Patent GB-661399-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for conforming shoe uppers to the shapes of lasts
IPC: A43D113/00
Filed: 1949-01-18
Abstract: 661,399. Lasting machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). Jan. 17, 1950 [Jan. 18, 1949], No. 1354/49. Classes 17 (i) and 89 (iii). In a lasting machine for stitchdown shoes, side and toe grippers, around a work support on which the upper is supported on a last, grip the margin of the upper and apply tension thereto by relative heightwise movement between work support and grippers, longitudinal tension being applied by toe gripper at the same time by a component of this heightwise movement. The out-turned margin of the tensioned upper is clamped against a mid-sole and staples are driven to secure the margins together. In a preferred form, the machine is driven from a cam shaft 38, Fig. 1, through a single revolution clutch 28, 32 (not shown) and, during the first part of a revolution of the cam shaft, the toe and side grippers 22, 18, respectively, are closed, more orl less simultaneously, on the upper and then the work support 10 is raised to tension the upper over the last and, after toe gripper 22 has opened, the machine is brought to rest by automatic operation of the clutch to afford an opportunity of inspecting the work. During the second portion of the machine cycle, which is initiated by retreadling the machine by the operating pedal 58, the side grippers 18 and staple inserting devices 20 move in together from opposite sides of the shoe to clamp the out-turned margin of the upper and mid-sole together, whereupon the side grippers are opened and the stapling mechanisms are operated to drive staples through the clamped shoe portions. A cam disc 62, not-shown, on shaft 38 actuates, the toe grippers 22, through cam groove 74 (not shown) link 90 and rods 110 ; side grippers 18, through cam groove 92 (not shown) and rods 110; and the work support 10, through cam groove 64 (not shown) and link 72. A gear 36 operates mechanism to swing the side gripper and fastener inserting units 16 into and out of engagement with the work on the support 10 through a cam groove 112 (not shown) and arm 130 and actuates stapling mechanisms through cam groove 132 (not shown), and rods 146 and 150. If it is desired to render the stapling mechanism inoperative, the front end 140 of a link 138 is raised by a handle 160 to cause a pin 144 to leave a recess in slot 142 in link 138 to enter main slot so that arm 146 is not operated. The stapling head is yieldingly mounted to be movable to a predetermined position against a relatively fixed stop, and the anvil is positively moved in the opposite direction to the predetermined position, to clamp the upper and sole between the anvil and stapling head. Varying thicknesses of material may thus be operated upon. A toe gauge 194, Figs. 1, 2, is provided and is adjustable by mechanism which adjusts the toe gripper also without affecting the toe gripper mechanism. The gauge 194 is slidable in guides in the upper part of a cradle 162 pivoted on its front end to upper end of bracket 164 pivoted to bracket 12. On rearward movement of side plates 242 of the gripper 22 in relation to the main body 224 of the gripper, roller 254 thrusts against a tail portion 256 and moves upper jaw toward lower jaw to grip upper. On forward movement of side plates gripper is opened. Side plates 242 have arcuate slots 266 in their enlarged rear ends coaxial with centre of pin 232 and rolls 264 on upper end of arm 260 is engaged in these slots. Arm 260 is rotatably mounted at lower end in lower end of a bracket 234 pivoted midway of its ends on frame 14 of machine. Rear end of rod 270 is slidably connected under action of spring 272 to the rear end of toe gauge 194 and to pin 232 at upper end of bracket 234 and thus this yielding connection between gauge 194 and gripper 22 enables simultaneous adjustment to be made, without affecting the toe gripper mechanism, by moving rack bar 274 secured to cradle 162 by turning hand knob 282. Bar 274 may be locked in adjusted position. The work support 10 comprises a cradle-like member 162 pivoted at its forward end to upper end of bracket 164 pivoted at its lower end to the fixed bracket 12. The rear end is pivoted to the upper end of the link 72 upward movement of which swings the support about its connection with bracket 164. The rear end of the work is supported by a U- shaped rest 166 pivoted to a slide 172 adjustable along guideways in cradle 162. The rest 166 is adjustable heightwise for lasts of different springs and also longitudinally of cradle 162 to accommodate lasts of different length. A block 192 on cradle 162 supports the forepart of the work. Depending on the initial adjustment of the link 72 longitudinal component of movement is given to the work support, the final position of the support remaining unaltered. The direction of upward movement of the toe end of the support is adjusted to suit working conditions by guideways 202, Fig. 2, in a yoke-shaped member 200 and blocks 204 which are adjustable angularly and lengthwise in the guideways on studs 198. Each side unit 16 comprises a gripper 18 and a stapling mechanism 20. The units are individually adjustable to position them substantially perpendicular to the line of tangency of curved part of sole edge by rods 352 and also in accordance with swing of last and to operate on both right and left shoes. On operation of the arm 130, stroke of which is constant, arms 310, 314 (not shown) are operated through torsion springs 316, 328 (not shown) to rotate brackets 296 and move side units carried thereby into yielding engagement with the work. The upper and lower jaws 410, 412 of the side gripper are carried on brackets 414 secured to inside of casing 290 of side unit 16. An abutment 426 on jaw 410 determines the heightwise position of the side grippers and the lower jaw 412 is pivotally connected by link 430, segment 432, link 436 and arm 438 to the rod 110 which is power operated to close and open the side grippers. A stapling mechanism associated with each side gripper comprises a downwardly movable stapling head 442, normally urged downwards and inwards by a spring 448, and containing a wire feeding mechanism 454, and an upwardly movable anvil 444. The head 442 constitutes a casing for the stapling mechanism proper. Wire for staples is fed step by step from a reel 456 by a cam arm 490 on shaft 480, between inside and outside formers 462, 460 respectively, the former 460 severing the leading portion through action of bell crank lever 512 and bending it, with assistance of spring 472, over the former 462 to the shape of a staple, which is driven by bar 468 and driver 466 through a throat piece 464 downwards through the margin of upper- and mid-sole to be clenched on the anvil 444. In its descent the bar 468 engages a shoulder on the former 462 and cams it out of the path of the driver. The anvil 444 carried by arm 484 is raised by operation of the rod 150 through lever 474, link 476, lever 478 and link 482 and is locked in elevated clamping position by toggle 478, 482. A locking block 542 holds a rod 526 and arm 528 immovable when the shaft 480 commences to rotate in anti-clockwise direction and is released by the downward movement of a link 518 to engage collar 552 and release a pawl 544 to release arm 528 to the force of a loaded spring 536 to actuate the driver 466. The spring 536 is loaded by arm 516 on shaft 480 which turns arm 520 pivoted on casing 290 to slide collar 524 at outer end of rod 526 pivotally suspended from arm 528 also pivoted to casing 290. Specification 561,230 is referred to.