Patent GB-351397-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to lace tipping machines
IPC: A43D98/00
Filed: 1930-03-14
Abstract: 351,397. Moulding lace tips. SHOE LACE CO., Ltd., 610, Manton Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A. - (Assignees of Matson, C. A.; Danvers, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) March 14, 1930, No. 8233. Convention date, March 15, 1929. [Class 87 (ii).] A lace tipping machine having tip-forming dies mounted on a rotatable carrier moving between a lace receiving and a lace discharging position has means for forming a continuous length of lacing into a series of loops, means for feeding the loops successively to the dies, means rotating in a direction opposite to that of the die carrier and engaging movable elements of the dies for closing the dies, means for collecting the laces and means for bring- ing lace receiving arms successively into position to receive the tipped laces after a predetermined number of laces have been deposited on one of the arms. A continuous length of lacing 22 is formed into loops between a pair of loop-forming chains 32 on opposite sides of the machine by an oscillating arm 28 and the mid portion of each loop is gripped by feed chains 20. The loop-forming chains 32 are mounted on supports 104, sliding on guide rods 100, 102, and the length of the loops may be varied by moving the supports 104 longitudinally of the guide rods. A moulding compound is applied to the portion of the lace between the feed chains and the lace is passed through a heating unit 34 to dies 24, mounted on a continuously rotating die carrier 26. The loop-forming chains 32 are moved continuously while the feed chains are driven intermittently ; the rotation of the die carrier and the intermittent motion of the feed chains are so correlated that successive dies operate on successive strands of lacing held by the feed chains as the dies reach the receiving position. The dies 24 comprise a relatively fixed moulding element 110, Fig. 9, consisting of two parts, and a relatively movable moulding element 112. The dies are closed by rotating the die carrier in counterclockwise direction, a roll follower 118 of the die co-operating with a cam 114. To accelerate the closing of the die the cam is rotated through a small angle in a clockwise direction. The lace is severed by a knife 121 fixed to the movable die 112 and sliding between the two parts of the fixed element 110. To ensure the opening of the dies when the dies reach the discharging position, a pin 154 mounted on each movable element of the dies engages the inner face of a wedge 156 whilst a roll 162 on the fixed part of the die engages the outer face of the wedge providing a temporary abutment therefor ; as the die rotates past the wedge the-movable element is thereby moved inwardly. Pivoted clamps 168, Fig. 6, are mounted on rotating wheels 166 on opposite sides of the machine to support the laces in conjunction with the dies as the laces are removed from the loop-forming and feed cabins. The clamps 168 are open both in the lace receiving and in the lace discharging position by a pin 182 on each clamp engaging a cam 178. Fixed to the support 104 is a bracket 184 carrying a reel 186 having a number of lace receiving arms 188 arranged to be brought successively into the lace receiving position. A horn 190 having a downward extension 196, Fig. 7, overhanging the upper extremity of the arm in the lace receiving position is attached to the top of a U-shaped extension 192 fastened to the bracket 184 so that a loop of lacing passes over the horn as the clamp passes by. Means are provided for ensuring the removal of the laces from the dies. After a predetermined number of laces have been transferred to an arm 188 the reel 186 is rotated to bring the next arm into position by means of a shaft 200 and a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated from a cam 224. The reel 186 is held in correct alignment by a rod 246 engaging an appropriate socket 254 in the reel, the movement of the rod also being controlled by the cam 224. Should this locking mechanism fail to operate the reel is prevented from rotating past the desired point by a bracket 256, Fig. 8, engaging pins 258 depending from the reel 186. The cam 224 is driven from a worm 260 which is intermittently operated by a ratchet mechanism in turn operated by pins 308, Fig. 7, on the wheel 166 engaging a finger 282 connected to the ratchet mechanism. The finger 282 is brought into operating position by the lace 286, which is held taut between a clamp 168 and a die carrier, depressing a lever 288 connected with the finger 282 as the wheel 166 is further rotated. In case of imperfection in the lace a mechanism is provided which severs the lace and stops the machine. Specification 248,808, [Class 87 (ii), Moulding plastic &c. substances], is referred to.