position by the fasteningmechanism. ll'hilc the machine is at rest, following the updraw of the upper, the latter is held under tension and further pulling may he applied manually by the operator through the handled extensions of the gripper levers. which are raised to increase the upper tcnsion and are lowered to decrease it. The appli ation of manual power to the grippers for increasing the force of the pull requires considerable effort on the part of the operator, and, moreover, there is the machine of the Mcl eely patent no means for retaining the grippers in the position to which they have been moved, in order to hold the pulled upper in its newly strained condition. lVith a view to overcoming these. and other objections. it has been proposed to add to the power-driven mechanism for yieldingly actuating the side grippers to initially strain the upper. other mechanism for imparting a final, unyielding pull, and which is also power driven but is under ti o opera tors control and may be so operated, as to increase or decrease. as desired. the amount of pulling force previously applied-through the yielding connections, but independentlv thereof. An example of mechanism for so controlling the side grippers of a pulling over machine is shown and described in prior Patent No. 1,333,536, granted 011 March 9, 1920, upon an application of Eli Brothers and John T. Lancaster. The present invention embodies, as an important feature. a simplified and improved form of gripper operating mechanism'which is designed especially with a view to reducing the number of parts and to applying the power of the machine to the gripper operating devices directly and efliciently.

Another important feature of the inventionconsists in toe gripper mechanism presenting different portions for use alternatively accordingly as a right or a left shoe is presented for treatment. This construc- Lion ensures that the aws will seize the upper squarely at the centre of the toe so that the pulling force will be applied substantially midway between the opposite sides of the last. One of the advantages following from this construction is that it obviates the necessity for providing a lateral adjust ment of the toe gripper. I

Another important feature of the invention comprises means for enabling the operator to cause a gripper, as for example the toe gripper, to engage the upper of each shoe that is placed in the machine at a selected distance from its edge, previous to the updraw movement. In the illustrated machine this: is accomplished by the use of graduations which are applied to the outer surface of the toe gripper jaw which is located nearest to the-operator as he stands in front of the machine. This feature, in the construction shown, is employed in connection with means for limiting the extent of upper pulling that is applied at the toe end of the shoe during the updraw, such means in the herein illustrated embodiment of the invention comprising an adjustable stop screw having threaded connection with a fixed partof the machine frame, and located in position to be engaged by the outer end; portion of the toe gripper lever during its updraw movement. The stop screw is capable, by adjustment, of varying the extent of movement imparted to the toe gripper lever by the power actuated mechanism acting through the usual updraw spring. By locating the edge of each upper of a: given lot of shoesin the same position between the jawsot the toe gripper as determined by the graduations, and limiting the pull to the same measured extent, all of the toe tips will be drawn substantially to the same extent, and hence the tip seams will be positioned a uniform distance from the ends of the shoes.

A further feature of the invention resides in novel means convenient for manipulation by the operator whereby a predetermined limit of updraw movement of a 'i'ipper inay be established prior to the star machine. In the construction shown this feature of the invention is applied to the control of the toe gripper moventient and is embodied in means whereliy the operator may cause the movement of the toe gripper to be limited initially to a sliorter pull than that for which the stop above referred to is normally set. 011 some worl, such for example as high-teed shoes. it may be of ad vantage thus to limit the pull of the toe gripper in order to render the side grippers more effective in pulling: the upper down to the wood of the last back of the toe as well as to of the upper by a gripper, for example the toe gripper, before starting the poweroperate'd parts of the machine. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this mea'ns includes a detent for retaining the gripper jaws in open position against the force of the jaw closing spring until the edge of the upper has been inserted between the jaws, in proper position, whereupon a conveniently located device may be manually actuated to trip the detent and permit the gripper bar to rise under the force ofits spring, for closing the jaws upon the upper before the machine starts to operate.

These and other features of the invention,

including important details of construction and combinations of parts, will be hereinafter more fullydcscriliied in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of the, machine hearings in the bracket.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view, partly in section, the pulleys 0n the main and counter shafts being omitted; V

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3, F 2;'a-nd V Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the toe gripper aws.

The machine, as to its general construc tlon, arrangement of parts and mode of operation, i's'the same as that of the patent to McFeely, No. 1,029,387, and will be described only in so far as may be necessary to an understanding of the features of the present invention. i

The base shaft 1'. which carries a constantly running pulley, has fast thereon a. worm 2. The worm 2 meshes with and drives continuously two worm gears, 4 and 6, which are fast to two

vertical shafts

8 and 10, turning in opposite dir ctions as indi catcd by the arrows in Fig. 2, in suitable bearings carried by the machine frame. These shafts and thereby through which are imparted the hereinafter described. movements to the side grippers are alike for the right and left sides of the machine and there is shown in detail in the drawings and will be here described only the parts which are located on that side of the n'iac-hine which is on the right hand in Fig. 2, and is shown partly by dotted .lines in Fig. 1.

The vertical shaft 10 carries a gear 12 which meshes with and drives a gear let fast to a vertical shaft 16 which turns in bearings formed in a l; acket secured to the side of the machine head. The shaft 16 continuously drives a spool-shaped hub 18 which is splincd onthe shaft 16 to slide thereon, and has its opposite ends formed with taperinn recesses 20, 21 to provide friction clutch surfaces. These surfaces are adapted to engage alternatively with co-operatin r cone faces on

beveled gears

24, 25. which are in mesh with an intermediate beveled gear 26 turning in bearing carried by the bra cket- 27. The clutch hub 18 has a circumtt'erential groove in which are received blocks carrying

short shafts

28, 28, which are pivotally connectodwith the outer ends of two parallel arms 71, whose inner ends are pivotally supported for rocking movements upon the machine frame. The outer ends of the arms 71 are pivoted to the upper ends of two vertical

parallel links

29, 29, that are pivoted at their lower ends to the two laterally spaced short arms of a. hand lever 30 which is fast to a shaft 3']. turning in The long" arm of this lever extends downwardly and forwardly to the front of the machine below the shoe, where its end is turned in and formed as a handle 32 in position for the operator to engage and manipulate it as he stands in front of the machine. By depressthe lneclianism driven ing the handle 32 the clutch hub 18 is raised and its cone surface 20 is pressed into clutching engagement with the cone face of the beveled gear 24:, and by elevating the ha ndle the clutch hub is lowered and its cone surface 21 is pressed into clutching engagement with the cone face 230i" the beveled gear A vertical arm 33 is secured rigidly to the shaft 31 and has at its upper end an enlarged portion 33 which is engaged by a springpressed plunger 3?. The plunger acts to relieve the clutch hub 13 from the weight of the lever and holds the lever elevated and the hub in position where it is out of engagement with the beveled faces of both of the gears 24 and The handle and lever and 50 comprise a shitting device which is part of the manual controlling means for causing motion to be transmitted from the power driven mechanismto the beveled gears 2-1 and The beveled gears 2 and 25 turn freely on the shaft 16. and the ar 24- is fixed to a shaft 3-11, the upper portion of which is formed as a screw 35. Thescrew 35 engages an internal screw thread in a sleeve 36 which is rigid with a downwardly extending slide 38 moving vertically in a guide formed by a plate 40. bolted to the machine head. The usual side gripper lever 1-5. fulcrunled at 46 to the machine head, has its rear end portion connected ally extending stud 48 whose is movable in a horizontal guideway 50 carried by the slide The -uideway 5O slightly curved to permit the curvilinear movement of the rear end 42 of. the gripper lever as the latter turns about its fulcrum with a laterrcduced end when it is raised and depressed by moveengagement with the yea r the interniedi ate be el gear 25 will otter-t a. rotation of the bevel t .i' 2t and the screw 3.? in a reverse direction to that of the gear 27 and the sleeve 6 will be caused to rnove downwa l; carrying with it the rearend of the side gripper lever and elevatin ettheitrout-end of said lever to cause the side gripper carried thereby to npdraw the uppet The amount of upd aw will be dependent upon the time that the handle 32 remains elev t ed. l'l hen the handle is moved approp i ately for moving the hub 18 to a neutral in Dears position, where it is out of engagement with both of the beveled gears 24, 25 the side gripper will not be operated by the power mechanism of the machine under the control of the manual devices above described, but will be free to be operated by the usual updraw cam'and its slide acting through the spring 52, as contemplated by the normal operation of the McFeely machine. During such normal operation of the side gripper the'slceve- 36 is movedby the side gripper lever, causing the screw and the connecth to turn idly the pitch of the screw being such as to permitthis movement of the sleeve to be readily effected. When the handle-32 .is depressed'the hub .lSwill be carried into clutching engagement withthe beveled face of the gear 24, thus connecting saidgear with the shaft 16 and eausin' it to rotate in-the same direction as the lattes This will effect a reverse movement of the.

screw 35 from that heretofore described, thus causing the sleeve 36 to move upward on-the 'sc -rew elcvating the rear end 42 of the side gripper lever and depressing the front end. of the lever and the gripper member carried thereby, to relax the pull upon theupperW-V i i The .amou'nt ofrelaxation of the strain upon the upper which is efiectedin the manner described will be dependent upon the length of time that the operator holds the, handle 82 depressechaml may be suflicient in extent to lowerithe gripper-t0 the downward limit of its movement, and open the gripped jaws to release the upperyif the operator so wills it. i 1 i v Means areflprovided'fto automatically relieve the side gripper fromitheeft ect of the power mechanism, to avoid excessive straining of the'upper, in the event that the operator shonld hold'the handle 32 elevatetl an undue length of t'ime i Such means com- )risesa pin 64 which-slides freely in a hole through. the gear 251and has bearing. at one end against the hub 18, while its other end is in position to engage a wedge shaped lug 66, which is rigid with the frame of the machine. The lug 66 isfloc'at ed in position to beiengaged by the pin'fil when the gear 25 has rotated tosuchan extent during theupdraw movement of the side; gripper, that any further rotation of the gear would tend toicause the gripper to excessively strain thenpper hen the pin engages the lug the 2 pi n will move'the I spool shaped hub 18 out of engagement with'the beveled surface! therebyautomatically causing the sidegripper-"to cease pulling theupper,

In order to retain for a suitable time as desired, the tensiorrof-the upper producedby q the additional updraw movement of the side gripper which is elfected by the power mechanism of the machine iunder the control I v f th ha dl he 'dwiws lnre F 3 of the drawings are employed. As therein shown, a ratchet is secured to the shaft 16, and a pawl 63 is pivoted toan arm rigid with the frame of the machine, and has a rearwardly extending tail which is acted upon by a spring 65, which latter lifts the pawl. from the teeth of the ratchet at certain times, as will hereinafter be described. The active endof the pawl carries a bolt which extends through a hole formed in one member of a right-angled arm 67, and a spiral spring 69 surrounds the bolt and acts to yield-ingly hold the active end of the pawl in engagement with the; teeth of the ratchet when the arm 67 is pressed outward. The arm 67 is provided with a roll 62 which is normally in engagement with a reciprocating rod 60, said rod being fastened at. its upper end portion toa block 58 which is clamped to the end portion of the inner one of the two parallel rockin arms 71. The rod60 is guided infa vertical bore formed in the bottom partof the bracket 27, and is caused to move up and down therein by the arm 71 as the spool 18 is shifted-by the manually controlled handle 32. The rod 60 is provided with a cutaway or flattened, portionGO which, at times, is positioned so as to he engaged by the roll 62, and permits the spring 65to move the pawl out of en gageinent with the ratchet. It is desirable to havethe pawl engage the teeth of the ratchetonly during the time that the hub 18 is in clutching engagement or nearly in clutching engagement with the beveled face 23 of the gear 25, and the upper is being pulled, so as to retain each increment of pull. The flattened portion 62 is accordingly so located on the rod 60 that the roll 62 will engage said flattened portion and permit the pawl to be moved out ofoperative relation with the teeth of the ratchet when the hub 18 is in neutral position, and also when said hub is in position to engage the beveled surface: 22 of the gear 24. This will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings where the hub 18 is shown in neutral position and thefiattened portion 60? is opposite the roll 62, permitting the spring 65 to move the pawl away from the ratchet. The shape and position of the ratchet controlling devices are such that when the spool. 18 is depressed, to elfect an updraw, the flattened portion of the rod will be moved away from the roll, and the latter will be forced outwardly by engagement therewith of the relatively enlarged portion of the rod, thereby pressing the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet so that the side gripper lever will be retained in that position to which. it was moved by the power operated devices, and will be locked against release, at any point, and

until the gear 25 has rotated suflicientl far to cause an engagement of the pin 64 with the lug 66, which will effect an automatic return of the clutch hub 18 to neutral position. hen the hub has been returned to neutral position, either automatically or manually, the rod 60 will have been elevated sufliciently to cause the flattened portion 60 to again come opposite to the roll 62, thus permitting the pawl to be lifted out of en gagement with the teeth of the ratchet. hen the hub 18 is in neutral position the machine is free to be operated through the instrumentality of the usual updraw cam, in accordance with the normal operation of the machine of the McFeely patent, and without interference with such operation by the manually controlled power operated connections of this application.

The location and shape of the flattened portion 60- are also such that when the spool 18 is shifted from neutral position to a position where it engages the beveled. surface 22 on the gear 2 1, to cause a reverse movement of the side gripper for relaxing the pull on the upper, the roll will continuously remain in engagement with such flattened portion, thus permitting the pawl 68 to remain out of engagement with the ratchet during the downward movement of the side gripper lever.

The lever 7 2 from which. is suspended the bar 74: of the toe gripper has connection with the gripper bar by a pin 78 which enters a slot 80 in the gripper bar. The construction and general mode of operation of the toe gripper are substantially the same as de scribed in Letters Patent No. 1,030,26et, issued June 18, 1912, upon an application of B. F. McFeely. The gripper carrier 77 as therein described is provided with a strong spiral spring which is compressed when. the gripper mechanism is moved downwardly and two stop lugs on the gripper carrier engage relatively stationary stops carried'by the frame of the machine. In the continued downward movement of the gripper lever the operating bar of the gripper moves with relation to the carrier, and the jaws are caused by such relative movement to open, for receiving the upper. The gripper lever is subsequently rocked upwardly which permits the spiral spring in the gripper carrier to expand, thereby forcing the gripper' bar upwardly and effecting a closure of the gripper jaws upon the stock, which is subsequently pulled as the result of a continued upward movement of the gripper.

In the construction herein shown the

gripper jaws

75, 76 are bifurcated or provided with a. space 7 9 which separates the jaws into two distinct lateral portions. By this construction the toe gripper is enabled to engage and grip the upper at the center of the toe end of the shoe, on either side of the center of the machine, so that the upper of a right shoe, or a left shoe, may be properly engaged by the toe gripper, and the pull will be applied in either case substantially midway between the opposite sides of the last. This capacity of the toe gripper for thus operating correctly upon the toe end of an upper of a right shoe, or a left shoe. obviates the necessity for providing means for laterally adjusting the toe gripper bar. and enables a single gripper to be used without adjustment upon shoes whose fore parts are located on either side of the center line of the machine.

The outer face of the toe gripper jaw nearest the operator when he stands in "front of the machine is provided with a series of marks or graduitions 81, which extend transversely of the direction of pulling movement of the gripper and are spaced apart suitably for determining difierent selective positions for the extreme edge of the toe end of the upper as it is inserted between the jaws. these graduations comprising a corrugated formation of the outer surface of the jaw. These corrugations or pro jections are of material assistance to the op erator in determining the proper location of the margin of the upper within the jaws since they can be felt by the thumb of the hand with which the operator presents the upper to the gripper. A lever 82 is pivotally supported on the toe gripper updraw lever T2 and has a forwardly extending operating member 83. The rear end portion of the lever 92 is located between two shoulders t l. 86 formed on the front face of the gripper bar ri l near its upper end and the bar is supported on updraw lever 72 by the pin and slot connection T8. 80. The updraw lever 72 further supports pivotall v at 90 a depending arm 88 having a right-angled extension 92 lo arted within convenient reach of the operator when he is presenting a shoe to the machine. The depending arm 88 is provided with a shoulder 94 adapted to en gage with the lower face of the operating member 83 and to serve as a. latchor detent to limit downward movement of said member. A. spring 96 maintains the depending arm 88 i'iorn'ially in position with said shoulder under the member 83.

The described arrangement of this toe gripper mechanism is such that. as the updraw lever T2 is moved downwardly to position the gripper for receiving a shoe. a downward movement is imparted to the gripper bar T-l through the lever and the gripper closing spring. contained within the gripper casing and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, is put under compression with the jaws open, the pin and slot 78, SO occupying the relation shown in Fig. l. lVhen the operator has satisfactorily presented the upper within the toe gripper aws. he will swing the arm 88 aside, against the resistance of spring 96,

sufficiently to withdraw shoulder 94 from under member 83 whereupon the gripper closing spring will be permitted to expand and raise the gripper bar 74 the length of the slot 80 or so much thereof as may be utilized in closing the gripper jaws upon the stock. if desired the gripper may be opened again by raising the member83 to permit the upper to be readjusted in the jaws. The operator is then at liberty to disregard the toe gripper and use both his hands in positioning the upper properly within the side grippers. When the power operated mechanisms are set into motion for pulling-over the shoe, the side grippers will be closed as an incident to the upward movement of all of the up draw levers. During this upward movement of updraw lever (2, lost motion will take place while the stud 78 moves upwardly in the slot 80 and when the motion has been exhausted operating member 83 will have been lifted above the shoulder 9a and thus the parts will then be in position to effect reopening of the toe gripper when the updraw lever is again lowered. During the final pulling of the upper the amount of upward movement of the lever 72 for the toe gripper is determined by an adjustable stop screw 881. which has threaded engagement with a rigid portion of the frame of the machine and is located directly in line with the path of upward movement of the lever 72. The graduations 81 for determining the distance that the uppers at the toe ends of shoes are inserted between the jaws of the gripper, together with the adjustable stop 881 for limiting the distance through which the toe lever moves during the updraw, make it possible to apply with accuracy, to the upper of each shoe a measured amount of stretch which may be made the same in extent for all the shoes of a given lot of shoes, and will result in positioning all the tip seams the same distance from the ends of the shoes.

In operating upon some shoes it may be desirable to limitthe movement of the toe gripper initially to a shorter pull than that for which the stop 881 is normally set. In order that the movement of the toe gripper may be thus limited, the machine is provided with a hand lever 95 fulcrumed at 6 and having a stop 91 which may be located by adjustment of the lever in position to be engaged by a lug 93 on the toe gripper lever 72. On the frame of the machine is an arm 97' having a toothed segment 98 arranged to be engaged by a spring pressed pawl 99 on the lever 95, this pawl being connected by a link 100 to one end of a controlling member 101 pivoted on the lever. By manipulating the lever 95 the stop 91 may be so positioned to be engaged by the lug 93 before the lever 72 encounters the stop 881. Since the pawl 99 in engagement with the teeth 98 looks the lever 95 against forward movement,

the extent Of'ltllie updraw movement of the lever 7.2 will thus be positively limited. In this way the side grippers may be rendered more certainly effective, for example, in operating upon lrigh-toed shoes to pull the upper down to the wood of the last back of the toe, and such manual adjustment of the up per *on the last as may be required will be made easier for the operator. Subsequently the pawl 99 may be tripped by operation of the member 101 'to release the lever 72 to the action of its updraw spring and the pull upon the aipper at the toe may thus be completed Th0 the full extent permitted by the stop 881.

The opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 11 is provided with mechanism corresponi'iing with the new mechanism above described for manually controlling the operation of the opposite side gripper by the power-driven mechanism, and the handles 32 for the itwo controlling mechanisms are arranged :side by side, as shown in Fig. 2.

The mode of operation of the several features of the present invention has been suflicielntly explained in the above description and will be readily understood therefrom, in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

'1. In a machine of the class described, a gripper :lever, a gripper connected to said lever 'by means constructed to permit independent relative movement of the gripper and the lever, means for depressing the gripper to open its jawsiand permit insertion of the *upper, means for reversely moving a part of the gripper for closing its jaws prior to starting the machine, and manually operative means extending into a position at the outer side of the gripper in proximity to the location of the shoe to enable the operator to cause said jaw closing movement of the gripper.

2. In :a machine of the class described, a gripper lever, a gripper connected therewith for movement independently of said lever, a jaw-closing spring in said gripper, means for holding the gripper depressed with said spring compressed and the gripper jaws open, and means arranged for manual oper ation and extending into a position at the outer side of the gripper in proximity to the location of the shoe for releasing the gripper "to permit closure of the aws by the expansion of said spring prior to starting the "machine.

In a machine of the class described, a gripper lever. a gripper connected therewith by means permitting lost motion, means for moving the gripper with its lever to open the gripper jaws, means for holding 'the gripper in such position while an upper is inserted closing spring, means for moving the gripper with its lever to open the gripper jaws, a detent for holding the gripper in such position to enable an upper to be inserted be tween. said jaws, means for tripping the detent to permit the gripper to be operated by its spring for seizing the upper, and poweroperated mechanism for thereafter causlng the gripper to pull the upper.

5. In a. machine of the class described, a gripper lever, a gripper connected with said lever by means permitting lost motion, a jaw closing spring in the gripper, means for moving the gripper with its lever to compress itsv jaw-closing spring and open its jaws, means for holding the gripper in such position to enable an upper to be inserted between said jaws, means for tripping the holding means to permit the gripper to be operated by its spring to seize the upper, and power-operated mechanism for there after actuating the gripper to pull the upper.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripper lever, a gripper connected therewith :for movement independently of said lever, a jaw-closing spring in said gripper, means for holding the gripper depressed with said spring compressed and the gripper jaws open, means for indicating to the operator different positions for the edge off .an upper inserted between said jaws, and means for releasing the gripper to permit closure of the jaws prior to starting :the machine.

7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, pulling-over devices including side grippers and a toe gripper 1e ver, a toe gripper :onnected to said lever for movement independently thereof, a jawclosing spring in said toe gripper, means for moving the toe gij'ipper to compress said spring and open the gripper awe and for holding the gripper in such position during the insertion of an upper, means positioned in front of the gripper and extending into proximity to the shoe for enabling the operator to release said gripper to permit its jaws to seize the upper at the toe end of the shoe, and means for thereafter starting the machine to cause said pulling-over devices to pull the upper.

"8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a toe gripper, power after causing said mechanism to actuate the gripper and pull the upper, and means to adjustably limit the extent of the pulling movement while the gripper remains in pulling engagement with the upper.

9. A. machine of the class described having, in combination, a toe gripper, operating mechanism therefor, means for maintaining the jaws of the toe gripper open while an upper is inserted, means to determine the position of the edge of the inserted upper in said jaws, means for causing said jaws to close before the machine is started, means for thereafter causing said mechanism to actuate the gripper and pull the upper, and means to adjustably limit the extent of the pulling movement while the gripper remains in pulling engagement with the upper.

10. A. machine of the class described having, in combination, toe and side grippers, operating mechanism therefor, means for maintaining the toe gripper with its jaws open while an upper is inserted, means to determine the position of the edge of the inserted upper in said jaws, means for causing the jaws of the toe gripper to close, means for thereafter starting the machine to cause the side and toe grippers to pull the upper, and means to adjustably determine the extent of the pulling movement of said toe gripper.

11. A machine ofthe class described having, in combination, a gripper lever, a gripper bar having a pin and slot connection with said lever and provided with an abutment, :1 jaw-closing spring in said bar, a member pivoted to said lever having a projection engaging said abutment. said member being provided with a handle, and a latch pivotally supported upon the gripper lever for engaging said handle to maintain the gripper depressed with its jaw-closing spring compressed and its jaws open to receive an upper.

12. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper having cooperating jaws, one of said jaws comprising separated portions arranged for alternative use to engage an upper accordingly as a right shoe or a left shoe is presented for treatment.

13. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper having cooperating jaws, one of said jaws being divided into two portions which are located on opposite sides of the median line of the machine and are arranged for alternative independent engage ment with the uppers of shoes whose toe ends project on opposite sides of said line.

H. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper having cooperating aws one of which is divided into two portions by a central space, said portions being located on opposite sides of the median line of the machine, and being, respectively, arranged for engagement, each alone, with uppers at the toe ends of right shoes and left shoes.

15. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper having cooperating jaws, said jaws being of a width to extend a sufficient distance on opposite sides of the median line of the machine to engage the uppers at the central portions of the toe ends of right and left shoes, said jaws being divided into two independent sections for operation, respectively, each alone, upon right and left shoes.

16. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper having wide co-operating jaws, one of said jaws being bifurcated to present two independent upper gripping portions which are rigidly connected and are located on opposite sides of the median line of the machine for operation respectively upon right and left shoes.

17. An upper pulling machine having, in combination, a gripper and power-driven operating mechanism therefor including a driven clutch hub, beveled gears having clutching faces adapted to be engaged alternatively by the clutch hub, a beveled gear connecting said gears, a screw shaft connected with one of said firstanentioned gears, a screw sleeve on said screw shaft, connections from the sleeve to the gripper, and means for shifting'the clutch hub into engagement with either of said clutching faces to cause the gripper to be raised or lowered.

18. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, a gripper and power-driven operating mechanism therefor including a shaft, a second shaft having geared connection with the first-mentioned shaft, a clutch hub on said second shaft, beveled gears hav ing clutching faces adapted to be engaged alternatively by said clutch hub, a beveled gear connecting said gears, a screw shaft connected with one of said first-mentioned gears, a screw sleeve on said screw shaft, connections between said sleeve and the gripper, and shifting means for the clutch hub to cause the gripper to be raised or lowered.

19. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, a gripper and power-driven operating mechanism therefor including a shaft, a clutch hub on said shaft, beveled gears having clutching faces adapted to be engaged alternatively by said clutch hub,

an intermediate gear connecting said beveled gears, connections between one of said first -mentioned gears and the gripper, means for shifting said clutch hub including a lever having a handle extending in front of the machine, and means for normally holding said lever in position to main tain the clutch hub out of engagement with both of said clutching faces.

20.1% pulling-over machine having, in combination, a gripper and power-driven operating? mechanismvtherefor including a shaft, oppositel y rotating beveled gears on said shaft, connections between one of said gears and the gripper, and controlling means for said mechanism including a shiftable clutch hub arranged for engagement alternatively with either one of said gears, a hand operatcd lever and connections for shifting said clutch hub, an arm carried by said lever, and yielding means acting on said arm for normally holding the lever in position to maintainathe clutch hub out of engagement with both of said gears.

21. A. pulling-over machine having, in combiiiation, a gripper and powendriveu operating mechanism therefor including a shaft, a second shaft in geared connection with said shaft, oppositely rotated beveled gears-loosely mounted on the last-mentioned shaft, a clutch hub arranged for alternatively connectiiig either of said gears with said second shaft, a screw shaft carried by one of said gears, a screw sleeve engaging said screw shaft and connected with the gripper, means for shifting said hub to increaseor decrease the foreeof the pull applied by the gripper to an upper, and locking means for retaining the gripper in the position to which it was moved while pulling the upper.

22. An upper pulling machine having, in combination, a gripper and power-driven ope ating mechanism therefor including a shaft, a second shaft arranged parallel to the first-mentioned shaft and geared thereto, a shiftable clutch hub on said second shaft", beveled gears on said second shaft having clutching faces arranged to be engaged alternatively by the clutch hub, an intermediate gear connecting said gears, a screw shaft carried by one of said first-men tioned gears having its axis in line with the axis of said second. shaft, a screw sleeve engaging said screw shaft and connected with said gripper, and means for shifting said hubinto engagement with either of said clutching faces to effect operation of the gripper to increase or decrease the pull on the upper.

23. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, an upper engaging gripper, said gripper liaviug means for indi catingthecorrect location of the edge of the upper to cause the gripper to overlap the upper to a pre-determined distance from said edge, means-for operating the gripper to pull the upper, and a stop for limiting the extent of pulling movement ofthe gripper.

24. An upper pulling machine having, in combination, upper gripping means and operating mechanism therefor, said machine being constructed and organized to cause the gripping means to overlap the upper to a predetermined distance from its edge and to cause a predetermined length of pull to be effected.-

25. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper having different portions arranged for alternative use to engage an upper accordingly as a right shoe or a left shoe is presented fortreatment.

26. In a machine of the class described, upper pulling means comprising two pairs of gripping members laterally offset from each other to cause one pair to engage the upper of a right shoe and the other pair to engage the upper of a left shoe, said pairs being so disposed as to cause one pair to remain substantially idle while the other pair engages the upper.

27. In a machine of the class described, upper pulling means comprising two jaws laterally extended to cause one end portion ofsaid jaws to engage alone the toe end of the upper of a right shoe and the other end portion to engage alone the toe end of the upper of a left shoe.

28. In amachine of the class described, the combination with an upper engaging gripper, of means for imparting operative movement to said gripper comprising a driving member, two driven members, means connecting one of said driven members to the gripper, means connecting the driven members to each other to cause them to move respectively in opposite directions, and means whereby the driving member may be opei'atively connected to either of said driven members alternatively to cause the gripper to be moved either in the direction to'tension the upper or in the direction to relax the tension.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an upper engaging gripper, means for imparting an updraw movement to said gripper, and manually operative means extending into position for convenient manipulation by the operator for setting a limit to said movement of the gripper prior to the upper pulling operation, said last named means comprising a hand lever and a detent for holding said lever in adjusted position;

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an upper engaging gripper, means for operating said gripper to cause it to pull an upper, and'manually operative means comprising pawl and ratchet mechanism extending into'position for convenient manipulation by the operator for setting a. limit to the upper pulling movement of the gripper prior to the upper pulling operation, said limiting means being constructed and arranged for movement subse quently while the upper is under tension to permit the gripper to resume its upper pulling movement.

31. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an upper engaging gripper, means for imparting updraw movement to said gripper, a hand lever adjustable to different positions, a stop controlled by said lever, and means movable with the gripper into engagement with said stop to limit said updraw movement of the gripper.

32. A machine of the class described having, in combination an upper engaging gripper, means comprising an upper lever for operating said gripper to cause it to pull an upper, a lug on said updraw lever, and a stop pivotally mounted for manual adjustment to difierent positions for engagement with said lug to limit variably the extent of the updraw movement of the gripper.

33. A machine of the class described having, in combination, upper pulling means, means for limiting the extent of the upper pulling movement of said pulling means, and additional means arranged for adjustment at the will of the operator before the machine is started to limit the movement of the upper pulling means to a shorter pull than that determined by said first named limiting means.

34. A machine of the class described having, in combination, upper pulling means, a sto pu ing movement of said pulling means, and means arranged for convenient manipulation by the operator for variably limiting the movement of the pulling means to a shorter pull than that determined by said stop.

35. A machine of the class described having, in combination, upper pulling means, a-stop for limiting the extent of the upper pulling movement of said pulling means, and additional means for limiting said movement to a shorter pull than that determined by said stop, said last named means being arranged for manipulation to release the upper pulling means and permit it to resume its movement to the limit. determined b said stop. 7

36. Amachine of the class described having, in. combination, an upper engaging gripper, an updraw lever connected to said gripper, means including yieldable connections for operating said lever to cause the gripper to pull an upper, a stop for engag mg said lever to limit the updraw movement of the lever, and means adjustable by the operator for variably limiting the updraw movement of the lever to a shorter pull than that determined by said stop, said last named means being operable to release the updraw lever and permit it to resume its movement to the limit determined by said stop.

37 A machine of the class described having, in combination, a toe gripper, side grippers, means-for operating said grippers for limiting the extent of the upperv to cause them to pull an upper on a last, and means for limiting the pull of the toe gripper to permit the side grippers to pull the upper down to the wood of the last, said limiting means being manually operable subsequently to permit the toe gripper to completeits upper tensioning movement.

38. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a toe gripper, side grippers, means including yieldable connections. for operating said grippers to cause them to pull an upper on a last, and means adjustable for variably limiting the movement of the toe gripper to stop said movement while the movement of the side grippers continues, said limiting means being operable subsequentlyto release the toe gripper and permit it to complete its upper tensioning movement.

39'. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a toe gripper, an updraw lever to Which said gripper is connected, means for operating said lever to cause the gripper to pull an upper, a stop for limiting the updraw movement of said lever, and means arranged to be manually positioned for limiting the movement of said lever to a shorter pull than that determined by said stop and to be operated subsequently to permit the lever to resume its movement to the limit determined by the stop.

40. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an upper engaging gripper, of an updraw lever connected to said gripper, yielding means for imparting updraw movement to said lever, a-stop arranged to be engaged by said lever to determine a normal limit of said updraw movement, and manual means comprisinga hand lever adjustable before the machine is started into position to determine a shorter movement of the updraw lever than that determined by said stop.

41. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an upper engaging gripper, of an updraw lever connected to said gripper,yielding means for imparting updraw movement to said lever, a stop arranged to be engagedby said lever to determine a normal limit of said updraw movement, and a second stop adjustable into position to be engaged by 'saidlever for. determining a limit of movement shorter than that determined by the first named stop, said second stop being movable subsequently at the will of the operator to release the updraw lever..

42. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with an upper engaging i limit the movement of the updraW lever, and means for retaining said hand lever in adjusted positionraga-instthe tension of thegripper operating means; i

5 In a machine of the class described,

the combination with: a gripper operating lever; of a gripper comprising abar having a lost motion connection Withsaid lever to" permit the bar to move lengthwise a limited distance independently of the lever, spring means for closing the gripper jaws through amovement of. said bar in one direction independently o'fthe lever, means for holding the bar normally in such relELtl'OIl-l1t0-l3h8-l8V8l' as t0-CtLlS6Sa1Cl aws'to open, and means for tripping i said holding means; to cause the-jawswto close before the: machine is started.

44. In a machine of the-class described,

the -com-bination with anupper engaglng gripper, of 'means for impartingan upper" pullingmovement to said gripper and additional power driven: means constructed andarranged. foruse at the-will ofthe op-- erator to move said gripper either in a direction to increase the tension of the upper orin adirection to-relaX the tension, said last named means comprising two driven members connected for simultaneous movements'in'opp'osite directions, means connecting one of said members to' the gripper, and driving means arrangedto be connectedwtoione or the other of said-driven mem bersalternatively; p a

45. In; a i machine of the class described,"

the" combination with an upper engaging gripper; of means: for imparting an upper pull ng movementto said "gripper; and ad di'tional power. drivenmeans constructed m -and arranged for use at the vvill' of the op erator to move'said grippeneitherin a direction to increase' thetension of theup on said member to permit limited relative movementbetween themember and the bar in:idirectionslengthwise of the bar, spring means for closing the gripperon an upper through" movement of the bar relatively to said" member, controlling means normally positioned to prevent suchmovement ofthe bar and manually operable to release the bar to the-action of said closing means, and

to release the bar to olosing'the gripper on an upper through movemeutof the bar relatively to said memher, a controlling member movably mounted. on said operating membervand connected'to the gripper: bar," and means for normally:

holdingsaid controlling member in position to prevent such movement of the bar, saidlast-named means being manually operable the action of the clos-- ing means. 1

48; In ama'chine of the class; described, the combination with 1 a l gripper operating: lever, of at gripper comprising a :bar 'hav'ing a slidingbearing on said lever-to :permitrela tive movement between'the bar and the lever in directions lengthwise'ofvthe bar, springmeans for closing the gripper on an upper through movement of said bar relativelyz'to the lever, a controlling member pivoted on the lever and connected'to the bar; and-a- I latch for holding. said controlling member in position to prevent such movement of the bar, said latch being. manually 1 movable to release the bar to the action of the closing'means.

49.111 a machine of 'theclass describedylOO the combinationawith a gripperwoperating" member, of a gripper comprising a bar hav-- ing a lost motion connection with said mem ber; spring. means for: closing the gripper on an upper through movement oft thebar relatively: to. said member, and controlling means for releasingthe bar to the 'action or said closing means before the-'machine fis started, saidcontrolling meansbeing manu ally: operable to move the bar and icause the gripper to" openagain'for'readjustingthe upperprior to the starting. of thenma chine. a 50'. A machine of the class described; having; in combination,- a gripperfor engaging an'upper on a last, means forindicatingithe" correct location'of the edge of'the upper? inthe -gripper to assistin positioning the edges'of the uppers ofdifferentshoes atthe';

same distance from"v the outer end i ofthellzo gripper, means for effecting-'relative..move;- ment of the gripper and thelast' tonpulli the upper,'and meansfor limiting said rela tive movement to determine a the 7 force of the a correct locationtof the edge of the upper an" said gripper to assist in positioning the edges of the uppers of diflerent shoes at the same distance from the outer end of the gripper means for causing the gripper to close on the upper before the machine is started power means for efiecting relative movement of the gripper and the last to pull the upper, and stop mechanism for variably limiting the extent of said relative movement.

52. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an upper engaging gripper, of means for operating said gripper tom, stop mechanism comprising a hand lever manually adjustable before the machine is started to limit the upper pulling movement of the gripper, and means automatically operative to retain said lever in adjusted position prior to the starting of the machine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ELI BROTHERS.