Patent GB-431392-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for applying pressure to shoe bottoms
IPC: A43D25/06
Filed: 1934-01-03
Abstract: 431,392. Boot - making machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., Belgrave Road, Leicester.-(United Shoe Machinery Corporation; 140, Federal Street, Boston, U.S.A.) Jan. 3, 1934, Nos. 205 and 37236. Addition to 408,953. [Class 17 (i)] Sole-laying.-Relates to the machine described in the parent Specification and consists in improvements in the sole-engaging pad and its supporting means, and in the gauging mechanism engaging the sole and shoe. The pressure in the pad may be adjusted for a large or small shoe by a plunger or a pivoted plate deforming the bottom wall of the fluid filled pad, a polygonal cam being provided for setting the plunger or plate in definite positions. Modified means are described for adjusting the angle of the fore and rear parts of the pad, in one case affording an adjustment about a virtual centre situated at the sole engaging surface of the pad at approximately the forward end of the shank of the shoe. The pad may contain a support for the ball portion of the shoe comprising superposed flat metal plates separated by springs. The heel end of the pad may have a flap overlying the fluid filled portion, and sliding members are provided which may be inserted under the flap or withdrawn, to compensate for height of heel. The heel end gauging mechanism is carried by a spring supported bracket, which yields as the shoe is pressed down upon the pad. The shoe gauges at the heel end are laterally adjustable relatively to the sole gauges. A masking plate is adjustable longitudinally of the shoe at the toe end, and carries the fore part gauges, so that these are automatically adjusted for length of shoe. One form of pad, intended for men's shoes, is filled with liquid except for a space beneath the central portion of the fore part, the soleengaging surface at this portion being supported by flat metal plates 112, Fig. 7, separated by leaf springs and guided, to expand vertically or to be compressed by the pressure of the shoe, by pins 116 secured to the top and bottom plates. To vary the pressure for size of shoe, to prevent the pad bulging round a small shoe, a plunger 120, adapted to deform the bottom wall at the heel end, is adjustable by a pair of polygonal cams 122, having flats at differing distances from their axes, and mounted on an adjusting spindle 124 provided with a hand wheel. The heel end gauges are supported by a vertically sliding bracket 18, Fig. 1, urged upwardly by springs 19, the bracket carrying a pivot 162 for the carrrier of the sole gauges 150 and shoe gauges 152. A spring 172 and adjustable stop 170 determine the normal vertical position of the gauges. The sole positioning gauges comprise pivoted fingers 150, 151, Fig. 13 geared together, one finger being provided with a roll entering an inclined slot 176 in a slide 178 urged outwardly by a spring 180 to close the fingers on the sole. This slide is moved inwardly, to open the fingers by a roll on a bell-crank lever actuated by a rod pivoted to a bell-crank lever described in the prior Specification for controlling the gauges. The shoe positioning gauges 152, Fig. 1, are geared together and opened and closed similarly to the sole gauges, but are adjustable laterally of the shoe, their pivots being carried by a slide 192, Fig. 15, formed with a T slot the leg 414 of which is engaged by a pin on a conical hub 410 engaging a corresponding recess 408 in a member adjustable on the gauge carrier and provided with a handle 196 for adjustment. The assembly is secured by a screw 416, and a spring 420 presses the conical surfaces together to hold the parts in adjusted position. The slide opening and closing the shoe gauges is actuated by a link 216, Fig. 16, pivoted to an arm 220 pivoted to the swinging last-abutment support described in the prior Specification, the arm being provided with a member having a notch 238 co-operating with a latch 230, the arrangement being that as the support is swung rearwardly to allow change of work piece, the notch is engaged with the latch and retracts the fingers, reverse movement centralizing the new shoe. On the shoepositioning gauges firmly engaging the new shoe further movement of the support forwardly frees the notch from its latch. A modified construction of the pad support allows adjustment of the angle between the fore and rear parts of the pad. The fore part 30 of the pad support is pivoted at 32, Fig. 1, to the rear part and supported by a spring pressed bolt 44, Fig. 2, engaging one of a number of notches 50 formed in a fixed member. A pin 40 is carried by a shaft 34 provided with a hand wheel, which may be turned to withdraw the bolt to allow the part 30 to be adjusted to a new position. An adjustable masking plate 72, Fig. 1, is in two halves, pivoted together adjacent to the toe end of the shoe, moved forwardly or rearwardly by arms 80 on a shaft 76 provided with an operating handle 78 and spring means 90 for holding the plate in adjusted position. The two halves of the plate are slotted to engage rolls 68, so that longitudinal adjustment is accompanied by corresponding spreading or closing of the plates. In a modification, the fore part of the pad is adjustable about a virtual centre in the upper face of the pad. The fore part of the pad box consists of a member 373, Fig. 19, having slots 503 to slide on a rod 393 and a shaft 505 engaging fixed slots at about 75‹ to the horizontal. For adjustment, the shaft 505 is supported by a member 509 threaded to engage an upwardly extending shank of a spiral gear 511 engaging a screw 513 and a worm gear on a shaft 521 provided with a hand wheel. The screw threads are opposite so that a quick rise or fall is obtained. For deforming the lower wall of the pad, a hinged plate 487 may be raised by a polygonal cam 489, the shaft of which has a hand wheel. The free end of this plate is hinged to a second plate 495 so that no gap is formed by tilting the first plate. The heel gauging mechanism is supported by a bracket 379 urged upwardly by springs 391 actuating bell-crank levers 381 pivoted to the pad box and the bracket. A polygonal cam 407 rotated by a hand wheel determines the normal upper limit of the position of the bracket. Links above the bellcrank levers guide the bracket in its rise and fall. To provide longitudinal adjustment of the gauges their carrier is supported from a pivot 439 by a fork having an adjusting handle 437 the end of which may be locked in one of two holes 453. The upper end of the fork supports the carrier by an eccentric shaft which may be turned through 180‹ for a quick adjustment and locked by a spring plunger. The outer end of the carrier is urged downwardly by a spring and carries a roll 445 engaging the curved head of an adjustable stud 447, the arrangement being that the gauges are raised as the carrier is adjusted longitudinally to prevent them engaging the pad during this movement. The bracket 379 carries a crossplate 411 supporting a flap 419 extending from the sole engaging surface of the pad. When the bracket is raised for a flat soled shoe one or both of two slides 415, 417 may be slid between the plate and an angle plate 421 to fill up the gap between the plates 411, 421. The plate 421 forms an abutment for a rearward extension of the fluid filled pad, is guided by a rod 423 and has a lip supporting the root of the flap 419. A masking plate 375 is adjustable for size of shoe, rack teeth theron gearing with a pair of pinions on a shaft 543 normally locked in position but capable of being pulled endwise and then rotated by a hand wheel. The plate carries the fore part positioning gauges comprising sole gauges carrying adjustable shoe gauges for the toe end and sides of the fore part. The side gauges are carried by arms 559, Fig. 20, pivoted at 561 so that they rest on the pad, this pivot being carried by an arm 563, each arm being mounted on a vertical pivot 557 and having a slot 565 at its inner end. The arms 563 are connected by a tension spring 593 to urge the gauges toward the shoe. The end gauge is carried by a slide 575 urged toward the shoe by a spring 595 and provided with a slot 581. The three slots co-operate with a pin 583, Fig. 19, having a head engaging a washer above the three slots and contacting with an adjustable screw 589 in a lever 585 pivoted at 587 and carrying a roll engaging a cam 605 on a lever 597, the arm 585 being urged upwardly by a spring 611. The lever 597 also has a pair of arms connected by links 601, Fig. 20, with the arms 563, slots at the ends of the links allowing lost motion. The lever 597 is actuated by a roll 625 engaging a bar 627 extending in a direction longitudinally of the shoe so that the action is independent of the adjustment of the masking plate. The bar is supported on two pairs of toggle links guided at their upper ends, the bar being raised as the links are straightened by connections with the gauge-controlling bellcrank lever described in the prior Specification. As this lever is actuated on a pad arriving at the operator's station, the lever 597 is swung clockwise, freeing the pin 583 and withdrawing the fore-part gauges, a pin 613 on the link 601 engaging an arm 617 to withdraw the toe end gauge. When a new sole has been placed on the pad, reverse movement of the lever 597 frees the gauges to find the sole and the pin 583 clamps them in position to provide abutments for the positioning of the shoe. The flap 419 may be supplemented by a rubber block formed with openings to receive pins on the bracket 379, when operating on shoes which are to have high heels.