US2019269A - Shoe-heel-concaving machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29,v 1935. -P. J. MUscHoNG Er AL 2,019,269

SHE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 2l, 1952 -IL/ 1li.

,07 fof/vir Oct. 29, 1935.

P. .1. MuscHoN@ Er AL SHOE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed March' 2l, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 SN Q www Get. 29, 1935. P. J. MUSCHONG Er AL SHOE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed March 21,'1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct- 29, l935 P. J. MUscHoNG Er AL 2,019,269

SHOE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1932 5 Sheng-sheet 4 OC- 29, 1935. P. J. MUscHoNG ETAL A 2,019,269

SHOE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed March 2l,` 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q r raf/vnf Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES I anni PATENT OFFIE SHOE-HEEL-CONCAVING MACHINE ration of Delaware Application March 21, 1932, Serial No. 600,198

35 Claims.

This invention relates generally to shoe-heel manufacture and has more particular reference to a machine for concaving heels for shoes and the like.

Heretofore, so far as we are aware, the concaves or so-called cups of heels for shoes and the like have been finished by means of a side-mill or cutter against or to which the heel or work is manually fed by manipulating the heel in inverted position on and over the cutter with an irregular movement suitable for grooving and forming the heel cup or concave in the (inverted) heel-body.

It has also heretofore been the practice to employ for such heel concaving purposes, so far as we are also aware, so-called side-mills or cutters whose cutting edges Work toward the edge of the concave with a frequently resulting defective product by reason of chipping or slivering of the concave-rim.

In commercial practice, moreover, it has been found that the operator, no matter how skillful he may be, is, of course, unable to approach uniformity in the performance of the yheel-grooving operation; hence it may often occur that the rejects in this class of work will be as much as thirty percentum (30%) of the operators output. Again, and of more serious consequence, inevitably the necessarily close proximity of the operators hand to the cutter results in hand-maiming accidents, so that few operators in the trade are free from maimed or injured fingers and hands.

Our invention has hence for its prime object the provision of a heel-concaving machine for automatically feeding a heel to and from a heel concaving or cup-grooving cutter for both improving the rate and quality of production of concaved-heels and for substantially eliminating the dangers of the heel concaving operation as heretofore practiced.

Our invention has for another object the provision of a heel-concaving machine embodying a cutter of the vertical or end-mill type having its cutting edge working from the rim of the concave towards the center thereof for substantially avoiding slivering and chipping of the heel-lim during the production of concaved-heels.

And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinaltion of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (5 sheets) Figure 1 is ,a front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a shoe-heel-concav- Aing machine embodying our invention, taken ap- (Cl. 12d-46) proximately along the line |-I, Figure 3, the machine being shown in position for advancing or feeding a heel to the cutter;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine, the lower portion of the frame being bro- 5 ken away;

Figure 3 is a top plan partly sectional view of the machine, taken approximately along the line 3 3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental top plan 10 view of the indexing mechanism of the machine shown as at the end of its indexing movement, the normal position thereof being indicated by dotdash lines;

Figure 5 is a fragmental vertical longitudinal 15 f;

sectional view of the machine, taken approximately along the line 5-5, Figure 3, the extreme rear and lower portions of the machine being broken away;

Figure 6 is a fragmental vertical transverse 205A sectional view of the machine, showing the heelconcaving cutter in operation for forming a heelconcave, the heel-holding chuck and parts cooperating therewith being sectionally shown and other parts omitted; l

Figure 7 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of the carriage of the machine, the work-table being omitted, and the carriage shown in rearwardly shifted heel-feeding position; 30 L Figure 8 is a fragmental vertical sectional view through the toggle mechanism of one of the heelchucks of the machine, taken approximately along the line 8--8`, Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating 35- vthe path of the cutter with respect to the heel for grooving the concave therein.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate av preferred embodiment of our invention, the ma- 40 rounded nose or point-bearing, as best seen in V- Figures 1 and 2.

Supported for universal horizontal movement slidably on the point-bearings 2, is a reciprocable carriage B comprising a relatively fiat horizontal plate or body-member provided near its front margin witha pair of concentric inner and outer circular heel-supports in the form of annular raised-ribs 3, 4, respectively, the centers of the ribs 3, 4, coinciding with the axis of a fixed stud or pintle 5 suitably threaded into, and upstanding from, the approximate forward central portion of the carriage B, as best seen in Figure 7.

Axially journaled on a collar 6 of the pintle 5, is an approximately circular indexing-table or work-support C supported by, and for rotatory or circular sliding movement on, the raised annular ribs 3, 4, of the carriage B, as best seen in Figure 5.

Mounted on the table C, is an indexing-mechanism D, which includes an annular series of pillars or posts 'I upstanding from the table C for suitably supporting a horizontal ratchet hubplate 8 carrying a vertical stud 9 disposed in the axis of, and for rotation with, the table C. Spaced from, and likewise adapted for rotation with, the plate 8, is a ratchet-wheel Ill preferably, for structural reasons, seated on a collar II of the stud 9, a suitable cap I2 being threaded on the Stud 9 for retaining the ratchet I0 thereon.

The ratchet I0 is provided with a series of, preferably four, circumferentially spaced ratchetteeth I3 engageable successively by and with a pawl I4 pivotally, as at I5, mounted on a pawl.

plate I6 journaled or bushed on the stud-collar II for oscillatory movement between the hubplate 8 and the ratchet I8. The pawl I4 includes an arm engaged by a spring I'I supported from the plate I6 for normally biasing the pawl I4 against the toothed periphery of the ratchet I9, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, whereby, as will be understood, oscillation of the pawl-plate I6 results in engagement of the pawl I4 successively with the respective teeth I3.

To the free or outer end of the pawl-plate I6, is pivoted one end of a link I8 having in its other end a so-called lost-motion slot I9, in which works a block or slide 2D carried on a crank-pin 2I of a crank 22 mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 23 journaled in respective upper and lower bearings 24 mounted, in turn, on a vertical member 25 projecting from the frame of the machine, all as best seen in Figure 4. The shaft 23, at its lower end, carries a gear 26 meshing with a pinion 2l mounted on the vertical shaft of a speed-reducer 28 driven by a motor 29, all said parts being supported in any suitable manner by and on the frame of the machine, as will be understood, whereby each revolution of the shaft 23 serves for intermittent step by step partial rotatory movement or, in the present instance, one-quarter revolution, of the indexingtable C for a purpose presently appearing.

Mounted on the under face of the indexing table C, is a plurality of heel-gripping chucks E. In the present instance, four of the chucks E are arranged on, and adjacent the periphery of, the table C in quadrature or 90 degrees circumferentially apart, as best seen` in Figure 3, each chuck E including a. pair of spaced levers 38 pivoted for swingable movement on respective upstanding studs or pintles 3|.

Supported rockably, as at 32, from the respective outer ends of the levers 30, is a pair of opposed jaws 33 each having an arcuate face provided adjacent its lower margin with a longitudinal notch or channel 34 for gripping engagement with the marginal lateral portion or `rim 35 of a heel G, as will presently more fully appear, the jaws 33 depending from the levers 3D for heelgripping movement in suitably shaped apertures or pockets 36 provided in the periphery of the table C, as best seen in Figures 3 and 6.

The heel G, for chuck-gripping purposes, is initially in inverted position disposed upon the portions of the tracks 3, 4, exposed through the 5 apertures 36 for alignment of the heel-rim 35 with the jaw-notches 34 and with the breast of the heel facing front-wise for positioning the toe or shank lip of the heel G radially-outwardly with respect to the axis of the table C, 10 the heel being brought outwardly for engagement of its breast with the rear or inner face of a plate 3'I having depending lateral guide-flanges 38 slidably engaging corresponding ways 39 in a bracket 40 projecting radially from the periph- 15 ery of the table C. The plater 3'I is provided with a longitudinal slot 4I working over the shank of a suitable fastening element or thumb-screw 42 threaded into the bracket 4B, whereby the inner face of the plate 3l may be gauged or ad- 20 justed to the desired radial distance from the table-center suitable for the proper operation of the machine upon different sizes and shapes of heels, as presently appearing.

At their respective inner ends, the levers 30 of 25 each chuck E are' suitably bifurcated for respective pivoted connection, as by a stud 43, with a pair of toggle-links 44 having knuckled pivoted connection, as at 45, in the bifurcated end of, and with, a block 46 slidably mounted for radial re- 30 ciprocation in opposed parallel ways 41 mounted suitably for such purpose upon the upper side of the table C, as best seen in Figures 3 and 8, whereby, on outward movement of the block 46, the toggle-links 44 are extended for gripping the 35 jaws 33 on the heel G and, reversely, on inward movement of the block 46, the jaws 33 are released from the heel.

At its inner end, the block 46 is suitably chambered for slidably receiving a cam-follower or 40 plunger 48 resiliently supported in the block 46 by melans of a suitable spring or compression member 49 for endwise yielding sliding engagement with a fixed edge cam 50 mounted on the stud 5, the cam 50 including a rising or jaw-clos- 45 ing portion a., a heel-gripping or holding dwell b,

a falling or jaw-opening portion c, and a rest or jaw-released portion d merging into the rise a, each preferably approximately encompassing 90 degrees of the periphery of the cam 59, as best 50 seen in Figures 3 and 5.

The plungers 48 are normally biased on the cam 50 in jaw-opening direction by means of a spring 5I engaged between the lever studs 43, which, for such purpose, project above the plane 55 of the levers 30, as best seen in Figure 8, whereby, on step-by-step rotation of the table C, the plungers 48 of the respective chucks E are yieldingly in cam-circumferential movement engaged with the successive cam-portions w, b, c, d, for 60 reciprocation of the respective blocks 45 for, in turn, actuating the toggle-links 44 for correspondingly swinging the chuck-levers 3E) for, likewise in turn, opening and closing the jaws 33, as best seen in Figure 3, the levers 38, in their 65 described movement, also disposing the respective chuck-gripped heels centrally on the corresponding diametrical axes of the table -C.

Thus, in sequence, each particular plunger 48 is actuated by the cam 50 for, firstly, through and by yielding co-operation of the spring 49, shifting the block 46 outwardly for closing the chuck E on the heel G, when the plunger 48 engages the rising cam-portion a, then, secondly, for maintaining the chuck E in heel-gripping position, when the plunger 48 is on the cam-portion b, then, thirdly, for releasing the chuck E from the heel G, when the plunger 48 is on the camportion c, and, finally, for maintaining the chuck E in open-heel-receptive position, while the plunger 48 is on the cam-portion d.

During a complete revolution of the table C, each chuck E thereof occupies successively, during the rest-periods intervening between the stepby-step rotatory actuation of the table C, certain positions indexed with relation to the carriage B and hereinafter designated as the heel-loading station I towards the front of the machine, the heel-chucking station II towards one side of the machine, the heel-grooving station III towards the rear of the machine, and the heel-unloading station IV towards the other side of the machine, as best seen in Figure 3.

The table C is indexed for disposing the chucks E at such successive stations I, II, III, and IV, by means of a series of four notches 52 equally spaced around the periphery of the table C and engaged successively by a detent-pawl or latchlever 53 mounted, as at 5, for oscillation on the carriage B and having link-connection, as at 55, with the free end of a dog 55 mounted, as at 56', for oscillation also on the carriage B adjacent a side thereof.

The dog 56 carries a roller 5'! laterally projecting from the carriage B for, at certain presently appearing movements of the carriage B, engaging a trip or catch 58 pivoted, as at 59, on a bracket 60 supported suitably from the bed A. The trip 58 is biased by a spring 6l against a stop 62 for trip-ping the dog 56 for releasing the detent 53 from the notch 52 on forward movement of the dog 56 with the carriage B past the trip 58, and for yielding to the dog 58 on ensuing rearward movement of the carriage B, as will presently appear. The dog 56 is engageable with a stop 63, and the detent 53 is biased for notchengagement by a spring S, as best seen in Figures 3 and 7.

Disposed at the grooving-station III, is a heelcutting or concaving mechanism, which includes an axially vertical end-mill or cutter-head H endwise projecting upwardly through an aperture 85 in the bed A into an elongated slot 66 in the carriage B in the longitudinal center line thereof, as best seen in Figure 7, for elfecting cutting operation in the attaching face of a heel G disposed in inverted or upside-down position at the station III, the cutter H being mounted on the upper end of, and rotatable by and with, a vertical shaft or spindle 61 journaled in suitable upper and lower bearings 68, 59, respectively, mounted suitably on the fra-me of the machine. 'Ihe lower bearing 89, however, is of the closedend or so-called step-bearing type and is mounted for Vertical adjustment in the machine, such adjustment being effected by means of a suitably provided take-up screw 19, as will be understood from Figure 2, for varying the position of the cutter H in the slot 66 above the horizontal plane or level of the heel-gripping notches 34, as best seen in Figure 6, and the shaft 61 is equipped with a pulley Il engaged by a belt 'l2 driven by a motor 13 for effecting cutting actuation of the cutter H on a gripped heel G fed to the cutter I-I on rearward movement of the carriage B, as presently more particularly appears.

At the beginning of the heel-concaving operation, however, the carriage B and its supported table C are in forwardly shifted position on the bed A for disposing the heel G at the station III in forwardly spaced relation to the cutter I-I. For hence engaging the gripped heel G with the cutter H, the carriage B is shifted in what we may designate an approximately horse-shoe path, that is, in an oblique rearward and outward movement merging into an arcuate transverse or cross-movement, in turn, merging into an oblique forward and inward movement for return to the starting point, such travel of the carriage B occurring during each pause or indexed period of the table C, whereby the particular heel G disposed at the cutting station III is caused to traverse the cutter-head H for effecting concave-grooving co-operation thereof with the heel in a horse-shoe or loop-like path, as best seen in Figure 9, for channelling or forming the concave 14 of the heel G, as will be understood from Figure 6.

For effecting such horse-shoe movement of the heel G on the cutter H, the carriage B is, in the first instance, reciprocated longitudinally on the bed-plate A by means of a crank 'l5 having link-' connection, as at 11, with the carriage B, the crank 18 being rotarily actuated by means of a vertical shaft 18 journaled suitably in the frame of the machine and having driving connection, preferably by a chain-and-sprocket arrangement 'i9 with the shaft 23 for reciprocatory actuation of the carriage B in synchronism with the table-indexing mechanism D, as best seen in Figure 7.

Concurrently with the reciprocatory movement of the carriage B, the same is laterally shifted rst toward one or the right-hand side of the machine (having reference to Figure 3), and then toward the other or left-hand side of the machine, by a mechanism which includes longitudinally aligned transversely spaced pairs of complementary edge or plate cams 89, 8l, the pair of cams 88 being disposed on the right-hand side of the machine and the pair of cams 8l being disposed on the left-hand side thereof.

The cams 89, 8l, are mounted on respective shafts 82 upstanding for rotation in the bed-plate A of the machine, and the shafts 82 carry respective sprockets 83 engaged by an endless belt or chain 84, as shown, the belt or chain 85 being likewise trained over a driving-sprocket 85 mounted suitably on the crank-shaft 18, whereby the cams 89, 8|, are driven in unison with the shaft 18, as best seen in Figures 5 and 7.

Each of the cams 80, 8l, includes a dwell-portion c, a lift-portion f, and a fall-portion g'` merging into the dwell e, the pair of cams 88 being opposite hand to the pair of cams 8l and the latter being in lag, operatively speaking, by 99 degrecs or at right-angles to the cams 85. Depending from the carriage B adjacent to, and for cooperation with, the respective pairs of opposite cams 88, 8l, are also respective pairs of transversely spaced cam-blocks 85, 87, having parallel cam-engaging faces 88. It will be understood that, when the blocks 88 at their respective faces 88 engage the fall g of the adjacent cams 89, the blocks 8l at their respective faces 89 engage the lift of the opposite cams 8l, and vice-Versa, as will be readily understood from Figure 7,'the pairs of opposing blocks 86, 8l, having thus, as may be said, constant diametrical relationship with respect to the corresponding pairs of opposite cams 89, 8|.

The blocks 88 and 81 on their respective outer sides are formed with irregularly shaped camfaces 89, 99, respectively co-operable with also respective rollers 9|, 92, journalled for such purpose on the carriage-supporting pins 2, the cams` 80, 8|, being preferably disposed opposite the respective rollers 9|, 92 for engaging the blocks 86, 81, therebetween. The cam-faces 89 are opposite hand to the cam-faces 98, both cams 89, 9|), being formed in suitably complementary shape to, and for roller-guided fro-operation with, the cams 88, 8|, respectively.

Each of the cam-faces 89 includes a fall h for engaging a roller 9| when the lift f of a cam 88 is advancing on the block 86 and a lift or inoline lc for engaging a roller 9| as a cam 80 retracts its lift f, the lift 7c merging into a parallel or straight portion m for engaging the roller 9| as the cam 8D engages its dwell e with a block 86, as best seen in Figure 3, the block 86, however, being disengaged from its roller 9| when the caml B8 opposes its fall y to the block, as best seen in Figure 7.

The blocks 81 co-operate with the cams 8| and rollers 92 in a similar, but reverse, manner, both pairs of blocks 88, 81, however, engaging their straight portions m with the respective rollers 9|, 92, for centralizing the carriage B on the bed A when the carriage B is in its forward noncutting position for ensuing indexing movement of the table C on the carriage B, as presently appearing.

In use and operation, initially the plates 31 are set or adjusted suitably to the longitudinal dimensions of the particular heels, as described, and the cutter-head H is, by manipulation of the cutter-spindle lifting-screw 18, adjusted relatively to the concaving datum plane provided by the jaw-notches 34 to the depth of the concave to be made in the heels.

In Figure 3 is illustrated the relative positions of the parts of the machine at the conclusion of the table-indexing movement thereof, the carriage B being then in partially rearwardly shifted position, at which time the chuck E at the station I is in opened heel-receptive position, the chuck E at the station II is in closed heel-gripping position, the chuck E at the station III is also in closed heel-gripping position, but disposed or retracted forwardly from the cutter H, and the chuck E at the station IV is in opened heel-releasing position.

The detent 53 likewise is engaged with an indexing notch 52 and the dog 58 is disposed forwardly of, and released from, the catch 58 for indexing the table C on the carriage B, all as shown in Figure 3, and the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism D is at the terminus of its table-rotating stroke, as shown in Figure 4.

The parts being in such described positions, the rst particular heel G to be concaved is deposited or loaded in the particular chuck E then disposed at the loading station I, the operator grasping the to-p lift portion of the heel with the breast of the heel frontwise presented, and then, by forwardly inclining the heel, inserting the shank lip of the heel downwardly under the positioning plate 31 for resting the heel G on the heelsupports 3, 4, in the pocket 36. As has been stated, an interval of time elapses between each indexing movement of the table, during which respective intervals the carriage B and table C are reciprocated lon the bed A approximately in the diametrical plane of the cutter H for heelconcaving purposes, as will presently more fully appear. Thus ample time is permitted or allowed the operator for safely placing the particular heels in position for chuck engagement.

At the next ensuing indexing movement of the table C, the operator shifts the heel to bear at its breast on the plate 31 for radially positioning the heel in the particular chuck E and continues to so h old said heel G in said chuck during the indexing movement of the table, the jaws 33 then 5 approaching or closing upon the so-positioned heel. As soon then, in the operation of the machine, as the heel is gripped between the jaws 33, the operator releases his hand from the heel, at about which time the heel has reached the 10 heel-gripping position II of the machine.

Then on the next succeeding indexing movement of the table C, the so gripped heel G is shifted to the concaving station III, and the machine now automatically manipulates said heel 15 for feeding the same radially, as it may be said, to and from the cutter H. It will thus be seen that at all times during heel concaving operations, the hand of the operator is remote, and in fact on the opposite side of the machine, from the 20 cutter H, as will be clearly understood from Figure 3, thus wholly obviating the possibility of dangerous proximity of the operators hand to the cutter.

During each heel-concaving operation of the 25 machine, the carriage B is shifted rearwardly on the bed A by means of the crank 16 and link 11. Concurrently with such carriage movement, the cams 88 advance their lifts f on the cam-blocks 86 for shifting the carriage B laterally to one or the 30 right hand side of the machine, reference being had to Figure 3. At the same time, the opposite cam-blocks 81 are drawn upon the falls g of the cams 8| and depart, as has been described, from their rollers 92, the rearward movement of the 35 carriage B meanwhile successively disposing the inclines k and falls h of the block faces 89 opposite to their rollers 9|.

As the cams 88, during their carriage-shifting rotation, recede, however, from the blocks 86, 40 the opposite pair of cams 8| advance their lifts f upon the blocks 81, and the falls h of the camfaces 90 being now opposite their rollers 92, the carriage B is reversely laterally shifted toward the left-hand side of the machine, the blocks 86 45 departing from their rollers 9|, as best seen in Figure '1.

Meanwhile the crank 16 moves past its rear dead center for returning the carriage B in forward direction, and, the cams 8| correspondingly 50 rotarily receding from the blocks 81, the rollers 92 successively engage the inclines lc and straightportions m of the cam-faces 99 for centralizing the carriage B on the bed A, the opposite rollers 9| meanwhile engaging the portions m of the 55 cam-faces 89, whereby the blocks 86, 81, are again engaged between the cams 80, 8|, and rollers 9|, 92, respectively.

Meanwhile, further, the cutter H, being rapidly rotated by its spindle 61, grooves a channel 6() or concave 14 in the heel G, as seen in Figure 6. Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically the path of the cutter H with respect to the particular heel G, it being borne in mind that actually the axis of the cutter H is stationary and that the heel G 65 moves relatively thereto. In such diagram, p represents the position of the cutter H when the carriage B is in extreme forward central position, and r represents the position of the cutter H when the carriage B is in intermediately rearwardly 70 shifted position preparatory to feeding the heel G to the cutter H. Similarly, the position of the cutter H is represented at s when the carriage B is in extreme right-hand shifted position, at t when the carriage B is in extreme rear central 75 position, and at u when the carriage B is in extreme left-hand shifted position, the approximate path of the axis of the cutter H for grooving the concave 74 in the heel G being indicated by the line r-s-t--u-r, which path, as will be seen, is substantially parallel with the rim of the heel.

As clearly shown in Figure 9, the direction of rotation of the end mill or cutter H is such that its respective cutting edges 93 advance toward the uncut portions of the heel-body for effecting inward cutting action from the heel-rim 35 approximately toward the middle of the concave 14, whereby the cutting-thrust is directed toward the solid uncut portions of the heel-body rather than toward the relatively thin and fragile heelrim or edge 35 of the heel G, as has heretofore,

so far as we are aware, been the practice, Thus our machine, in cutting the concave 14, substantially eliminates breakage and chipping of the heel-rim 35, with resulting improvement in the quality of the product of the machine.

In the meantime, in its rearward movement, the carriage B carries the dog 56 past the catch 58, the latter swinging on its pivot 59- under yielding tension of the spring 6|, and the parts then appearing as shown in Figure 7. However, on now occurring forward movement of the carriage B, the dog 56 engages its roller 51 with the catch 58, which, impinging against the stop 62, actuates the dog 56 for, through the link 55, swinging the latch-detent 53 for disengaging the same from its engaged notch 52 in the table C.

The table C being thus unlatched, a concaving operation being completed, the now-concavedheel G being, on the forward movement of the carriage B, forwardly shifted and cleared from the cutter H, as indicated at 1' in Figure 9, and the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism D having in the interim moved to the position shown by dotdash lines in Figure 4, the table C is rotarily indexed a quarter-turn as the mechanism D moves from dot-dash position to full-line position, as shown Vin Figure 4, the carriage B meanwhile moving to extreme forward position and partially rearwardly therefrom approximately along the path r-p-r of Figure 9.

The forward movement of the carriage B carries the dog 56 past the catch 58, `whereby the detent 53 is, by the spring 64, biased on the rim of the table C for, on rotation thereof, entering the next successive notch 52 therein for, in turn, latching the table C in its newly indexed position, the concaved-heel G being shifted to the unloading station IV for removal from the machine, preferably after another heel has been deposited in the machine at the loading station I, as seen in Figure 3.

In practice, the contour of the concave 14 formed in the heel G may be varied, by changing the shape or form of the cutter H and the table actuating cams, from the type shown in Figures 6 and 7, wherein a slight ridge existsalong the medial line of the concave, to .a type of concave having a flat-bottom with more or less abruptly curved sides for most conveniently fitting the skived outsole of the shoe, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In an analogous manner, different sizes of heels may be run on the machine by simply changing the cutter H, a cutter of large-diameter being employed for a large heel, and a smaller diameter cutter for a smaller heel, advantage being taken of the fact that, in the heel-manufacture art as at present practiced, the plan-contours of heels of different sizes form an homologous series.

The depth of the concave 14 in the heel is regulated by elevating or lowering the cutter H relatively to the plane of the jaw-notches 34, in which latter the heel-rim 315 is gripped, and

which, as may be said, thus establish the datum- 5 .plane for the work.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 6, a guard 94 embracing the cutter H depends in rearwardly disposed position from the carriage B for chute- Wise delivering the shavings resulting from the 10 concaving operations.

As will be understood from Figure 3, the operation of the machine is of a continuous nature. After each indexing movement of the table C, for example, the concaved heel is removed from the 15 station IV and an uncut heel deposited in the machine at the station I, the successive step-bystep movement of the table C serving to bring the deposited heels one at a time to the concaving station III for operation of the cutter H on 20 the particular heel. And it will be seen that, inasmuch as the operators hand is at all times wholly remote from the cutter H, as has been said, the speed of operation may with perfect eiiciency and safety be at a highly productive and 25 economical rate.

It will be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of our heelconcaving machine may be made and substituted 30 for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principles of our invention.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 35 1. A heel-concaving machine including a cutter, in combination with a chuck comprising opposingly swingable jaw-carrying levers, a togglelinkage connecting the levers, a block having shiftable toggle-knuckling co-operation with the 40 linkage, and cam-means co-operable with the block for actuating the levers and their carried jaws for gripping a heel for holding the same during concaving operation of the machine.

2. A heel-concaving machine includinga cut- 45 ter, in combination with a chuck comprising opposingly swingable jaw-carrying levers, a togglelinkage connecting the levers, a block having shiftable toggle-knuckling co-operation with the linkage, cam-means co-operable with the block 50 for actuating the levers and their carried jaws for gripping a heel for holding the same during concaving operation of the machine, and tensional means for biasing the block on the cam for reversely actuating the levers and their carried jaws 55 for releasing the heel.

3. A heel-concaving machine including a cutter, in combination with a chuck comprising opposingly swingable jaw-carrying levers, and means for actuating the levers and their carried 60 jaws for gripping a heel for holding the same during concaving operation of the machine, said means including a toggle-mechanism, a cam, and a yielding connection between the toggle-mechanism and the cam.

4. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a cutter, a shiftable carriage, a table mounted for rotation on the carriage, a series of circumferentially spaced heel-gripping chucks on the table, and means for effecting step- 70 by-step rotation of the table for disposing the respective chucks successively in position for, on shifting movement of the carriage, feeding a chuck-gripped heel to and from the cutter.

5'. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in 75 combination, a cutter,`a carriage shiftable relatively to the cutter, a table, a series of circumferentially spaced heel-gripping chucks on the table, the table being mounted for step-by-step 'rotation on the carriage for disposing the respective chucks successively in position for engagement of a gripped heel with the cutter, and mechanism for shifting the carriage for feeding a table-positioned heel to and from the cutter.

6. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a cutter, a reciprocable carriage, a rotary table mounted on the carriage, a series of circumferentially spaced heel-gripping chucks on the table, means for rotating the table for disposing the respective chucks successively in position for engagement of a chuck-carried heel with the cutter, and means for reciprocating the carriage for feeding the table-positioned heel to and from thecutter in synchronism with the tablerotating means.

7. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a cutter, a frame, la carriage reciprocable on the frame, a'heel-carrying table rotatable on the carriage, detent means for latching the table to the carriage, and means including a dog for releasably actuating said detent and a catch on the frame for, on reciprocation of the carriage, actuating the dog for releasing the table for rotation thereof on the carriage.

8. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, and a chuck comprising opposingly shiftable jaws engageable` with the upper rim of a heel for holding the heel in inverted position over and with its attaching face presented to the mill during a concaving operation of the machine.

9. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, and a chuck comprising opposingly shiftable jaws having longitudinal grooves adjacent their lower margin engageable with the upper rim of a heel for holding the heel in inverted position over and with its attaching face presented to the mill during a concaving operation of the machine.

10. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axially vertically disposed end- 'mill, a chuck comprising co-operable shiftable jaws for gripping a heel at its upper rim, and means for actuating the jaws for gripping the heel rimwise for holding the same in inverted position over, and with its attaching face presented to, the mill during a concaving operation of the machine.

11. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a chuck comprising opposingly swingable levers, grooved jaws on the levers for gripping a heel rimwise, a spring having connection with the levers for normally biasing the jaws into open position, and means for actuating the levers for yieldingly closing the jaws for gripping the heel rimwise for holding the same in inverted position over, and with its attaching-face presented to, the mill diuing a concaving operation of the 'machine 12. A heel-concaving machine including, in

"combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a chuck comprising co-operable shiftable jaws for gripping a heel rimwise, means for norvmally'biasing the jaws into open position, and

over, wand. with its attaching face upresented to,

the mill during a concaving operation of the machine.

13. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in

combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, and means including a table axially rotatable and bodily shiftable with respect to the mill for automatically feeding a series of heels respectively at successive intervals to, over, and from n the mill. 10 14. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a table movable in a plane disposed at right angles to the vertical axis of'the mill, an annular series of heel-gripping chucks on the table, and mechanism for axially rotating and bodily shifting the table with respect to the mill for successively disposing the gripped heels over the mill.

15. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a carriage shiftably movable in a plane disposed at right angles to the vertical axis of the mill, a table mounted for shiftable movement p with, and being also axially rotatable relatively to, the carriage, an annular series of heel-gripping chucks on the table, and mechanism for bodily shifting the carriage and table and axially rotating the table with respect to the mill for successively disposing the gripped heels over the mill.

16. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a slotted shiftable carriage, an axially vertically disposed end-mill projecting up- A v wardly in the slot of the carriage, a rotary table on the carriage, an annular series of chucks on the table for engagement with the rim of respective inverted heels, and means for synchronously shifting the carriage and actuating the table for successively disposing the gripped heels over, and with their respective attaching faces presented to, the mill.

17. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a table movable in a plane disposed at right angles to the vertical axis of the mill, a heel-gripping chuck on the table, and means for both automatically actuating the chuck for gripping a heel and moving the table with respect to the mill for y K disposing the gripped heel over the mill.

18. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endrnill, a. stationary edge-cam in spaced relation to the mill, a shiftable table revolvable about the Y cam, jaws on the table co-operable for gripping a heel, means for rotarily actuating the table, means actuable by the cam on revolution of the table for actuating the jaws for gripping a heel, and means for shifting the table for positioning g the gripped heel over the mill.

19. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a peripherally apertured table, a chuck comprising a pair of pivoted arms for grippingly engaging the opposite side faces of a heel `for B5 holding the same in the aperture of the table and over the mill, and means including a plate mounted on and co-operable with the table for engaging the breastof the heel at said aperture for gaugingly locating the heel in the chuck for engagement by the mill.

20. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a peripherally apertured table, a chuck comprising a pair of pivoted arms for grippingly engaging the opposite side faces of a heel for holding the same in the aperture of the table and over the mill, and means including a plate mounted for slidable adjustment on and co-operable With the table for engaging the breast of the heel at said aperture for gaugingly locating the heel in the chuck for engagement by the cutter.

21. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, ashiftable table having a heel-accommodating peripheral aperture, a chuck operatively mounted on the table for gripping a heel in said aperture, and mechanism for actuating the table for disposing the aperture about, and the gripped heel over, the mill.

22. A heel-concaving machinecomprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a shiftable rotary table having a series of spaced heel-accommodating peripheral apertures, a series of chucks operatively mounted on the table for gripping the heels in the respective apertures, and mechanism for intermittently actuating the table for disposing the respective apertures successively about, and the gripped heels respectively over, the mill.

23. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a table rotatably shiftable in a planeV disposed at right angles to the vertical axis of the mill, the table having a series of spaced heelaccommodating peripheral apertures, a series of heel-gripping chucks operatively mounted on the table for gripping the heels in the respective'apertures, means for effecting step-by-step rotation of the table for presenting the respective apertures successively toward the mill, and means for synchronously shifting the table for successively positioning the gripped heels over the mill.

2li. A heel-ccncaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a table rotatably shiftable in a plane right angularly disposed to the vertical axis of the mill, the table having a series of spaced heel-accommodating peripheral apertures, a series of heelgripping chucks operatively mounted on the table for gripping the heels in the respective apertures, means including a patvl-and-ratchet mechanism for eiecting step-by-step rotation of the table for presenting the respective apertures successively toward the mill, and means for synchronously shifting the table for successively positioning the gripped heels over the mill.

25. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a carriage shiftable in a plane right angularly disposed to the vertical axis of the mill, a table mounted for rotary movement on, and also shiftable With, the carriage, the table having a series oi spaced heel-accommodating peripheral apertures, a series of heel-gripping chucks 0peratively mounted on the table for gripping the heels in the respective apertures, means including a pawi-and-ratchet mechanism for eiecting step-by-step rotation of the table on the carriage for presenting the respective apertures successively toward the mill, means normally biased for retaining the table against rotary movement on the carriage, means for releasably actuating said retaining-means for chuck-positioning rotation oi the table on the carriage, and means for shiftthe carriage and its supported table for successively positioning the gripped heels over the mill.

26. A heel-concaving machine comprising an axially vertically disposed end-mill, in combination, `a frame, a shiftable peripherally-aper'- tured table disposed horizontally on the frame,

the table with its attaching face disposed for cutting engagement by the mill, and means for shifting the table relatively to, and in a plane disposed at right angles to the vertical axis of, the mill for feeding the supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of the mill.

27. A heel-concaving machine comprising an axially vertically disposed end-mill, in combination, a frame, a shiitable peripherally-apertured table disposed horizontally on the frame, means shiftaole with the table relatively to the frame for supporting a heel in the aperture of the table with its attaching face disposed for cutting engagement by the mill, and means for shifting the table relatively to the mill and-in a path Wholly disposed at right angles to the vertical axis of the mill and partially straight and partially of approximate horse-shoe shape for feeding the supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting edge of the mill.

28. A heel-concaving machine comprising an axially vertically disposed end-mill, in combination, a frame, a shiftable peripherally-apertured table disposed horizontally on the frame, means shiftable with the table relatively to the frame for supporting a heel in the aperture of the table with its attaching face disposed for cutting engagement by' the mill, and means for shifting the table in a plane right-angularly disposed to the vertical axis of the mill for feeding the supported heel to, traversingly over the cutting-edge of the mill in a curvilinear path approximately parallel with the rim of the heel, and then from the mill.

29. A heel-concaving` machine comprising, in combination, a slotted shiftable heel-supporting carriage, an end-mill axially vertically disposed in the slot of the carriage, a heel-supporting table on' the carriage, and mechanism for shifting the carriage and table with a reciprocatory curvilinear movement forl correspondingly feeding a supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of the mill.

30. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a bed-plate, a slotted carriage shiftable on the bed-plate, an .end mill axially vertically disposed in the slot of the carriage, a table on the carriage, a heel-gripping chuck on the table, and mechanism for shifting the carriage and table with a reciprocatory curvilinear movement over the bed-plate for correspondingly feeding a gripped heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of the cutter.

3l. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a bed-plate, a slotted carriage shiftable on the bed-plate, an end-mill axially Vertically disposed in the slot of the carriage, a table on the carriage, a heel-gripping chuck on the table, and mechanism including a plurality of cooperable cam-members for shifting the carriage and table with a reciprocatory curvilinear movement over the bed-plate for correspondingly feeding a gripped heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of the cutter.

32. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a slotted shiftable heel-supporting carriage, an end mill axially vertically disposed in the slot of the carriage, and mechanism for shifting the carriage with a recip-rocatory ovaloid movement for correspondingly feeding a supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of the mill, said mechanism includ-k 75 ing a pair of spaced complementary cams and opposing cam-blocks on the carriage having camfollovving engagement with the cams and rollers on the bed-plate having co-operation with the respective cam-blocks.

33. A heel-concaving machine comprising, inr

combination, a frame, a horizontal bed-plate on the frame', a bearing mounted for adjustment on the frame, an end-mill supported by and axially vertically upstanding from the bearing, a carriage shiftable on the bed-plate in a plane right-angularly disposed to the vertical axis of the mill, a peripherally-apertured table mounted on and vmovable with the carriage, means on the table for supporting a heel in the aperture thereof with its attaching face presented for cutting engagement by the mill, mechanism for shifting the carriage and table bodily for feeding the supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting edge of the mill, and means for adjusting the bearing for shifting the mill relatively to the table for regulating the depth of the concave to be cut in the heel.

34. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a frame, a horizontal bed-plate on the frame, a bearing mounted for adjustment on the frame, an end-rnill supported by and axially vertically upstanding from the bearing,

a carriage shiftable on the bed-plate in a plane right-angularly disposed to the vertical axis of the mill, a peripherally-apertured table mounted on and movable with the carriage, means on the table for supporting a heel in the aperture thereof and establishing a datum plane for concaving the attaching face of the heel, mechanism for shifting the carriage and table bodily for feeding the supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the outing-edge of the mill, and means for adjusting the bearing for shifting the mill with respect to said plane for selectively varying the depth of the concave to be cut in the heel.

35. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an adjustable end-mill axially vertically disposed, a heel-supporting carriage shiftable for feeding a supported-heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of the cutter, heel-gripping jaws on the carriage having notches for engaging the rim of a heel forv establishing a 20

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