Rod adhesive feed arrangement

Abstract: The arrangement comprises two or more channels (10) along each of which rod adhesive may be fed. To this end a common feed roller (14) is provided and, for cooperating therewith, for each channel (10) an individual feed or pressure roller (30). The pressure rollers (30) are movable, independently of each other, into and out of an operative position in which they urge the rod adhesive against the feed roller (14). By controlling the movement of the pressure rollers into and out of their operative position, the adhesive feed down each passageway (10) can be individually controlled.

Description: This invention is concerned with a rod adhesive feed arrangement comprising two or more passageways arranged side-by-side, in each of which a rod of adhesive can be accommodated, and rod feeding beams by which each such rod can be engaged and fed along the passage way in which it is accommodated. Rod adhesive feed arrangements of the aforementioned type are known (see eg GB-A-2 106 470), wherein each passageway comprises a tube which has an elongated slot through which a so-called pawl projects to engage the rod within the tube, the pawl being itself movable lengthwise of the tube thus to feed the rod therealong. Moreover, the pawls associated with each of the passageways of such an arrangement are moved by a common drive means so that each pawl is moved through the same distance as the or each other pawl, with a result that the same amount of adhesive is fed along each tube during each operation of the rod feeding means. The particular arrangement referred to in the last paragraph found use in a shoe lasting machine wherein two nozzles were provided which operated simultaneously along opposite sides of a shoe bottom; thus in the case of said machine two passageways were arranged side-by-side, each with its own rod feeding means. It will, however, be appreciated that because of the equidistant feed of each adhesive rod there was no flexibility, in terms of varying the amount of adhesive supplied from one passageway in comparison with that supplied from another, because of the common drive means. In other machines, it is known to provide two independent rod feed arrangements, each comprising a single passageway in which a rod of adhesive can be accommodated and fed therealong. In such an arrangement, of course, it would be possible to feed different amounts of adhesive through the separate arrangements, thus achieving flexibility, but in general the use of two such arrangements requires two separate control means with consequent additional expenditure. In the arrangement referred to in the second paragraph above, furthermore, because the pawls are moved linearly, the control of the amount of adhesive fed, which is dependent upon control of such linear movement, may not always be as accurate as may be required in order to ensure that the correct amount of adhesive is being fed. It is thus the object of the present invention to provide an improved rod adhesive feed arrangement of the type referred to in the first paragraph above, wherein greater control of the feeding of the rod adhesive is achieved and also greater flexibility in such control. This object is resolved in accordance with the present invention, in a rod adhesive feed arrangement as set out in the first paragraph above, in that the rod feeding means comprises a first feed roller which is common to and extends across both or all the passageways, with individual surface portions projecting into each of the passageways, said roller having an axis of rotation which is fixed in relation to the passageways and extends transversely thereof, and a plurality of second feed rollers co-operable with the first feed roller, one second roller being associated with each of the passageways and each being movable, independently of the or each other second roller, into and out of an operative position in which a surface portion thereof projects into its associated passageway whereby an adhesive rod accommodated in said passageway can be engaged thereby and pressed against the surface portion of the first roller and thus be gripped between the rollers, said arrangement being further characterised by a plurality of actuator means, one associated with each of the second feed rollers and each being operable, independently of the or each other actuator means, to move its associated roller into and out of its operative position in response to a signal generated when adhesive feed is required, and drive means for effecting rotation of the first feed roller whereby, with the rod engaged between the rollers as aforesaid, to feed the rod along its passageway. It will thus be appreciated that in this way, the control of the feeding of the rod adhesive, in particular the starting and stopping of such feed, can now be achieved by moving the second roller out of pressing engagement with the rod, without the necessity of discontinuing the drive to the driven first roller. Moreover, by controlling the movement of each second roller into and out of its operative position, the amount of rod adhesive fed along each passageway can be independently controlled, thus giving rise to greater flexibility in the control of the rod adhesive feed. Attention is drawn to US-A-4 938 388 in which is disclosed a so-called glue gun comprising a rod adhesive feed arrangement itself comprising a passageway in which a rod of adhesive can be accommodated and be fed therealong, a first feed roller an axis of rotation of which is fixed in relation to said passageway and which has a surface portion projecting into said passageway, a second, co-operating, feed roller having an operative position in which a surface portion thereof projects into the passageway whereby an adhesive rod accommodated in said passageway can be engaged thereby and pressed against the surface portion of the first roller and thus be gripped between the rollers, and drive means for effecting rotation of at least one of the rollers whereby the adhesive rod thus gripped between the rollers is fed along the passageway, wherein the second roller is mounted for movement into and out of its operative position, actuator means being provided for effecting such movement in response to a signal generated when adhesive is required. In the rod adhesive feed arrangement in accordance with the invention preferably the first roller is driven constantly, but it would also be practicable for the drive means to be operated in response to said signal being generated. In such latter case, it will be appreciated, bearing in mind the inertia in the system the drive to the first roller should be initiated before the or each second roller reaches its operative position. Preferably, furthermore, each second roller is also driven synchronously with the first roller. There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one rod adhesive feed arrangement in accordance with the invention. It will of course be appreciated that this arrangement has been selected for description merely by way of non-limiting example of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of the feed arrangement in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an end-on fragmentary view of said arrangement. The feed arrangement now to be described is suitable for use in a machine for lasting shoes, in particular a machine where nozzles are provided for operating progressively along opposite sides of the shoe bottom to apply adhesive thereto, such machines being generally conventional in the art. The feed arrangement in accordance with the invention thus comprises a plurality of (in this case two) passageways 10 in the form of tubes arranged side-by-side and supported in a frame (not shown) of the machine; instead of tubes, the passageways may be provided by mating grooves formed in two metal plates, or indeed any other appropriately dimensioned channelling along which rod adhesive R is able to pass substantially unimpeded. The upper surface of each passageway 10 is provided with an opening 12 through which projects a surface portion of a first, toothed, feed roller 14. As can be seen from Figure 2, the roller 14 extends across both passageways 10 and individual surface portions thereof project through the openings 12 into the respective passageways 10. The first roller 14 is supported at opposite ends thereof in a framework 16 attached to a frame (not shown) of the machine, on a shaft 18 which carries a pulley 20 connected by a belt 22 to an output pulley 24 of a drive motor 26, also mounted on the frame. In the feed arrangement now being described the feed roller is driven constantly, but if desired it may be driven intermittently when there is requirement for adhesive to be supplied. In opposed relationship with each opening 12 is a further opening 28 through which can project a surface portion of a second, cooperating, feed roller 30, the arrangement being such that the adhesive rod R accommodated in any such passageway 10 can thus be engaged by the appropriate second roller 30 and be pressed thereby against the first roller 14, and thus be gripped between the rollers 14,30, the thus gripped rod being fed along the passageway 10 by the rotation of the first roller 14. Each second roller 30 is supported for independent movement into and out of an operative position in which a surface portion thereof projects through the opening 28 as aforesaid. To this end, each roller 30 is carried on a lug 32 of a lever 34 which is pivotally mounted at 36 on a portion of the machine frame. Intermediate the lug 32 and pivot 36, a piston rod 38 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 40 is secured to the lever 34, actuation of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 40 causing the pressure roller 30 to move to its operative position. When the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 40 is de-actuated, the lever 34 drops under gravity, but if desired a spring return may be provided or indeed the arrangement 40 may be double-acting. In the operation of the feed arrangement in accordance with the invention, when a cycle of operation of the machine of which that arrangement forms part is initiated, the actuation of the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 40 is effected in timed relation with the particular operation to be performed by the machine. For example, if it is a question of nozzles operating progressively along the shoe bottom, then an "actuation" signal must be provided to the relevant piston-and-cylinder arrangement 40 in time for adhesive to be delivered to its associated nozzle after the nozzle has been brought into engagement with the shoe but prior to any adhesive-applying movement thereof. Similarly, at the end of the adhesive-applying movement of the nozzle a "de-actuation" signal must be provided to each arrangement 40, said signal being in timed relation with the termination of the operation such that by the time the nozzle has reached the end of its adhesive-applying movement no further adhesive is supplied to it; in this way problems arising from any tendency of the adhesive to "drool" from the nozzle can be mitigated or indeed avoided. By the provision of separate piston-and-cylinder arrangements 40 for moving the second rollers 30 independently into and out of their respective operative positions, it will be appreciated, it is also possible to programme each arrangement 40 individually so that for example where it is desired to apply adhesive over a longer path on one side of the shoe bottom than on the other this can now readily be achieved without the need for separate drive means associated with each passageway and indeed while nevertheless utilising a single, common, first feed roller. The feed arrangement in accordance with the invention is particularly suited for use in a machine having electronic control whereby the signals to the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 40 can be electronically generated. In such a situation, furthermore, preferably the motor 26 is an n.c. motor, whereby the amount of adhesive which is fed along the passageways 10 and also the rate at which it is fed can be more accurately controlled. (By the phrase "n.c. motor" as used herein is to be understood a motor the operation of which is controlled by control signals supplied thereto in accordance with stored information appropriate to a desired operation. Examples of such motors are stepping motors and d.c. servo motors.) Where such a motor, especially a stepping motor is used, furthermore, the pulleys 20,24 and belt 22 are preferably toothed pulleys and a toothed belt. Whereas in the feed arrangement described above a plurality of passageways 10 is provided, it will be appreciated that the invention in its broader aspects is also applicable to an arrangement having a single passageway, the benefits of enhanced control of the adhesive feed being similarly applicable in such case.

Claims: A rod adhesive feed arrangement comprising two or more passageways (10) arranged side-by-side, in each of which a rod (R) of adhesive can be accommodated, and rod feeding means (14, 30) by which each such rod (R) can be engaged and fed along the passageway (10) in which it is accommodated, characterised in that the rod feeding means (14, 30) comprises a first feed roller (14) which is common to and extends across both or all the passageways, with individual surface portions projecting into each of the passageways, said roller (14) having an axis of rotation (18) which is fixed in relation to the passageways (10) and extends transversely thereof, and a plurality of second feed rollers (30) co-operable with the first feed roller (14), one second roller (30) being associated with each of the passageways (10) and each being movable, independently of the or each other second roller, into and out of an operative position in which a surface portion thereof projects into its associated passageway (10) whereby an adhesive rod (R) accommodated in said passageway (10) can be engaged thereby and pressed against the surface portion of the first roller (14) and thus be gripped between the rollers (14,30), the feed arrangement being further characterised by a plurality of actuator means (40), one associated with each of the second feed rollers (30) and each being operable, independently of the or each other actuator means, to move its associated roller into and out of its operative position in response to a signal generated when adhesive feed is required, and drive means (20-26) for effecting rotation of the first feed roller (14) whereby, with the rod engaged between the rollers (14, 30) as aforesaid, to feed the rod along its passageway (10). A feed arrangement according to Claim 1 characterised in that the drive means (20-26) is operated in response to said signal being generated. A feed arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that each second roller (30) is driven synchronously with the first roller.

Inventors: GIEBEL GERHARD, GIEBEL, GERHARD
Applicants: BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY, DVSG ENG & PATENT, USM ESPANA SA, BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY LIMITED, DVSG ENGINEERING UND PATENTVERWALTUNGS GMBH, USM ESPANA, S.L.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B05C5
IPC codes: B65H51, B05C17