Patent GB-190809793-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Machines and Methods for use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Inventor: MCFEELY RONALD FRANCIS
Filed: 1908-05-05
Granted: 1909-08-05
Abstract: 9793. McFeely, R. F. May 6, 1907, [date applied for under Section 91 of Patents &c. Act, 1907]. Lasting.-Machines for automatically pulling- over an upper are provided with means for wiping the upper into lasted position. The shoe is presented to the machine against a sole-rest 50 in the position shown in Fig. 3, so that its forepart is in full view of the operator. This sole-rest is longitudinally movable in a carrier 54 for the purpose of positioning the sole longitudinally upon the last, or for moving the last forwardly with relation to the pulled upper, and is also capable of being moved downwards by the action of a cam 60 to sink the last into the upper. The heel end of the shoe is positioned against a V-shaped rest 62, which is carried by pivoted parallel links 64 to allow it to adapt itself laterally to the shoe. This rest is yieldingly advanced into engagement with the shoe, and, at the end of the inward movement of its actuating- mechanism, the last is given a slight forward thrust into the upper, to set the upper more firmly over the forepart of the last. These movements of the heel and sole rests take place during the closing and lifting movements of the pulling-over grippers, which are arranged so that the toe grippers move upwards slightly in advance of the side grippers. The latter are mounted for adjustment simultaneously in opposite directions both longitudinally and transversely of the machine. The toe grippers may also be moved lengthways to grip the upper nearer to or further from the last ; they may also be moved laterally and re-engaged with the upper at a different point. These adjustments are effected during a halt in the working of the machine, which is provided for by forming rises on the main cam 30 to actuate trip and clutch mechanisms. The machine is started again on the depression of a treadle 35, and the trip mechanism sets itself automatically in a position in which it will again be acted upon by the next rise in the cam, whether or not the treadle 35 has been released. In the next movement of the machine, the grippers move across the last bottom, and, at the same time, arms 210 swing inwards and bring cushioned supports 212 and clamping-devices into engagement with the shoe. The clamping- devices, which are connected to the supports by equalizing-means, force the upper over the last bottom, where it is secured by the usual automatic tacking-mechanism. While the shoe is held by the supports and clamping-devices, the lasting- mechanism is advanced to last the toe of the upper. This mechanism, which is again described in the companion Specification No. 17,091, A.D. 1909, is carried by a support 250 secured to, and adjustable about, a bracket attached to the machine frame. The support is formed with grooves approximately at right-angles to the last-bottom, and in these grooves is mounted a counterbalanced carriage 260, Figs. 3, 20, and 23, adapted to be moved by a rack and pinion actuated by a handle 262. The carriage 260 is channelled in a plane parallel to the last-bottom, to receive the side arms or bars of a yoke 263, the front cross-piece of which is formed with guide-slots in which the wipers 264 are mounted. The adjacent ends of the wipers are joined together and to the yoke-piece by a pivoted plate 265. Mounted to slide in grooves in the side bars of the yoke-piece is a rack slide 267, which is actuated by a band-lever 270. This slide is connected to the wipers by an equalizing-lever 275 and links 276, and has also a yielding connexion with the wipers through a spring 278 and the yoke 263. This arrangement enables the wipers to adapt their position to that of the toe of the shoe, after which they move together over the shoe bottom to an extent limited by an adjustable stop 282. In a modified construction, Fig. 21, the plate 265 is pivoted to a slide 280, which is movable laterally with relation to the slide 267. To support the toe of the shoe while it is being lasted, there is provided a block 287 carried by a lever 285 pivotally connected to a slide 286 arranged in guideways in the outer faces of the side bars of the yoke 263. The upper is secured in lasted position by a binder or wire, or by tacks.