Patent GB-489649-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for supporting shoes in shoe upper conforming machines
IPC: A43D23/02
Filed: 1937-01-30
Abstract: 489,649. Lasting-machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., and ROBERTS, W. T. B. Jan. 30, 1937, Nos. 2762 and 30193. [Class 17 (i)] The machine described in Specification 470,749, modified as described in Specification 482,275, is further improved in detail. The toe-rest supporting post occupies a constant vertical position in front of the meeting point of the toe wipers. A toe-end gauge projects slightly beyond the meeting point of the wipers. A heel-end abutment is automatically moved lengthwise of the shoe to support the heel when the shoe has been positioned. To facilitate the positioning of men's shoes with heavy uppers, which may present stiff pulling-over " ears," the wipers are backed off about a quarter of an inch ; the heelward ends of the wipers are, however, closed inwards somewhat, and provided with gauges for facilitating lateral positioning. A support engages the crown of the last, adjacent the usual last pin hole ; which support yields, downwardly, during shoe positioning and is, thereafter, locked. The toe-rest supporting post 19 is held in operative position by a member 7 curved about the post and engaging a fixed groove. The member may be lowered, to release the post, by a handle 17. The heel end abutment 29 is vertically adjustable by a hand wheel 37 on a screw threaded in an arm 35 pivoted on links 39 pivotally carried by the rack bar 45 described in the prior Specifications as actuated first by treadle and then by power to raise the toe-rest. The links 39 are each supported by a link 47 pivoted to an arm 49 moving with a pinion 55 gearing with a fixed rack 57. Chains 61 passing over idler pulleys 63 connect the heel abutment with a drum 69 turning with a snail cam urged clockwise by a spring. Pawls 93 co-operate with ratchet wheels on the shaft of the drum, the pawls being carried by levers having cam rolls 95, 97 co-operating with cam surfaces on a member 101 secured to the rack bar 45. The arrangement is that, normally, the abutment rests in a forward lower position. When the shoe has been positioned, the rack 45 is raised by the treadle. As the pinion 55 rolls over its rack, the links 39 are swung upwardly since their forward ends are raised faster than their rearward ends. Simultaneously, the cam 101 actuates the pawls 93, releasing the drum 69 to the pull of its spring, and releasing the pawl which locks the heel abutment against retraction. The pulleys 63 are carried by a forked cam-actuated lever pivoted at 121, which lever is actuated during the action of the wipers to prevent the shoe yielding heelwardly. The heel abutment is carried by levers 109 urged towards the shoe by spring plungers and pivoted at both ends, so that. the abutment may be self-adjusting to the curve of the heel. When forced backwardly, teeth on the abutment and its backing engage to lock the members in position. Immediately above the meeting point of the wipers, a slide, urged downwardly by a spring 163, carries a toe gauge 157. The heel-ward ends of the wipers carry fore-part gauges 167. The wiper actuating mechanism is modified so that the normal position of the wipers, prior to shoe positioning, is sufficiently rearward of the shoe to clear the pulling-over " ears," but with the heel-ward ends of the wipers so close together as to ensure the centralizing of the shoe between the wipers. A support 191 for the heel end of the last is carried, with some friction and a centralizing spring plunger, by a universal mounting vertically slidable and urged upwardly by springs. The support is depressed by contact with the shoe when this is being positioned, and is locked, to prevent the heel end of the shoe being tipped downwardly by the wipers, by pawls 195 engaging ratchet teeth on the slide carrying the universal mounting. The pawls are normally held out of action by a lever 197 engaging their inturned ends, but are released to the action of springs urging them to operative position by movement of a slide 203 actuated by a push-rod 207 coupled to an extension of the lever 500 described in the prior Specifications as locking the toe-rest in its upward position. According to the first Provisional Specification, the heel abutment may be a flat plate.