Patent GB-598164-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to lasting machines
IPC: A43D113/00
Filed: 1946-03-29
Abstract: 598,164. Lasting-machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., CHOICE, F. C., and JAMES, C. H. March 29, 1946, No. 9736. [Class 17 (i)] A machine for lasting an end portion of a Veldtschoen, more particularly when it is supported on a last, has a pair of toe-end embracing wipers which perform a heightwise wiping operation on the upper and then urge a portion of it into the crease angle between the last and a projecting portion of the sole. A work-positioning device locates the work in appropriate relation to the wipers and retains it in position until the wiping operation occurs. During such wiping operation, the positioning device, which may take the form of a pair of fingers, one on each side at the shoe end and adjustable widthwise of the shoe independently or together, may exercise a retarding effect on the upper. A visual indicator is provided associated with the wiper mechanism to assist the operator accurately to adjust the wipers to suit shoes of similar style but different sizes without having to present the shoe to the wipers for the purpose, whenever a change in size being operated on is made. The invention is described as applied to a machine similar in nature and mode of operation to that described in Specification 482,666. It has a shoe-supporting device similar in position and inclination to that of the earlier machine but differently constructed, a toe-end gripper 9 and a pair of side grippers 11, located similarly to those of the earlier machine but operated by different mechanism, for pulling the upper at the toe portion and heelwardly thereof, heightwise, widthwise, and lengthwise of its last, before shoe-end embracing wipers 13 act to wipe the toe portion heightwise of the last and thereafter to press the margin of the upper into the crease angle between the sole and last to form a flange on the marginal portion of the upper projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the last. A support for the marginal portion of the sole is actuated to press the marginal portions of the upper and sole firmly against the wipers. The adjustable work-positioning device may serve to centralise the shoe relatively to the wipers 13 or to move it bodily widthwise in the machine and' offset centrally from the wipers 13 where for any reason, such as differences in thickness of upper material at opposite sides of the shoe, more severe downwiping action by the wipers 13 on one side than on the other is required. The work-positioning device, comprising a pair of fingers 381, Figs. 4, 17, engages the sides of the last near the corners of the toe at localities between the toe end gripper 9 and the two side grippers 11 so that marking or defacing of the upper in positioning the shoe is avoided. The indicating device, Figs. 4, 9, comprises a cursor 239, slide scale on ring 241, and reference marks, all arranged to co-operate to indicate the adjusted position of wipers. In operation, wipers 13 of the desired size are bolted in a readily detachable manner to wiper carriers, and with the wipers in their raised and retracted position of rest, the graduated ring 241 is rotated to bring a peripheral indicating mark thereon corresponding to this size against reference mark o on the cover plate 243. The indicating mark on periphery of ring 241 is further brought opposite the appropriate indicating mark A, B, C, or D, adjacent the reference mark o where the upper material is unusual in thickness. The disc 237 is then turned until the cursor 239 lies opposite to any one of the graduations on ring 241 representing a shoe size within the range of sizes of the batch to be operated on (e.g., a range of five sizes) and the opened-apart position of the wipers for operating on a shoe of that size is determined. The wipers are closed by rods 121 secured to the carriers and connected to links 129 pivoted on a spindle 127. Springs 141 on rods 121 urge the carriers in a direction to close the wipers. The visual indicating device is connected to the wiper closing mechanism by a two-part rod 143, 145. This adjusted position of the wipers is the same as that which they occupy when they are drawn forward, and when carrying out the heightwise wiping operation on -the upper. The position of the toe portion of the upper on the last is checked and the shoe-positioning and uppercontrolling fingers 381 are used to hold the toe in the most desirable position to be operated on by the wipers. When the machine is at rest, the wipers occupy a raised rearwardly retracted position, the three grippers 9, 11, 11, occupying a raised inward position with their upper jaws raised from their lower ones and with the jaws extending on an outer portion, Fig. 17, comprising a plate 301, of the shoe-supporting device with clearance between the lower jaws and the upper faces of three rubber sole-engaging studs 293 of the inner portion 291 of the shoe-supporting device, which is then in its lowered inoperative position, so as to allow the sole to pass easily into the machine. The plate 301 also occupies a lowered inoperative position. The fingers 381 occupy a raised inward position extending across the outer edges of plate 301 and engaging the opposite side portions of the bevel face around the toe of the last and giving clearance for the outwardly projecting margin of the sole to lie in. A knee pad 549, Fig. 2, is moved sufficiently far rearwards by the operator for a latch-releasing member 559, Fig. 18, to move a latch device 363 out of engagement with a block 361 to allow the inner portion 291 of the shoe supporting device to be raised to operative position. The fingers 381 may be adjusted in unison widthwise of the wipers 13 by turning a sleeve 407, Fig. 21, by a handnut 409, and the shoe may also be adjusted bodily widthwise in the machine, if occasion requires. The sleeve 407 may be turned also to adjust the toe portion relatively to the wipers 13, when the heel is correctly supported by a heel end fork 747, when the style of shoe requires it. The brackets 465 which carry the side grippers 11 are adjusted in guideways 585, Fig. 26, longitudinally and widthwise of the last, by hand lever 593 and by nut 607, and also the heel end fork, the toe of upper is smoothed to toe of last and shoe is threaded into machine with the sole slid under the grippers 9, 11 and fingers 381, and supported by the studs 293 of the central part 291 of the supporting device. The fingers 381 are adjusted to abut closely against bevel face round toe of last, to hold the toe in chosen position, by turning a nut 403 on a rod 405. The marginal portion of uppermaterial is placed between the jaws of the toe end side grippers 9, 11, and the knee pad 549 is then pushed further rearwardly, to cause the jaws of toe-end gripper 9 to grip the upper. The clutch tripping pedal 655 is depressed to cause the main cam shaft 157 to be turned through about 1/5 revolution and come to rest. In this period, the margin of toe end of upper is pulled rearwardly and downwardly, and shortly afterwards, the side grippers 11 close on margin of upper and pull it outwardly and downwardly on inclined paths. The heel end fork 747 is pulled automatically by an arm 731, Fig. 31, into engagement with the heel before the grippers commence to pull on upper and is locked in position by detent 779 as the grippers finish their pull, the margin of the upper being drawn over the fingers 381. The grippers swing outwards about pivots 579 at an early stage in their descent to enable them to clear the margin of the sole and apply outward tension before pulling down. Operation of the wiper-controlling pedal 53 causes the wipers 13 to advance ready for downwiping, a vamppressing member 261 moving forwardly with the wipers into position above the shoe. Continued depression of treadle 53, by engagement with stop screw in treadle 655, depresses that treadle again to trip the clutch so that the wipers are drawn down by power, the fingers 381 being simultaneously drawn out and down to permit the wipers to reach a position level with last bottom preparatory to the crease-forming action on the upper. Downward movement of the wipers clamps the upper overlying the fingers 381 against them and forces them down against the action of springs 439. The fingers 381 yield under the wiper thrust to tension the margin outwardly under retarding control. As the wipers move down, the vamp pressing member 261 also moves down and holds the upper firmly against the top surface of toe of last. The toe end gripper 9 is arranged to release its grip when the downwardly moving wipers lie opposite the upper edge of bevelled face of the last, to facilitate forcing the upper into the crease angle, and, as the grip at the toe end is relieved, the wipers press against grip-relieving fingers 727 of the side grippers 11 to release them. The grippers 11 are drawn down relatively quickly by updraw springs to take a fresh grip on the upper for a short period only, when the thrust of the wipers 13 on the griprelieving fingers is reduced or eliminated. The wipers are then advanced for a short distance, without closing, to force the upper into the crease angle and are then closed, the side grippers 11 being opened to release the upper as the wipers advance. The plate 301 rises to raise the outwardly projecting margin of the sole, and press it and the overlying flange which has been formed on the upper material, hard against the underface of the wipers, to give the material a semi-permanent set, or, if they have been coated with cement, to bond them together. The wipers 13 are heated by cartridges. When maximum pressure is being exerted, the clutch is automatically thrown out to bring the machine for the second time to rest for a period considered to be sufficient to ensure a set to the materials. The treadle 655 is then depressed a third time to cause the cam shaft to complete its revolution to restore the pa