Patent GB-610861-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to shoe-upper conforming machines
IPC: A43D21/12
Filed: 1946-04-17
Abstract: 610,861. Lasting uppers; stapling. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). April 17, 1946, No. 11768. [Classes 17(i) and 89 (iii) ] A machine for lasting the toe portions of uppers has automatic means for applying a binder wire around the toe portion and for securing it at its ends by staples, and includes, means for adjusting the timing of the closing of the wipers prior to upwipe to compensate for different shoe styles, and a receiver for catching the shoe when it is released at the end of the operation. The machine described is generally similar to that described in Specification 520,194, wherein wipers are organised to upwipe and overwipe and the machine cycle is automatically interrupted twice, firstly, during the progress of the overwipe so that the operator may manually position a binder wire and secondly, at the completion of the overwipe so that he may secure the wire. In the present machine, the first stop is omitted. The wipers are associated with wire grippers which rise with the wipers and then move heelwardly and inwardly to carry a binder length, previously fed to them and cut off automatically, against the upper in the angle between the feather and rib of the insole. The wipers, in their final overwiping movements, press the wire into the angle and the secondmentioned automatic stop then occurs, whereupon stapling heads are operated by hydraulic means, independant of the mechanical drive which effects the machine cycle, to drive a staple to grip each end of the wire. Return of the stapling heads to starting position then restarts the mechanical drive to complete the machine cycle. The machine clutch is engaged electro-magnetically to start the machine and to restart it for the final portion of the cycle. Means are provided for rendering the stapling heads inoperative, and for operating them independantly of the machine cycle, if desired. The wipers 8 are mounted and operated similarly to those described in Specification 520,194, except that an adjustable cam 784, Fig. 1, operates a toggle 776 connected to the wiper-closing springs 47 to supplement the action of the main wiper-operating cam, so as to advance or retard the closing of the wipers in relation to their upward movement, in order to avoid excessive pressure on the upper during the upwipe. The wiper carrier 14, Fig. 5, carries guideways 66 in which slides 70 are movable lengthwise of the shoe, grippers 72 being slidable widthwise of the shoe in the slides 70. Binder wire a is fed automatically through a guide 120 to the right hand gripper 72, and along a guideway 92 carried below the wipers to the left hand gripper, which includes a wire stop. The guideway 92 has a slot in its front edge normally closed by a pivoted closure 104, Fig. 23. The grippers and guideway rise with the wipers during the upwipe, and an inner, sliding jaw of each gripper is closed on the wire and a cutter severs it near the right hand gripper. The closure 104 is swung downwardly, the wire then being retained in the guideway 92 by a spring clip 232 at the toe end. In timed relation with the advance of the wipers for the overwipe, the slides 70 are moved heelwardly by levers 264, these movements pulling the wire out of the guideway 92 into contact with the upper and with the under face of the wipers. The grippers are free to swing heightwise resiliently as they engage the upper. When the wipers are partially retracted and their pressure on the upper relieved, as described in Specification 520,194, the grippers move further heelwardly and inwardly to draw the wire tightly into the angle between the insole feather and rib, whereupon the wipers again advance to complete the overwipe and press and clamp the wire in the angle, and the mechanical cycle stops. Each stapling mechanism, arranged between the heelward end of the wiper and the respective gripper, comprises a bar 302 mounted to swing on a horizontal pivot 308, Fig. 13, and also to slide widthwise of the shoe. The bar carries a block defining a staple throat 328 at its inner end and has guideways for an outside former, a transversely movable inside former, and a driver 360. A spring- pressed block completes the driver passage when the inside former is retracted. Staple wire from reels 498, is fed behind the inside former through a nipple 356, the feed being effected by swinging movement of the bar 302 to stapling position while the wire is gripped by a cutter 358 on the outside former. The outside former is given its operative stroke by a toggle 362, 364 connected to a piston 382 in a cylinder 384. Descent of the piston advances the outside former until the cutter grips the wire. It then swings the bar 302 downwardly about the pivot 308, until an anvil 392 carried by the. bar engages the insole. The outside former is then further advanced to cut the wire and shape it over the inside former and the throat 328 is pressed against the upper. Finally. the toggle link 364 retracts the bar 302 to pull the anvil 392 outwardly against the insole lip. A finger 416 slidable on the bar is advanced and rocked by the straightening of the toggle so as to engage the binder wire and ensure that it is aligned with the throat 328. The driver 360 is operated by toggle links 430, 432 connected to a piston 442 in a cylinder 444. Retraction of the bar 302 as described acts automatically to regulate the driver stroke so that the end of the driver is located in a definite relation to the throat, whatever the thickness of the work. In operation, pressure fluid is admitted first to the cylinder 384, and passes from this cylinder by a port 450 to the cylinder 444, only when the piston 382 has descended a certain distance and downward swing of the bar 302 has pulled the piston 442 down a certain distance. When the port is open, movement of the driver is delayed until a catch member 456 is tripped by the straightening toggle link 362. The anvils 392 are designed to clinch the staples towards the heel of the shoe, Fig. 31. As the staple is driven, the binder wire gripper 72 is opened by a finger 478 on the link 362. The grippers then are moved yieldingly heelwardly and outwardly to free the wire, and exhaust of fluid from the cylinders permits the bar 302 to swing upwardly, during which movement staple wire previously fed enters the staple passage, as soon as the outside former and knife have been retracted. Fluid is supplied to the cylinders 384, 444 by a pipe 534, Fig. 2, which, together with a pipe 536 for exhausting the cylinder 444, is connected to a valve 526, Fig. 1, connected by a pipe 522 to a pump 516 drawing oil from a reservoir 518. With the machine at rest, the oil circulates to lubricate the machine and the pipes 534, 536 exhaust to the reservoir. Just before the machine cycle is interrupted for staple driving, the valve 526 is actuated by the binder-gripper operating-cam so as to admit oil to the cylinders and is locked in this position by a latch 580 engaging an arm 558 on the valve. At the end of the staple driving operation, the latch is released by a piston in a cylinder 590 connected to the pipe 536, and the valve is returned to starting position by a spring, so that the cylinders 384, 444 exhaust. The stapling mechanism may be rendered inoperative at will by means of a handle, operation of which prevents operation of the valve 526 by its cam, and may be operated without starting the machine cycle by means of a lever 618 connected to the valve. The machine cycle corresponds to one complete rotation of the cam shaft 34, which is driven by a motor 632 through a clutch 634 and gearing 38, 622. The clutch is engaged to start the cycle by means of an electromagnet 658 energized when a push-button switch 666 is pressed. The clutch is disengaged automatically before the stapling operation, and is re-engaged, to complete the cycle, when the electro-magnet is again energized by switches operated by the upward swing of the stapling mechanisms, closure of both the stapler-operated switches being necessary. The circuit of these switches includes a switch which is closed by a cam just as the machine stops for the stapling operation, and is re-opened as soon as the machine has restarted, and another switch which is opened automatically if the stapling mechanisms are rendered inoperative by manipulation of the valve-controlling handle. At the end of the machine cycle, the shoe is released by the toe rest 4 and heel rest 6, and falls into a receiver comprising a plate 690 pivoted at the front of the machine and held up by a spring and rods 694 on which tubular members 696 normally are telescoped by springs. The members carry wings 708 and a heel cradle 710. When a shoe falls into the receiver, the latter is swung down and extended, by the weight of the shoe, into an out of the way position. The heel rest 6 is suitably modified to provide room for the receiver. In place of the grippers described in Specification 520,194 for holding the margin of the upper over the wipers, a retarder 10, Fig. 23, is provided, carried by a bar 730, Fig. 1, and operated yieldingly by a cam to press the margin of the upper against the wipers during upwipe.