Patent GB-573358-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to shoe upper conforming machines
IPC: A43D21/12
Filed: 1943-12-11
Abstract: 573,358. Making boots. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). Dec. 11, 1943, No. 20760. [Class 17 (i)] Lasting. A toe end lasting machine of the kind provided with a retarder, for clamping the upper on the wipers during the wiping operation, mounted to tip about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe, comprises an improved construction of retarder, improved mountings and controlling means for the retarder whereby the retarder can assume inclinations adjusted to the operation of the wipers, and improvements in yielding closing means for the wipers. The machine described is generally similar to that described in Specification 520,194, the grippers described therein for pulling the edge of the upper over the wipers being replaced by a retarder. The machine may, however, be provided with both grippers and a retarder. The machine comprises a hold down member, toe and heel rests, and wipers constructed and controlled to perform their upwiping and over-wiping movements generally as described in Specification 520,194. The retarder 14, Fig. 8, is supported on the lower end of a bar 16 which is mounted and controlled substantially as is the retarderoperating bar 34 described in Specification 556,240, in such manner that the bar 16 is lowered in order to clamp the edge of the upper on the wipers, is raised against the tension of the spring 52 by the wipers during their up-wiping movement, and is raised positively to lift the' retarder from the upper before the completion of overwiping. The tension of the spring may be varied in order to vary the pressure of the retarder on the upper, and means is provided for varying the initial position of the bar 16 in order to vary the length of time during which the retarder is in contact with the upper. The retarder is substantially U-shaped and comprises a pair of members 84, Fig. 9, which are relatively adjustable widthwise of the shoe by means of hand wheels 104 and spindles 102 threaded in flanges 100 extending from the bar 16, and a bridging member 90. The members 84, 90 are assembled to pivot as a unit on a rod 86 fixed to the bar 16 and are urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 94 to an extent limited by a shoulder 97, so that when the retarder is moved towards the shoe, the rear ends of the members 84 are engaged by the insole at points removed from the toe end so that the retarder is tipped about the rod 86 and clamps the upper on the wipers first at the toe end. In response to up-wiping movement of the wipers, the spring 94 tips the retarder counterclockwise to clamp the upper also at the sides of the toe. The members 84 are held on the rod 86 by latches 106 to allow ready replacement. In a modification, Fig. 15, tipping of the retarder is effected positively by an adjustable link 304 operated by the mechanism which effects the vertical movements of the bar 16. The arrangement is such that when the bar moves down, the retarder is tipped to cause the toe end of the upper first to be clamped. As the bar rises in response to the up-wiping movements of the wipers, the link 304 moves the retarder. to a position in which it is parallel to the shoe bottom so as to clamp the upper at the end and sides of the toe, and when the bar 16 is lifted the retarder is tipped reversely so as to release the upper first at the toe end. In another modification, Fig. 21 (not shown) the retarder is carried on the rearwardly bent end of the bar 16 by a pair of converging links which determine a virtual tipping axis for the retarder which lies substantially on the upper-clamping face of the retarder towards its midpoint. By this arrangement, the retarder can adjust itself to, and maintain, a position in which its upper-clamping face is substantially parallel to the plane of the wipers during their wiping movements. As described in Specification 520,194, the wipers 12 are mounted on holders 110, Fig. 4, guided for closing movement on a carrier 112 which is advanced and raised by cam means. A wiper-closing slide 128 guided on the carrier is advanced by cam means acting through two springs 140, 142 of different strengths, either or both of which may be rendered effective, in order to vary the closing force imparted to the slide, by turning a sleeve 132 so as to cause either or both of two sets of pins 148, 150 to be engaged by a plate 156 as it advances. In the present machine, wiperclosing force of variable intensity may be transmitted to the wiper holders 110 from the slide 128, in accordance with adjustments of the tension of the spring 52, by coupling members 186, 188, stems 190 and sleeves 192, and pairs of springs-198, 200 either or both of which may be rendered effective, in a similar manner to the springs 140, 142, by adjusting abutment rings 210 on the stems 190 so that they co-operate with either or both of sets of fingers 206, 216 associated with the springs. The rings can be adjusted in unison by a slide 220 having inclined slots 222 engaging pins 224 on the rings. After the up-wiping operation, force is transmitted positively from the coupling 186 to the coupling 188. The wipers may be adjusted toward or from each other for shoes of different widths by adjusting the wiper-closing slide 128 relatively to its actuating rod 130. For this purpose, the rod has a screw thread engaging a thread on the slide, and can be turned by a pinion 246 keyed to a rotatable shaft 252 provided with a hand wheel 262. Specification 566,089 also is referred to.