Patent GB-206438-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to methods of and mechanism for shaping the toe ends of boot and shoe uppers off the last
IPC: A43D8/00
Filed: 1922-05-01
Abstract: 206.438. British United Shoe Machin ery Co., Ltd., (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). May 1, 1922. Uppers, machines for.-The toe portion of an upper is moulded off the last by a form which is a replica of the fore part of a last, the top of the fore part of the upper being held by a member complementary to that part of the form, and the margin of the upper yieldingly clamped against wipers which first co-operate with a band to wipe the upper to the sides and end of the form and then mould an angular flange at the margin. The surplus material at the margin of the toe end is then slit to facilitate subsequent removal and the upper left to set, the machine being provided with twin mechanisms so that another upper can be moulded meanwhile. The form is electrically heated to soften thermo-plastic stiffeners of the kind described in Specification 18174/13, [Class 17 (ii) Boots and shoes, Construction of.]. The machine has a driving shaft 6, Fig. 1, helically geared to one member 18 of a clutch the other member 20 of which drives cams on a shaft 40 by a worm 34. A hand lever 30 is provided for stopping the machine at any desired point. In the normal operation of the machine each of the twin mechanisms is controlled by a pedal 66, depression of which trips a catch 56 co-operating with shoulders 54 on a ring which automatically clutches a cam assembly to the main wormwheel. Two shoulders 54 are provided so that a moulded upper may be left to set in the machine, a second treadling being necessary to bring the parts to starting position. A trip block 62 releases the catch 56 in case the operator omits to let the pedal rise after treadling. The toe portion of the inverted upper is positioned by the operator with its margin over wipers and the top of the fore part in engagement with a pad 284. On treadling, clamps 128, Fig. 13, press the margin yieldingly against the wipers, a form 238 descends-clamping the upper against the spring supported member 284 and causing the wipers and a leather end band, which are at this time resiliently pressed against the toe, to wipe the upper to the sides and end of the form, the margin being partly withdrawn from the clamps and the upper laid about the form with an upper stretching pull. On the shouldered portion 240 of the form descending below the wipers these are advanced to mould a marginal angular upstanding flange, the clamps being raised early in this advance. The form is then slightly raised to press the upper against the edge of the wipers and a trimming knife 288, Fig. 19, rotated through an adjustable part of a revolution to slit the surplus of the margin at the toe end. The knife is returned and the end band retracted, when the machine comes to rest for the upper to set. Another upper may then be treated in the other half of the machine. While this second upper is setting the treadle 66 is again operated, when the parts of the first half of the machine return to starting position. The moulded upper may be freed by a plunger sliding through the form. The various mechanisms are operated in timed relation by twin cam assemblies on the shaft 40. The cutter is actuated by a rack and pinions 298, 292, Fig. 7, and is positioned at a definite height above the wipers by a yoke 324 and a stop 338 on the wiper carrier to compensate for differing thickness of upper materials. The form carrier is pivoted at 70, Fig. 1, and operated by a link 74, a spring 88 providing for the yielding uplift against the wipers. The wipers are operated by a rod 104 and toggle 106, 108 actuated by a link 120 and provided with yield. ing means 114. The clamps 128 are operated by a link 178 and a lever 164 operating a pair of arms with slotted ends 160, Fig. 13, each slot encircling and co-operating with upper and lower projections on a casing yieldingly connected to the inner and outer ends of each clamp. In their movement the clamps are guided by links 138 so that they move inwards as they descend. An adjustable abutment 256, Fig. 7, supports the form against the thrust of the wipers.