Patent GB-618726-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus organised for use in the manufacture of shoes
IPC: A43D13/00
Filed: 1946-11-20
Abstract: 618,726. Making boots. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). Nov. 20, 1946, No. 34371. [Class 17 (i)] Two mechanisms for performing different operations on a shoe are operated by fluid pressure from a single source, the source effecting directly the operation of the first mechanism and charging, at the same time, a pressure accumulator which supplies the necessary pressure when the second mechanism is to be operated. The arrangement is described as applied to the association of a toe-lasting machine as described in Specifications 553,881 and 574,397, which has a spur on its sole rest to locate the shoe by engaging a hole or indentation in the insole, with a punching mechanism for forming the hole before the shoe is presented to the lasting machine and which is mounted on the frame of the machine, so that an operator can punch the hole in one shoe while the cementlasted upper of a previous shoe is setting in the machine. The instrumentalities of the lasting machine are operated by fluid pressure supplied by valves 14, Fig. 13, from a manifold 12 which is supplied by a pump which is continuously driven but does not develop pressure in the manifold when the machine is not in operation, the pump 28 circulating the fluid by a pipe 31. A pipe 278 with non-return valve 280 leads from the pipe 31 to the chamber 266, Fig. 7, of the pressure accumulator 125, which opens at one end to a tube 130 and is closed at the other by a piston 264 backed by a spring 268. Whenever pressure is generated in the manifold 12, it is also built up in the chamber 266, the spring 268 being compressed. The tube 130 has ports 140 which are alternatively closed, and put into communication with ports 134 leading to a pipe 122, by a sleeve valve 126 moved to the right, to close the ports, by a spring 154 and to the left, to admit pressure fluid to the pipe 122, by a lever 142 and the armature 166 of a solenoid 168. The pipe 122 leads to the piston cylinder 110 of the punching mechanism and the solenoid is energised when the operator thrusts a shoe against a toe gauge of the mechanism. Thus, although there is no operating pressure in the manifold 12 when the lasting machine is not operating, pressure fluid is always available in the accumulator for operating the punching mechanism. Punching mechanism.-This comprises a casting 64 secured on the side of the lasting machine frame and supporting a punch 192, insole-engaging rolls 66, 68, Figs. 6 and 12, a toe gauge 72 and two pairs of side gauges 86, 92. The latter are carried by pairs of levers 78, 80, the levers of each pair being geared together and being normally spread apart by spring plungers 100, 103. One lever of each pair has an arm 104 or 114 carrying an adjustable roll 106 or 112 in engagement with the ends of pistons 108 in the cylinder 110, so that when pressure fluid is admitted to the latter by the pipe 122, the pairs of side gauges are closed independently on the shoe by their respective pistons. The toe gauge 72 is pivoted at 170 so that it swings rearwardly, when a shoe is thrust against it, to an extent sufficient to cause an arm 182 on it to close a switch 188 in the solenoid circuit, so admitting pressure fluid to the cylinder. The punch 192 is raised by a spring 196 and has a head 194 abutting a hammer head 198 on a lever 200 which is pivoted at 202 and has a pivotal connection with a block 210 carrying a rod 212 on which a sleeve 214 is slidable rearwardly to compress a spring 220. It is moved rearwardly, and then released so that it acts as a hammer to operate the punch, by a trigger arrangement 236, 238 actuated by a piston 242 when pressure fluid is admitted to a cylinder 244 from the cylinder 110 by a passage 252 so restricted that the punch is not actuated until the side gauges have closed to position the shoe. When the punch is actuated, an arm 256 on the lever 200 raises the arm 182 to allow the switch 188 to open, so that the valve 126 moves to the right and pressure in the cylinder 110 is relieved. The punching mechanism may be used for operating on an insole on a last before the upper is mounted, or may be replaced by some other mechanism.