Patent GB-454925-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for pressing the bottoms of shoes
IPC: A43D25/06
Filed: 1935-04-03
Abstract: 454,925. Boot - making machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., Belgrave Road, Leicester.-(United Shoe Machinery Corporation; 140, Federal Street, Boston, U.S.A.) April 3, 1935, No. 10313. [Class 17 (i)] Sole-laying.-A lasting-machine carries a device for ironing down the margin of the lasted upper, preparatory to the application of an outsole to the shoe. The device comprises a thin resilient metal plate supported by loose balls in a casing supported by springs, the toe of the shoe being pressed against the plate by a treadle-operated toe pad comprising a hollow rubber member filled with sand. An abutment engages the heel end of the shoe, and is given a forward movement as the pressure increases. The pressing device is heated. The fore-part of the lasted shoe engages a thin flexible metal plate 50 confined by a rim 46 secured to a hollow casting 34 carried by a bracket 32 vertically slidable at 120 on the frame of the machine. The plate rests on pins 38, supported by springs 40, and close enough together to retain balls 36 resting on superposed leaf springs 56 fixed at one end to the bracket. A second metal plate 52 supports the first plate under the toe end. This construction affords a firmer pressure at the toe end. An electric resistance 58 heats the pressing assembly. The bracket 32 is supported by a spring 124 and guided by a rod 128 having an enlarged head 130 bored to communicate with an orifice closed by a ball valve 142. The head 130 is flanged to engage a spring 136, also abutting a shoulder on a member 132 bored to co-operate with the head 130, the arrangement providing a dashpot to cushion the -ascent of the pressing device on removal of pressure. To force the shoe down on to the plate 50 a rod 74, depressed by a treadle, carries an arm 72 having a down-turned end carrying a rubber member 62 filled with sand. The member 62 can slide forwardly of the shoe against the resistance of a spring 170, an adjusting nut 182 determining the starting position. A heel rest 92 is carried by a pair of rods 96, each slidably engaging a sleeve 98 pivoted at 99 to one arm of a bell-crank lever linked to the bracket 32. A spring 160 holds the heel rest in normal position heightwise, and a spring 150 urges the rest rearwardly of the shoe to facilitate the placing of the work in position. The rods 96 are provided with rack teeth 118 co-operating with pawls 116 pivoted to the sleeves, and, normally, held out of action by arms 146 carried on the pressing device. In operation, after lasting, the forepart of the shoe is placed on the plate 50, the heel rest is pushed up to the shoe, and the treadle connected to the toe-pad 62 is depressed. The plate 50 takes up the shape of the fore-part, shifting the balls 36, distorting the springs 56 and depressing the bracket 32. As this descends, the pawls 116 are released and, on further descent of the shoe, pull on the rods 96, moving the shoe forwardly to iron down the margin of the upper. At a point determined by the adjustment of nuts 158, an additional spring 156 comes into action. When the pressure is sufficient, the treadle is locked by a pawl, and the shoe may be left under pressure while another is lasted. A knee pad is then actuated to release the pawl, and the treadle allowed to rise, when the work may be removed.