Patent GB-579399-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for applying reinforcements to workpieces
IPC: A43D43/06
Filed: 1944-03-28
Abstract: 579,399. Affixing tape by adhesive. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). March 28, 1944, No. 5660. [Class 73] A machine for applying reinforcing tape adhesively to workpieces, such as shoe parts, comprises means acting intermittently for feeding and cutting off a measured length of tape, applying adhesive to the length, and transferring the length to, and pressing it on, the workpiece. The length of tape fed is automatically controlled by the setting of gauges which locate the workpiece on a support. Feeding of the tape takes place while a previously-fed and coated length is being applied to a workpiece, and means controlled by the gauges are provided for adjusting the alreadyfed length if a succeeding workpiece is of different dimensions. Adhesive is supplied to the lower surface of the tape length by a plate which is reciprocated vertically into and out of an adhesive receptacle, and means are provided for supporting the tape during adhesive application. A transferring mechanism, with which the tape severing means are associated, picks up the coated length and transfers it to the workpiece. Means are provided in the receptacle for heating the adhesive and maintaining a constant level. As shown, the machine is driven by a countershaft 60 driven through a one-revolution clutch 76 and gears 68, 70 by a main-shaft 66. The shaft 60 oscillates, through a disc 78 and telescopic and yielding crank rod 80, a large gear 90 in mesh with gears 98 and 327, and also drives, through bevel gears 186, 188 and gears 178, a pair of shafts 174 carrying tape-feeding rolls 170. The workpiece w; Fig. 10, is located on a support 24 by fixed gauge pins 28, 30 and a pin 32 which is movable along a slot 205, into contact with workpieces of different sizes, by means of a knee lever. The tape t is fed through a guide 272 by the rolls 170. The upper roll shaft 174 is pivotally mounted at its rear end so that it can be lifted from contact with the tape'to stop the feed. The length of feed is determined by the position of a cam follower 204, on the upper shaft 174, along a cam surface 202 of a cam sleeve 200 driven by a gear 201. The follower is moved by an arm 236 linked to the movable gauge pin 32. When the rolls 170 are separated, movement of the pin 32 is effective, through a rod 222 and bracket 280, to move the guide 272, which has a frictional grip on the tape, whereby a length of tape which has already been fed can be adjusted to the size of the next workpiece. The pins 30, 32 are held in raised, operative position by springs and can be locked in lowered position. The rolls feed a length of tape into position above an adhesive receptacle 34, Fig. 6, where it is supported by a bar 286. The receptacle is heated by an element 118 and plates 120 and has a float 124 whose rod 136 is adapted to open and close a microswitch in the circuit of a solenoid which yieldingly controls a valve in a supply pipe 154 from a heated reservoir 142. The latter has a cover with clips for holding a commercial container of solidified adhesive. Adhesive is applied to the length of tape by a straight or sinuous plate 48 which is reciprocated by an arm 58 operated yieldingly by a cam 104 driven by the gear 98. During application, the tape length is supported on its upper side by a hold-down 288, Fig. 2. This is normally retracted on its arm 292 by a spring 300. The arm 292 is raised and lowered by the cam 104, so as to leave room for the tape transferring means at the appropriate time. When it is raised, the hold-down is pushed forward by an arm 302 and locked in operative position by a latch 304, which is released when the transferring means move in. The latter comprise, Figs. 6 and 10, a presser bar 328 pivoted on brackets 324 secured to a rock-shaft 326 oscillated by the gear 327. The bar is connected also to an arm 361 connected to the gear 98. These driving means swing the bar from the position shown in Fig. 6 to a position above the adhesive receptacle, and then to a position above the support 24. A trough-shaped member 336 held downwardly on the bar by springs 344 has teeth 340 on its rear limb to grip the tape, and similar teeth 352 are provided on a plate 350 pivoted to its front limb and held inwardly by a spring 360. An abutment 370 opens the plate as the bar 328 moves in to pick up the tape. The bar has a rubber strip 376 on its lower edge, with a groove 378 in line with the adhesive-applying bar 48. When the bar has picked up the tape and carried it into contact with the workpiece, the trough 336 yields while pressure is applied to the tape. The tape-severing means comprise fixed cutters 316, which may be shaped as shown in Fig. 2 in order to cut curves on the trailing and leading ends of the tape, and similar moving cutters secured on the rock-shaft 326 so that they cut the tape as the bar 328 moves in to pick up a coated length.