Patent GB-358880-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for conforming shoe uppers to lasts
IPC: A43D21/12
Filed: 1930-06-13
Abstract: 358,880. Boot-making machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. and BATES, A., Union Road, Belgrave Road, Leicester. June 13, 1930, No. 18123. [Class 17 (i).] Lasting.-Relates to machines for shaping the toe portion of an upper into complete conformity with a last wherein the toe parts of the last and upper are positioned in the machine with the aid of last forepart and shoe upper positioning means and the upper is tensioned on to the last as a whole as an incident of the shaping operation by pushing the last into the upper held by the machine. The last is first pressed downwardly and then urged rearwardly of the upper. Resilient shoe-supporting devices engage a substantial area of opposite sides of the forepart in the rear of the top line. Clamps engage the margins of the upper at the toe end, at the sides of the toe, and at the ball line, the latter moving inwardly as the wipers close. Guides assist the operator in positioning the last, these comprising members close to opposite sides of the forepart, an abutment for the waist and an abutment for the toe. The machine is of the general type described in Specification 206,438 provided with two operating heads, one for a left and one for a right shoe, and each having a rising and falling pivoted arm 3, Fig. 1. A pivot 5 at the end of the arm carries a block 7 urged counterclockwise by a spring 10, an adjustable hook 11 engaging a lug on the block to determine its normal position. The block 7 carries a plate 15 shaped to fit within the rib extending around the toe end of an insole for a welted shoe, and an adjustable foot 25 intended to engage the insole at the toeward end of the shank. The block also carries a yoke 57 depressed by a spring 59, the yoke carrying bars 67 at the lower ends of which upper engaging clamps 77 are adjustable longitudinally of the shoe. The yoke 57 is guided in a slot in the block 7 and carries a pin 93, Fig. 2, co-operating with a latch 81 having a fixed trip 89. The bars 67 are urged inwardly by a spring 70 and maintained apart by nuts 73 on a rod 69 provided with right and left screw threads. The rod 69 passes through slots in the bars 67 and is carried by the block 7. Cam surfaces 97 are formed on the bars to allow them to approach each other on appropriate relative vertical movement of the rod and bars. The last supports comprise a toe rest 31 on a rocking base to enable it to tilt, the rest consisting of two members 35, 37, Fig. 1, of hard rubber respectively supporting the part toeward and rearward of the tip line. The stem of the toe rest is spring-pressed upwardly. A fixed cradle 33 comprises two spaced wings each lined with an inflatable pad 41. Clamps 53 engage the margin of the upper at its toe portion, these clamps being constructed as described in Specification 206,438, [Class 17 (i), Boots and shoes, Apparatus for making &c.], Grippers 55, constructed as described in Specification 238,786, [Class 17 (i), Boots and shoes, Apparatus for making &c.], are mounted in fixed relationship to the machine. The wipers 43, Fig. 3, are longer than usual and are operated by mechanism similar to that described in Specification 206,438. The upper trimming knife 125, Fig. 1, also is constructed and driven substantially as described in this prior Specification. In operation, an upper is placed in the machine upside down with its margin resting on the wipers and extending beneath the clamps 53 and between the jaws of the grippers 55. The operator then depresses the starting treadle, when the arm 3 will descend, as described in Specification 206,438. The clamps 53 descend on the upper and the jaws 55 close on it, the machine, then, automatically coming to rest. The operator then inserts the last, seating the plate 15 correctly, pulls up the rear of the upper by hand and, having accurately located the last and upper, again depresses the starting treadle. As the arm 3 descends further, the last is pressed into the upper, the clamps 77 descend on to the upper margin, the toe rest yields downwardly and the block 7 yields clockwise, wiping the margin of the upper upwardly about the toe and urging the last rearwardly into the upper. Shortly before the arm 3 reaches its lowered position, the pads 41 are inflated and press the upper firmly into the hollowed'portions of the last which they cover, the pad 37 pressing the upper into the hollow behind the toe. The wipers 43 now advance, drawing the upper from between themselves and the clamps 53 and from the grippers 55 and carrying inward the clamps 77. The portions of the wipers opposite these clamps may be grooved longitudinally to increase the tension on the upper. When the wipers have reached their fully overwiping position, the arm 3 is allowed to rise slightly so that the feather of the sole may be pressed hard up against the wipers. After a dwell in this position, the arm 3 rises. The operator then drives, say, three tacks into positions determined by notches in the wipers. As the arm 3 rises, the clamps 77 ascend, the latch 81 having previously engaged the pin 93, the pads 41 are deflated, the mechanism returns to starting position, and the shoe may be removed. To cause the block 7 to rise with the arm 3 without first swinging about the pivot 5, a latch 109, Fig. 1, is provided adjacent the hook 11 for retaining the block in its work pressing position. This latch is tripped when the arm 3 rises fully by an arm 111 cooperating with a slot in an arm 113. If desired, to facilitate placing the upper in position, a pair of fingers, adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the shoe, may be brought down to the vicinity of the tip line by slight depression of the starting treadle. In a modification, the last supporting member behind the toe-cap may be of hard felt and the member 35 substituted by a toe-shaped metal plate with short ribs 175, Fig. 12, at each side, the plate being raised by a treadle adjacent to the starting treadle when positioning the upper so that the ribs may act as gauges for the rear edge of the toe-cap. The last supports may be adjustable longitudinally of the shoe along a bearing 197, a knurled hand nut shifting a lever 199. The grippers 55 may be adjustable laterally of the shoe, each being carried by a pivoted arm 257, Fig. 15, linked to an arm on a rock shaft 265, a second arm on the rock shaft being adjustable by a hand nut 273 on a right-and-left screwed rod passing through blocks for the two pairs of grippers. An indicating pointer 281 is provided, and springs 277 which allow the grippers to yield inwardly, the blocks determining their normal outer positions. The grippers may be closed, yieldingly, a spring 287 being interposed in their closing mechanism described in Specification 238,786. An increased length of stroke for the wipers, to allow them to reach the insole rib at a narrow toe, may be provided by a lug 305, Fig. 18, interposed between the end of the operating lever 301 described in Specification 206,438 and the toggle links 297 actuating the wipers. If it is desired to cause the canting of the block 7 about its pivot as the arm 3 descends to occur without such pressure on the member 37 as might drag the lining, the block may be swung positively as the arm 3 descends by a lug 315, Fig. 19, engaged by an adjustable rod 319. To ensure that the last is urged rearwardly into the upper as the block swings, a toe abutment 345 may be provided. The member 25 may carry a pointer extending towards the operator and co-operating with a longitudinal line previously made on the insole. Specifications 313,977, [Class 112, Sewing &c.], 322,522, [Class 17 (i), Boots and shoes, Apparatus for making &c.], 332,563, [Class 17 (ii), Boots and shoes, Construction of], and 351,386 also are referred to.