Patent GB-1050482-A (GB)
IPC: A43D29/00
Abstract: 1,050,482. Trimming shoe-soles and like workpieces. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., and M. D. ARDERN. Aug. 23, 1963 [May 26, 1962], No. 20329/62. Heading B4B. A machine for trimming shoe soles S comprises a knife 130, Fig. 1, for operating around a peripheral portion of the sole, clamping means in the form of wooden patterns 20, 22 to clamp the sole, a toolcarrier 89 for the knife, movable towards and away from the peripheral portion of the workpiece, a driven chain system to move the carrier in a closed path around the peripheral portion, a guide, i.e. a cam 56, Fig. 3, to guide the carrier in the closed path, and an eccentric 58 to impart to the guide reciprocating movement in a direction extending lengthwise of the shoe sole. As described, the lower pattern 20 is supported by pins 12, Fig. 2, and the upper pattern 22 is adjusted by operation of a hand wheel 30 secured to a rod 28, threaded through nuts 26, 32, which raises or lowers the bifurcated end portion 25 of a sleeve 24 carrying plates 38 having spring-urged pins to permit accurate location of the upper pattern 22. The plates 38 are adjustable to enable them to engage an end portion of substantially any size of upper wooden pattern placed in the machine, and a further plate (not shown), between the plates 38 includes a spring-pressed plunger to engage the upper pattern. Operation of a treadle 52, Fig. 1, operates a double-acting piston-cylinder device 50, connected to a lever 34 to raise the lever, which is pivoted at 36 and force the sleeve 24 downwards, and so engage the sole S and clamp it firmly against the lower pattern. A support member 8, Fig. 2, for the lower pattern, has forwardly and rearwardly extending flanges 54, the edge portions of which slidably support the cam 56 formed in two pieces 55, 57 and movable widthwise of the machine, i.e. lengthwise of the sole, to an extent determined by the adjustable eccentric 58. This comprises a gear wheel 62, Fig. 3, on a shaft depending from the cam 56, with a bracket 64 attached to its underside and having two plates 68 in which are journalled parts of a threaded rod 70. When a driving gear 80, coupled to the gear 62 by a chain, is rotated, the cam reciprocates widthwise of the machine by an amount determined by the position of the block 76 on the rod 70, which is adjustable by a nut-shaped end 71 on the rod 70. The knife-carrier 89, Fig. 2, includes a block 90 slidably supported by the cam 56. It has attached to it a plate 92 extending beneath the cam, and supporting rolls 94 travelling in a cam track 96 formed in the underside of the cam 56 and a further plate 98 carrying rolls 99 which contact an inner portion 100 of the cam. The plate 92 is attached to a chain 102 extending round gears 104, 106 carried by a shaft 82 and another shaft (not shown), so that the knife can be guided in a closed path around the workpiece. A T-shaped plate 108 secured to the second plate 98 and to the block 90 carries four rollers 110 running in grooves 111 in side portions of a knife carrying arm 120. Upstanding posts 122 secured to side portions of the block 90 support a coiled-spring 126, an end of which is secured to the knife arm 120 by screws 128, so that the knife carrier urges the knife 130 into contact with the lower pattern with a substantially constant force. The knife 130 is mounted on a U-shaped bracket 129 between clamps 131, 132, the member 131 abutting against the lower pattern. When the knife is in contact therewith, so as to trim the sole to the shape of the lower pattern. To retract the knife arm a rod 136 is moved away from the patterns by a knob 138 which is then raised to cause the rod 136 to pivot on the studs 135 and engage an abutment face 140, to hold the knife arm in a retracted position. The shaft 82, Fig. 1, is driven via a shaft 142, universal joints 141, 143 and bevel gears 146, 147 and a chain, sprocket and shaft system 152, 154, 156, 150, by an electric motor (not shown). The shaft is also rotatable by a hand lever 158 and clutch 161. In operation, an untrimmed sole is positioned between the patterns 20, 22, the motor is switched on, and, with the knife positioned just beyond a microswitch MS, the treadle 52 is depressed to clamp the sole S, thumb switches R are operated to actuate, via a solenoid valve (not shown), a clutch-operating cylinder 162 whose piston 164 is raised to operate a brake and clutch 169 operating on the main drive shaft 150, so as to initiate a trimming operation, during which the cam 56 reciprocates lengthwise of the sole and the knife travels around the entire periphery of the sole with the base of the knife contacting the lower pattern 20. When the knife arm returns to its starting position a roll 166, Fig. 2, actuates the microswitch to reverse the action of the valve controlling the clutch cylinder 162. When the piston 164 is lowered, the arm 165 rocks downwards and actuates a time-switch T to energize a solenoid 170 so that compressed air is applied to a recoil cylinder 172. A piston 176, received in this cylinder, is urged downwardly and causes the main driving shaft to be driven in the reverse direction, so that the knife is returned to a position just beyond the microswitch at the end of an operating-cycle, before the main shaft 150 comes to rest. The knife is then retracted from the patterns while the trimmed sole is removed, and a new untrimmed one inserted. The knife may be formed with a suitably curved cutting edge, when it is desired to produce a decoration, e.g. a groove or grooves on the sole.