US931748A - Machine for covering boot and shoe straps. - Google Patents

Description

L. vA. GALE. MACHINE FOR COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

APPLICATION FILED K0129, 1907,

Patented Aug. 24. 1909.

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ANDREW. s e f-nun up rnoro-Lnnuanwuas, wnsmvmron u L. A. GALE.

MACHINE FOR oovrznme BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS. APPLIOATIONV FILED NOV. 29, 1907.

93 1 ,748. Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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L. A: GALE. MAGEJNE r03 COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 29, 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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L. A. GALE;

MACHINE FOR COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1907. 93 1 ,748. Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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L. A. GALE. MACHINE FOR oovnnme BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1907.

93 1,748, Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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\7 I Mmssszw- F1 7. 51 flvvavrmz UNITED TATE PATENT FFICIJ.

LABURTON A. GALE, 0F MAIDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

To all whom it may concern:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. November 29, 1907.

Patented Aug. 24-, 1909.

Serial No. 4%,351.

and to undo the work of the wrapping and Be it known that I, LABURTON A. GALE, a I pasting mechanisms. Moreover, in advanccitizen of the United States, residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Covering Boot and Shoe Straps, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for applying covering material to boot and shoe straps prior to attaching such straps to boots or shoes.

As 1S well known, straps for boots or shoes are commonly provided with a cover, usually of thin paper, before being secured in place,

the objectbeing to prevent soiling of the strap in attaching it to the shoe and in subsequent operations. According to a wellknown mode of procedure, the covering material is wrapped transversely about the strap, said material being secured from unfolding, if desired, by being pasted upon itself, and the covered strap is then doubled at a point approximately equidistant fr m its ends. In this form the free ends of the covered strap, which are commonly left exposed, are secured to the shoe.

t is the object of my invention to construct a machine by which the procedure aboveneferred to may be automatically performed, and in which defects which have been incident to prior machines for covering straps are removed.

. In machines as heretofore constructed mechanisms for wrapping covering material about a strap, for securing said material by means of paste, and for doubling the covered strap, have been employed. In all prior machines of which I am aware, however, the application of the covering material to the strap and the doubling of the covered strap have been performed at different points in the machine, the strap being advanced from a position in which the covering material is applied to a point where the doubling operation is performed. This characteristic of prior machines has necessarily detracted to a considerable degree from their efficiency. The feeding movement imparted to the strap longitudinally after applying the covering material tends to disturb the cover ing the strap provided with a pasted cover there is considerable liability of said strap being inaccurately positioned with relation to the doubling mechanism, the strap being consequently doubled at the wrong place in its length.

According to my invention, the covered strap is removed from covering position by movement transverse to the strap. Preferably the covered strap is doubled at the point in the machine Where the cover is applied and immediately after the covering operation is completed. Thus no change in position of the strap is required upon the completion of the wrapping and pasting operations to bring it in operative relation to doubling mechanism and there is consequently no possibility of the cover being displaced or disturbed from this cause, or of the covered strap assuming an improper position with relation to the doubling mechanism.

In accordance with another feature of my invention, I form into a rentrant fold the excess of covering material in the bight of each strap during the preliminary creasing operation, and then double the covered strap and compress the strap thus covered and doubled to flatten the bight of the strap with the reentrant fold therein. The particular object of this feature of my invention is to produce a strap or similar article with a cover which fits very snugly, so that when the strap has been doubled and compressed with the cover in place, the loop of the strap will be flat and the cover less liable to be loosened and then project and be torn from the strap, this happening often when the excess of covering material within the bight of the loop causes the sides to bulge as heretofore. By the term strap as used herein I do not limit myself to the shoe strap of commerce. as I contemplate the use of my improvements in any field for which they are adapted by their nature.

I have shown my invention applied to a machine of a. type in which the webbing, commonly used for shoe straps, remains in a I stationary position while a strip of paper is wrapped about it transversely. In machines of this type the paths of the webbing and paper are commonly at right angles, and said materials are moved intermittingly into covering position in suflicient length to form a strap and its cover. In the covering operation the strip of webbing is superposed on the strip of paper and the ends of the paper are folded transversely over the webbing and pasted together. In applying my invention to such a machine, I provide a doubling member, shown as a flat blade, preferably having a forked end to form the reentrant fold, and doubling rolls, said blade and rolls being arranged on opposite sides of the covered strap in the position which it occupies while being covered, and preferably above and below said strap, respectively. I provide means for severing the webbing at a point to form a strap of the requlred length, which means acts immediately upon the completion of the folding and pasting operation. At approximately the same time the creasing blade descends to crease the covered strap centrally and force it between the rolls which complete the doubling operation and discharge the covered and doubled strap from the machine.

To feed the webbing into position to be covered, I provide improved feeding mechanism, preferably taking the form of a reciprocating tubular beak, acting intermittently upon the web adjacent its free end, after severance, to thrust the free end forward into position to be grasped and drawn into covering position; and in cooperation therewith, I use a reciprocatory gripping member having jaws constructed to grasp the free end of the webbing, said member being arranged to seize the webbing, draw it into covering position, and release it at the proper time. I prefer to hold the webbing under slight tension while the paper is being applied,.and the construction herein disclosed is therefore such that the jaws release the webbing subsequently to the application of the paper.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims. 1

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a machine in the construction of which my invention has been embodied; and Fig. 1" is a view in perspective of the covered strap as it appears when completed and discharged from the machine, one side of the strap being partly broken away, to show more clearly the inner fold of the wrapper; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same machine looking from right to left, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a similar view looking from left to right Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical, sectional views taken 011 the line :r-m Fig. 2, looking from left to right, parts being shown in elevation, and these figures illustrate respectively positions of the moving parts during the feeding operation; Fig. (3 is a vertical, sectional view on the line y-y, Fig. 1, looking from right to left, parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the movable wrapping bed F, and some of its operating parts, the same being broken away in places to reveal details of construction; and Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive are detail views, similar to Fig. (5, showing different phases of the folding operation; Figs. 11 and 12 are views, similar to Figs. 1 and 5, illustrative of the doubling operation; and Fig. 13 is a detail View of the reciprocating segmental rack and clutch which operates the wrapperstock feedroll.

I will first state briefly the operation of the machine shown in the drawings, this embodiment of my invention having been selected for illustration and description as a convenient form to enable ready and complete understanding of my improvements, and I will thereafter give a more detailed description of the several mechanisms of which the machine is composed.

Smmnmy of operation of the machine- The strip A of webbing or other suitable strap stock, (from a roll or other source of stock, not shown) is led, as indicated at the right hand of Fig. 1, through primary feed mechanism comprising an intermittently operating feeding beak or device B which positions the free end a of the strip at the right point (see Fig. 4) to be grasped by secondary feed means consisting of a sliding gripper G, the jaws 0, 0 of which seize the strip and pull it along (see Fig. through the beak and across a strip of paper or other covering stock D (see Fig. 6), which a roll E has fed above the bed F and transversely beneath the portion of the web to be covered. After this feeding operation, the bed F rises while the strip is still sustained under tension between the beak and the jaws, bringing into action folders j", 7, which in their ascent (see Fig. 8) turn upward the sides of the covering blank of paper (the latter having first been severed from the stock strip I) by a shear j) which rises with the bed and the folders are then turned to fold the edges of the paper in overlapping relation through a sequence of operations shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, paste having been applied, if desired, at a suitable point in the operation at or near each of the ends of the forward edge (Z of the paper cover blank, as at f (see Fig. 8), so that when folded the overlapping edges are secured together. The strip having thus been covered, and while the folders are held yieldingly downward (see Fig. 11) by the action of the springs f f (see Fig. 3) connected with crank arms on the outer ends of the folder shafts 7, f, the creasing blade or device G descends (see Figs. 11 and 12) carrying with it a plunger 9 which engages an extension 0 of the movable jaw 0 of the gripper slide, opening the aws and releasing the end a of the strap the other end of which is at the same time severed from the stock by a knife H, acting at the proper region of the strip to give a strap of the desired length. The creasing blade G continues its descent, and pushes ahead of it the covered strap into the bight of a pair of rolls and g which complete the doubling operation, compress ing the doubled strap and discharging it toward the bottom of the machine, at which point it presents the appearance shown in Fig. I being ready for attachment to the shoe upper, the numerals 1 and 2 designating the strap and its cover respectively.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for feeding the strap and wrapper stock and for accomplishing the operations of wrapping and pasting the cover upon the strap, but I will now describe in detail my preferred mechanism which embodies substantial improvements over the earlier mcchanisms employed.

The feeding 0pe'mt2'0'n-.The mechanism for positioning the strap stock for the covering operation may be of any suitable construction, but I prefer to utilize means to act intermittently upon the strip of webbing near the severed end, to thrust the free end forward into position to be grasped and drawn into covering position, and serving also to sustain the free end of the strap material during the covering operation. The reciprocating feeding beak B to which I have made reference above constitutes one convenient form of positioning and sustaining device operated intermittently to give the strap a primary feed movement, and comprises (see Fig. 5) a lower tubular mandible Z) with a throat b of a size suitable to permit passage of the strip A normally, but not large enough to allow passage of any portion of said strip which may be enlarged to a degree that would unfit the strip for use in formation of a strap, as for example an unduly thick strip; or webbing too loosely woven, or kinked; or a portion containing the joint between the ends of the shorter strip portions which are usually pinned together to form the substantially continuous stock strip. in addition to this means for detecting faults in the stock and preventing passage of the faulty material into the machine, I contemplate the use, when desirable, of suitable mechanism to stop the machine automatically, acting upon the advent of the fault, as, for example, the stop mechanism disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 21,358. At the other end of the mandible Z), the upper portion of the tube is cut away, leaving a lower lip, as indicated at b", to receive a shorter upper mandible or movable tooth Z2 the latter having a downwardly project-ing point, hook or cusp (2*, (see Fig. 1,) held normally into close engagement with the strip portion a by action of a spring or other suitable pressure device Z), the latter being secured by ascrew upon the head Z) from which the beak projects, this head being slotted (see F 2) to pass the web strip A, and being actuated by means suitable to cause its reciprocation, which means in the instance illustrated take the form of an upright arm I) mounted pivotally at a on the base of the machine (see Figs. 1 and 2) and connected pivotally at b to the head 6, so thatthe latter can move in a plane determined by guides 5 mounted on a bracket 7), the latter being secured by a screw to the frame part j, and the guides having a grooved connection I) with the beakcarrying head. By the term beak, I designate any device of suitable contour and material to effect the purpose disclosed, and as one convenient form of construction I have shown it as made of sheet metal, soldered or otherwise secured as at 6 upon rods Z), the latter (see Fig. 2) being inserted within holes Z) in the head 6, and there held in adjusted position by screws 6 To actuate the arm 6 I have shown a cam 7t mounted upon the main shaft K, and having a peripheral track to receive an anti-friction roll I)" projecting from the arm, the cam track having an actuating portion 76 to which reference will be made later.

Secondary feed means.ii hen the end a of the web stock strip has been fed forward thus into position (see Fig. 4) to be grasped by the cooperating gripper feed jaws 0, c constituting the preferred form of secondary feed means, the gripper slide C begins its feeding movement from right to left along the slideway j (see Figs. and 5), the first effect of this movement being to release the upwardly extending tail piece 0 of the lower gripper feed aw 0 from the action of bracket arm 7'" secured by a screw j in position upon a bearing bracket 7*, which in turn is fastened by a screw upon the frame member j. The arm serves at the end of each forward movement of the grip per slide to separate the jaws at the point where the end a of the strip is to be fed between them.

The reciprocating movement of the gripper slide may be effected by any suitable means and is accomplished in the instance illustrated by a link and a crank c, the crank being carried by a rock shaft 0 mounted in the frame arm y extending above the slideway 7' and the rock shaft has an actuating arm 0 connected by a thumb screw 0", adjustable to regulate the stroke of the gripper slide in a slot 0 with a pitman 0 extending downward and operated at its lower end by a lever arm a mounted pivotally on the frame at 0 and having (see Fig. 2) an intermediate anti-friction roll o entering a cam track 7: in the face of the cam 7c mounted on the main shaft K.

As shown in Fig. 5, a spring 0 serves normally as means to hold the jaw 0 turned on its pivot (1* toward the jaw c with the end a of the strip grasped between them, and the gripper slide C continues its leftward movement along the slideway 7", it draws with it the strip A between the mandibles of the beak, and at the same time the beak drawn backward along the strip by action of the cam track so that the beak is in position (see Fig. 5) to feed forward quickly a fresh supply of strip after the blank has been severed, as by the knife H, and when the portion Z? of the cam track again acts upon the arm If. Concurrently with this feeding motion of the webbing strip, there has been (see Fig. (5) a similar advance of the end portion (Z of the covering material, which may be paper or any suitable fabric or substance, as, for example, the strip of paper I), from a roll (I carried by a spindle (Z mounted in arms j of the frame. The end (Z of the paper is fed across a supporting apron a, secured by thumb screws 0" upon the frame at j*, and thence to suitable feeding mechanism, such as the wrapperstock feed-roll E, which is driven by a shaft 0 mounted in bearings j in the side mem-' bers 7' i This shaft is actuated preferably in the forward direction only, having see Figs. 3 and 13) for the purpose a clutch gear 0'', with cam recesses 0*, balls 0' and springs e, which cooperate in the usual manner to grip the shaft 0 and advance the paper strip when the gear receives right. hand rotation from the upward movement of the intermeshing segmental rack 6 but permit free rotation of the clutch when the segmental rack descends. The segmental rack is mounted pivotally at 0 upon the frame member j and receives its actuation from the main driving shaft K, by connections including an adjustable pin-and-slot connection with the compound lever members 6 and 0 which permits regulation in the size of the cover blanks fed, the lever (1 being mounted on the rock shaft 0 which carries within the frame, (see Fig. (3) a cam lever c, with an anti-friction roll 0 running in a face track if of a cam it upon the main shaft K.

A spring pressed idler roll 0 is provided preferably (see Fig. (3) to cooperate with the roll E by which the paper strip is advanced over a supporting ledge 6 and beneath a stationary shear member 0, thence across the bed F, where it preferably engages suitable positioning devices consisting in the instance illustrated of fingers adjacent to the paster mechanism, the free end of the paper being held by the devices up against an apron 7" formed preferably of a strip of sheet metal with its ends turned down to form arms 7' secured by screws 7' 011 the outside of the bed F near the paste vat f.

At or about this time, paster devices f may be brought into play, these consisting in the instance illustrated of arms passing through holes f in a rock shaft 7, to which they are adjustably secured by set screws f". This shaft is mounted in bearings f on brackets f extending forward from the frame, and the shaft is rotated by a crank f secured on the outer end of the shaft and from which extends (see Fig. 3) a connecting rod 7 secured at its other end by an adjustable bolt 7 in the slot of a lever f having an anti-friction device f entering and operated by a cam track It in the face of a cam disk k mounted upon the main shaft K. The pasters f are arranged to apply only a small quantity of paste f near each end of the paper (as shown in Fig. 8) so as to leave the central portion unhampered by paste during the doubling operation, this freedom from paste permitting a much smoother fold than when the free movement of the paper is hindered by pasting the edges together.

Covering and pasting operation, (see Fig. (3.) The strip a of webbing being thus in position overlying the blank of wrapping paper, the latter is raised (see Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive) into contact with the strip by upward movement of the bed F, the frame for the bed comprising guides w iich slide in guide ways j, formed in the uprights 7' j, of the main frame, and at the inner edge of the bed is provided preferably a shear 7' which, as the bed moves upward, may serve in cooperation with the stationary shear member 6" (supported yieldingly by the frame upright as a convenient mechanism to sever the blank of paper, leaving the inner edge (Z of the latter free to be bent up by the folders as they move upward beside the paper into the position shown in Fig. 8.

he upward movement of the bed is caused by arms having a pin-and-slot connection 7" at each side of the bed, these arms being (see Fig. 7) mounted rotatively on a shaft 7" mounted in bearings at is upon the main frame of the machine, one of the arms having at an inter iediate portion an anti-friction roll f which enters and is acted upon by the face track 7'. of the cam mounted on the main shaft between the frame standards,

To fold over the upwardly extended edges of the paper from the position shown in Fig. 8, the folders and f are rotated with their shafts f, f by the action (see Figs. 1 and 3) of springs f 7* extending along bearing rods 7, f, which pass through bearing holes in rotating bearing studs f, on crank arms f 7 at the outer ends of the shafts f, The springs 7, 7 engage also collars f", i on the connecting rods f, f and the rods are connected with the free end 7" of an arm f the other end of which f is mounted pivotally on the frame. The arm 7' is actuated by engagement of an anti-friction roll f with a cam trackin the face of a cam disk is mounted on the main shaft, and as it ascends, the arm moves first the spring f and folder f into the position shown in Fig. 9, and secondly the spring 7' and folder f into the position shown in Fig. 10, the folding, pasting and covering operation being now completed.

After the doubling operation, to be described later, the connecting rods f, 32 are d awn downward by descent of the crank arm f and raise he folders through the medium of the springs f", i which insure a normally vertical position of the folders, regardless of the vertical position of the bed. (See Fig. 3).

Doublz' /zg 0pcrazf i0n.The strap having been thus covered without moving it from the position to which itwas brought by the feeding mechanism, 1 will now describe the mechanism which serves, in the instance illustrated, as one convenient form of construction to crease and double, or fold, the covered strap at the point in the machine where the cover has just been applied, and while the strap is still in operative relation with the covering mechanism.

The creasing blade or device G (see Fig. l) is forked, in accordance with another feature of my invention, being formed preferably of a plurality of leaves 9 slightly separated it their free ends so that when they engage the paper cover at the middle of the strap, to initiate the doubling operation, the leaves receive between them the slight excess of double paper within the bight of the loop, and form the same into a reentrant fold, which presents approximately the appearance illustrated at 3, in Fig. 1". This, with the absence of paste along the middle portion of the lap e, aids to cause the formation of a smooth flat interior surface within the bight of the cover, as shown in 1 after the strap has passed through the doubling and com-pressing rolls, which fix the reentrant fold 3 permanently and flatten the bight, giving it the neat appearance illustrated.

Ido not claim herein the covered shoe strap having its excess of cover material formed into a reentrant fold; nor the novel method of forming the same; as these form the subject matter of my pending application Serial No. 10%,352 filed November 29, 1907.

Any suitable hearing may be provided for the doubling blades, and I have illustrated one convenient form comprising a bracket j carried by an arm secured at to the frame member j, the bearing being slotted at j to receive the leaves, which are carried at the end of a plunger 9 and this in turn is operated by a rocking beam g mounted pivotally at g upon the member 7' of the frame and has a slot and pin connection 9 with the upper end of the plunger. The other end of the beam is connected pivotally at g to a collar g through which extends a pitman g on which a plurality of collars g, g, are secured in adjusted position by set screws.

For the downward, or doubling movement, the beam is actuated positively by the collar 9 but between the collars g and g an intervening coil spring 5 is provided, in accordance with my invention, so that the downward draft of the pitman upon the beam and it upward draft on the blades 9 will be of a yielding character until the rolls shall have cleared the bight of the strap from the blades, after which the spring will cause the beam to withdraw the doubling blades rapidly from between the folded portions of the strap as soon as the latter shall have been advanced far enough by the doubling rolls, the operation of which will be described later. During the doubling operation the folders f, 7, hold the covered strap yieldingly upon the bed F, as seen best in Fig. 11, so that the strap can be withdrawn from beneath the folders by the action of the creasing blade, which descends between the folders and through the bed at their central cut-away portion.

To actuate the pitman g I have shown it as connected at its lower end to a lever g, the other end of which is mounted pivotally at on the frame member j, the lever having at its middle portion an anti-friction roll 9 engaging a cam track in a cam 713 mounted on the main shaft K.

My invention includes also means to open positively the strap jaws, concurrently with descent of the creaser, and accordingly, as the beam forces down the plunger g, at the same time it forces down another plunger g, which I have provided to engage the tail piece 0 of the jaw c, and to depress the latter, thereby acting positively to release the free end a of the strip. I provide also for severance at about the same time of the other end of the strap, from the stock strip at a point near the beak, and this I accomplish preferably by means of a knife H (see Fig. 11) mounted upon a rock shaft it (see Fig. l) and cooperating with a stationary shear 72. mounted on the bracket 6. The rock shaft is carried by a bearing 7' on the bracket 5 and has at its other end a lever arm [t extending downward, and provided with an anti-friction roll 7L3 which is engaged and operated by a cam 70 mounted on the main shaft.

There now remain to be described only the doubling rolls, and the means for actuating them, which will be understood best by reference to Figs. 1, 6 and 7, in which the rolls g and g are shown as having shafts g,

journaled in the bed F, the rolls being held normally toward each other by a spring plunger g (see Fig. l) which engages the roll journals 9 lying in the horizontal slots 9 These rolls have intermeshing gears 9 and g, and an actuating gear g meshes with the gear 9 being mounted in a bearing bracket 9 at one end, and having a shaft- 9 extending toward the rear of the machine where it is j ournaled in a member 9 andis provided with a bevel gear 9 meshing with another bevel gear upon the shaft f and this latter gear is actuated by an intermediate gear on a stud g and operated by a gear k mounted on the main shaft of the machine. It will thus be seen that whatever the position of the moving bed, which is raised by the arms when actuated by the cam surface inasmuch as these arms rotate about the shaft f, the gears 51* and g will continually intermesh and when thus constructed will rotate continuously the rolls g and 9 To actuate the main shaft K I have shown it (see Fig. 1) as provided with a gear 73 meshing with intermediate gears and pinions (not shown) in connection with a short shaft in which carries an actuating pulley 7a which may be operated by hand or by belt, from a suitable source of power not shown.

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

1. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism for applying covering material to a strap, of mechanism for folding the covered strap arranged and constructed to act while the strap is in operative relation to its covering mechanism.

2. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism for folding and pasting a strip of covering material about a strip of webbing, of means for removing the covered webbing from covering position arranged and constructed to fold said webbing in its operation.

3. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with means for sustaining a strip of webbing in a predetermined position, of mechanism for applying covering material to said webbing and mechanism for folding the covered webbing, said mechanisms being arranged and constructed to act successively upon the webbing while sustained in said position.

4. I11 a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism for applying a covering material to webbing, of means for folding the covered webbing arranged and constructed to act upon said webbing prior to its removal from said mechanism.

5. In a strap-covering machine, the combination w th means for sustaining webbing in position to receive the application of the cover, of mechanism for applying covering material to said webbing mechanism for severing the webbing, arranged and constructed to act'upon thewebbing while in said posi-,' tion, and means for removing the covered webbing from said mechanism.

6. In a'strap-covering machine, the com bination with means for sustaining the free end of strap material, mechanism for applying a cover to said material, mechanism for folding the covered strap and a severing device intermediate said sustaining means and the covering mechanism, of means for advancing said strap material into operative relation to said mechanism constructed and arranged to seize said free end and move forwardly with the strap.

7. In a strap-covering machine, mechanism for feeding the covering paper, intermittently operated mechanism for giving the strap a primary feed movement, secondary feed means, comprising cooperating jaws, means to cause the said jaws to engage the strap and complete the feed thereof to a position over the covering paper and to hold the same under tension, means to fold the covering paper over the strap, means to open said feed jaws to release the strap, and

means to discharge the strap from the ma chine.

8. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism for feeding paper into covering position and for severing the paper to form a covering strip, of mechanism for feeding webbing transversely to the line of feed of the paper and above and approximately centrally of said covering strip, a frame having a bed to support said paper and webbing and vertically movable to permit said bed to be moved into and out of position to receive said paper and webbing, folders arranged on opposite sides of said bed, and means for actuating said folders.

9. A machine for covering shoe straps, having, in combination, mechanism for folding a strip of covering material about a strip of webbing, mechanism for severing the webbing to form a strap of a predetermined length, and means for removing the covered strap from covering position by a movement transverse to the strap.

10. A machine for covering shoe straps, having, in combination, means for advancing the webbing into position to be acted upon, mechanism for applying covering material to said webbing, and mechanism for severing the webbing to form a strap of a 'n'edetermined length arranged to act upon the webbing while sustained in covering position, and means for removing the covered webbing from operative relation to said mechanism.

11. A machine for covering shoe straps, having, in combination, means for sustaining the free end of a continuous strip of strap material, mechanism for applying a cover to said material, means for advancing the material into operative relation to said mechanism, and means for severing said material at a point between said mechanism and said sustaining means.

12. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with mechanism for applying covering material to strap stock, of mechanism to draw said stock into covering position, mechanism to sever said strap from said stock, and mechanism acting intermittently upon said stock after each covering and severing operation to advance the freshly cut end of successive portions of said strap stock into position to be grasped by said draft mechanism.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with covering mechanism and a reciprocating gripper device having jaws to grasp a strip of stock and draw it into position to be covered, of mechanism to act intermittently upon said stock strip and feed fresh supplies of the same successively into position to be grasped by said jaws.

14. A feeding device for apparatus of the class described, said device consisting of a reciprocating beak comprising a plurality of mandibles, one of said mandibles having a throat to pass a stock strip of webbing or the like, and said other mandible being arranged to permit passage of said strip through said beak in one direction only.

15. A feeding beak for apparatus of the class described, said beak comprising an upper mandible and a lower mandible, said lower 11 audible having a throat to pass a stock strip of webbing or the like, and said upper mandible being arranged to engage and feed said strip when said beak is advanced, and to permit passage of said strip through said beak during retraction of the latter.

16. A reciprorating device to impart an intermittent feeding movement to a strip of webbing or similar stock in apparatus of the class set forth; said device comprising a head portion; a beak carried thereby, including a lower mandible having a throat to pass said stock strip, and a lip projecting beyond said throat, a movable upper mandible or tooth to rest upon the upper surface of said stock strip and permit passage thereof through said throat during retraction of said beak, and having a hook, cusp, or downward projection to engage and feed said strip when said beak is advanced; a pressure device to maintain said upper mandible yieldingly in operative relation with said strip; and means to reciprocate said feeding device, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a strap covering machine having a frame, guides upon said frame, and an actuating shaft provided with a cam; of a reciprocating device to feed intermittently a strip of webbing or similar stock to said machine, said device comprising a sliding head mounted on said guides, a tubular feeding beak carried by said head and arranged to pass said stock strip upon retraction of said head to receive thereby a fresh supply of said strap stock, and acting to feed said supply upon advance of said head, and an actuating arm mounted near one end in bearings on said frame and connected near its other end to said head, said arm having at its medial portion means to engage and be operated by said cam, substantially as described.

18. As an article of manufacture, a feeding device for the purpose set forth; comprising a head or body portion with lateral grooves to receive and be carried by a plurality of guides, 1 cesses to receive beak-supporting rods, and an upwardly extending portion slotted to pass a stock strip; and a beak carried by said head; said beak consisting of a lower mandible of sheet metal provided with a plurality of rods arranged to enter said recesses, said mandible having a throat to pass a stock strip, and a lip projecting beyond said throat, and an upper mandible or tooth above said lip, said upper mandible having a hook, cusp or downward projection to engage and feed said strap during advance of said beak, but permit ting passage of said strap upon retraction of said beak for a fresh supply of strap, and a spring secured near one end upon said head and having its free end in engagement with said upper mandible to hold the same yieldingly toward said lip; substantially as described.

19. in a strap covering machine, strap feeding mechanism, strap creasing mechanism, and means acting to release said strap from said feeding mechanism and thereupon to operate said creasing mechanism, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a strap covering machine; a gripper device provided with a plurality of gripper jaws to grasp and draw said strap into covering position; one of said jaws being pivoted and provided with a portion arranged to be engaged to rotate said jaw; and means to engage said portion to open said jaws and release said strap, substantially as described.

21. In a strap covering machine; a gripper device having a movable gripper-jaw; creasing mechanism; and means to actuate said creasing mechanism; said actuating means having a portion to operate said movable jaw and release said strap, substantially as described.

22. In a strap covering machine; creasing mechanism, a reciprocating gripper device having a plurality of gripper jaws to grasp the free end of the strap stock strip and draw the same beneath said creasing mechanism, a lever to actuate said creasing mechanism, and a plunger also actuated by said lever to open said jaws to release said strap.

23. In a strap covering machine; a creasing mechanism; areciprocating gripper device having a plurality of gripper jaws to grasp the free end of the strap stock and draw the same beneath said creasing mechanism, one of said jaws being movable and having an operating portion; a lever to actuate said creasing mechanism; and a plunger also actuated by said lever to engage the operating portion of said movable jaw to release said strap; strap severing mechanism; and means to actuate said severing mechanism at the time of release of the free end of said strap and prior to said creasing operation, substantially as described.

24. In a strap covering machine; a creasing plunger, and a walking-beam to actuate said plunger; a reciprocating gripper device having gripper jaws to grasp the free end of a stock strip and draw the same beneath said creasing plunger, one of said jaws being movable and having an operating portion; and a jaw pushing plunger mounted on and actuated by said walking-beam, to engage said operating portion and open said movable jaw to release said strap prior to operative engagement of said strap by said creasing plunger. I

25. In a. strap covering machine; a pair of rolls to receive and double said strap, a creasing blade to engage said strap medially and introduce the same between said rolls, a plunger to operate said blade, a. walkingbeain having one arm ciinmected operatively with said plunger, and a pitman to actuate the other arm of said walking-beam, said walking-beam having a pivotally connected collar provided with an aperture to pass the upper portion of said pitman; and a plurality of collars fixed upon said pit-man, one acting positively upon the collar of said walking-beam to actuate the latter to move said plunger and creasing blade into opcrative engagement with said strap, and a spring surrounding said pitman intermediate said beam collar and said other fixed collar on said pitman, so that upon retractive movement of said pitman a yielding draft will be exerted upon said creasing blade to withdraw the latter from said rolls, substantially as described.

26. In a. strap covering machine; a pair of doubling rolls to receive and double a strap; a creasing device to engage said strap medially and introduce it to said rolls; means to actuate said creasing device positively during its period of operation upon said strap; and means acting yieldingly upon said creasing device to withdraw the same from said strap and rolls after introduction of said strap to said rolls.

27. In a strap covering machine; the combination with mechanism to cover a strap with a wrapper of paper or the like; of a creasing device comprising a plurality of leaves slightly separated at the portion which engages said strap, substantially as described.

28. A device for creasing covered articles of the class described, said device comprising means to engage the medial portion of said covered article to crease the same, said means being arranged to form a re'entrant fold in the material of said wrapper, within the doubled portion and adjacent the bight thereof, substantially as described.

29. A device for creasing covered donning straps for shoe uppers and the like, said device consisting of a blade having a plurality of leaf portions separated at the strap engaging end of said blade, substantially as described.

30. In a strap covering machine; a bed to receive a cover blank of paper or the like, and movable vertically to receive upon said cover blank a strap to be covered; a plurality of folders carried by rotating shafts mounted in bearings on said bed and having cranks provided at their outer end with rotating bearing studs; and means to actuate said folders, said means comprising rods, one for and passing through each of said bearing studs, each rod having a compression spring and a tension spring between said bearing studs and collars on the respective rods; and an actuating lever connected with one end of each of said rods, said lever, when operated in one direction, acting through the medium of said rods, collars, compression springs, bearing studs, cranks and shafts respectively to press said folders yieldingly upon'said cover and strap during the folding operation, and said lever, when operated in the other direction, acting through said rods, collai's and tension springs, to rotate said cranks and cause said folders to assume normally a substantially vertical position regardless of the position of said bed. i

31. In a strap covering machine; the combination with web feeding mechanism, of mechanism to feed a strip of paper transversely to said web, an abutment to receive the forward end of said paper strip to position the same for the pasting operation; and

a pasting device to apply paste near the ends of said forward edge, leaving the central portion free from paste.

32. In a strap covering machine; the combination with strap feeding mechanism, and cover-stock feeding mechanism; of an abutment to receive and position the forward end of the blank for said cover; and a pasting device comprising a paste vat, a rockshaft mounted near said vat, and a plurality of arms moved by said rock-shaft to enter said vat for a supply of paste and thereafter to apply said paste to said forward wrapper edge.

33. In a strap covering machine, the combination with mechanism for feeding covering material into covering position, of mechanism for feeding strap stock across said covering material, means to fold said covering material around said strap stock and press it thereagainst, and a bed platen movable toward said covering material 011 the side away from said strap stock to serve as an abutment for said strap stock and cover- 15 ing material when subjected to the pressure of said folding means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LABURTON A. GALE.

\Vitnesses BERNARD BARRows, ALLAN H. BARROWS.

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