Patent GB-520194-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to shoe upper conforming machines
IPC: A43D13/00
Filed: 1938-10-14
Abstract: 520,194. Lasting-machines. UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION. Oct. 14, 1938, No. 29753. Convention date, Oct. 19, 1937. [Class 17 (i)] A power-operated toe-lasting machine, especially for welted shoes, has a toe end gripper and side grippers at the tip line all swung away from the last to tension the upper over the wipers. These are provided with yielding springs in both closing and advancing mechanisms, the latter being quickly adjustable so that either or both of two springs may urge the fulcrum of the advancing-lever forward. The wipers can thus yield readily during the up-wipe, as well as during the over-wipe. A binding wire is positioned by the operator, but urged into place by the wipers, the machine being automatically stopped while the operator positions the wire, and, later, when the wipers are in pressure applying relation to the binder, to allow the operators to fasten the binder to the shoe. A heel rest is moved by a spring lengthwise of the shoe to operative position, where it is automatically locked. The rest is returned to starting position by mechanism including a spring yieldable to prevent injury to the operator if he should be in the path of movement. The position of the shoe is determined by a plate 2, Fig. 16, having a flange 4 to engage the inside of the insole lip. The plate is readily exchangeable, lips 10 on a holder therefor being freed from the plate, when this is pressed rearwardly against the thrust of a spring plunger 18. The plate may be adjusted vertically by a hand wheel 30. A toe rest 36, Fig. 3, is urged upwardly to clamp the shoe against the plate 2 by one or both of two springs 44, 46, of which the latter is the stronger. The springs respectively engage rings 54, 56 each carrying three pins passing through a ring 110 and co-operating with a plate 62 supporting the toe rest. The plate has two sets of holes arranged so that three holes may align with the three pins on either plate in two positions of the plate. In a third position all the pins abut against the plate. The springs are supported by a yoke 70 carried by links 38 and a cam operated lever 85. To rotate the. plate 62 a segment 94, which turns with the plate, gears with a pinion 98 actuated by a handle 108 housing a spring plunger 104 cooperating with three recesses, according as it is desired that the toe rest may be pressed upwardly by the weaker spring 44, the stronger spring 46, or by both springs. The heel band comprises a flexible chain lined with felt and supported at its ends on blocks 120 each secured to an arm adjustable along a slot 132 in an arm adjustable along a slot 132 in an arm pivoted on a rod 128. The arms are urged outwardly by springs. The wipers 148, Fig. 7, are secured, each to a wiper holder 150, by a spring plunger 152, which may be retracted by a knob 156 when it is desired to change the wipers. The wiper carrier is supported by a pair. of spaced links 172, Fig. 5 and a lever 176 pivoted at 178 on a lever 198 urged forwardly by a pair of springs arranged similarly to those supporting the toe rest, so that the fulcrum 178 may be urged toward the shoe by a weaker or a stronger spring or both. The lever 178 is cam-actuated, and the yielding mounting of the pivot allows the wipers to yield away from the shoe during the up-wipe produced by lift of the links 172 by a cam-operated lever 186, or during the over-wipe produced by the lever 176. Besides this resilient advance, the wipers are also resiliently closed on the shoe. The wiper holders are connected to the wiper closing slide by links having springs 298, Fig. 4, between telescoping parts, pins 300 working in slots 302 limiting the relative movement. The slide is actuated by a third adjustable spring drive of the kind supporting the toe-rest, either or both of springs 312, 314 allowing yield between the wipers and their cam-actuated operating lever 352, Fig. 5. The lever 198 is connected to its spring yield by a rod 206, Fig. 4, screwthreaded to serve as adjusting means for the initial position of the wipers. To give a fine adjustment a hand-wheel 258 is connected to the shaft by epicyclic gearing providing a considerable reduction ratio. Each of the side grippers comprises a fixed jaw 402, Fig. 17, and a pivoted jaw 404 actuated by a link 410 and lever 412 linked to a slide 418 urged upwardly by a spring 432 and depressed by a plate 452 acting on a cap 420. The connection between the cap and slide comprises a cross pin 422 extending through slots formed in the rod at opposite sides of a central bore housing a centralizing spring plunger 428. The toe-end gripper is similarly formed except that the opening between the jaws is horizontal. 'The plate 452 is maintained horizontal by a parallel linkage and is actuated to close and open the grippers by a link 474, Fig. 3, and a cam-actuated lever. The toe-end gripper casing is clamped to the end of a lever 490, Fig. 15, actuated by the lever which effects up-wiping, so that upper-pulling movement heightwise of the last occurs in the course of up-wiping. Each of the side gripper casings is clamped in a yoke 524 supported by a member 532 carried by a rod 538 slidable in the frame. Cam-operated levers 546, Fig. 14, raise these rods to impart upper-pulling movement to the side-grippers at the same time as the toe-end gripper is raised. Pointers 566, Fig. 15, on the rock-shafts 548 carrying the levers 546 indicate to the operator the amount of upper-pulling movement which each side gripper receives. Each side gripper may be adjusted lengthwise of the shoe by a knurled head 588, Fig. 16, a spring 586 allowing yield in a heelward direction as the upper is wiped inwardly over the insole. Each side gripper may be adjusted widthwise. of the shoe by a knurled head 604, Fig. 14, moving an arm 596 secured to a stem 590, Fig. 15, on which is mounted a bracket carrying the side-gripper clamp. Each of the three grippers is also swung away from the last. The toe-end gripper casing is connected by a link 606, Fig. 18, to a lever 608 mounted on a rock shaft 610, a pin 614 engaging the shaft and a friction clamp secured to the lever allowing play. The friction clamp 616, 618 is tightened by a spring 626, which also urges the gripper away from the last, when allowed by the shaft 610 which is cam-actuated. A hand-wheel 642 determines the initial position of the gripper. Similar mechanisms are provided for the side grippers. The heel band is held firmly against the shoe during the lasting operation by a pawl 728, Fig. 3, engaging teeth on a plate 730. The pawl'is automatically released at the end of the operation, and is moved in both 'directions, to operative position and to initial forward position, by mechanism including resilient means. Binder wire w, Fig. 24, from a roll, is passed over a pin 764 and into a notch 780, the arm 768 carrying the pin being swung to the left side of the toe rest 36 by a pin 776 engaged by a groove 778 in the post of the toe rest as this rises to clamp the shoe. This swing forms a loop about the pin 764 and also positions the wire below the toe of the shoe in convenient position for application. The cam shaft is driven by a gear wheel 194, Fig. 25, gearing with a worm 784 rotating with a clutch member 804 co-operating with a clutch drum 796 driven continuously by an electric motor. The member 804 is controlled by a yoke 816 connected to an arm 826, Fig. 26, carrying a shoulder 830 co-operating with a latch on a block 832 on an arm 834 actuated by a block 832 on an arm 834 actuated by a treadle, pressure on which swings the arm to the left and allows the clutch to engage. A cam 848 actuates a lever 842 to depress the arm 834 and then raise it, 'to reengage the latch and shoulder 830 at. certain times during the machine's cycle: In operation, the operator positions a shoe with its insole lip in proper relation to the plate 2, and inserts the margin of the toe portion of the upper materials between the open jaws of the toe and side grippers. Prior to this he has removed the end and at least the foremost of the, side pulling- over tacks. He then depresses the treadle. As the toe rest moves upwards the arm 768 is swung to the left side of the shoe; the grippers receive a short inward movement and then close, the plate 452 being lifted.. Simultaneously, the heel band is applied to the shoe. The toe and side grippers are then swung away from the last, the toe-wipers are raised, advanced and partially closed, the closing of the wipers being delayed until near the end of their advancing movement. When the outward swing of the grippers is substantially complete, the wiper carrier is swung upwardly to effect the up-wipe, the grippers also being moved upwardly to pull the upper heightwise of the last. The wipers are then further advanced and closed to wipe the upper inwardly over the feather of the insole and against the insole lip, which is supported by the plate 2. The shaft 610 turns reversely during this overwipe, the friction grips on this shaft partially counteracting the force of the gripper-spreading springs. Near the end of the overwipe the grippers are opened to release the upper. Shortly afterwards, the wipers are slightly raised and the machine comes to a stop. The operator'then slips the loop at the end of the binder wire off the pins, bending the end over the portion above it, and slips the loop over a tack at the left side of the shoe bottom, which may be one of the pulling-over tacks remaining in the shoe. Continuing his pull on the wire, the operator starts the machine again. Thereupon the wipers are raised a short distance, to permit the wire to be pulled tightly against the upstanding margin of the upper, partially retracted and opened, and then advanced and closed -to force the wire firmly against -the upstanding margin of the upper. They are then moved downwardly, to increase their pressure on the upper. The machine then stops, to permit the operator to tw