US2053304A - Machine for splitting sheet material - Google Patents

Description

q 1936 W. D. THOMAS MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 51, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 8 W36 w. w. THQMAS MACHINE FOR SP LITTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 51, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/E/V 70%;

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W. D. THOMAS fi fi MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 51, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Scept 8 11936.

W. D. THOMAS 1 MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec; 51, 1934 thereof by Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL William D. Thomas, Lynnfield, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 31, 1934, Serial No. 759,846 In Great Britain November 29, 1934 20 Claims.

This invention relates to the splitting of blanks and more particularly to the splitting of a soleshaped leather blank into an insole and an outsole.

In the manufacture of shoes of a certain type, it is customary to form from a sole-shaped blank an outsole having a projection on its forepart on the flesh side, and a skeleton insole having an opening in its forepart which is the counterpart of the projection on the outsole. In order to accomplish this result, a splitting machine has been used comprising a knife and a pair of rolls one of which is provided witha matrix to distort the forepart of the blank. The sole blank is presented toe foremost to the rolls with its long axis perpendicular, or substantially so, to the bite of the rolls, the matrix roll being necessarily of such size that the distance around its periphery is at least equal to the length of the longest sole blank to be Operated upon, the sole blank being completely split in one revolution of the roll.

In one aspect the invention provides a splitting machine having a matrix roll of comparatively small diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of a blank to be split, means for imparting a plurality of revolutions to said roll for each splitting operation, and means for causing the matrix to engage the blank during one revolution only. In the illustrated construction, there are provided a knife, 3. pair of rolls of comparatively small diameter one of which is a matrix roll. The sole blank is presented obliquely to the bite of the rolls, that is, with its long axis at a considerable angle to the bite of the rolls, and a plurality of revolutions, two in the illustrated machine, are imparted to the rolls. Owing to the oblique presentation of the sole blank, the matrix engages the blank only during the first revolution while the blank is being split from one end approximately to the middle thereof. During the second revolution the sole blank is engaged only by the smooth portions of the rolls and is split to the other end a out which is parallel to the faces of the blank. With such a construction, rolls of comparatively small diameter may be used, and the edge of the knife may be located close to the bite of the rolls where it performs its function most satisfactorily.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a machine by which the method may conveniently be practiced;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the machine showing more particularly the manner in which the sole blanks are presented obliquely to the rolls of the splitting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail partly in plan and partly in section showing the mounting .of the forepart gages;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line VV of Fig. 3; Fig. 6. is a section on the line VI--VI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a portion of the machine .on the line VII-VII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the insole with an opening in its forepart which results from splitting a sole blank;

Fig. 9 is a perspective of the outsole with the projection on its forepart which results from splitting the sole blank;

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the patrix roll with its removable and replaceable section removed;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of the removable and replaceable section; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective of a modified form of the removable and replaceable section.

Referring first to Fig. 7, the machine comprises a matrix roll indicated as a whole at l5, a patrix roll indicated as a whole at H, and a knife 31, the sole blanks, one of which is shown at I00, being fed by the rolls to the knife. Referring now to Fig. 3, two sole blanks I00 are presented obliquely at the same time to the splitting mechanism which splits the sole blanks each into the two parts shown respectively in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring to Fig. 1, certain features which are old will first be described. The bearings of the upper or matrix roll are vertically slidable in bearings in the frame, are urged upwardly at all times by springs, not shown, and may be moved down to adjust the roll for blanks of different thicknesses by turning a hand-wheel H! which moves horizontally a slide-bar 2 i, said bar having wedges, not shown, which cooperate with reversely inclined wedges, also not shown, on the bearings of the ma trix roll. The construction thus far described is well known and is disclosed in United States Let ters Patent No. 1,382,689, granted June 28, 1921, upon an application filed in the name of William C. Stewart. The matrix roll, like that of the machine of the patent, comprises a removable and replaceable matrix sleeve 23 having matrices 25 formed therein, said sleeve being removably held in place by locking mechanism in such manner that when the sleeve is unlocked, it may be slid to the right through the spaces between the spokes of a gear 21 and removed from the machine. The shaft 28 (Fig. 2) of the lower or patrix roll 11, like that of the lower roll of the machine of the patent, is rotatably mounted in bearings near the middle of two adjustable levers, one of which is shown at 29, which are swiveled at their rear ends about two pivots at right angles to each other. Heavy springs 3|, the tension of which may be varied by means of adjusting screws 33, hold the levers up against adjustable stop screws 35. The stationary knife 31 (Fig. 7) is mounted on the frame of the machine with its edge just in the rear of the bite of the rolls. No further description of the construction which has been briefly outlined above will be given, reference being made to the patent for details.

When the treadle 39 (Fig. 2) is depressed, the rolls are rotated in opposite directions in such manner as to cause them to make two revolutions and come to rest. Depressing this treadle throws in a clutch, indicated as a whole at A in Fig. 1, to connect a driving shaft GI with a constantly rotating pulley 33. N0 detailed description of the clutch mechanism will be given since any suitable clutch may be employed. It will be understood, however, that while the treadle remains depressed, the drivingshaft 4| continues to rotate and that when the treadle is released, a tension spring 45 (Fig. 2) acts when permitted to do so to swing the treadle up about its pivot 41 to push up on the treadle rod 42, whereupon the driving shaft 4| comes torest.

The treadle 39 is connected by a link 48 with a lever 49 to the free end of which the lower end of the tension spring 95 is fastened; and the hub of the lever 49 is fastened to a rockshaft '5I to which is also fastened the hub of a short lever 53 to the free end of which the lower end of an upwardly extending link 55 is pivoted. Consequently, when the treadle 39 is depressed, the link 55 is pulled down; and, as long as the link 55 is held from upward movement, the treadle remains depressed and the clutch is operative to impart rotation to the driving shaft 6 I. The mechanism by which this link 55 is held down to impart two revolutions to the rolls I5, I? will be described later. Returning now to Fig. 1, the driving shaft II has fast to it a small gear 51 which meshes with a large gear 59, said large gear in turn meshing with a small gear 6| fast to a horizontal shaft upon which is also fast another small gear 53; and this last-named small gear meshes with the large gear 21 which is fast to the shaft of the lower roll IT. The shaft upon which the small gears BI, 63 are mounted extends to the left-hand side of the machine, the end of this shaft being indicated in Fig. 2 at 55. Fast to this shaft 65 is a small gear 61 which meshes with a small gear 69, said small gear meshing also with a large gear II which is fast to the shaft of the upper roll I5. Thus, when the clutch is thrown in to rotate the driving shaft GI, the rolls I5, I! will be rotated at the same speed and in opposite directions to feed the blanks to the knife.

It has been stated above that two revolutions are imparted to the rolls before they are broughtto rest. The mechanism whereby the clutch is thrown out and the rolls brought to rest after two revolutions is controlled by the rotation of the upper roll. Referring again to Fig. 2, fast to one end of the shaft of the upper roll is a pinion I3 which meshes with a gear 15 of twice its size, said gear having formed on one face thereof a projecting cam 15 of generally circular outline and having a flat surface 11. Cooperating with the cam is a small roller 78 at the outer end of the upper arm of a bell-crank lever I9 which is pivoted at 8| and has pivotedto the outer end of its lower arm the upper end of the rod 55 which has been described above as controlling the upward movement of the clutch treadle 39. When new the treadle 39 is depressed to throw in the clutch, the rod 55 is pulled down, the bell-crank lever 19 is swung down, the clutch is thrown in and the rolls I5, I! start rotating. As the upper roll rotates, the pinion i3 rotates with it and imparts rotation to the gear I5. By the time the treadle is released, the small roller 18 on the upper arm of the bell-crank lever I9 rides on the cylindrical portion of the cam 66 and thus holds the treadle depressed until the roller 18 again encounters the fiat surface if and permits the clutch treadle 39 to rise and throw out the clutch, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that two revolutions are thus imparted to the rolls I5, I! whenever the treadle 39 is depressed and released.

When sole blanks are presented to the machine (Fig. 7) the lower roll is temporarily pulled down, as shown in that figure, and the forward ends of the blanks are pushed into contact with gages, one of which is shown at 83, which project from the periphery of the matrix roll at predetermined distances in advance of the leading ends of the matrices, one of which is shown at 85. The gages serve to locate the toe ends of the sole blanks at the proper distance from the leading ends of the respective matrices; and the temporary holding down of the lower roll permits the sole blanks to be presented as shown and causes the knife to enter the blanks properly'when later the rolls start rotating. The lower. roll is pulled down by the operator at the time he presents the blanks to the machine by depressing a treadle 81 (Fig. 2) and after the blanks have been presented, this treadle is released before the treadle 39 is depressed to throw in the clutch. The treadle 81 is pivoted about the same axis 4'! as is the treadle 39 and is pivotally connected by a rod 89 to the outer end of an arm 9| the inner end of which has a hub which is pinned to a rockshaft 93 mounted in bearings in the frame of the machine. On the ends of this shaft beyond the bearings thereof are fastened members 95 (both shown in Fig. 1) having projecting portions through which are threaded the stop screws 35 which engage the outer ends of the levers '29 by which the bearings of the lower roll are carried. Consequently, when the treadle 8'! is depressed, the shaft 93 is rocked and the lower roll pulled down, as shown in Fig. 7. A stop screw'9llimits the upward swinging movement of the arm 9I.

The lower or patrix roll (Figs. 10, 11) is provided with a removable section so that patrices of different shapes and sizes may be employed. To this end the shaft 99 of this roll has fast to it a sleeve IGI provided with a cut-out portion to receive interchangeable sections, one of which is shown in Fig. 11, said sections having formed upon their peripheries projections or patrices I93. The removable section is held in place by a springpressed pin I95 having a conical end which enters a hole I91 in a short pinIGQ carried by the section, the hole extending obliquely outward considered in a direction from the axis of the section to the periphery thereof so that, when the conical end of the pin I95 is forced into the hole, the section will be drawn firmly into place. The locking pin I95, which is slidable in a bore in the shaft, has its outer end screwed into a small block III slidable in a groove in the shaft and acted upon by a compression spring H3, the blockhaving a projection II I which may be engaged by the thumb of the operator to withdraw the conical end of the pin I95 from the hole I91 in the short pin I99. Fig. 12 shows a modified form of removable section in which the patrices are formed by a plurality of pins I I9 which may be riveted or otherwise fastened in place, said pins being arranged as shown to give proper contours to the edges of the patrices. p a

As has been explained, the sole blanks I00 (Fig.

3) are presented two at a time to the rolls of the splitting mechanism. They are not, however, presented with their long axes perpendicular or substantially so, to the bite of the rolls but are presented obliquely as shown. Because of this oblique presentation and the construction whereby the rolls are given two revolutions, it is possible to make use of rolls of small diameter and consequently, to locate the edge of the knife close to the bite of the rolls. Assuming that the sole blanks have been presented obliquely, that the rolls are of adiameter such that twice the distance around-the periphery of either one of them is slightly greater than the distance which the longest sole blanks have to travel to be split from end to end, and that two revolutions are imparted to the rolls, the splitting operation will take place as follows. During the first revolution, the matrices and patrices will engage the sole blanks and, with the knife, will produce the opening in the insole (Fig.3) and the complementary projection on the outsole (Fig. 9). During thesecond'revolution, however, the matrices and patrices will not engage the blank. Instead, the blank will be engaged by smooth portions of the rolls and will be split through its remaining part by a out which is parallel to the two faces of the blank. There will thus result the insole and sole shown in Figs. 8 and 9, it being under stood that the matrix roll has previously been adjusted into a position above the knife such that the resulting sole is thick as compared with the insole.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the mechanism for facilitating the proper obliquity of the sole blanks as presented to the splitting mechanism will be described. Slidably mounted in under-cut horizontal guideways formed in two stationary parts I2I are the opposite edges of a plate I23 which maybe removed and replaced at any time, said plate carrying a guide screw I21 the stem of which extends into a groove I225 in the right-hand one of the two stationary parts I2 I there being a locking screw I3I which extends up through a slot in a part of said stationary member and is threaded into the plate. A stop screw I32 (Fig. 8) which is threaded into 2. lug on the plate I23 and abuts a stationary part of the machine, limits the extent to which the plate may be pushed toward the splitting mechanism and ensures that the plate may be replaced in the exact position from which it was previously removed. Mounted for sliding adjustment on the plate I23 toward and from the rolls is a supporting bar I33 having an open-ended slot I35 in its forward end to receive the stem of a guide screw I31 which is threaded into the plate I23. In line with the slot I35 is a second slot I39 to receive the stem of the second guide screw I II. Slidably mounted upon the stem of the slide bar I33 is the rear part gage member M3 having two oppositely extending portions I43 which engage the two sole blanks at about their heel-breast lines. By referring to Figs. 1 and 6, it will be seen that the gage member Hi3 has a tongue-and-groove sliding connection with the slide bar I33. The forepart gages I 35 (Fig. 3) are adjustably carrried near the forward end of the slide bar I33,in amanner which will be described later, to provide for sole blanks of different widths. In order to facilitate the proper presentation of sole blanks of different sizes, the forepart gages I45 and the rear part gages I43 are adjustable toward and from the rolls, and at the same time, toward and from each other.- Whenever the forepart gages are adjusted toward or from the rolls, the rear part gages are also adjusted toward or from the rolls but to a lessextent. These adjustments in unison are caused by swinging a bell-crank lever I41 (Figs. 3 and 6) about a stationary pivot I49. Pivoted near the outer end of the lever I41 about a horizontal pivot I5I is a locking latch I53 normally held by'a spring I55 (Fig. 7) inengagement with one or another of notches (Fig. 3 formed in the edge of a stationary scale-plate I51 the alternate notches being numbered from 2 to ID to indicate sizes of sole blanks. -t will be understood that the bell-crank lever I 31 is held f rom, movement as long as the latch I53 engages a notch in the plate I51 but may be freed by depressing the handle of the latch. Pivoted to the short arm of the bell-crank lever I41 (Figs. 3, 6-) at I59 is one end of a link IIiI, the other end of which is pivoted at I62 to the member I33 so that, when the bell-crank lever I41 is swung about its pivot I49 the rear part gages I43 are moved toward or from the splitting mechanism through a certain distance. It will be noted that the stem of the slide bar I33 and the plate I23 are cut away to permit movement of the pivot pin I59 and certain parts now to be described. Pivoted to the short arm of the bellcrank lever M1 at I65 is one end of a short link I61 the other end of which is pivoted at I69 to the stem of the slide bar I33. Consequently, when the bell-crank lever M1 is swung about its pivot I43 the slide bar I33, and with it the forepart gages I45, are moved toward or from the splitting mechanism. Inasmuch, however, as the pivot I59 is nearer to the stationary pivot I49 than is the pivot I65, the rear part gages I43 will always bemoved a less distance than the forepart gages I45. By this method of adjustment, assuming that the forepart gages I45 have been properly adjusted toward or from each other in a manner presently to be described, sole blanks of different lengths and widths may be presented obliquely to the splitting mechanism in positions to be engaged properly by the matrix and patrix rolls.

The forepart gages I45 (Fig. 3) are adjusted equally toward and from each other in a path at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slide bar I33 by swinging an arm I1I over a scale-plate I13. The bar I33 (Fig. 5) is not continuous on its under side but has a channel rectangular in cross-section extending across it, said channel being formed byshort upwardly extending portions'of the slide bar I33 connected at their tops by a roof portion I33 (Fig. 3). In other words, the bar I33 has four right angle bends to form across it a channel which is rectangular in crosssection and open on its under side. Inasmuch, however, as the slide bar rests upon the plate I23 (Fig. 5) said plate closes the channel. Resting upon the upper surface of the plate I23 and, slidable in the channel, are the stems of the two forepart gages I45, as best shown in Fig. 4, said stems having overlapping tongues each of which is provided on its upper side with a groove I15 extending across said tongue to receive respectively pins I11 and I19 carried by a downwardly extending cylindrical bearing member which projects downwardly from the lever I1 I. This member extends down through a hole in the roof portion I33 (Fig. 3) and is held from upward movement by a suitably shaped cap-plate I8I the opposite ends of which are bent down and fastened by screws I83 to said roof portion I33. The arm I1I (Fig. 5) at its outer end carries a small spring-pressed catch I85 which may enter any one of a. series of small spaced depressions in the scale-plate I13 to hold the arm in adjusted position.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be understood that the sole blank passes over the knife and the insole beneath the knife. In an ordinary splitting machine, the part which passes beneath the knife is a piece of waste leather and is allowed to drop into a receptacle or upon the floor. In the present machine, the piece which passes beneath the knife is a finished piece of work, namely the insole. In order to guide this insole into a position behind the rolls in which it is accessible to the operator so that hemay reach over and remove the finished insoles and outsoles at the end of the splitting operation, there is provided a chute I81, only a portion of which is shown in Fig. 7, which extends first downwardly, as shown in the figure, and then upwardly behind the rolls. When the splitting operation has been finished, the operator may reach over the rolls, grasp the toe ends of the two sole blanks and their complementary insoles and remove them from the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows. Matrices and patrices of the desired shape having been provided on the two rolls, and the forepart gages and rear part gages having been properly adjusted for width and size, the operator depresses the treadle 81 (Fig. 2) to pull down the lower roll, and presents the sole blanks obliquely to the roll, as shown in Fig. 3, with their toe ends against the stop 83 (Fig. 7). Having properly presented the sole blanks, he releases the treadle 81 and then depresses and releases the treadle 39. Through the mechanism which has been described, the rolls make two revolutions and come to rest. During the first revolution, the forward portions of the blanks are distorted and split. During the second revolution, the rear portions of the sole blanks are split without being distorted, with the result that the insole and the outsole of Figs. 8 and 9 are produced and carried into a position at the rear of the rolls where they may be picked up in pairs and removed from the machine.

The construction whereby the removable section of a roll is detachably held in place by a locking pin which passes through a bore in the roll shaft and through a bore in a member carried by the section, and the construction whereby the blank, prior to being split, is placed with its leading edge against a gage on the matrix roll and is properly positioned with respect to the matrix are not claimed herein, but form the subject-matter of certain claims of application Serial No. 13,716, filed March 29, 1935, in the name of Charles E. Hood.

Although the invention has been set forth with reference to a particular machine, it will be understood that the invention in its machine aspect is not limited in the scope of its application to the particular machine which has been shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for splitting a portion of a blank while maintaining said portion distorted and for splitting a remaining portion while said remaining portion is undistorted, having in combination, splitting mechanism including a knife and a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion at one side of the matrix and is of a diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of the blank to be split, means for imparting a plurality of revolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, and means for causing the matrix to en gage the blank during one of the revolutions of the matrix roll and the smooth portion to engage the blank during another revolution.

2. A machine for splitting a .sole blank into an insole having an opening in its forepart and an outsole having a corresponding projection on its forepart having, in combination, splitting mechanism including a knife and a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion at one side of the matrix and is of a diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of the blank to be split, means for imparting a plurality of revolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, and means for causing the matrix to engage the forepart of the blank during one of the revolutions of the matrix roll and the smooth portion to engage the blank during another revolution.

3. A machine for splitting a sole blank into an insole having an opening in its forepart and an outsole having in its forepart a projection corresponding to said opening having, in co-mbination, a knife, a pair of rolls having respectively a matrix and a cooperating patrix and smooth portions alongside said matrix and patrix, means for imparting two revolutions to the rolls for each splitting operation, and means for causing a the matrix and patrix to engage the blank during one revolution only.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion and is of a 1 diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of a blank which is to be split, and means for rotating the rolls and for imparting to the matrix roll a plurality of revolutions for each splitting operation whereby a blank may be presented obliquely to the rolls in such manner that the matrix engages the blank during one revolution only of the matrix roll.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion and is of a diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of a blank which is to be split, means for rotating the rolls and for imparting to the matrix roll a plurality of revolutions for each splitting operation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls with its longitudinal axis at such an angle to the bite of the rolls that the blank is engaged by the 4 matrix during one only of the revolutions and is engage-d by the smooth portion of the matrix roll during another revolution.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion and is of a diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of a blank which is to be split, means for rotating the rolls and for imparting to the matrix roll a plurality of revolutions for each splitting operation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls with its longitudinal axis at such an angle to the bite of the rolls that the blank is engaged by the matrix during one only of the revolutions and is engaged by the smooth portion of the matrix roll during a subsequent revolution.

'7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion. said rolls being of a diameter such that the distance around the periphery of either of them is less than the length of a blank to be split, means for imparting a plurality of revolutions to the rolls for each splitting operation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls with its longitudinal axis at such an angle to the bite of the rolls that the matrix engages the blank during one only of the revolutions.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion at one side of the matrix, means for rotating the rolls and for imparting a plurality of revolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls with its longitudinal axis oblique to the bite of the rolls.

9. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a knife, a matrix roll, a cooperating patrix roll, said rolls having smooth portions at one side of their matrix and patrix respectively, the diameter of each roll being such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of a blank to be split, means for imparting to the rolls a plurality of revolutions for each splitting operation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls with its longitudinal axis at such an angle to the bite of the rolls that the matrix and patrix engage the blank during one revolution only of the rolls.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll and has projecting from its periphery adjacent to the matrix a gage, means for rotating the rolls and for bringing them to rest always in the same positions with the gage extending from the matrix roll toward the other roll near the bite of the rolls, and operator-controlled means for separating the rolls to permit presentation of a blank to be split with one end against the gage preparatory to imparting rotation to the rolls.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll and has projecting from its periphery adjacent to the matrix a gage, means for rotating the rolls and for bringing them to rest always in the same positions with the gage extending from the matrix roll toward the other roll near the bite of the rolls, and operator-controlled means for moving said other roll away from the matrix roll to permit presentation of a blank to be split with one end against the gage preparatory to imparting rotation to the rolls.

12. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a. knife, a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll, and means for presenting sole blanks two at a time to said rolls, said means comprising forepart and rear part gages for each sole blank, the forepart gagesbeing nearer to each other than the. rear part gages so that the sole blanks are presented obliquely to the rolls with their longitudinal axes converging toward the rolls.

13. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which is a. matrix roll, and means for presenting sole blanks two at a time obliquely to said rolls, said means comprising forepart and rear part gages for each sole blank, and means for adjusting the forepart gages and the rear part gages toward and from the rolls through different distances.

14. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll, and means for presenting sole blanks two at a time obliquely to said rolls, said means comprising forepart and rear part gages for each sole blank, and means for adjusting the forepart gages and the rear part gages in unison toward and from the rolls through different distances.

15. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll, and means for presenting sole blanks obliquely to said rolls, said means comprising forepart and rear part gages for each sole blank mounted for adjustment toward and. from the rolls, and a single member manipulation of which effects such adjustment and at the same time varies the distance between the forepart and the rear part gages.

16. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which has two matrices and has a diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of the sole blanks to be split, means for rotating the rolls and for imparting two revolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, and means for presenting two sole blanks obliquely to the rolls in such manner that each matrix engages a blank during one revolution only of the matrix roll.

17. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls one of which has two matrices and has a diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than the length of the sole blanks to be split, means for rotating the rolls and for imparting two revolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, and means forpresenting two sole blanks obliquely to the rolls in such manner that each matrix engages a blank during one revolution only of the matrix roll, said means comprising two forepart gages adjustable toward and from each other as Well as toward and from the rolls, and a pair of rear part gages adjustable toward and from the rolls.

18. A roll for a splitting machine comprising a main part and a removable section, said removable section being in the form of a cylindrical shell, a pin carried by the shell and extending inwardly thereof, said pin having near its inner end a hole which extends obliquely outward considered in a direction from the. axis of the section to the periphery thereof, and a spring-pressed locking pin having a conical end adapted to enter the hole.

19. A patrix roll for a splitting machine having a patrix comprising pins extending from the periphery of the roll arranged to outline the desired contour of the patrix.

20. A machine for splitting a sole-shaped blank into an insole and an outsole having, in combination, a knife, upper and lower rolls for feeding the blank to the knife, the construction and arrangement being such that the sole passes over the knife and the insole beneath the knife, and guiding means for directing the insole toward the sole into a position in which the operator may grasp the two articles at the same time and remove them from the machine.

WILLIAM D. THOMAS.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,053,304. I September 8, 1956.

WILLIAM D. THOMAS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 53, for the word "adjustable" read identical; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of January, A. D. 1957.

Henry Van Arsdaie (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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