Brake lining bonding apparatus

A brake bonding apparatus in which brake linings are positioned between a loop-like pressure-imposing band and a pair of brake shoes, which are disposed at opposite locations on the inner side of the band, and pressure-bonded to the brake shoes by expanding in opposite direction an expanding member which is urged by springs. The pressure-imposing band is provided with rigid strips at two circumferential locations for positioning itself in a predetermined position and is formed in substantially eliptic shape. The expanding member is arranged not to hold the rib in sandwich relation, but merely to abut the end portions thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a brake lining bonding apparatus which is 
used for bonding a lining onto a brake-shoe of a drum brake and relates to 
a registry mechanism for properly positioning brake-shoes and linings in 
the apparatus. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A conventional bonding apparatus of this type has been disclosed, as shown 
in FIG. 14, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 134832/78 in 
which a pair of brake shoes 62 T-shaped in cross section are positioned at 
the inner side a loop-shaped pressure imposing band 61. Linings 63 applied 
with a bonding agent of a heat-hardening type on their surfaces are 
disposed between the brake-shoes 62 and the pressure imposing band 61. A 
pair of pronged members 65 on the left hand side of an expanding member 64 
and another pair of pronged members 65 on the right hand side of the 
expanding member 64 are allowed to fit to a respective rib 66 of the brake 
shoes 62. The expanding member 64 is caused to expand in opposite 
directions by a plurality of springs 67 interposed between the left and 
right parts of the expanding member 64. 
The brake shoes 62 are urged outwardly toward the linings 63, and the brake 
shoes 62 are bonded to the respective linings through heat treatment. The 
pressure imposing band 61 is formed of spring steel, both ends of which 
are welded to each other. This pressure imposing band 61 is substantially 
circular when it is in relaxed condition. 
In the above conventional apparatus, the pressure imposing band 61 is first 
removed from the outer circumference of the brake shoes 62, then the brake 
shoes 62 are removed from the pronged portions 65, thus requiring 
complicated steps in order to operate the apparatus. Since the apparatus 
is so arranged that the pronged portions 65 of the expanding member 64 fit 
to the ribs 66 of the brake shoes 62, it is required, in setting up prior 
to bonding, to fit the ribs 66 to the pronged portions 65 and then to fit 
the pressure imposing band 61 to the linings 63 applied to the outer 
periphery of the brake shoes 62. 
Furthermore, a disassembling operation after the bonding operation requires 
the complicated steps of removing the pressure imposing band 61 from the 
brake shoes 62 while compressing the springs 67, and then removing the 
respective brake shoes 62 from the pronged portions 65 of the ribs 66 by 
shaking the brake shoes left and right. Thus, the conventional apparatus 
requires many complicated steps and, therefore, bonding work may be very 
difficult to automate, leading to high manufacturing costs. 
The above-mentioned conventional apparatus is arranged so that the end 
portions 62a, 62b of the inner circumference of the brake shoes 62 abut 
the end portions so the brake shoes 62 have some play in circumferential 
direction with respect to the expanding member 64 and, accordingly, simple 
loading of the brake shoes does not assure proper positioning of the brake 
shoes. Thus, there has been a drawback that the brake shoes 62 have to 
have their positions individually aligned by visual observation every time 
they are loaded. 
Further, in the conventional apparatus, the pronged portions 65 of the 
expanding member 64 fit to the ribs 66 of the brake shoes 62. Simply 
compressing the springs 67 does not allow loading of the brake shoes 62 
nor removing of the brake shoes 62 after bonding. In addition, the 
pressure imposing band 61 is also required to be removed every time, 
thereby increasing the operating steps to follow. 
Furthermore, the aforementioned conventional apparatus has no mechanism for 
holding the longitudinal ends of the lining 63, thus simply installing the 
lining 63 does not assure its longitudinal, proper positioning. Thus, 
another drawback is that the positions of linings 63 have to be aligned by 
visual observation every time they are loaded. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems described and 
to simplify and effectively reduce the number of steps to follow in 
bonding work thereby leading to an automated process. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a bonding apparatus in which 
manual bonding work is eliminated, thus the bonding work can easily be 
automated. 
In order to automate the bonding work, it is necessary to arrange that the 
respective steps of inserting linings into, and removing linings from, the 
bonding apparatus are simplified, and removing is carried out without 
difficulty after heating and bonding. Brake shoes may have a variety of 
radii R and widths W depending on their sizes, but for automated bonding 
work, the apparatus should be maintained at a fixed height regardless of 
size of the brake shoes. The present invention relates to the above 
requirements. 
Still another object of the invention is to solve the aforementioned 
problems of the conventional apparatus by incorporating a registry 
mechanism for properly positioning brake shoes so that no particular 
alignment operation is required in bonding operation. 
In a brake lining bonding apparatus according to the present invention, 
brake linings 19 are positioned between a loop-like pressure imposing band 
4 and a pair of brake shoes 11, which are disposed at opposite locations 
on the inner side of the band 4. The brake linings 19 are pressure-bonded 
to the brake shoes 11 by expanding, in opposite directions, an expanding 
member 2 which is urged by springs 3. The pressure imposing band 4 is 
provided with rigid strips 16 at two circumferential locations for 
positioning itself at a predetermined position, thus being formed into a 
substantially eliptic shape. The expanding member 2 is arranged not to 
hold the ribs 12 in a sandwich relation but to merely abut the end 
portions of the brake shoes 11. 
A heat-hardening bonding agent is applied to an outer surface of linings 19 
and the linings can be inserted laterally into the clearance between the 
pressure imposing band 4 and the left end of the expanding member 2 as 
well as into the clearance between the pressure imposing band 4 and the 
right end of the expand member 2. The springs 3 are set free from their 
compressed condition to cause the expanding member 2 to urge the end 
portions 12a, 12b of the brake shoes 11 outwardly and, accordingly, the 
linings 19 are bonded through the pressure applied. 
After bonding a heating operation, the left and right ends of the expanding 
member 2 are disengaged from the end portions 12a, 12b of the brake shoes 
11 while the springs 3 are compressed. Since the pressure imposing band 4 
remains eliptic at the same location on a strain apparatus, which will be 
described later, with the aid of the rigid strip 16, the brake shoes 11 
may be lifted out easily from the pressure imposing band 4 and the 
expanding member 2. 
Inserting both the brake shoes 11 and linings 19 prior to the bonding 
operation and removing the brake shoes 11 after the bonding operation, 
require a simple procedure in which the brake shoes are transferred 
laterally with respect to the pressure imposing band 4 in a single step, 
thus making automated bonding work possible. 
Further, in a brake lining bonding apparatus according to another aspect of 
the present invention, the brake linings 19 positioned between a loop-like 
pressure imposing band 4 and a pair of brake shoes 11 disposed on opposite 
locations at the inner side of the band 4 are pressure-bonded to the brake 
shoes 11 by expanding, in opposite directions, the expanding member 2 
urged by springs 3. The expanding member 2 is formed of left and right 
base plates 6 which are central members that receive an elastic force of 
the springs 3. Shoe receiving members 8 are provided at one end of both of 
the respective base plates 6 and shoe positioning members 9 are provided 
at the other end of both base plates. Skates 10 are provided on the base 
plates to support the bonding apparatus at a required height. 
When the brake shoes are loaded into the bonding apparatus, they are 
positioned in a predetermined position by means of the shoe positioning 
members 9 and the shoes receiving members 8 which are provided on the left 
and right base plates 6 of the expanding member 2. 
Since bonding apparatus 1 is supported by the skates 10 provided on the 
left and right plates 6, the insertion of the brake shoes 11 and the 
linings 19 before bonding operation, the removal of the brake shoes and 
the linings 19 after bonding operation, and the transfer operation in the 
finishing process, subsequent to heating and bonding, can be carried out 
smoothly. 
Furthermore, in a brake lining bonding apparatus according to still another 
aspect of the present invention, brake linings 19 are positioned between a 
loop-like pressure imposing band 4 and a pair of brake shoes 11 disposed 
on opposite locations at the inner side of the band 4 and pressure-bonded 
to the brake shoes 11 by expanding in opposite directions the expanding 
member 2 which is urged outwardly by springs 3. The expanding member 2 is 
formed of a left base plate 6 and a right base plate 6 which are central 
members to receive spring force of the springs 3, shoe receiving members 8 
provided at one end of both of the respective base plates 6, and shoe 
positioning members 9 provided at the other end of both base plates. The 
shoe receiving members 8 are caused to abut against one circumferential 
end 12a of the rib 12 of a brake shoe 11, and the shoes positioning 
members 9 are shaped to fit to the other circumferential end 12b of the 
rib 12 thereby positioning the brake shoes 11 in circumferential direction 
of the pressure imposing band 4. 
Since each of the shoe receiving members 8 are caused to abut against one 
circumferential end 12a of the rib 12 of the brake shoes 11, the shoe 
positioning members 9 are shaped to fit to the other circumferential end 
12b of the rib 12, and the brake shoes 11 are prevented from being 
misaligned in circumferential direction with the aid of the shoe receiving 
members 8 and the shoe positioning members 9. Thus when the brake shoes 11 
are loaded in the bonding apparatus 1, no alignment is required to 
properly position the brake shoes in a predetermined position. 
Further, in a brake lining bonding apparatus according to the present 
invention, brake linings 19 are positioned between a loop-like pressure 
imposing band 4 and a pair of brake shoes 11, which are disposed at 
opposite locations on the inner side of the band 4. The brake linings 19 
are pressure-bonded to the brake shoes 11 by expanding in opposite 
directions the expanding member 2, which is urged outwardly by springs 3. 
In the apparatus, circumferential positioning of the linings 19 is carried 
out by front and rear mounting seats 37 and 38 which are adapted to 
approach the bonding apparatus 1 by a predetermined distance, and lining 
positioning members 35 and 36 mounted on the mounting seats 37 and 38. 
Each end of the lining positioning members 35 and 36 is arranged to abut 
against the circumferential ends 19a, 19b of the linings 19 through 
elongated holes 17, 18 formed in the pressure imposing band 4. 
When the front and rear mounting seats 37 and 38, which are provided with 
the lining positioning members 35 and 36, that approach the bonding 
apparatus 1 to a predetermined distance, the end portions 35a and 36a of 
the lining positioning members 35 and 36 abut against the circumferential 
ends 19a and 19b of the linings 19 through the elongated holes 17 and 18 
of the pressure imposing band 4, respectively, thereby eliminating 
misalignment of the linings 19 in a circumferential direction. Thus, when 
the brake shoes 11 are loaded into the bonding apparatus 1, no alignment 
operation is required to properly position the linings 19 in a 
predetermined position and, accordingly, the operation is simplified to 
implement automated an bonding operation.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the 
accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows a top view of a bonding apparatus 1 and FIG. 2 shows a front 
view thereof. The bonding apparatus disclosed herein is formed of springs 
3 for expanding an expanding member 2 in opposite directions a pressure 
imposing band 4 surrounding the expanding member 2, and a safety pin 5 for 
preventing excess expansion of the expanding member 2. 
The expanding member 2 comprises left and right base plates 6, shoe 
receiving members 8 and shoe positioning member 9 each detachably mounted 
on one end of the respective base plates 6 by means of a plurality of pins 
7 and skates 10 provided under the respective base plates 6 for sliding 
the bonding apparatus 1. Each shoe receiving member 8 is formed to abut 
one circumferential end 12a of a rib 12 of a brake shoe 11, and each shoe 
positioning member 9 is provided with a cut-out 9a of a shape 
corresponding to the other circumferential end 12b of the rib 12 so that 
the cut-out 9a fits to the end 12b. 
Thus when the brake shoes 11 and linings 19 are inserted into the clearance 
between the expanding member 2 and the pressure imposing band 4, one of 
circumferential ends 12a of the brake shoe 11 abuts the end of the shoe 
receiving member 8 and the other circumferential end 12b of the brake shoe 
11 fits to the cut-out 9a of the shoe positioning member 9, thereby 
preventing misalignment of the brake shoe 11 in circumferential direction 
to properly position with respect to the bonding apparatus 1. 
Different sizes and shapes of the brake shoes 11 can easily be accommodated 
by removing the pins 7 from the base plates 6 and then replacing both the 
shoe receiving members 8 and the shoe positioning member 9 with 
appropriately sized ones. The aforementioned base plate 6 is provided with 
a recessed groove 13 engaging with a registry device for the bonding 
apparatus mounted on a strain apparatus, which will be discussed later. 
Pin-inserting holes 14 for suspending the bonding apparatus 1 is provided 
on the base plate 6. 
The pressure imposing band 4, its top view shown in FIG. 5 and its front 
view in FIG. 6, comprises two belts 15 for example of spring steel having 
equal lengths and connected by means of rivetting rigid strips 16 of 
steel. Both ends of one belt abut both ends of the other belt, and the 
pressure imposing band 4 is substantially eliptic when it is not strained. 
Further, the belts 15 of the pressure imposing band 4 are provided with 
elongated holes 17 and 18 near the rigid strips 16 for inserting a lining 
positioning member, which will be described later. The rigid strips 16 
also provide means for aligning the bonding apparatus in a lateral 
direction when the bonding apparatus 1 is set to the strain apparatus, 
which will be described later. The linings 19 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 
are supplied with a heathardening bonding agent on their surfaces in order 
to be bonded to the brake shoes. 
A strain apparatus 20 as shown in FIG. 3 will now be described. The 
apparatus 20 is used for insertion and positional alignment of the linings 
19 and the brake shoes 11 in the bonding apparatus 1, and for the 
compression of the springs 3 required to remove the brake shoes 11 after 
bonding. FIG. 3 shows a top view of the strain apparatus 20. FIG. 4 shows 
a front view thereof; FIG. 7 shows a top view of the essential position 
that is cut out; and FIG. 8 shows a front view of the essential portion. 
Left and right press heads 22 and 23 are mounted on a base 21 and slide to 
left and right along the longitudinal direction of the base 21. A rack 26 
mounted to a press head 23 is provided on a piston 25 of a cylinder 24 
secured to the base 21. A rack 27 mounted on a press head 22 and the rack 
26 engage with a pinion 28, opposing to each other with respect to the 
pinion. The pinion 28 is journaled by a shaft 28a on the base 21. Tables 
29 and 30 fit to the left and right of press heads 22 and 23, respectively 
by means of guide grooves 29a and 30a (see FIG. 7). The tables 29 and 30 
are provided with arcuate receiving seats 31, bonding apparatus 
positioning members 32, and a slide portions 33. The receiving seats 31 
have first planes 31a which contact with the lower surfaces of the linings 
19 when the bonding apparatus 1 is set properly on the apparatus 20. The 
seats 31 also have second planes 31b which are formed by cutting out the 
first planes 31a and contact with the lower surface of the pressure 
imposing band 4, and longitudinal recessed grooves 31c contacting with the 
lower surfaces of the brake shoes 11, as shown in FIG. 8. The bonding 
apparatus positioning members 32 are formed of protrusions 32a which fit 
to grooves 13 of the base plates 6, receiving portions 32b contacting with 
the lower surface of the base plates 6, and wedge-shaped guides 32c and 
32d which guide the base plates 6 as they are inserted into the 
bonding-apparatus positioning member 32. A distance between c and d of the 
base portions of the guides 32c and 32d is defined substantially equal to 
the thickness of the base plate 6, thereby allowing easy positioning of 
the base plates 6 at a predetermined position. When a base plate 6 has 
been set, it is sandwiched by a base portion c of the guide 32c and the 
end surface of the press heads 22 and 23 thereby positioning the bonding 
apparatus properly on the strain apparatus 20 (See FIG. 8). 
At the longitudinal center of the base 21, there are provided, at both 
widthwise ends of the base 21, grooves 34a into which the belt 15 can be 
fitted, and band positioning members 34 having registry grooves 34b into 
which the rigid strips 16 are allowed to fit without chattering. 
The lining positioning members 35 and 36 for aligning circumferential 
position of the linings 19 with respect to the bonding apparatus 1 are 
mounted on mounting seats 37 and 38 which are adapted to move back and 
forth by means of a cylinder and a piston, which are not shown. The lining 
positioning members 35 and 36, a bottom view shown in FIG. 3 and a side 
view in FIG. 4, are provided with end portions 35a and 36a, and outer end 
surfaces 35d and 36d of the end portions 35a and 36a which are adapted to 
abut both the circumferential ends 19a and 19b, respectively, of the 
linings 19 when both ends of the lining position members 35 and 36 are 
inserted through the elongated holes 17 and 18 of the pressure imposing 
band 4. 
The lining positioning members 35 and 36 are also provided with securing 
portions 35c and 36c and have holes 35b and 36b, respectively, for 
centrally locating the mounting pins. 
The mounting seats 37 and 38 are provided with pronged fitting portions 37a 
and 38a into which respective securing portions 35c and 36c of the lining 
positioning member 35 and 36 are to fit, and pin-inserting holes 37b and 
38b and which are aligned with pin-inserted holes 35b and 36b of said 
lining positioning members 35 and 36. 
Fitting the securing portions 35c and 36c and then inserting detachable 
mounting pins 39 and 40 into pin-inserting holes 35b, 37b, 36b and 38b, 
permits secure mounting of lining positioning members 35 and 36 to the 
mounting seats 37 and 38 without loose fitting. 
Indicators 35e and 36e, shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, are provided on the 
lining positioning members 35 and 36, respectively, and are formed in the 
same shape as the end portions 35a, 36a as seen from top, and serve to 
indicate the location of the end portions 35a and 36a which are difficult 
to visually observe when aligning position of the linings. 
Spring guide pins 41 and 42 mounted on the left and right plates 6 serve as 
a guide when one base plate 6 moves toward or away from the other. The 
bonding apparatus 1 is secured to tables 29 and 30 when the linings 19, 
the pressure imposing band 4, and the brake shoes 11 are pushed down by a 
left pressure imposing member 43 and a right pressure imposing member 44 
which are driven vertically by a solenoid (not shown) of a pressure 
imposing device. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the skates 10 are disposed in parallel to each other 
and separated by a fixed distance A, and positioned below the pressure 
imposing band 4 with a constant height CH. Two adjacent skates are spaced 
by a constant distance B. Thus, the bonding apparatus 1 is supported at a 
constant position regardless of a variety of sizes of the brake shoes 11. 
Since the height CH of the skate 10 remains the same even if the width W of 
the brake shoes 11 changes, during transfer operation, for example, the 
bonding apparatus 1 is pushed reliably by a pusher from one conveyor to 
another (not shown) and smooth skating is ensured with the aid of skates 
10. 
FIG. 9 shows a top view of an example of the layout for the automated 
bonding operation. Four strain apparatuses 20 are disposed on a turntable 
49 which rotates intermittently about a rotational axis in the direction 
of an arrow 70. Conveyors 50 and 51 are provided adjacent a pressure 
intake position P.sub.2, to which the turntable is rotated by 90 degrees 
relative to a lining inserting position P.sub.1. A heater 52 of tunnel 
type is provided at the terminal end of the conveyor 51. 
Additionally there is provided a pressure imposing device 53 which moves in 
a reciprocating manner between the pressure intake station P.sub.2 and a 
beginning end P.sub.3 of the conveyor 50, and this pressure imposing 
device 53 is provided with pressure imposing members 43 and 44 and hooks 
45 and 46 which are capable of opening to left and right and capable of 
vertical movement. The hooks 45 and 46 are provided with a plurality of 
pins 47, which can fit into a plurality of pin inserting holes 14 of the 
base plates 6. 
Conveyors 54 and 55 are provided at the exit of the heater 52. A lifter 56 
is provided so that it moves in a reciprocating manner between the 
terminal end P.sub.4 of the conveyors 55 and a receiving station P.sub.5 
on the turntable 49. The lifter 56 has hooks having a function similar to 
the above-mentioned hooks 45 and 46. The hooks of the lifter 56 are formed 
to rotate 90 degrees relative to a vertical line in a reciprocating 
manner. 
An unloader 58 having a magnetic chuck is arranged so that it reciprocates 
between a conveyor 57 and an unloading station P.sub.6 on the turntable 
49, which is located 90 degrees from the receiving station P.sub.5 about a 
rotational axis 48. Push cylinders 59 are employed for laterally 
transferring the bonding apparatus 1 between, for example, the conveyors 
50 and 51. 
The following is a bonding procedure according to the present invention. 
The bonding apparatus 1 placed on the tables 29 and 30 is adjusted back 
and forth along the of width the base 21 to be in registration with the 
recessed groove 13 of left and right plates 6 by fitting to protrusions 
32a of the positioning member 32. The vertical position of the bonding 
apparatus 1 is adjusted to register with the lower surface of the base 
plate 6 by contacting the receiving portion 32b. The lateral position 
(longitudinal direction of the base 21) of the bonding apparatus 1 is 
aligned to register with the left and right base plates 6 by being 
sandwiched between the inner base c of the guide 32c and the end surfaces 
of the press heads 22 and 23. 
The position of the pressure imposing band 4 is adjusted back and forth or 
laterally, and vertically, with the rigid strips 16 fitting into the 
registry grooves 34b of the band positioning member 34 and with the belts 
15 fitting into the grooves 34a. In this manner, the bonding apparatus 1 
is properly positioned in a predetermined position on the tables 29 and 30 
of the strain apparatus 20. 
Then fluid is introduced into a chamber 24a of the cylinder 24 to cause a 
piston 25 to advance; moving the right side rack 26 to the left; then the 
pinion engaging with rack 26 rotates clockwise to cause the left side rack 
27 to move to the right; and the base plates 6 are pulled, left ones 
toward right ones, together with the left and right press heads 22 and 23, 
to thereby compress the springs 3. 
A pair of brake shoes 11 and a pair of linings 19 are inserted into the 
shoe receiving members 8, shoe positioning members 9, and the pressure 
imposing band 4. The mounting seats 37 and 38, on which the lining 
positioning members 35 and 36 are mounted, are moved by the piston toward 
the center of the tables 29 and 30, thus the end portions 35a and 36a, 
which pass through the elongated holes 17 and 18 of the belts 15 abut the 
circumferential ends 19a and 19b of the linings 19, thereby adjusting the 
positions of the linings 19 back and forth and also laterally with respect 
to the pressure imposing band 4. 
When the linings 19 are in registration, the piston retracts and the shoe 
positioning members 35 and 36 move out of engagement with the pressure 
imposing band 4 and the turntable 49 rotates 90 degrees in the direction 
of the arrow 70. The pressure imposing members 43 and 44 of the pressure 
imposing device 53 descend toward the bonding apparatus 1, and the linings 
19, pressure imposing band 4, and brake shoes 11 are sandwiched vertically 
by the pressure imposing members 43 and 44 and the tables 29 and 30. 
In this condition, ejecting fluid pressure from the chamber 24a of the 
cylinder 24 permits rightward movement of the right press head 23, the 
racks 26, and the piston 25 with the aid of repulsive force of the springs 
3. The pinion 28 rotates counterclockwise and the left side rack 27 and 
the left press head 22 move leftwardly the same distance as the 
aforementioned rightward movement of the right press head 23. In 
connection with these leftward and rightward movements, the shoe receiving 
member 8 abuts strongly against one end 12a of the brake shoe 11, and the 
cut-out 9a of the shoe positioning member 9 abuts strongly against the 
other end 12b while at the same time the brake shoe 11 fits tightly to the 
lining 19 at a proper position. After initial set up, the pressure 
imposing members 43 and 44 move upwardly, and the left and right hooks 45 
and 46 of the pressure imposing device 53 move downwardly. Next, the hooks 
45 and 46 open to insert a pair of pins 47 provided on the hooks 45 and 46 
into pin holes 14 of the base plates 6, and the bonding apparatus 1 lifts 
up from the strain apparatus 20 by moving the hooks 45 and 46 upwardly. 
Then the bonding apparatus is transferred to the conveyor 50 by moving the 
pressure imposing device 53. The skates 10 support the bonding apparatus 1 
in a stable condition as the bonding apparatus is conveyed by the conveyor 
50. The bonding apparatus 1 is transferred to the next conveyor 51 at the 
terminal end of the conveyor 50 by means of a pusher 59. This transfer 
operation is carried out smoothly and without any resistance, with the aid 
of skating action of the skates 10. 
Since the height of the skates 10 is arranged to be constant for a variety 
of sizes of the brake shoes, the pusher 59 can push the bonding apparatus 
1 every time at a preferred position. 
The bonding apparatus 1 is transferred from the conveyor 51 to a conveyor 
60 of the heater 52 by means of the pusher 59 and the bonding agent is 
applied to the surfaces of the linings 19 and hardens under heating after 
a predetermined amount of time, completing the bonding between the brake 
shoes 11 and the linings 19. 
The bonding apparatus which leaves the heater 52 is carried by conveyors 54 
and 55, then transferred by the lifter 56 to the receiving station P.sub.5 
on the turntable 49 and is set to the strain apparatus again. 
At an unloading station P.sub.6 to which the turntable 49 is rotated 90 
degrees, pressurized fluid is introduced into the chamber 24a of the 
aforementioned cylinder 24 so that left and right press heads 22 and 23 
and the base plates 6 are pulled to each other, thus compressing the 
springs 3 to disengage the shoe receiving members 8 and the shoe 
positioning members 9 from the end portions 12a and 12b of the brake shoes 
11. 
The magnetic chuck of the unloader 58 descends to attract the brake shoes 
11, removing them from the bonding apparatus 1, to the conveyor 57. The 
brake shoes are processed through an engraver and a lining grinder further 
to be finished as final products. 
As thus far described, the operating steps to follow in bonding work 
involve manual work only when inserting the brake shoes 11 and the linings 
19 into the bonding apparatus 1 prior to bonding. The remaining operating 
steps can be automated. A variety of modifications of the embodiment are 
possible for the aforementioned lay out. 
The brake lining bonding apparatus according to the present invention is 
arranged so that the expanding member 2 does not pinch the rib 12 of the 
brake shoe 11, but abuts the end portions 12a and 12b of the rib 12. The 
pressure imposing band 4 is provided with the rigid strips 16 for registry 
at two locations circumferentially so that the pressure imposing band 4 is 
formed in the shape of substantial ellipse. 
Thus when the springs 3 are compressed, insertion and removal of the brake 
shoes 11 and linings 19 can easily be performed between the expanding 
member 2 and the pressure imposing band 4 which surrounds the expanding 
member 2 and is properly maintained in an ellipse by rigid strips 16. 
In other words, when bonding is over, the end portions 12a and 12b of the 
brake shoes 11 disengage from the left and right ends of the expanding 
member 2 by compressing the springs 3, thus the brake shoes can easily be 
unloaded from the pressure imposing band 4 and the expanding member 2 by 
lifting up the brake shoes 11. Prior to bonding, the brake shoes 11 and 
the linings 19 can easily be inserted into the space between the expanding 
member 2 and the pressure imposing band 4, and bonding is carried out by 
releasing the springs 3. 
In this manner, insertion of the brake shoes 11 before bonding and removal 
of the brake shoes 11 after bonding can be performed in a simple, single 
procedure in which the brake shoes 11 and the linings 19 are moved 
laterally with respect to the pressure imposing band 4, thereby readily 
permitting automated bonding work. 
Further, with a bonding apparatus according to the present invention as 
mentioned above, the bonding apparatus 1 is supported by the skates 10 
provided on the left and right base plates, permitting smooth insertion 
and removal of the brake shoes 11 and the linings 19 prior to and after 
bonding as well as transferring them to a finishing process subsequent to 
the heating and bonding processes. Thus the present bonding apparatus is 
applicable to automation lines. 
Further, the brake shoe positioning apparatus is arranged so that one 
circumferential end 12a of the rib 12 of a brake shoe 11 is allowed to 
abut a shoe receiving member 8 of the base plates 6, and a shoe 
positioning member 9 is provided with a cut-out 9a of a shape into which 
the other end 12b of the rib 12 fits, thus preventing circumferential 
misalignment of the brake shoes 11 with the aid of the above-mentioned 
shoe receiving member 8 and shoe positioning member 9. 
Consequently, simple loading of the brake shoes 11 into the bonding 
apparatus 1 allows proper positioning of the brake shoes in the bonding 
apparatus 1 without any adjustment. The brake shoes 11 are constructed so 
that the circumferential ends 12a and 12b of the ribs 12 abut the shoe 
receiving members 8 and the shoe positioning members 9, thus allowing a 
simple and single procedure which requires only lateral movement with 
respect to the pressure imposing band 4 when inserting the brake shoes and 
the linings 19 into the apparatus and unloading them after bonding. This 
is effective to automate the bonding operation. 
The disclosed invention, in which the shoe receiving members 8 and the shoe 
positioning members 9 are removably mounted to the base plate 6, can be 
adapted to accommodate a variety of sizes of brake shoes 11 by replacing 
the shoe receiving members 8 and the shoe positioning members 9 for 
appropriate sized ones, thus being economical. 
Further, a lining positioning apparatus according to the present invention 
as mentioned above is arranged so the circumferential positioning of the 
linings 19 is carried out by the lining positioning members 35 and 36 
mounted on the front and rear mounting seats 37 and 38. The mounting seats 
37 and 38 are arranged in such a way that the mounting seats approach the 
bonding apparatus 1 within a predetermined distance and the ends 35a and 
36a of the lining positioning member abut the circumferential ends 19a and 
19b of the lining 19 through the elongated holes 17 and 18 of the belt 
strips 15 of the pressure imposing band 4. Thus, when the mounting seats 
37 and 38 approach the bonding apparatus 1, the ends 35a and 36a of the 
lining positioning member abut circumferential ends 19a and 19b of the 
linking 19 through the elongated holes 17 and 18 of the belt strips 15 of 
the pressure imposing band 4, thereby preventing circumferential 
misalignment of the linings 19. Loading the linings 19 into the bonding 
apparatus 1 allows proper positioning in the bonding apparatus without any 
adjustment. The bonding work can be made easy and also suitable to an 
automated bonding operation.