Patent GB-1413503-A (GB)
Title: Shoe upper conforming machines
IPC: A43D21/16
Filed: 1971-11-23
Abstract: 1413503 Boots &c BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO LTD 22 Nov 1972 [23 Nov 1971 18 Jan 1972] 54023/72 and 54024/72 Divided out of 1413501 and 1413502 Heading A3B A shoe upper conforming machine comprises (a) a shoe rest 16 for supporting an insole/last/ upper assembly; (b) grippers 38, 39, 41; (c) means for applying adhesive to marginal portions of the insole I around the toe and forepart regions; (d) wipers having blades 98; (e) a toe band arrangement for clamping the upper U against the last L after operation of the grippers but before operation of the wipers; (f) a heel rest, including V-shaped member 200 and (g) a toe pad (not shown) to press the shoe against the wiper blades after withdrawal of the wiper blades 98. The adhesive applying means may be as described in Specification 1413501 and 1413504 and the wipers may be as described in Specification 1413502. The Grippers (Figs. 1A, 4) comprise a set_of toe grippers 38, a set of forepart grippers 39 and a special set of grippers 41 which act at the heelward end of the forepart (the joint region) where pronounced curvature may be required. Each gripper 41 has jaws 46, 48 pivoted at 52 on jaw body 50 and relatively movable by ram A. Jaw body 50 is mounted on a carrier 55 by pivoted links 62 and carrier 55 is mounted on a supporting plate 60. Further links 64 interconnected the jaw body 50 and the piston rod 66 of a ram B while extension arms 68 of links 64 are pivotally attached to the piston rod 70 of a further ram D which is secured to the head of piston rod 66 by a bracket 71. The result of the extension of rams B and D is that the closed gripper jaws 46, 48 move not only inwardly but also upwardly toward the insole I. Ram C, mounted on bracket 74 of the supporting plate 60, is also extended to move the carrier 55 relative to the plate 60 guided by an arcuate groove 77 formed in an extension of the carrier. This adds a twisting action to the upward and inward movements of the jaws. A simpler gripper arrangement is also described (Figs. 6, 7, not shown) whereby only inward and twisting movements are provided for shoes of less pronounced curvature in the joint region.  The Toe Band 254 (Fig. 3) is horse-shoe shaped and is mounted on arms 257 of two brackets 256 attached to the wiper housing. To produce the necessary additional movement over that of the wiper housing, a cylinder 259 is received between two blocks 261, 263 secured to each bracket 256 so that the arms 257 may move as permitted by slots 265. A ram 260 is provided to urge the toe band against the extreme toe-end of the shoe. The end portions 264 of the toe-band may be conformed to the shape of the shoe by opposed clamping blocks 266, 268 operated by rams 270. The Heel Rest (Fig. 1B, 2) comprises a V-shaped member 200 which has pads 202 for contacting the upper and which is mounted by lugs 203 between arms 205 of a bracket 206 for pivotal movement about a widthwise axis. The member 200 is also adjustable heightwise in the arms 205. A diaphragm thruster 214 acts to urge the member 200 downwardly to react against the lasting forces at the toe part of the shoe. Bracket 206 is secured to a block 208 which is attached to a further bracket 222 which is slidable in a guideway 223 in a member 224. A pin 226 projects from bracket 222 and is engaged by the bifurcated end 230 of a lever 232 which is operated by a ram 240 to cause alternate sideways movement of the heel rest for alternative right and left fitting shoes.