Patent GB-628426-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to shoe upper conforming machines
IPC: A43D21/12
Filed: 1947-09-15
Abstract: 628,426. Shoe-upper conforming-machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO.. Ltd., and FRAMPTON, S. E. Sept. 15, 1947, No. 25144. [Class 17 (i)] A machine for conforming the toe-ends of a shoe upper to a last within it has a pair of main wipers and a pair of upper-spreading and retarding fingers operating in manner generally similar to those described in Specification 470,749, and also auxiliary wipers, of the kind disclosed in Specification 519,775 but of modified construction, and auxiliary upper-spreading and retarding fingers which replace the means disclosed in Specification 555,731 and which partake of the movements of the main fingers. When operating on men's shoes with coarse upper leather, both sets of spreading and retarding fingers co-operate with the wipers to tension the upper heightwise and retard it during overwipe. They are then both moved rearwardly in the machine and lowered to an inoperative position out of the way of the tack-inserting mechanism. A system of slides arranged somewhat telescopically, for compactness, operates both the main and auxiliary fingers, the extent of movement required being considerably greater than that of the single pair of fingers disclosed in Specification 470,749, owing to the presence of the auxiliary fingers which lie more heelwardly than those of the earlier Specification. The auxiliary fingers are readily removable from their carriers either for adjustment, when it is desired to operate on shoes of a different size, or for removal, when it is desired to adapt the machine to operate on women's shoes of certain styles where the fingers may not be required. The illustrative form of machine described has main wipers 1, actuated as in Specification 482,275 modified by Specifications 514,309 and 571,371, and a pair of main upper-spreading and retarding fingers 3 functioning as in Specification 482,275, but supported and operated in a somewhat different manner. The auxiliary wiping means are somewhat similar to those described in Specification 519,775 and comprise a pair of devices operating one on each side of a shoe in the machine and each having a pair of small wiper plates 5 supported in a plate 7 mounted on a carrier 9. As the plates 5 are moved, by mechanism similar to that described in Specification 519,775, into engagement with the shoe upper at the sides of the toe, they accommodate themselves to the shoe contour. The auxiliary upper-spreading and retarding fingers 13 engage marginal portions of the shoe upper further from the toe end than the fingers 3, and are carried, with the main fingers 3, at the forward end of a bar 30 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the machine and mounted by a tongue 16 to rock relatively to a slide 15, so that the fingers 3, 13 may rock as a unit to engage with even pressure differently shaped parts of uppers. The fingers 13 take part in the heightwise and toeward movements of the fingers 3 but, during outward swinging movement of the plates 23 which carry the fingers 3, they may swing relatively to these fingers about studs 35 spaced from the axis about which the fingers 3 swing. Cam tracks 51 in upper surfaces of outer slide 15 receive cam rolls 53 which control the swing- ing movement of the fingers 13. Slide 15 is received in dovetail guides in carrier provided with bracket 55 supported for movement forwardly and rearwardly in the machine. Fingers 3, 13 are moved downwards as in Specification 482,275, by a cam 61 to engage insole of shoe while they are moved bodily toewards of the shoe, under pressure of a spring. Rearward movement of bracket 55 by action of cam 63 on a lever 57 moves the fingers toewardly and, due to swinging movement of plates 23 on rearward movement of a slide 33, are opened apart to urge margin of upper outwardly beyond edge of insole and to ride off edge of insole and snap down a short distance between inner layer of upper material and the last. The wipers 1 move heightwise and inwards of the shoe on the last as in Specification 482,275 modified by Specification 514,309, together with the plates 5, which initially project slightly beyond the wiper plates 1 and are pressed back against the action of springs in their actuating mechanism during upwipe. The upper is trapped between the upper faces of the plates 5 and under faces of fingers 3, 13 which act as a pair of grippers before the heightwise or upwiping movement is completed. The plates 5 on reaching the level of the upper surface of the insole snap in over the edge under the action of the springs mentioned. The fingers 3, 13 advance with the wipers 1, as they advance and close to perform their overwiping movement, for a short distance and then swing outwards to their full extent and move rearwardly to allow the fingers 13 to clear the ends of the wipers 1. The fingers 3, 13 then descend to inoperative position, so as not to obstruct the tack-inserting mechanism, and the wipers 1 advance over the upper to complete the first part of the cycle of power operations of the machine. The second part of the cycle is performed as in the earlier Specifications above referred to. Specification 567,845 also is referred to.