Patent GB-1314413-A (GB)
Title: Assembling articles
IPC: A43D25/00
Filed: 1970-05-26
Abstract: 1314413 Boots &c BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO Ltd 26 May 1970 [26 May 1969] 25146/70 Heading A3B [Also in Division B8] A conveyer serves a plurality of work stations (10), (12), (20), (22), (Fig. 1, not shown) and has intermittent drive means (Figs. 4 and 5) by which an article supporting member 16 of the conveyer is advanced by a distance equal to the distance between adjacent work stations. Each of the latter has means (Fig. 3) for locating a component supporting member (40). The latter has positioning means 46 for a stack of components. Transfer means for the components comprises a pick-up arrangement 200 movable between a pick-up position overlying a stack of the components in a member 40 and a component depositing position overlying the conveyer. The transfer means is also movable upwardly and downwardly. The arrangement is such that components transferred as above, at the successive work stations (10) (12), (22), can be positioned on the conveyer in a desired register one with another. The conveyer is an endless belt 16 disposed around end rollers 50 and is located in recesses 62, in supporting side members 60, 60. The belt is perforated at 68 so as to enable suction from a chamber 66 to provide a retaining action for the components. The belt is moved intermittently by the action of air pressure acting on piston 80 (Fig. 4). The latter is connected by a cable 84 to a member 96 against which the belt may be clamped by the action of a fluid pressed piston 130. On the return movement of the member 96, the belt is held stationary by the action of a second fluid operated clamp 176. A pair of trays 40 are disposed on each side of the conveyer at each station (10) and (12). The transfer means consists of an H-shaped carrier member 206 having two pairs of pickup members 202, the arrangement being such that one pair is above the belt when the other pair is above a pair of trays 40 on one side of the belt and vice versa. The carrier member 206 is slidable on a rod 220 by the action of a fluid piston and cylinder 240, 242. Each pick-up member is vertically movable by the action of a respective fluid cylinder 330. The pick-up members 202 each comprise a horizontal slotted plate on which three pick-up heads 300 are mounted. The heads may be horizontally adjustable in the slots and biassed downwards resiliently by respective springs 312. The heads shown in Figs. 2, and 4 are for picking up components of impervious material and comprise rubber suction cups. Suction is applied through hoses 320. For transferring components of pervious material such as fabric, heads having projectable impaling members 420 (Fig. 9) are used. Air pressure applied through the hoses 320 acts on a diaphragm 418. This deflects and engages coiled portions of the impaling members 420. In a modification (Fig. 10), the members 420 are replaced by saw tooth pick-up members 568, each carried by a member 520 pivotally mounted at 530. The members 520 are operated by the action of a diaphragm 518 similar to the diaphragm 418. Operation in assembling shoe uppers; trays 40 are filled with vamp and quarter linings at station (10). Pick-up members 202 transfer (as described above) these components from the trays 40 to the conveyer belt 16. At station (12) in a similar manner vamps and quarters are positioned on the belt 16 in overlying relation to the linings. The belt 16 then introduces the vamp, and quarter linings to a high frequency activating station (20), where the components are bonded.