US1669500A - Manufacture of lasts - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1928. f 1,669,500

L. E. TOPHAM,

MANUFACTURE OF LASTS Filed Feb 7 1923 s Sheets- Sheet 1 May 15. 1928.

L. E. TOPHAM MANUFACTURE OF LASTS 0rizin al {*iled Feb. '7. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 b Maw Patented May 15, 1928.

warren stares PATENT OFFICE.

LAUBENZGE E. TOPHAM, OF WENHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED SHOE. MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIOK OF NEW JERSEY.

MANUFACTURE. or LAs'rs.

Application filed February 7, 1923, Serial No. 617,603. Renewed October 1, 1926.

T he present invention relates to the manufacture of irregular objects in accordance with a pattern, and is illustrated in connection with, a machine for finishing the extremities of last parts.

Lasts are ordinarily turned in a copying lathe, where they are suspended upon dogs engaging their ends. It is impossible for the cutter to operate in the immediate vicinity of these dogs so that a stub is left on each end of the last which is generally finished ed by hand at considerable expense and risk of inaccuracy. lVhile a number of machines have been proposed for the mechanical performance of this operation, only one of them has reached the point of commercial use, and is attended with certain disadvantages, for example, that it Will not grade a series of sizes and widths from a single model, so'that there must be furnished a model for every size and width. From an economic standpoint, it is also a great disadvantage to the last maker to be obliged to invest in a separate machine of a type radically different from those of his other equipment, of greater cost and intricacy of construction, and which will he often idle.

Further, additional difficulty is introduced in dealing with the problem of the complete finishing of the ends of separate last fore and and heel parts, the independent manufacture of which is becoming important.

In view of these conditions, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for the performance of turning operations, such as end-finishing operations on last parts and the like, by the utilization of which the above-mentioned and other disadvantages and difliculties may be avoided.

Accordingly, the invention provides a copying; lathe arranged to hold a last part with its longitudinal axis (at the end of which the stub. is formed) extending substantially perpendicularly to the work driving spindle, and to guard the cutter when pass ing around those parts of the Work not treated in the machine.

In another aspect the invention provides a novel method of last making comprising automatically revolving the stub against a cutter and guiding the work from a'model or template to regulate the depth of. cut. Preferably also, in accordance with the invention, the cutter is guarded as it passes around the Work piece except at the stub.

Considering the invention again from the machine aspect, it provides for the organization of grading mechanismwith the Work treating apparatuses described above. In the disclosed machine, the grading mechanism of the lathe performs its ordinary functions upon that part of the Work being treated. The feature of employing the cutter only at the stub portion of the last simplifies the grading problem very much, owing to the special nature of the cuttingdone, and advantage is taken: of this to utilize an anomalous action of the Width grading mechanism to accomplish the guarding of the cutter.

Moreover, while the illustrated machine is especially designed for performing turning operations on last. parts as distinguished from lasts, and the objects operated upon by this machine are herein generally referred to for convenience as last parts, in various aspects the invention is not so limited.

These and other features of the invention comprising certain combinations and arrangements of parts will be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of' illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine; h

Fig; 2 is a cross-section on the line 2- ofFig-r 1; I

' Fig. 3 is a detail of the model and Work holding fixture,

Fig. 49 is a detail illustrating the formation of the last parts.

Figs. 5'to 9 are diagrammatic details of the different cams used in the machine.

The machine shown is largely disclosed in my two prior applications Ser. No. 429,- i719; filed lDec.,10'. 1920, and Ser. No. 530,214, filed Jan. 18, 1922, and reference may be made to them for description of parts not fully described herein. The main frame 10 supports three longitudinally sliding carriages 12,14, 16. The carriage 12 carries 38 arranged to receive dog carrying fixtures the cutter 18, and is connected to the ear riage 14: by a right and left screw 20 fo moving the carriages oppositely. The carriage 16 carries the modelwheel 22, and 18 joined to the carriage 14 by a length grading mechanism 24 which may be of any dcsired type, as, for example, the regularGilmauapparatus. i i i p The swing frame is aheavy square shaft 26 mounted on trunnions 28, and having three arms 30, 32, 34. The central arm 3 carries gearing to drive a spindle 36 on'the ends of which are mounted two face plates the present instance arranged to cooperate 'with the joint surfaces of the last parts of the last invented by G. P. S. Gross, disclosed and claimed in his application Ser. No. 465,951, filed May 2, 1921. It will be understood, of course, that the fixtures, 50, 52 will be designedin any case to hold the particular last parts being treated, preferably by their joint surfaces, since these are naturally in a definite relation to the external contour of the last and generally havea plane portion which cooperates readily with the fixture for accurate positioning. The fixtures shownchave a portion 54 arranged to be keyed or otherwise firmly and definitely fastened to the faceplates, and a carrying portion 56 arranged to hold the last part 58 or the model 59. The fastening of the last part is preferably effected y similar mechanism to that used in bondmg the last parts, and occupying the holes formed in the wooden last parts for this bonding mechanism. This secures accuracy 0t posit on. The carr er portions 56. are so arranged, 111 any case, that the last parts (and model) is carried with its longitudinal axis (of the last as a whole) approximately perpendicular to ,the axis of the dogs and face plates, leaving the stub 60 projecting directly away from the axis of rotation,so that it can beitrimmed off in accordance withthe shape of the model in the well-understood manner.

Itwill ofrcourse be unnecessary to apply the cutter to the work except in the vicinity of the stub, audit is furthermorenecessary to guard it in some way as it passes around the carrierportion 56, and the invention therefore provides means forrelieving the cutter of duty at the desired times. This ment of the link 68.

is done by a modification of the regular.

width grading mechanism, which will now be briefly described. I The model wheel 22 is,

carried on a horizontal slide 62, operated by a link 64 whose rear end fee1er65 isadjustable on the fan-board 66 by a link 68, pivoted to it at 69, the lower end of which link 68 is adjustable along a segment 70 by alink grade. The segment '70 is pivoted at 82, and

its radius is equal to the effective lengthof the link 68. Therefore the segment can be swung to a position 70 Where itscenter oecupies the same position 69' as that taken by the pivot 69 at the time when feeler at the end of the link 64 is on the center 75,

and in this adjustment the width grade 1s zero irrespective of the setting of the link 68 on thesegment. The segment 70 can be swung from one position to another by an 1 arm 8-t integral with it and operated by a. cam 86 mounted on a gear 88 operated by the main shaft4t2 so as to rotate in the same time the model and work. This peculiar width grading structure shown is more fully described and is fully discussed in its relation to regularand irregular width grading in my cited application Ser. No. 429,719. The cam 86 shown herein is especially designed for the present prob1em.-

iUt)

The portion 90 of the cam holds the segmentin normal width grading position, as shown. Now, since thelink 68 is set, as shown, to the extremity of the segmentfarther than it would ever beset in width grading-this allows the link 64: to fall to the bottom-of the fan-board, when the cam 90 is operative, thus pushing the slide 62 far,

out and taking the swing frame and'work away from the cutter during the passage of the model wheel around the part 56 and the already prepared lateral peripheryof the last part.

portion 92 of the cam, which is preferably a circle around its rotationalcenter, moves the When, however, the end of the last. part is turned toward the cutter, the

segment 70 into the position70. concentric i with the spcoialposition of the center 69, above mentloned which, in accordance with the design shown, moves the end of the link 64 to the axis 75, irrespective of the adjust- The machine is then set for 1:1 reproductionland the stub 60 is trimmed oil. I have found that no practical memos tion where its center will fall on the fanboard axis 75, it may be designed as shown at 92, Fig. 6, with the same radius as that shown for the cam 90,. while the cam. 90 is made of considerably shorter radius, as shown at 90 in Fig. 6. Then the stub cutting cam 92 will throw'thesegment into the position shown in Fig. 2 corresponding to ordinary width grading, when the proper setting of the mechanism at 78-80 will effeet the ordinary performance of the width grading mechanismand'the' shorterradius guard cam 90 will still pull the feel-er down to the bottom of the fan-board when the cutter goes around the fixture 52. This procedure will not work, however, except when an actual increasing or upward grade is desired. It In reproduction were sought, as first above descr'ibe'd', the mechanism at 7S80 when set at zero would set the lower end of the link 68 on the center 82, in which case there would be no way thus far disclosed of effecting the movement of the slide 62 which guards the cutter during its passage around the part 56. With the disclosed mechanism the lower, end of the link 68 must be set oil from the center 82 at. all times when it is necessary to guard the cutter.

If a diminishing or downward width grade is desired. the procedure aboveoutlined would set the link 68 over to the other side of the pivot 82, and thus would grade the and properly, but when the cam portion 90 came around, the slide 62 would fall very far back instead of forward, and the cutter would be ruined on the holder 52. This problem can be solved by using the stub cutting cam 92. in connection with a guard cam 90 of dian'ietcr substantially larger than that of the cam 92, (see Fig. 7') and in this case the grader settings at 80 will have their regular and apparent meanings. The grading problem can also be dealt with as follows :In grading up, the link 68 will be set on the leftside of the center 82, (as seen in Fig. 2), and the stub cutting cam will be formed as shown at92 in F 8, of greater radiusthan' 92, to pull the fceler down below the center in spite of the link setting. The guard cam will be formed as at 90, of still greater diameten'to pull the feeler down farther. The grader setting here, however, is purely empirical.

The machine will look superficially as if it were set to grade down.v In grading" down, the link 68' will. beset on the right side of: the center. 82; the stub cutting: cam will be formed as at 92 in Fig. 9, of greater diam.- eter than 92,. to lift the fe'eler above the center 75 and the guard cam as at 90, of less diameter than 90, todrop it way down, the grading setting being again empirical. In short, the grading problem can be solved by making the radii of the guard and stub cutting cams both greater or both less than that of 92 for increase grading and one greater and the other less than that of 92 for decrease grading, 92 being defined as above, and 90 being extreme enough in radius to guard the cutter.

It should be understood that what is really beingv done to the last part by the width. mechanism is length grading, since the last part is turned around with its natural longitudinal axis at right angles to its axis of rotation in the swing frame. The remarks above made in respect to the regular and apparent meaning of the grader setting refer to the magnification factor produced thereby, which is to be the same as that used in length grading the lastpart in the original turning operation. In turning off the stub the length grader will preferably be set to magnify at the same rate as the width grader in the original turning operation. The base of the stub is a long narrow line at the end of the heel part or a small circle at the endof the toe, and while in some cases the original relation between the length and width grading may not be exactly reproduced at all points of a horizontal section through the stub base, the base is so narrow that no practical difficulty is encountered.

The term horizontal here means parallel to the floor whenthe last is in its normal position on the: floor.

The terms width grading and the like have been used in the claims as referring to magnification perpendicular to the axis of rotation in the machine. That is, such terms refer to the action 04% the machine as known by such terms, rather than to the eifect produced in the'work, as ordinarily termed. I

The cutting of the last parts themselves is ill'ustratedin Fig. 4 and will be clear withoutmore explanation thanthe statement that the dogs 102, 104i are likewise arranged to be fastened to the face plates a-ndto cooperate with the joint surfaces prepared on the model and block, but holding them in normal position in the lathe.

The guarding of the cutter from themetal holder 52 can of course be accomplished by making the holder 50 oversize, but this is not generally suliicient for the production of good work, as the model wheel rolls from the holder 50 to the model with a bump which will cause the cutter to springinto the work a little, unless there is a further guarding action. The ca1nsurtace 90,therefore, preferably holds the cutter away from the work overa period of some revolution at least.

a do if the guarding. of the cutter is done by the width grading mechanism; hut-if the model holder is to be the larger, two pairs will be required." a The mechanism 97, 98, 99,100 for holding the model wheel center in the plane contaiuing the spindle 36and thecutter center will be found fully described in my application Ser. No. 530,214. i i y i t In the illustrated enibodinientofthe invention, the last parts are separately formed,

but the inventionas disclosed isequally applicable to last parts which are severed after the whole last is turnedin the mdinary manner.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. That improvement in the art of-manir facturing lasts which consists in automatically revolving the stub, left after the turning operation, about an axis transverseto the longitudinal axis of the last, against a cutter and guiding the work from a model to regulate the depth of cut.

2. That improvement in the art otmanufacturinglasts which consists in revolving the stub, left after the turning operation, about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the last, againsta cutter, guiding the work from a model, and guarding the cutter as it passes around thework piece except at t the stub.

3.- A copying lathe having a tool and a revoluble work support arranged to holda last part with its longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the drive spindle of the support, and means for holding the work out of contact with the cutter except at the stub. i a

4. A shoe last cutting lathehaving a tool and a revoluble work support arranged to hold a workpiece with itslterminal stub projecting substantially perpendicularly to the drive spindle of the support, and means for holding the work outofcontact with the cutter except at the stub, comprising a nou t pantographic width grading mechanism.

5. A copying lathehaving a tool and a revoluble work support, arranged to hold a last part with its longitudinal axisextending substantially perpendicularlyj to the drive spindle of the support, andmeans for holding the work out of contactwit-h the cutter except at the stub, comprising a width grading mechanism and a cam for grossly increasing thewidth grade exceptfat the stub. 1

6. A copying lathe having a tool and a revoluble work support,-arranged to hold a last part with its terminal stub projecting substantially perpendicularly to the drive spindle of the support, and means for hold .ing the work out ofcontact with the cutter except at the stub, comprising a width gradin g mechanisn'i and a cam constructed and arranged to throw the cutter relatively outside thecontour of the work and work sup port except at the stub. V a i 7. A; copying lathehaving 2a tooland a revoluhle work support: arranged to hold a last, part with its terminalstub projecting substantially perpendicularly etc the drive spindle ofthe support, and means forholdingthe work out of contactwith the cutter except at the stub, comprising a grading slide, a fan-board and a feeler between the slide and the fan-board, and means forsetting the feeler farther from the center of the fan-board when the tool ismoving past the lateral portions of the work than when it is moving over the terminal portion.

8. A. copying lathe having a tool and a revoluble Work support arranged to hold a last with its terminal stub projecting substantiallyvperpendicularlvto the drive spindle of the support, and width grading nechanism comprising a fan-board, a feeler eon tacting. therewith, means for adjusting the feeler for the width grade desired, and means for moving the feeler to a position corresponding to an extreme upward width grade when the cutter is passingarouud the work support. I j a a 9. Accopying lathe having a tooland a revoluble work support arranged to hold a last with its terminal stub projecting substantially perpendicularly to the drive spindle of the support, a fan-board, a feeler contacting therewith, means for adjusting the feeler for the width grade 1 desired, andv means formoving the feeler to a position corresponding to an extreme upward width grade when the cutter is passingaround the work support, comprising alever connected to theifeeler and means for swinging the lever. i

revoluble work support arranged to hold a lastwith its terminal stub projecting substantially perpendicularly to the drive spindle of the support and width grading meclr anism comprising a fan-board, a feeler conis passing around the work support coma 10. A copying lathe having atool anda prising a member adjustably connected to the feeler for width grading adjustment, and cam mechanism for moving the member to produce the said extreme positioning of the feeler.

11. A copying lathe having a tool and a revoluble work support arranged to hold a last with its terminal stub projecting substantially perpendicularly to the drive spindie of the support and width grading mechanism comprising a fan-board, a'feeler contacting therewith, and means for moving the feeler to a position corresponding to an extreme upward width grade when the cut ter is passing around the work support, comprising a member adjustably connected to the feeler for width grading adjustment,

and cam mechanism for cyclically shifting said member alternately into positions corresponding to normal width grading p0sition of the feeler and to extreme upward width grading position of the feeler, respectively.

12. That improvement in the art of manufacturing lasts which consists in revolving the stub of a last, left after the last turning operation, about an axis substantially perpendicular to the tread surface of the last, against a cutter, and guiding the work from a model or template to control the depth of out.

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

LAURENCE E. 'TOPHAM.

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