US2214043A - Machine for operating on shoes - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 10, .1940.

G. CLARKE 2,214,043

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Filed Nov. 3, 1939 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 1.0, 1940. e. CLARKE MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N SHOES Filed Nov; 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vaz kinds of stitchdown shoes.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES George Clarke, Leicester, England, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N .1, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 3, 1939, Serial No. 302,663 In Great Britain December 8, 1938 17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating on shoes, and in some aspects has more particularly in view the provision of improvements in machines for lasting the heel ends of shoes, the invention being herein illustrated as applied to a heel-end lasting machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No 1,949,539, granted on March 6, 1934, on an application of J. Gouldbourn, F. Ricks and W. T. B. Roberts. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to machines of that particular type and that in some of its novel aspects also it is not limited to lasting machines.

A machine of the type disclosed in the abovementioned Letters Patent comprises a heel band for embracing and clamping an upper about the heel end of a last, wipers for wiping the margin of the heel end of the upper inwardly over an insole or heel-seat piece onthe last, and a wcrlr support or jack mounted for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of the last from an initialgwork-receiving position to present the heel end: of the last and upper within the heel band prior to the starting of the power operation of the machine, the jack including a post upwardly movable relatively to other portions of the jack to carry the work into contact with a holddown which determines the position of the shoe heightwise relatively to the wipers. A machine of this character is sometimes used for lasting the heel ends of shoes the uppers of which are loose on their lasts, or at all events have not been previously subjected to the usual assembling and pulling-over operations, such as the uppers of some Under those conditions it has been customary for the operator to adjust the heel end of the upper heightwise relatively to the last and to maintain it at the correct height by holding it with his fingers in locations near the forward end of the heel seat until he starts the power operation of the machine. To relieve the operator of the necessity of thus controlling the upper, which sometimes involves more or less difficulty and inconvenience, machines of the type shown in the previously mentioned Letters Patent have been provided heretofore with an auxiliary clamping device for clamping the heel end of the upper in proper relation to the last prior to the workpresenting movement of the jack, comprising an auxiliary heel band carried by the jack and arranged to occupy a position between the upper and the main heel band in the lasting operation, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No.

' 2,207,819, granted on July 16, 1940, on an application of J W. Pratt and W. A. Barker. Such an auxiliary heel band also contributes to the proper shaping of the heel end of the upper by clamping it smoothly to the contour of the last about its heel end before it is subjected to the heavier conforming pressure of the main heel band.

An object of the present invention is to afford still better insurance that in operating, for example, on work of the above-mentioned character the heel end of the upper will be smoothly and tightly conformed to the contour of the last and will be otherwise properly lasted. The invention, in one aspect, accordingly provides a construction in which an auxiliary heel-end clamping device, utilized for the purposes above described, has combined therewith means for applying to the upper a pull lengthwise of the last. As herein illustrated, the'movable jack carries not only an auxiliary heel band constructed and operated as disclosed in the last-mentioned Letters Patent, but also a toe gripper which grips and pulls the upper at its toe end, the construction shown being further such that the toe gripper is conveniently operated by the same member which is moved by the operator to apply the auxiliary band to the shoe and'begins its pull on the upper before the upper is clamped by the auxiliary band. The toe gripper thus contributes not only to the proper clamping of the upper about the heel end of the last by the auxiliary band, but also by its pull and its positioning action on the forepart and waist portions of the upper to the proper lasting of the margin of its heel end inwardly over the insole or heel-seat piece by the wipers. The invention further provides a construction such that both the toe gripper and the clamping device or band on the jack partake of the above-mentionedupward movement of the jack post to position the work, and also partake of certain tipping movements of the last for which provision is aiforded in machines of the illustrated type.

In the means for gripping and pulling the toe end of the upper novel features of the invention are also to be recognized, including provision for adjusting the toe gripper to different positions relatively to the last. It is to be understood that with respect to these among other features the invention is not necessarily limited in utility to heel-end lasting machines or to machines having an auxiliary heel-end clamping device or band in combination with a main heel band.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in left-hand side elevation of a portion of a machine of the type illustrated in the previously mentioned Letters Patent No. 1,949,539, provided with mechanism in which the present invention is embodied, showing the upper held under tension by the toe gripper and its heel end clamped by the auxiliary heel band with parts of the structure broken away;

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of a portion of the structure shown near the lower end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view mainly in front elevation of the auxiliary heel band and parts associated therewith, with the parts in the same positions as in Fig. 1 but with the position of the shoe indicated diagrammatically by broken lines, the toe gripper and its operating mechanism being omitted; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a last pin on the jack, and parts associated therewith, in a plane extending heightwise and laterally of the shoe.

A machine of the type disclosed in the abovementioned Letters Patent No, 1,949,539 is provided with a shoe-supporting jack l which, similarly to the disclosure of United States Letters Patent No. 1,558,737, granted on October 27, 1925,

on an application of R. F. McFeely, is mounted to swing from an initial forwardly inclined workreceiving position (Fig. 1) prior to the starting of the power operation of the machine to carry the shoe toward a heel band 2 which embraces and clamps the upper about the heel end of the last, the jack including a post 3 which is moved upward relatively to other portions of the jack also prior to the starting of the machine to position the work against a holddown in proper relation to heel-lasting wipers, the holddown and the wipers being omitted from the present drawings. The jack is provided on the post 3 with a last pin t arranged to enter-the usual spindle hole in the heel end of the last. As disclosed in the abovementioned Letters Patent No. 2,207,819, the last pin in the construction shown is fast in a block 5 (Fig. 4) which is mounted in a transverse guideway 6 formed in another block 1 supported on the upper end of the post 3. A screw 8 extending through a slot 9 in the block 5 and threaded at one end in the block 1 retains the block 5 in place while permitting it to rock and also to move bodily with the last pin in directions widthwise of the shoe. The block 1 is mounted in arcuate guideways 19 in the post 3 for movement about an axis extending laterally of the shoe and located substantially at the bottom of the heel end of the shoe. Accordingly, the operator, before starting the power operation of the machine, may by control of the forepart of the shoe and last tip them, together with the last pin, either about the abovementioned axis or in one direction or the other laterally of the shoe, or may move them bodily to the left or the right, to position them in better relation to the lasting instrumentalities. The top of the cone of the last rests on a plate I2 through which the pin l extends, this plate being supported on the block 5 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 and being held detachably thereon by a pair of leaf springs 13 which are fast on the block and extend into grooves formed in the opposite sides of the plate. It will, therefore, be evident that the plate l2 partakes of any of the above-mentioned positioning movements of the last pin 4 and the last mounted thereon.

As further disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,207,819, there is supported by the jack I an auxiliary heel band It for clamping the heel and of the upper against the end and side faces of the last when the jack is in its work-receiving position and for holding the upper thus clamped as the jack and its post 3 are moved to carry the work into position to be operated upon by the main heel band 2 and the wipers. The auxiliary heel band and the mechanism for applying it to the shoe are supported on the above-mentioned plate i2, so that the band will partake of any of the above-mentioned positioning movements of the last and shoe without altering its relation thereto. For this purpose the plate 12 has secured to it a depending carrier I5 to which is secured a casting It provided at its opposite sides with guideways l8 for a frame l9 which, as viewed from above, is substantially U-shaped with its two limbs extending in a forward direction, the frame being bolted to the casting 16 with provision for upward or downward adjustment along the guide ways l8. The forward end of each limb of the frame l9 has thereon a boss 20, and bushings 2| extending into the two bosses provide a pivotal connection between the frame i9 and a second somewhat similarly shaped frame 22 the forwardly extending limbs of which lie at the inner sides of the limbs of the frame 19 but are inclined somewhat upwardly in rearward directions, The frame 22 is provided with an upwardly and forwardly curved lug 23 formed on the middle portion of the web which joins the rear ends of its limbs, this lug being of a hollow and substantially rectangular shape as viewed from the front (Fig. 3). A pin 25 secured in the opposite sides of the lug 23 provides a pivotal support for a depending lever 25, the pin being normally supported at a definite height, in order to prevent the frame 22 and the lever 25 from falling, by a connection hereinafter described between the lug 23 and levers 31 supporting the auxiliary heel band M.

The lever 25 has mounted therein, below thepin 2 a plunger 29 controlled by a spring 30 and bearing against a face 31 on the frame 22, so that the spring 30 may swing the lever 25 forwardly about the pin 24. The auxiliary heel band M is applied to the shoe by rearward swinging movement of the lever 25, effected by means hereinafter described. For thus operating the band by the lever there is rotatably mounted in an upstanding ear 33 on the lug 23 of the frame 22 a rod 35 which may move lengthwise relatively to the ear 33 a short distance determined by one or the other of two flanges 34 formed on the rod at the opposite sides of the ear. The opposite end portions of the rod 35 are provided with right and. left threads engaged by corresponding threads formed on studs 35 which are swiveled in the levers 31 supporting the front ends of the band it. By means of a knob 38 the rod 35 may be turned to adjust the front ends of the band toward or from each other by swinging the levers first lengthwise of the shoe about axes at their lower ends to cause the band to clamp the upper against the end face of the last and then laterally of the shoe about the studs 36 to force the forward ends of the band inwardlyagainst the sides of the shoe. The lower ends of the levers are forked and are pivotal'ly connected by pins 40" to the enlarged heads of. studs 39 which have hollow portions movable lengthwise and also rotatable in the previously mentioned bushings 2']. Springs 42 in the hollow portions of the studs 39 tendto force the studs inwardly toward each other. Between the inner ends of the studs and the opposite sides of the lever 25 are links 4! having rounded ends seated in recesses formed in the studs and the lever. These links are arranged toserve as a toggle between the studs andthe lever, the parts being norm a-lly so positioned by the spring 30 and the springs 42 that the links extend forwardly from the studs 39- at a substantial angle to each other. By reason of the resistance of the springs 42 a rearward pullon the-lower end of the lever 25 first causes the lever to swing about the inner ends of the links M as a fulcrum; so that through the pin 24 it swings the frame 22 forwardly about the bushings 2 l' and through the rod 35 swings the levers 31 forwardly about the axes of the studs 39 to apply the band" l-4 against the end face of theupper. Thereafter, in response to resistance of the shoe to further forward swinging movements of the levers 3'1, the lever 25 swings about the pinand straightens more or less the toggle provided by the links 4|, thereby swinging the levers 3-labout the studs 35' to force the forward ends of the band inwardly against the sides of the shoe.

The upper endsof the levers 3T are forked and carry pins 44' on' which are pivotally mounted blocks 48 fastened to the forward ends of the band l4; This band is long enough to extend well forwardly of the heel-breast line of a largesizeshoebeyond the portion of the upper clamped by the mainband 2; and the upper edges of the band M at its forward ends are arranged to press theupper against the sides of the last almost up to the edge of the insole or" heel-seat piece on the bottomof the last, the frame [9' being adjustableas described to position the band in the most appropriate relation to shoes having heel ends of differentheig'hts. The rear portion of the band is arranged to extend far enough downwardly to engage the upper close to the top edge ofthe' counter and therefore holds this portion of the upper materials against movement away from the end face of the last during the lasting operation. This affords increased insurance that the wings of the counter will not be displaced in a downward direction by the action of the lastingwipers. The band consists of an inner layer 43 of' thin flexible leather backed up by a layer '45 of thin resilient metal, and accordingly the band as a whole is so formed as to adjust itself readily to the heel ends of lasts of different sizes and shapes. To increase the flexibility of the band l4, it is so formed as to expose a portion of the upper located above a portion of the band which extends continuously around the end of the upper near the top edge of the counter. To prevent the main band 2 from forming creases in the upper thus exposed by urging it forwardly along the sides of thelast, the band I4 is provided with a pair of wings 46 extending rearwardly of its front end portions and arranged to be pressed against the upper by the main band 2 as. the latter closes around the end of the shoe. The metal layer 45 of the band I4 is so shaped that the upper edges of the portions of the band at the sides of the shoe flare somewhat outward relatively to the lower edges before the band en-' gages the shoe, and the connections between the band and the levers 31 are positioned near the upper edges of the band. Accordingly, the lower edges of the band at the sides of the shoe engage the upper before their upper edges and the area of contact of the band with the sides of the upper progressively spreads toward the edge of the last bottom as the levers 31 are swung inwardly. This serves further to prevent the formation of wrinkles in the sides of the upper. To assist in guiding the levers 31 there are provided yokes '4'! which are formed on the frame 22 and partially embrace the lower arms of the levers.

For operating the lever 25 to apply the band I4 to the shoe as above described, there is connected to the lower end of the levera wire cable 49 which extends partly around a small pulley mounted on a downwardly extending portion of the casting l6 and is connected at its lower end, by means hereinafter described, to a treadle 52 pivoted on the frame of the machine. Accord ingly, the lower end of the lever 25 is swung rearwardly by depression of the treadle. To hold the band in clamping relation to the upper when the operator releases the treadle 52, there is provided on the lever 25 an abutment 53 engaged by a latch 54 formed on a lever 55 which is pivotally mounted on the frame l9, this lever being controlled by a spring-pressed plunger 56 which tends to swing the latch upwardly but is yieldable to permit the abutment 53 to pass over the latch. There is further provided means for retracting the latch 54 to release the bandapplying mechanism and permit the band to return to its initial position as the jack is swung forwardly after the operation of the machine on the shoe. For this purpose the jack I has fast thereon an arm 57 on the front-end portion of which is supported a latch-releasing lever 59 pivotally mounted on a pin 60 on the arm. The lever 59 has an upwardly and rear- Wardly curved arm arranged to engage the lower end of the lever 55 and thus to retract the latch 54 in response to the forward swinging movement of the jack. Pivotally mounted on a pin 52 on a forwardly extending arm of the lever 59 is a downwardly extending tubular casing 54 in which is mounted a plunger BGengaged at its upper end by a spring 58 in the casing. Slidingly mounted in a lug '10 on the casing 84 is a rod 12 arranged to bear at its upper end against the arm 51 and controlled by a spring 74 mounted between the lug and a nut 16 on the rod. Accordingly, the spring 14 tends to swing the casing 54 in a rearward direction, such movement of the casing being limited by a stop screw 18 which is threaded in a lug 8!] on the casing and engages the arm 51. This screw is so adjusted that when the jack is in its forwardly inclined position the lower end of the plunger 66 lies in front of a plate 82 fast on the frame of the machine. It will be understood that as the jack is swung rearwardly the front end of the arm 51 swings both rearwardly and upwardly, and in this movement of the arm the spring 14 may yield by reason of engagement of the plate 82 with the rear face of the plunger 66 until the plunger has been lifted far enough to snap over the top of the plate. When the jack is swung forwardly after the lasting operation, the lever 59 is swung in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) by reason of engagement of theplate 82 with the lower end face of. the plunger. 66, the spring 68- being stronger than the spring 14. By this movement the lever 59 operates the lever 55 to cause the latch 54 to release the band-applying mechanism. As the jack nears the end of its forward swinging movement the plunger 99 snaps downwardly off the plate 02, so that the parts assume their normal positions illustrated in Fig. 1. When the band-applying mechanism is thus released the frame 22 is returned to its initial position by a spring-pressed plunger 84 which is mounted in the frame I9 and engages a downwardly extending tail portion of the frame 22, and the lever 25 is swung forwardly about the pin 24 by the spring 30 and the springs 42.

As thus far described the construction herein shown is substantially like that disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent No. 2,20'1, 819. For purposes of this invention there is combined with the auxiliary heel band means also carried by the movable jack for gripping the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last. Pivotally mounted on horizontal pivot pins IOI supported by a forwardly extending bracket I02 on the frame 22 are two short forwardly extending bracket arms I03 of substantially L-shape as viewed from the side, the front end portions of these arms being turned downwardly. The lower ends of the downturned portions of the arms I03 are united by a block I extending between them, and rotatably mounted in a bearing in this block is a forwardly and rearwardly extending stem I01. Formed on the rear end of the stem I01 immediately behind the block I05 is a head I03 on which is secured for vertical adjustment an upwardly extending bar I09. At its upper end this bar supports a toe gripper IIO, and in order to maintain this gripper in a definite but adjustable position lengthwise of the shoe a spring III connected to the bar I09 tends to swing the bar and the bracket arms I03 about the pins IOI in the direction to carry the gripper toward the toe end of the last, the position of the gripper being adjustably determined by a screw II3 which is threaded in a bracket I I4 on the frame member I9 and the head of which is engaged by a plate on the bar I09. The bar I09 may be readily swung to the right or the left about the axis of the stem I01 to position the toe gripper inv the appropriate relation to the toe ends of the uppers of right and left shoes.

The bar I09 is bifurcated at its upper end, and a horizontal pin II5 extends transversely between its forks. An upwardly extending arm I i1 has formed on its upper end a lower jaw II8 of the gripper, the arm being pivotally mounted on the pin H5 and being normally inclined in a rearward direction relatively to the bar I09. The jaw H8 is preferably about two inches in width so as to engage a substantial portion of the toe end of the upper. An upper jaw I24 is pivotally mounted on a pin I25 on the arm H1, and for controlling the arm there is provided a spring-pressed plunger II9 which is mounted in a boss I20 on the arm and engages 2. lug I22 on the bar I09. A spring I23 in the boss I20 tends to force the plunger I l9 downwardly and thus to swing the arm H1 in a rearward direction. To limit such rearward movement of the arm and thereby to determine the initial position of the gripper the arm is provided with 2. lug I26 arranged to engage the lower face of a flange on the lug I22. When the gripper is in this initial position its jaws, are located somewhat lower and farther rearwardly of the machine than illustrated in Fig. 1.

The jaw I24 is formed on the rear end of a lever I28 pivotally mounted between its ends on the pin I25, and the front end of this lever is connected by a link I21 to the upper end of a lever I29 pivotally mounted on the pin H5 in the bifurcated portion of the arm II1. Mounted in a socket in the lever I29 is a spring I4I which bears against a shoulder on the boss I20 of the arm H1 and tends to swing the lever I29 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1), thereby holding the upper javw I24 initially upraised from the lower jaw. The lever I29 is provided with a downwardly and forwardly extending arm I3I on which is pivotally mounted a trunnion block I33. Extending downwardly through this trunnion block is a rod I35, and mounted on this rod between the trunnion block and a nut I39 on the rod is a compression spring I31. It will thus be seen that by downward movement the rod I35 will act through the spring I31 first to swing lever I29 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) relatively to the arm II1 to move the jaw I24 into upper-gripping relation to the jaw H8, and that by continued downward movement it will swing the arml II1 together with the lever I29 against the resistance of the spring I23 to cause the gripper to pull the upper in an upward and forward direction. For thus operating the rod I35 there is fast on its lower end a small block I43 extending from opposite sides of which is a rod I44. Attached to the opposite ends of this rod are wire cables I45 extending downward partly around pulleys I46 on the bar I09 and thence rearwardly and downwardly over pulleys I42 supported on the casting I6. The two cables I45 are connected at their lower ends to the opposite ends of a bar I41 which is thus suspended by the cables. Connected at its upper end .to the bar I41 is a third cable I48, and the lower end of this third cable is connected to the rear end of a floating lever I49. Connected to the front end of this floating lever is the previously mentioned cable 49 for operating the lever 25, this cable extending upward loosely through an opening in the bar I41. The floating lever I49 is connected to the treadle 52 by a link I50 located nearer the rear end of the floating lever than the front end thereof to provide the lever with a short arm connected to the cable I48 and a longer arm connected to the cable 49. By reason of this construction depression of the treadle causes the toe gripper to close and to begin its pull on the upper before the auxiliary heel band is applied to the shoe.

The bar I09 which supports the toe gripper has projecting forwardly from its opposite sides a pair of plates I5I between which the block I43 on the gripper-operating rod I35 is received as the gripper is operated to pull the upper. To hold the toe' gripper against retractive movement after the pull has been applied to the upper, there is provided a latch I52 arranged to engage a lug on the block I43, as illustrated in Fig. 1, this latch being pivotally mounted on a pin I53 extending between the plates I5I. The latch is provided with a forwardly extending arm I54 by engagement with which the operator may withdraw the latch to permit the return of the gripper to its starting position. A spring I55 normally holds the latch against a stop pin (not shown), and as the rod I35 approaches its lowest position the latch is swung against the resistance of this spring until it snaps over the lug on the block I43.

In the use of the machine constructed as described the operator adjusts the frame It] upwardly or downwardly, if necessary, to position the auxiliary band M at the proper height for the work to be operated upon, and also, if necessary, adjusts the forward ends of the band toward or from each other by turning the rod 35. By the first adjustment the toe gripper also is raised or lowered, and the gripper may also be independently adjusted in various ways as hereinbefore described. If the machine is to operate on stitchdown shoes of a type in which the heel end of the upper is fastened in lasted position to a loose heel-seat piece as distinguished from a complete insole, the operator positions such a heel-seat piece on the bottom of the last and assembles an upper on the last with a counter in its heel-end portion. He then mounts the last on the last pin 4 while the jack is in its forwardly inclined position and while the auxiliary heel band occupies the position illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 1. The operator then positions the toe end of the upper between the jaws of the toe gripper and adjusts the heel end of. the upper to the desired position heightwise of the last. While holding the heel end of the upper in proper adjusted relation to the last the operator depresses the treadle 52, thereby operating the toe gripper to grip the toe end of the upper and to pull it in a forward and upward direction and also operating the auxiliary heel band to clamp the upper about the heel end of the last. In this operation, as hereinbefore described, the toe gripper begins to pull the upper before the auxiliary heel band becomes effective to clamp the upper. As also hereinbefore described, the auxiliary heel band is moved lengthwise of the last to clamp the upper against the heel-end face of the last before it forward ends are moved inwardly to clamp the upper against the sides of the last. By the time such clamping of the upper against the sides of the last takes place the upper'will have been subjected to such tension by the toe gripper that its heel end is pulled tightly about the last and is free from wrinkles along the sides of the last. It will be understood that after the depression of the treadle 52 the auxiliary heel band is held in upper-clamping position by the latch 54 and the that they also partake of such tipping movement of the shoe in one direction or another or such bodily lateral movement of the shoe asthe operator may effect in the manner hereinbefore described to position the shoe in proper relation to the lasting instrumentalities. After the work has been properly positioned, the operator starts the power operation of the machine and the heel-end lasting operation is then performed in the manner characteristic of machines of the illustrated type. In this operation the toe gripper maintains its pull on the upper and positions it at the proper height along the sides of the last forwardly of the heel sat as the wipers wipe the margin of the upper inwardly over the heel seat piece." When the lasting .operationhas been completed the jack is permitted to swing forwardlyto its initial position, and in this move ment of the jack thelatch 54 is operated by the lever 59 to release the mechanism which operates the auxiliary heel band and permit this mechanismand the band to return to their starting positions. By depression of the arm I54 the operator also releases the toe gripper and permits it to return to its starting position.

While the invention has been described more particularly with reference to the lastong of stitchdown shoes, it is contemplated that under some conditions it may be used also with beneficial results in lasting the heel ends of shoes of other kinds.

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

1. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a heel band for embracing and clamping an upper about the heel end of a last, and a work support movable from a work-receiving position to present the heel end of the last and upper within said'band, of an auxiliary clamping device arranged to be positioned between said band and the upper for also clamping the upper against the last and means for operating said auxiliary clamping device to clamp the and arranged to be positioned between said band I and the upper for also clamping the upper against the last, a toe gripperalso movable withthe work support, and means for operating said auxiliary clamping device to clamp the upper and for also operating said toe gripper to apply.

a lengthwise pull to the upper prior tothe workpresenting movement of the work support.

3. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a heel band for embracing and clamping an upper about the heel end of {a last, and a work support movable from a work-receiving position to present the heel end of the last and upper within said band, of an auxiliary heel band movable with the work support and arranged to be positioned between said firstnamed band and the upper for clamping the upper against the last before it is clamped "by said first-named band, and means also movable with the work support for gripping the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last.

4. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a heel band for embracing and clamping an upper about the heel end of a last, and a work support movable from a work-receiving position to present the heel end of the last and upper within said band, of. an auxiliary clamping device movable with the work support and arranged to be positioned between said band and the upper for also clamping the upper against the last, a toe gripper also movable with the work support for gripping the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last, and a member movable by the operator and common to said auxiliary clamping device :and

toe gripper 'for operating them prior to the work presenting movement of the work support.

- 5. Ina machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a heel band for embracing and clamping an upper about the heel end of a last, and a Work support movable from a work-receiving positionto present the heel end of the last and upper within said band, of an auxiliary clamping device movable with the work support and arranged to be positioned between said band and the upper for also clamping the upper against the last, a toe gripper also movable with the work support for gripping the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last, a member movable by the operator, and connections between said member and the auxiliary clamping device and the toe gripper for operating said gripper to pull the upper and for thenapplying said device in clamping relation to the upper as the gripper is further operated by said member prior to the work-presenting movement of the work support.

6. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a heel band for embracing and clamping an upper about the heel end of a 'last, of an auxiliary clamping device arranged to be positioned between said band and the upper for also clamping the upper against the last, means for operating said auxiliary clamping device to clamp the upper before it is clamped by said heel band, and a toe gripper arranged to apply a lengthwise pull to the upper also before it is clamped by said heel band.

'7 In a machine for operating on shoes, the

combination with a heel band for embracing and clamping an upper about the heel end of a last, of an auxiliary clamping device arranged to be positioned between said band and the upper {for also clamping the upper against the last, 'a toe gripper for pulling the upper lengthwise of the last, and a member movable by the operator and commonto said auxiliary clamping device and toegripper for operating them before the upper is clamped by said heel band.

'8. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a work support arranged to receive a last with an upper thereon and movable to carry the work into position to be operated upon, of a device movable with the work support 'for clamping the upper about the heel end of the'last, a toe gripper also movable with the work support for gripping'the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last, and a member movable by the operator and common to said clamp-ing device and toe gripper for operating them.

9. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a work support arranged to receive a last with an upper thereon, of a device forclamping the upper about the heel end of the last, a toe gripper for gripping the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last, a member movable by the operator, and connections between said member and said. device and gripper for operating the gripper to .pull the upper and for then applying said device in clamping relation to the upper as the gripper 'is'iurther operated by said member.

10. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a work support arranged to receive a last with an upper thereon, of a device "for clamping the upper about the heel end of 'the last, a-toe gripper for gripping the toe end of Ithe upper andpulling the upper lengthwise of the ilast, a member movable by the operator, at floating lever, means connecting said member to the floating lever at a point nearer one end of said lever than the other end to provide the lever with arms of unequal lengths, and means connecting the short and long arms of said lever respectively to the toe gripper and the clamping device for operating them by movement of said member.

11. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a work support arranged to receive a last with an upper thereon, of a device for clamping the upper about the heel end of the last, a member movable by the operator for operating said device to clamp the upper first against the end face of the last and then against the sides of the last, a toe gripper" for gripping the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of he last, and means for operating the toe gripper by said member to apply a pull to the upper before the upper is clamped against the sides of the last by said clamping device.

12. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a jack arranged to support a last bottom upward with an upper thereon and mounted for work-presenting movement ina direction lengthwise of the last, said jack including a post movable upward relatively to other portions of the jack to lift the work, of a device carried by the jack for clamping the upper against the heel end of the last, and a toe gripper also carried by the jack for gripping the toe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last, said clamping device and gripper being supported by said post so as to move upwardly with the post.

13. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a jack arranged to support a last with an upper thereon and mounted for work-presenting movement in a direction lengthwise of the last, said jack including a heel-end support for the last mounted to tip with the last relatively to other portions of the jack to permit adjustment of the last, of a device carried by the jack for clamping the upper against the heel end of the last, and a toe gripper also carried by the jack for gripping thetoe end of the upper and pulling the upper lengthwise of the last, said clamping device and gripper being supported by said heel-end support so as to partake of the tipping movements of the last.

14. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a support for a last with an upper thereon, of a toe gripper for gripping the toe end of the upper, the gripper being mounted for swinging movement lengthwise of the last to pull the upper, a support for said gripper relatively to which it is thus movable, said support being mounted to swing with the gripper lengthwise of the last to adjust the gripper relatively to the last, a spring tending to swing said support in the direction to carry the gripper toward the last, and means cooperating with said spring for adjustably positioning the'gripper lengthwise of the last.

15. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with a support for a last with an upper thereon, of a toe gripper for gripping the toe end of the upper, the gripper being mounted for swinging movement lengthwise of the last to pull the upper, and a support for said gripper relatively to which it is thus movable, said support being mounted to swing with the gripper both lengthwise and widthwise of the last to vary 16. In a machine for operating on shoes. the

combination with a support for a last with an upper thereon, of a toe gripper for gripping the toe end of the upper, the gripper being mounted for swinging movement lengthwise of the last to pull the upper, a support for said gripper relatively to which it is thus movable, said support being mounted for swinging movement widthwise of the last to vary the position of the gripper relatively to the last and being also adjustable with the gripper lengthwise of the last, and a spring for maintaining said support in adjusted position lengthwise of the last while permitting it to swing widthwise of the last.

17. In a machine for operating on shoes, the

combination with a support for a last with an upper thereon, of a toe gripper for gripping the toe end of the upper, said gripper comprising a jaw-carrying arm pivotally mounted to swing lengthwise of the last and having an uppergripping jaw movably mounted thereon, a lever mounted to swing lengthwise of the last, a link connecting said lever to said movable jaw for closing said jaw on the upper and for then operating said arm to pull the upper by movement 10 of said lever, and a treadle for operating said lever.

GEORGE CLARKE.

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