Patent GB-1103234-A (GB)
Title: Coating of a shoe part with a stiffener
IPC: A43D11/01
Filed: 1966-07-26
Abstract: 1,103,234. Coating apparatus. J. S. KAMBORIAN. 26, July, 1966 [25, Aug., 1965], No. 33545/66. Heading B2L. Apparatus for coating a portion of a shoe part with a stiffener having a predetermined contour, comprises a support 44, made of a flexible deformable material for supporting the shoe part, a mask 48 overlying the support and adapted to hold the shoe part against the support, an applicator 114, means for applying the applicator against the mask, means for moving the applicator across the mask and means for depositing coating material in a fluid condition on the shoe part just in front of the applicator during movement thereof, the applicator scraping the coating material on to the shoe part to a thickness determined by the distance between the bottom of the applicator and the top of the shoe part. The applicator 114 is mounted on a movable carriage 80 and is fed with liquid coating material from a heated reservoir, flow of the coating material being controlled by a rotary type valve 130. The flexible support 44 is itself supported by a plate 42 slidably mounted on an adjustable base member 36 slidable in an adjustable table 16. The table 16 has a vacuum chamber 26 so that the flexible support 44 is drawn into contact with the plate 42 whereby the depth of the cavity on the top of member 44 can be adjusted. In operation a shoe vamp is placed on the support 44 and pressurised air admitted to motor 86 to move the carriage 80 forwardly and to motor 98 to raise the applicator 114. During this movement a scraper blade 214 removes any coating material left on the applicator from its previous cycle. Shortly after operation of motors 86 and 98 the motor 68 is operated to lower the mask holder 48 and clamp the shoe vamp between the mask and the support 44. At the end of the forward movement of carriage 88 cam means operate motor 98 to lower the applicator 114 against the upper surface of the mask under a yieldable resilient force afforded by motor 98. Due to the resilient nature of the support 44 the applicator forces the mask downwardly so that the support 44 is compressed and bulges upwardly around the inside bevelled periphery of the mask (Fig. 14 not shown) with the top of the vamp substantially level with the top of the mask. During lowering of the applicator, cam means rotate valve 130 to open up a passageway to the applicator slot. At the same time motor 86 is actuated to move carriage 80 and applicator 114 rearwardly and plunger means are operated to feed coating material from the reservoir to the applicator head and thus on to the portion of the shoe vamp under the mask. As the applicator moves across the face of the mask the portions of the shoe vamp adjacent the levelled edges of the mask are progressively caused to bulge upwards (Fig. 15, not shown) and the portion of the support 44 above the plate 42 is forced downwardly against the plate to form a cavity in its upper surface by suction applied to cavity 26 such that a layer of stiffening coating material with feathered edges and of shape conforming with the mask is deposited on the shoe vamp, the thickness of the deposit depending on the distance between the upper surface of the vamp and the applicator. Surplus coating material gathered by the applicator in its rearward movement is deposited in a trough and returned to the reservoir. The return movement of carriage 80 operates various valves to return the scraper blade 214 and mask 48. to their idle position and rotate valve 130 to shut off the supply of coating material. The thickness of the coating may be adjusted by manipulation of screw 40 to adjust the vertical position of plate 42 and the cross section may be adjusted by manipulating screw 20 to adjust the position of support 44.