Patent GB-971465-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines adapted for use in performing operations on shoes
IPC: A43D23/04
Filed: 1961-01-25
Abstract: 971,465. Boots &c. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO. Ltd. Jan. 25, 1961 [Jan. 26, 1960], No. 2875/61. Heading A3B. [Also in Division B4] A machine adapted for use in performing an operation on a shoe on a last comprises a work support having a thimble post, movable into and out of an operating locality, operating instrumentalities in said operating locality, means to move the work support in the direction of the axis of the thimble post to bring the shoe bottom into engagement with an abutment adjacent the operating instrumentalities and means to move the work support transverse to said axis such that the position of the work support transversely of the axis is determined by the position, in the direction of said axis, at which it is arrested by engagement of the shoe bottom with the abutment. As described the above features are incorporated in a machine for inserting fibre fasteners progressively round the heel seat of a shoe on a last. The work support or last carrier 22 (Fig. 2) is moved upwardly by the pack mechanism 24 when the mechanism is actuated by the downward movement of a treadle 36. The jack has a locking mechanism which comprises a slide housing 44 attached to the lower end of an arm 26 and a slide 46 carried in the housing and adapted for vertical movement therein. The slide is locked against movement in either direction by a pawl and rachet mechanism as described in U.S.A. Specification 1,587,848. On downward movement of the treadle pawls 52, 54 (Fig 3) attached to the slide housing 44 are unlocked to permit the slide 46 to move upwardly so that the shoe on a last is forced against an abutment 20 (Fig. 2) on the head 12 of the machine. Further downward movement of the treadle relocks the slide and actuates the mechanism 40 to urge the rod 28, which carries the work support, upwardly during the downward strokes of the fastener driving mechanism 14. Similarly upward movement of the treadle causes the jack to be unlocked to allow the jack to be lowered, and then to relock the jack when it has reached its lowest position. The last carrier 22 (Figs. 7, 12) is slidable on a bracket 79 rearwardly into the operating locality and forwardly into the loading and unloading position. The carrier comprises a block 84 having a shaft 88 passing through a support block 82 about which it rotates. The block 84 comprises a cam plate 90 which is slidable transversely on an inner portion 86 against the force of a spring 92, and a thimble post 100 to be received in a thimble hole of a last, the post being provided with an aperture 108 connected to an external pneumatic connection (not shown). A positioning cam 116 (Fig. 2) provided on the support block 82 bears against an abutment 118 when the carrier 22 moves into the operating locality. The mating faces of the aforesaid are at an angle such that the most rearward position of the shoe is determined by the height of the last. The periphery of the cam plate 90 is cut at the same angle to provide a cam face 142 which extends along both sides 132, 134 and around the semicircular portion 136. The fastener inserting operation involves step-by-step feeding of the work so that a turning movement is imparted to the last carrier, but the side 132 of the plate 90 is held firmly against rollers 144 mounted on a bracket 119 so that sliding movement of the plate 90 results until a stop 138 on the plate contacts an abutment 140 on the inner portion 86 at the instant when the thimble axis coincides with the shaft 88. The turning moment then rotates the plate 90 about the thimble axis so that the fasteners are inserted around the semi-circular portion of the heel seat. The operation is carried out on the opposite straight edge of the heel seat by a sliding movement as before. The movements of the last carrier into and out of the operating locality, the jacking and treadle mechanisms are produced by piston and cylinders C1, C2 and C3 respectively, the operations of which are controlled by pneumatic and electrical circuits. The cycle of operations is initiated by an operator placing a last on the thimble post thereby obstructing the flow of air from an aperture 112 (Fig 7). The resulting pressure build up closes a pressure switch (not shown) thereby drawing the last into the operating locality and driving the treadle downward which accomplishes the following operations in sequence:- admission of air to the jacking cylinder C2, unlocking the jack to allow the bracket 79 and last carrier to move upwardly to force the shoe against the abutment 20, relocking of the jack so that back-up pressure may be imparted to the bracket 79 from the mechanism 40 through the locked jack, reversal of the air pressure in the jacking cylinder C2 and starting of the fastener mechanism. On completion of the fastening an abutment 126 (Fig. 12) on the cam plate 90 engages the arm 130 of a switch which causes the treadle to be raised thereby returning the various parts to their initial positions. A blast of air through the aperture 108 in the thimble post removes the last from the carrier. Specification 863,464, U.S.A. Specifications 1,011,941, 1,030,775, 1,587,848, 1,686,808 and 1,849,253 are referred to.