US1030753A - Lacing-machine. - Google Patents

Description

W. A. SMITH. LAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e, 1908.

Patented June 25, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wags-ses- WW "films-99.5-

W. A. SMITH.

LAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8,1908- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00.,wAsmNGTON. D. cv

Patented June 25, 1912.

10 sums-sum 2.

W. A. SMITH.

LAOING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8,1908.

Patented June 25, 1912.

10 SHEETS-811E311 3.

IL'lnesses:

W. A. SMITH. LAGING MACHINE.-

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8,19OB.

Patented June 25, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEBT 4- l t/lhesses JrzwizzoniOLUMIIA PLANOOMPH 0-, WASHINDTON. D- C- w. A. SMITH. 'LACING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION IYILED SEPT. 8,1908.

Patented June 25, 1912.

10 SHEETSSHEET 5.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII 00.,WA5HINQTON. n1

W. A. SMITH.

LAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8,1908.

Pajzented June 25, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

W. A. SMITH.

LACING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8, 1908.

Patented June 25; 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7- I/z'iizesas- W. A. SMITH.

LAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1908.

1,030,753. Patented June 25,1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 470.. WASHINGTON. D. :4

W. A. SMITH. LAGING MACHINE. APPLIOATIOK FILED SEPT. a, 1908.

Patented June 25, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

CDLUMBXA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTIJN, D. c.

W. A. $MITH. LACING MACHINE; APPLICATION TILED SEPT.8,1908.

1,080,753. Patented June 25, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SEEM 10.

6 79 lawn/ion.-

COLUMBIA PLANDuRAPl-l c0. WASHINGTON. IJ- c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornion.

WILLARD A. SMITH, 0F MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LACING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLARD A. SMITH, citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lacing-Wlachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to machines for lacing together the eyeleted quarters of shoe uppers preparatory to placing them on the last for the lasting and other operations in order that the edges of the lacing slit shall be held at the proper distance apart, and the upper properly fitted to the last during the lasting operation.

The features of the invention may be embodied with special advantage in that class of machines in which the lace inserting mechanism comprises a plurality of spindles or needles arranged to pass a series of loops of lacing cord through the eyelet holes of an upper, an example of which is shown in Patent No. 779,008, dated January 3, 1905. The broader features of the invention are not limited, however, to this form of machine, but may be embodied with advantage in other forms of machines, and the specific construction and arrangement of the various parts may be varied as may be found desirable or best suited to the form of machine in which the invention is embodied, and to the construction and arrangement of lace inserting devices and the devices cooperating therewith.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a shoe upper lacing machine having its various parts so constructed and arranged that the operations incident to the lacing together of the quarters of the upper may be performed at a high rate of speed and in a uniformly reliable and satisfactory manner. 1

A further object is to so construct and arrange the parts of the machine that they may be readily and conveniently adjusted or their operation modified to secure such manipulation or control of the lacing cord and of the work as is best suited for inserting lacing in the particular style or size of shoe upper whlch is to be operated upon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 8, 1908.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 452,058.

Vith these objects in view, one feature of the lnvention contemplates the provision 1n a machine in which a series of loops of lacing cord are formed and inserted in the eyelet holes of an upper, of means for varying the amount of slack in the lacing independent of the loop forming and inserting devices. This means in its preferred form consists of a slack thread device arranged to engage the lacing cord on the supply side of the loop forming devices, and so mounted and arranged that it may be rendered active or inactive at the will of the operator. The presence of this slack thread device in the machine enables the amount of slack formed in the lacing to be increased beyond the amount which is provided for bythe adj ustment of the loop forming devices in case an unusual amount of slack is required, as, for instance, in lacing certain styles and sizes of bluchers. The slack thread device may be rendered inactive when it is desired to remove substantially all the slack in the lacing, or to leave only such an amount'of slack as may be provided for by the adjustment of the loop forming devices.

Further features of the invention contemplate the provision in a shoe upper lacing machine of improved means for adjusting the needles of a multiple needle machine to adapt the machine to operate upon uppers having differently spaced eyelets; the provision of improved means for varying the length of cord taken by the looper fingers and looper needles in forming the loops which are to be passed through the eyeletholes of the upper; the provision in a machine provided with a work holder or adjuster for properly positioning the work during the lacing operation of means for causing the adjuster to move with the upper so that strain on the looper needles, due to friction between the adjuster and upper, is avoided; the provision of means for operating the work adjuster, and the starting and stopping mechanism for the machine, whereby the work adjuster is operated to position the work before the machine is started, and is then held in position and released at the proper time without the attention of the operator ;'the provision of an improved knoting mechanism; and the provision of means for gripping the upper or the lacing between the upper and knot tying mechanism during the knot tying operation, whereby the knot may be tied in a uniform manner and properly tightened.

The various features of the invention will be understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which a shoe upper lacing machine embodying the same in their preferred forms is illustrated. This machine, in addition to embodying the features of invention above referred to, also embodies certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is an end view showing the starting and stopping mechanism in the position which it occupics when the machine is at rest; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the starting treadle has been de pressed to start the machine; Fig. l is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the work adjuster has been re turned to normal position, the treadle remaining in its depressed position; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-.2, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line g -g Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the needle and looper carrier, with the front plate removed; Fig. 8 is a front detail view showing the knotting mechanism and the parts adjacent thereto; Figs. 9 and 10 are vertical sectional detail views of the knotting mechanism; Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view showing one form of slack thread device on the supply side of the loop forming mechanism; Figs. 12 to 15 are detail views showing the mode of operation of the device for gripping the upper during the knot tying operation; Fig. 16 is a partial end view showing a modified form of the means for moving the work adjuster with the upper; Fig. 17 is a detail plan view of the carrier for the looper needles and looper fingers, showing one form of means for varying the length of loops drawn by the needles and looper fingers; Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 17 Fig. 19 is a detail front elevation showing a modified form of slack thread device; Fig. 20 is a plan view showing a modified means for operating the slack thread device shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 22 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 20; Fig. 23 is a detail front elevation showing the knotting devices and modified form of means for clamping the lacing during the knot tying operation; Fig. 24: is a detail plan view of the lace gripping device shown in Fig. 23.

The machine illustrated in the drawings has the same general construction and mode of operation as the machine shown in the patent above referred to, and the construction and arrangement of the parts is substantially the same as the construction and arrangement of the parts in the machine show and described in my prior application filed January 16, 1906, Serial No. 296,388, which has matured into Patent No. 962,105, dated June 21., 1910, except where the construction and arrangement of the parts is modified or changed in embodying the features of the present invention in the machine.

The machine comprises a plurality of needles equal in number to the number of pairs of eyelet holes which it is desired to lace, a plurality of looper lingers cooperating with the needles to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, and to retain the loops in position until the shoe upper is placed on the needles, a shuttle or cord feeding needle acting to place the cord in position to be engaged by the needles and looper fingers, and to pass a portion of the cord through the loops after they have been inserted in the eyelet holes of the upper, a work adjuster for positioning the work on the needles, cord clamping grippers to hold the ends of the lacing, means for severing the lacing from the cord supply, and a knot tying mechanism acting to tie the ends of the lacing together.

The looper needles or spindles 1, of which there are five in the machine shown, are mounted in a carrier 3, and the cooperating looper fingers 2 are mounted on a slide at supported on the carrier. The front end of the carrier 3 is supported by an adjustable link 5 from one arm of a bell crank lever 6, which is pivoted on a shaft 7 and is rocked to give vertical movements to the carrier by a cam 8 engaging a cam roll 9 on the other arm of the lever. The rear end of the carrier is pivotally supported upon the arms of a yoke 10 which is pivoted upon a rod 11 and is rocked to give the carrier its forward and return movements by a cam acting on a roll 13 which is mounted on one of the arms of the yoke. The weight of the carrier is supported or partially supported upon a spring 1%. Movements are imparted to the slide a which carries the looper lingers to move the looper fingers longitudinally of the needles by means of a lever 15 which is connected with the slide by a link 16, and is provided with a roll 17 engaging a cam groove formed in the disk 18.

The looper needles 1 are secured in spin dles 19 which are mounted in blocks 20, and the blocks are mounted in guideways formed in the front of the carrier 3, so that the blocks may be adjusted to vary the spacing of the needles. One of the blocks shown at the right in Fig. 7 is secured in fixed position, while the others 'are mounted to slide laterally in the carrier in changing the spacing of the needles. Each needle carrying block is provided with two depending arms 21 between which the links 22 for con necting the blocks are located. The links 22 are pivoted at their upper ends to the arms 21, and are provided with pins 23 engaging vertical slots in the lower ends of the arms. The links are divided into two sets, and the links connecting adjacent blocks in each set are pivoted together as at 24. A link of one of the sets is extended to form an operating lever 25, and one or more links of the other set is extended and pivotally connected as at 26 with the operating lever. The links thus form two sets of lazy tongs connecting the needle carrying blocks, the two sets of lazy tongs being connected to a single operating lever which is formed by the extension of a link of one of the laz i tongs. These needle adjusting devices aresimple in construction and arrangement, and enable the needle blocks to be readily and conveniently adjusted with comparatively little tendency to cramp the blocks in their guiding bearings, and with little friction between the moving parts. The parts may be secured in adjusted position by means of a clamping thumb screw 27.

The looper fingers 2 are secured in blocks 28 which are mounted in a transverse slot formed in a plate 29 which is mounted upon the upper side of the looper carrying slide 4. The plate 29 is retained upon the upper surface of the slide by means of screws 30 which pass through slots 31 in the plate and are provided with heads overlying the plate. In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the plate 29 which carries the looper fingers is connected with the slide 4 by means of a stud 32, the rear end of which is secured in a lug formed on the slide 4, and the front end of which passes through a lug 34 on the plate and is engaged by nuts 35. By turning the nuts on the stud, the plate 29 may be adjusted to vary the length of loop formed by the looper fingers and needles. The plate 29 may be clamped in adjusted position by tightening screws 30, or the screws may be adjusted so that they do not clamp the plate in position. In the latter case the nuts 35 may be adjusted so that there is a varying amount of lost motion between the plate 29 and the slide 4, when the slide is re ciprocated, and thus the length of loop formed by the looper fingers may be varied without varying the position to which the fingers are moved during the advance movement of the slide 4. In this case the screws 30 will engage the front ends of the slots 31 as the slide 4 is advanced, and will move the looper fingers forward to a definite position with relation to the ends of the needles.

lVhen the slide 4 is retracted, the screws 30 1 gers, the cam disk ride idly in the slots 31', and the slide 4 will move rearwardly without effecting any movement of the plate 29 until the inner nut 35 engages the lug 34. The plate 29 will then be moved rearward with the slide 4 un til the slide has reached its rearward position. If the nuts 35 are adjusted so that they are in engagement with the lug 34 when the screws 30 are in engagement with the front ends of the slots 31, then there will be no lost motion between the slide 4 and the plate 29, and the movements of the looper fingers will correspond to the movements of the slide 4. lVith this adjustment the longest loops will be formed. By varying the position of the nuts 35 on the stud 32, the amount of lost motion between the slide 3 and the plate 29 may be varied, and thus the extent to which the plate 29 and looper fingers are retracted by the rearward movement of the slide 4 may be varied to vary the length of loops drawn by the looper lingers, the looper fingers being advanced to the same position whatever the length of the loops drawn.

In Figs. 17 and 18 a construction is shown in which means is provided for conveniently varying the length of the loops formed by the looper fingers and looper needles, and for enabling the operator to readily adjust the parts for drawing any predetermined length of loop. In the construction shown in these views, the plate 29 in which the looper fingers are secured is connected with the looper carrying slide 4 by means of a link 36, the rear end of which is pivotally connected with a lug 37 on the slide 4, and the front end of which is connected with the plate 29 by a manually operated adjusting device which may be readily manipulated by the operator. As shown, the adjusting device comprises a cam disk 38 provided with a cam slot 39 which is engaged by a roll 40 on the link 36. The cam disk is mounted upon a stud 41 secured to the plate 29, and is provided with a hub upon the upper end of which an operating flange 42 is formed. The hub of the cam disk extends below the disk 39 and rests upon the upper surface of the plate 29, be ing held in engagement therewith by a spring 43. The front end of the link 36 is bifurcated and passes on opposite sides of the hub of the cam disk so that the link is guided as it is moved by the cam 39. The cam disk is retained in adjusted position by means of a locking pin 44 arranged to engageone of the series of recesses 45 formed in a segmental rib on the under side of the disk 38. The adjustment of the cam and of the looper fingers is indicated by a finger 46 cooperating with a scale 47 formed on the cam disk 38. When itis desired to Vary the length of the loop drawn by the looper fin- 38 is raised against the tension oi? the spring 43 until the locking pin t l: is disengaged from the recess 45, and then the cam is turned until the pointer 4-6 is ln'ought to the position on the scale corresponding to the length (it loop to be formed. The cani disk then allowed to return to its normal position. the locking pin 4% entering one ot the recesses l5 and locking the disk in adjusted position.

The spindles 19 in which the looper needles are secured are rocked at proper inter- \als to bring the books of the needlesinto position to receive the lacing cord and to thereafter turn the needles into position to hold loops so tl at the cord carrying needle will pass through them by means of crank arms at; secured to the rear end of the spindles and provided with pins if) engaging a slot in the transverse bar 50. The bar is carried on the itorwa rd ends of two bell crank levers 51, the upper ends of which extend in the path of shoulders 52 and 53 which are formed on the slide r. When the slide is advanced to bring the looper lingers in front of the hooks of the looper needles, the rear shoulders act on the levers 51 moving the bar downward and thus turning the needles into position to bring the hooks upward where they may receive the lacing cord. -When. the slide -l is retracted and the looper fingers have engaged the cord and cooperating with the needles have formed the loops in the cord, the front shoulders 52 act upon the levers 51, raising the bar 50 and turning the needles through an angle oi 90 so that the loops are held by the needles in position for the passage of the cord carrying needle through the loops.

The cord carrying or shuttle needle Setis secured to the arm of a needle carrying slide 56 which is mounted in ways 57. The slide 56 is rcciprocated by means of a cam which engages a rollv on the rear end oi? the lever 58. The front. end of the lever is provided with a gear segment 59 arranged to engage a pinion (30 which connected with a gear 61 engaging a rack on the rear of the needle slide. The lacing cord leads from the eye of the needle 5i through two guides (32 arranged on opposite sides of a lever (33, the lower end of which is arranged to engage and clamp the cord between the guides. The lever (33 is forced in a direction to clamp the cord by a spring ti l, and is operated to relieve the tension on the cord when the needle is in its retracted position by a cam (35 arranged to engage a roll on the upper end of the lever.

The machine is provided with a. guard plate (36 arranged to underlie the shuttle needle. and adjustably secured to a vertical guard plate 67. The guard plate is pro DU vided at its front end with an eye 68 through which the lacing cord passes from the left hand looper finger to the eye of the shuttle needle when the needle is in its retracted position.

ln order that the amountoi slack thread in the lacing may be increased, if desired, beyond the amount produced by the adjustment of the looper fingers, a slack thread device is provided which is arranged to enthe cord between the loop forming devices and the thread supply. As shown in the main views. and in detail in Fig. 11., the slack thread device consists of a linger (it) projecting from a plate 70 which is held upon the end of the guard plate tit) by a screw 71. The screw 71 passes through a slot 72 formed in the plate, and the plate is also provided with a notch in its lower edge arranged to engage a pin '73 when the device is in active position. This slack thread device may be moved into active position as indicated in full lines in Fig. 11, or may be swung up into inactive position as indicated in dotted lines in said figure. hen in the position indicated in the full lines, the lacing cord will be drawn over the finger (if) when the shuttle needle advances to pass the cord through the loops which have been passed through the eyelet holes of the upper so that slack thread will be formed in the lacing on the supply side of the looping devices. In case itis not desired to form slack in the lacing at this point, the slack thread devices may be moved into the inactive position indicated. by dotted lines by sliding the plate 70 upward until the notch in the lower edge of the plate disengages the pin 73, and then swinging the plate upward about the screw 71.

In Figs. 19 and 21 another form of slack thread device for securing slack thread on the supply side of the looping devices is illustrated. As shown in these views, the slack thread device consists of a. linger or book 74 formed. on the lower end of a lever 75 and arranged to engage and draw out a loop of slack thread between the eye of the shuttle needle and the loop forming devices when the shuttle needle moves forward to pass the lacing cord through the loops held by the looper lingers and needles. The lever 7 5 connected by a link 76 with a block 77 which is adjustably mounted in a slot 78 termed in the lower arm 79 of a lever, the upper arm of which is provided with a pin 80 arr; nged to engage a slot 81 formed in the end of the needle carrying slide 56. A coiled spring 82 tends to move the arm 79 and thread drawing lever 7 5 into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 19. When the needle carrying slide is in its retracted position, the pin 80 lies in the vertical or tension of the slot 81, and the thread drawing finger 74- is in position above the lacing cord. as indicated in full lines in Fig. 19. Vi hen the needle slide advances. the pin 80 rides into the horizontal part of the slot 81,

ice

and then as the advance of the slide continues, the lever 79 and thread drawing lever 75 are swung into the position inclicated in dotted lines in Fig. 19, thus drawing off a loop of slack thread. When the needle carrying slide is returned to its retracted position, the pin 80 will enter the slot 81, and the parts will be returnedto the full line position as the slide reaches its retracted position. The amount of slack thread drawn ofl' by the finger 74 will depend upon the adjustment of the block 7 7 in the slot 78. In case it is not desired to draw off any slack thread, the finger 7-1 is rendered inactive by adjusting the block 77 so that the pivotal connection between the link 7 6 and the block is in line with the axis of the arm 79.

In Figs. 20 and 28 a modified form of means for operating the thread drawing lever 75 is illustrated. As shown in these views, the arm 79 in which the slot 78 is formed is secured to the front end of a shaft 83, the rear end of which is provided with an arm 84 connected by means of a link 85 with a. boss 86 which projects downward from the segment lever 58.

After the upper has been placed on the looper needles, and the loops carried by the needles have thus been passed through the eyelet holes of the upper, the carrier for the looper needles and looper fingers is moved upward to bring the loops carried by the needles into line with the shuttle needle so that the needle on its forward stroke will carry the cord through the loops. In order that the upper may be properly positioned upon the needle, and may be held in position thereon out of the path of the shuttle needle, a work adjusting and holding device is provided. In the construction shown, this work adjuster comprises a laterally projecting plate 87 secured to the lower end of an arm 88, the upper end of which is pivotally supported in the front ends of the arms of a yoke 89. Springs 90 engage the arm SSand the arms of the yoke 89, and tend to swing the arm 88 outward into the position indicated in Fig. 6. The yoke 89 is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 91 and is provided with a depending arm 92, the lower end of which is arranged to be engaged by a collar 93 on a rod 94. The front end of the rod 94 extends through a slot 95 in the arm 88 Fig. l, and is provided with a collar 96 engaging the outer surface of the arm. The rear end of the rod 94% is connected to the upper end of an arm 97, the lower end of which is secured to a rock shaft 98. When the rock shaft 98 is operated to swing the arm 97 from the position indicated in Figs. 4 and 6 to the position indicated in Fig. 8, the work adjuster is swung downward and rearward to bring the plate 87 against the upper which has been placed upon the looper needles by the operator, and position the upper back upon the needle so that it lies back of the path of the shuttle needle. When the rock shaft 98 is operated to move the arm 97 forward from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to the position indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, the work adjuster is swung away from the upper by the springs 90, and is raised into its upper position by the engagement of the collar 93 with the arm 92.

The construction and operation of the work adjuster as thus far described is substantially the same as the construction and operation of the work adjuster shown and described in my prior application No. 296,388, filed January 16, 1906. In the construction shown and described in said application, the work adjuster remains in fixed position against the upper as the looper needles move up into position to bring the loops into the path of the shuttle needle, and during this upward movement of the looper needles the work adjuster causes a frictional drag upon the upper, tending to bend the needles downward and to preventthe proper positioning of the loops with relation to the shuttle needle. This obj ectionable action of the work adjuster is avoided in accordance with one feature of the present invention by providing means for causing the work adjuster to move with the upper as the looper needles move upward. The specific form of the means for causing the work adjuster to move with the upper is not material to this feature of the invention in its broader aspects, and any suitable means may be employed for this purpose without departing from the invention.

In the construction shown in the main views of the drawings, the means for causing the work adjuster to move upward with the upper consists of a plate 99 arranged above the upper engaging plate 87, so that the looper needles will lie between the plates 99 and 87 when the work adjuster is in work holding position, as indicated in Fig. 8. lVhen the looper needle carrier moves upward to bring the loops carried by the needles and looper fingers into position for the passage of the shuttle needle, the work adjuster is carried upward with the looper needles by the engagement of the looper needles with the plate 99, so that the work adjuster does not put any frictional drag upon the upper. These plates as they pass on opposite sides of the needles also bring the needles into alinement in the same plane.

In Fig. 16 a modified form of means for causing the work adjuster to move with the upper is shown. In the construction shown in this view, the plate 88 of the work adjuster is provided on its inner side with a lug 100. This lug is arranged to be engaged by a bar 101 which is secured to the H carrier for the looper and looper fingers, and is arranged to underlie the lug 100 when the work adjuster is in work engaging position. hen the looper carrier is moved upward to bring the loops into position for the passage of the shuttle needle, the bar 101 by its engagement with the lug 100 causes the Work adjuster to move upward with the needles without putting any strain upon the needles.

The work adjuster is operated to engage the upper and position it upon the looper needles through the movement of an operating rod which also actuates the stop mech anism to start the machine after the upper has been positioned. In order that the work adjuster may be retained in position to properly hold the work upon the looper needles until the shuttle needle has been re tracted after passing the lacing cord through the loops held by the looper needles, and may then be disengaged from the upper to allow the upper to be removed from the needles, means is provided for retaining the work adjuster in work engaging position, and for automatically disengaging the work adjuster from the work at the proper time. The preferred form of this means is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. As shown in these views, an arm 102 .is secured to the end of the rock shaft 98 through which the work adjuster is operated, and this arm is pro vided at its outer end with a lug or shoulder 103 arranged to be engaged by a shoulder 10% on the operating rod 105. The 0perating rod may be connected with a treadle or other suitable actuating device (not shown). When the actuating rod 105 is drawn down by the depressing of the treadle, the arm 102 is depressed to rock the shaft 98 and thus move the work adjuster into engagement with the upper, as indicated in Fig. 8. This movementot the actuator rod brings a pin 100 which projects from the rod into position to be engaged by a spring pressed latching pawl 107, so that the actuator rod and the connected work adjuster are retained in the position indicated in Fig. 3. hen the actuator rod 105 is depressed, the final downward movement of the rod causes the stop lever 108 to be disengaged from the arm 109 of the clutch mechanism which is arranged within the casing 110, and through which the machine is driven. The means for thus operating the stop lever comprises a rod 111 extending downward from the arm 102 and passing through the arm 112 of the stop lever. The rod 111 is provided at its lower end with a collar 113 which underlies the arm 11.2, and is also provided with a collar 1141 arranged above the arm 112. The collar 114 is so arranged that the rod 111 moves idly through the arm 112 until the work adjuster has been moved into engagement with the upper, and then during the continued downward movement of the rod 111, the collar 114 engages the arm 112 and disengages the stop lever from the arm 109 of the clutch mechanism. \Vhen the stop lever has been moved into the position indicated in Fig. 3, the clutch mechanism is engaged to drive the machine, and the casing 110 rotates with the cam shaft of the machine. After the cam shaft has made a partial revolution, and the shuttle needle has advanced to carry the lacing cord through the loops held by the looper needles, and has nearly reached its retracted position, a cam 115 rides against a plate 116 on the actuator rod 105 and moves said rod laterally, so that the shoulder 104 disengages the lug 103 on the end of the arm 102, and so that the pin 106 is moved from engagement with the latch 107. Immediately after the arm 102 has been thus disengaged from the actuator bar 105, a cam pin 117 strikes against one arm of a bell crank lever 118, the other arm of which is connected with the collar 11 1 by a pin and slot connection (Fig. 3). As the pin 117 travels past the arm of the bell crank lever 118, it swings the bell crank lever about its pivot, and raises the rod 111 and arm 102 into the position indicated in F 1. This movement of the arm 102 and rod 111 rocks the shaft 98 to return the work adjuster to normal position, and swings the stop lever 108 into position to engage the arm 109 of the clutch mechanism after the cam shaft of the machine has completed its revolution. The parts are supported in this position after the pin 117 has passed by the arm of the bell. crank lever 118 by a latching pawl 119 which is pivoted on the collar 114: and ena fixed pin 120. It has been assumed in the description thus far that the operator keeps his foot on the treadle, and thus holds the actuator rod 105 in its depressed posi tion against the tension of the spring 121, as indicated in Fig. 4. hen the operator removes his foot from the treadle, the spring 121 returns the actuator rod 105 to the position indicated in Fig. 2, and as the rod comes into this position a pin 122 on the rod engages the tail of the pawl 119 and swings it into the position indicated in Fig. The weight of the parts connected with the arm 102 are supported by the engagement of the arm 102 with the plate 110 on the actuator bar 105. \Vhen the rod 105 is again depressed to actuate the work adjuster and start the machine, the pawl 119 moves down past the pin 120 into the position indicated in Fig. 3. If the operator should remove his foot from the treadle immediately after it has been depressed, the work adjuster would be retained in position to engage the work by the engagement of the pawl 107 with the pm 106, and when the cam 115 moves the actuator bar laterally to disengage the shoulder 104 from the lug 103, and to disengage the pin 106 from the latch 107, the spring 121 will immediately raise the actuator bar and return the parts to the position indicated in Fig. 2. If the operator keeps his foot upon the treadle, then the work adjuster and stop lever will be automatically actuated to return the work adjuster to normal position, and to bring the stop lever into stopping position by the pin 117 and bell crank lever 118, in the manner above described.

The grippers 123 and 124 for grasping the ends of the lacing are mounted at the right of the loop forming devices, and cooperate with a plate 125 in gripping the cord. The grippers are in the form of fingers which project forward from the lower ends of two sliding bars 126 and 127, and these bars are moved at proper inter vals through levers 128 and 129. The rear ends of the levers 128 and 129 are arranged to be engaged and operated at proper intervals by cam blocks carried on the front end of a lever 130, the rear end of which carries a roll arranged to be engaged by a cam on the main cam shaft of the machine. The gripper 123 is arranged and operated to grip the free end of the cord when the shuttle needle advances, so that on the return stroke of the needle the cord is fed into position to be engaged by the hooks of the looper needles. The gripper 124 is arranged and operated to grip the lacing cord carried by the shuttle needle after the needle has passed through the loops carried by the looper needles. After the cord has been gripped, and the shuttle needle has started on its return stroke, the cord leading from the gripper to the eye of the needle draws over a knife edge 131 formed on the rear upper edge of the gripper 124, and after the needle has returned a sufficient distance to provide a free end of thread projecting through the eye of the needle, a tension is put upon the cord so that it is severed by the knife edge. The means for putting the tension upon the cord so that it may be severed by the knife edge comprises a cam plate 132 which is moved into the path of a roll upon the upper end. of the thread engaging lever 63 during the return stroke of the shuttle needle. The cam plate is carried upon the front ends of arms 133 which are pivoted to lugs on the frame of the machine, and one of which is extended beyond the pivotal point, and connected by a link 134 with the end of a lever 135. The lever 135 carries a roll 136 which engages a cam secured to the cam shaft of the machine.

During the return stroke of the shuttle needle after it has given the free end of the cord to the gripper 123, and is laying the cord in position to be engaged by the hooks of the looper needles, the cord between the gripper and the loop forming devices is acted upon by a thread arm 137 which is arranged in front of the cord, and at this time is moved rearward to draw slack cord from the cord supply. When the looper fingers and looper needles are operated to form the loops in the cord, this thread arm again moves forward to give up its slack cord, so that the cord is supplied from both sides of the loo-p forming devices. This thread arm is also operated during the knot tying operation to lay the lacing cord into the jaws of the knotting mechanism, as will be more fully described in connection with the description of the knotting mechanism. The thread arm is formed on the front end of a bar 138, the rear end of which is connected by a link 139 with one arm of a lever 140, the other arm of which carries a roll engaged by a cam on the cam shaft of the machine (Fig.

The knotting mechanism for tying together the ends of the lacing cord is arranged between the thread arm 137 and the loop forming devices. The knotting mechanism is provided with a looping post formed by the lower ends of two semi-cylindrical members 141 and 142. These members are mounted in a sleeve 143, and are provided at their lower extremities with operating jaws for gripping the cord. During the tying of the knot the members arerotated to form a loop about their lower ends, and are also moved longitudinally togrip the cord between the jaws and draw it through the loop. The sleeve 143 is rotated to impart rotary movements to the members 141 and 142 through a pinion 144 which is engaged by a segmental gear 145. This gear is formed on the front end of a lever 146, the rear end of which carries a roll which is acted upon by a cam secured to the cam shaft of the machine. The members 141 and 142 are connected to the sleeve 143 by means of a bar 147 extending through a slot formed in the adjacent faces of the members, so that the members will rotate with the sleeve while being free to 'move longitudinally therein. Longitudinal movements are imparted to the members by means of levers 148 and 149, the forward ends of which are connected to the members, and the rear ends of which are engaged by cams secured upon the cam shaft of the machine.

The looping post formed by the lower ends of the members 141 and 142 is provided with a cord retaining latch 150 formed on the lower end of a lever which is pivoted at 151 in the recess formed on the inner face of the member 141. The latch is so formed that it underlies the cord and retains the cord upon the post during the formation of the loop about the post. The latch lever is provided with a projecting arm, 152 at its upper end which is arranged to engage one or the other of two stop shoulders 153 and 15 i, and swing the latch into or out of cord engaging position.

The knott-ing mechanism normally stands in the position indicated in the drawings. ll ith the knotting mechanism in this position, the ends of the lacing cord pass from the griopcrs 123 and 12% across the front of the looping post and over the latch 150. iron the lace has been inserted in the eyelet holes of the upper, and the upper has been removed from the looper lingers, it is suspended by the ends of the lacing cord which pass over the latch 150 and are held by the grippers 123 and 12st. The knotting mechanism is then operated to tie together the ends of the lacing. During the rotation of the members 141 and 142, the latch 150 supports the lacing cord on the looping post at the lower ends of the members, and carries the cord around the post so that a loop is formed. i is the members complete their rotation, the thread arm 13? is moved rearward to carry the ends of the lacing between the jaws of the knotting mechanism, and these jaws are closed and the members move upward. As the members move upward, the arm 152 of the latch lever rides against the under side of the shoulder 154k, so that the latch is withdrawn to release the loop, as indicated in Fig. 10. As the upward movement of the knotter jaws continues, the loop is cast off the ends oi the jaws, and the lacing carried by the jaws is drawn through the loop.

ln order that the knot may be uniformly tightened, means is provided for gripping the lacing or upper below the knotting mechanism, and in order that the knot may be tied close to the upper, this gripping mechanism is so constructed that it grips the lacing close to the end of the looping post. As shown in the main views of the dra wings, the means for gripping the lacing cord to etl'ect the uniiliorm tightening of the knot comprises two gripping jaws 155 and 156 arranged below the knot forming mechanism. These jaws are formed upon the ends of two levers 157 and 158, which are pivoted at 159 to the under side of the plate 160 secured to the gripper plate 125. The normal position ot' the gripper jaws is indicated in Fig. 12. The jaw 156 is held in this position by means of spring 160 which torces the lever 157 against a stop lug 31. The end of the lever 157 is provided at its free end with a vertical guard flange 102 over which the lacing cord is drawn in ilorming the loops, as indicated in Fig. 8. The lever 158 on which the jaw 156 is formed is connected by means of a link 163 with the front end of a sliding bar 16st, the rear end of which is connected by a link 165 with one arm of a bell crank lever 166, the other arm of which carries a roll engaged by a cam secured to the cam shaft of the machine (Fig. 5). When the laced upper is forced oit the looper needles, the ends of the lacing cord leading from the grippers 123 and 124; over the latch 150 of the knotting mechanism pass down between the gripper aws 155 and 156. The lever 158 is provided with a rearwardly projecting ii n ger 167 which determines the position of the lacing cord between the gripping jaws. litter the ends of the lacing cord have been looped about the looping post of the knot ting mechanism, and the ends of the cord have been gripped by the jaws of the knotting mechanism, the bar lot is actuated to swing the jaw 156 toward the jaw 155 into the position indicated in Fig. 3, so that the lacing cords are gripped by the jaws 155 and 156 immediately below the knot forming mechanism. As the jaws of the knotting mechanism draw the ends of the lacing cord through the loop of the knot, the rear ward movement of the bar 16% continues, and the gripping aws are swung into the position indicated in Fig. 4:. This movement of the gripping jaws draws upon the lacing below the knot, so that the knot is tightened. As the jaws come into the position indicated in Fig. 141:, .1 lug 168 on the rear part of the lever 157 is engaged by the shoulder 169 of a spring latch 1'70. litter the knot has been thus tightened, the bar 164 is moved for ward, and during the first movement of the bar the lever 158 is moved into the position indicated in Fig. 15 to open the jaws and release the lacing, the lever 157 being held from forward movement by the latch 170. lhnfing the continued forward movement of the bar an, a pin 171 which projects from the lower face of the lever 15S strikes the free end oi the latch 170 and operates the latch to release the lever 15? so that the lever returns to the normal position shown in. Fig. 12, while the lever 158 is moved into the position shown in the same figure. The parts are now in position to again receive the lacing cords and cooperate with the knotting mechanism in tightening the knot.

in F and 2% another form of means t'or securing a uniform tightening of the knot is illustrated. In the construction shown in these views a work guard 172 ci\ tends down in trout of the upper when it is in position upon the looper needles, and the ends of the lacing lead "from the grippers and 124: across the front of this work guard. The guard is provided with a lat.- eral extension 173. which extends below the knotting mechanism and in such position that the lacing cords pass down across its front face when the upper is suspended by the ends of the lacing. A spring pressed clamping lever 17st is mount-ed upon the end of the lateral extension 173, and is forced toward the extension 173 by a coiled spring 175. The clamping lever is provided with an upwardly extending finger 176 arranged to be engaged by an arm 177 which is formed on the outer end or a bar 17 8 corresponding in location to the bar 164, previously described, and connected to an operating cam in a similar manner. The clamping lever 1'74. is normally heldaway from the extension 173 by an arm 177. As the knot is completed, the arm 1'77 is withdrawn from engagement with the clamping lever 174k, so that the lever acts to clamp the lacing cord against the extension 173 of the work guard. While the cord is thus clamped, the jaws of the knotting mechanism act to complete the knot and to cooperate with the clamp in tightening the knot.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described certain mechanisms in which the invention may be embodied, what I claim is l. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, means for passing a series of loops of lacing cord through the eyelet holes of an upper means for passing a portion of the cord through the loops, and a slack thread device arranged to engage the cord between the loop passing means and the means for passing a cord through the loops and to draw slack thread during the passage of the cord through the loops, substantially as described.

2. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles, looper fingers cooperating therewith to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, a shuttle needle for carrying the lacing cord through the loops, a thread finger arranged to engage the cord between the loop forming devices and the shuttle needle and to draw slack thread as the shuttle needle advances, sub stantially as described.

3. A machine "for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, means for passing a series of loops of lacing cord through the eyelet holes of an upper, means for passing a portion of the cord through the loops, and a slack thread device arranged between the loop passing means and the means for passing the cord through the loops and in engagement with which the cord is drawn by the advance of the means for passing the cord through the loops, substantially as described.

et. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, hav ing, in combination, a plurality of needles, looper fingers cooperating therewith to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, a shuttle needle for carrying the lacing cord through the loops, and a slack thread finger arranged to be engaged by the cord by the advance of the shuttle needle, substantially as described.

A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles, looper fingers cooperating therewith to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, a shuttle needle -for carrying the lacing cord through the loops, and a slack thread finger having provision for adjustment into position in front of the cord between the loop forming devices and the shuttle needle, or into position where it will not engage the cord, substantially as described.

6. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, ha"- ing, in combination, means for passing a series of loops of lacing cord through the eyelet holes of an upper, means for passing a portion of the cord through the loops, a plate provided with a slack thread finger, and provision for retaining said plate with the finger in position to engage the cord between the loops and the means for passing the cord through the loops, or in position not to engage the cord, substantially as described.

7. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles arranged to pass a series of loops of lacing cord through the eyelet holes of an upper, links connecting the needles to form two sets of lazy tongs for adjusting the needles in accordance with the spacing of the eyelets, and an operating lever to which both sets of lazy tongs are connected, substantially as described.

8. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles arranged to pass a series of loops of lacing cord through the eyelet holes of an upper, links connecting the needles to form two sets of lazy tongs, an operating lever formed by the extension of a link 01" one of the lazy tongs, and a pivoted connection between the lever and one or more links of the lazy tongs, substantially as described.

9. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles, means cooperating therewith to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, means for adjusting the length of the loops, and means for indicating the adjustment for different lengths of loops, substantially as described.

10. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles, means cooperating therewith to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, actuating mechanism for relatively actuating the needles and cooperating loop form ing means, including a manually adjustable device and means for varying the length of the loops, and means for indicating the ad justment for different lengths of loops, sul stantially as described.

11. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles,

a plurality of looper fingers cooperating the work adjuster to engage the work and therewith to term a series of loops in the lacing cord, actuating mechanism for relatively actuating the looper fingers and needlxs including a manually-adjustable (evice and connections for varying the length of the loops, and means for indicating the adjustment of the device corresponding to the dittorent lengths of loops, suliistantially as described.

1L. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality 0t needles, a plurality ot loopcr lingers cooperating therewith to form a series ol loops in the lacing cord, a carrier for the looper fingers, actuating mechanisi'l'i tor the carrier, a manually adjustable device on the carrier, and a link connecting the device with the actuat ing mechanism to vary the relation ot the carrier and actuating mechanism in accord ance with the length of the loops to be formed, substantially as described.

13. Br machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles, a j' ilurality of looper fingers cooperating therewith to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, a carrier for the looper fingers, actuating mechanism for the carrier, and a manually adjustable cam and connections for varying the relation of the carrier to the actuating mechanism, in accordance with the length of loops to be formed, substantially as described.

let. Amachine for lacing shoe uppers,having, in combination, a plurality o't needles, means cooperating therewith to form a series of loops oi lacing cord, means for passing a locking cord through uaid loops, a work adjuster for positioning the work on the needles prior to the passage of the locking cord through the loops, and means for causing the work adjuster to move with the needles in bringing the loops into position for the passage of the locking cord therethrough, substantially as described.

15. A. machine for lacing shoe uppers, hav ing, in COD'llJlIlfltlOll, plurality o:t needles, means cooperating therewith to term a series oi loops of lacing cord, means for passing a locking cord through said loops, means for movin the needles from the upper receiving position into position for the passage of the locking cord through the loops, a work adjuster, means for moving said adjuster longitudinally of the needles to position the work thereon, and means for causing the work adjuster to more with the needles as they bring the loops into position to receive the locking cord, substantially as described.

16. A machine for lacing shoe uppers,ha ing, in combination, a plurality of needles, means cooperating therewith to form a series oit loops in the lacing cord, means for passing alocking cord through said loops, awork adjuster, means for longitudinally operating position it upon the needles, and means for retaining the work adjuster in position and for automatically disengaging it from the work, substantially as described.

17. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles, means cooperating therewith to term a series of loops of lacing cord, a work adjuster for positioning the work upon the needles, an actuator rod and connections for actuating the work adjuster to engage the work, means for retaining the work adjuster in work engaging position, mechanism ter automatically operating said retaining means to release the work adjuster, and means for automatically actuating the work adjuster to disengage the work, substantially as described.

18. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in conibination, a plurality of needles, means cooperating therewith to form a series of loops in the lacing cord, a work adjuster for positioning the work upon the needles, an actuator rod and connections for actuat ing the work adjuster to engage the work, means for retaining the work adjuster in work engaging position, and means for automatically disengaging the retaining means to allow the work adjuster to be disengaged from the work, substantially as described.

19. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, a plurality of needles, means cooperating therewith to form a. series of loops in the lacing cord, a work adjuster for positioning the work on the needles, an actuator rod and connections for actuating the work adjuster to engage the work, a retaining device for retaining the actuator rod in the position into which it is moved in actuating the work adjuster, and means for automatically disengaging the retaining device and actuator rod, substantially described.

20. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, mechanism, for inserting a lacing cord in the eyelet holes of an upper, a knot tying mechanism arranged to act on the lacing, a gripper arranged to grip the lacing on the work side of the knot, and mechanism for operating the gripper to tighten the knot, substantially as described.

21. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, mechanism for inserting a lacing cord in the eyelet holes of an upper, a knot tying mechanism arranged to act upon the lacing, and means for gripping and pulling the lacing on opposite sides of the knot to tighten the knot, substantially as described.

22. A machine for lacing shoe uppers, having, in combination, means for passing a series 01" loops of lacing cord through the eyelet holes of an upper to partially form the lacing, means for passing a portion of

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