Patent GB-943332-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to shoe upper conforming machines
IPC: A43D23/04
Filed: 1959-03-18
Abstract: 943,332. Shoe upper conforming machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO. Ltd., and G C. BARTON. March 16, 1960 [March 18, 1959], No. 9366/59. Heading A3B. In a shoe upper conforming machine comprising work supporting means, means for positioning the toe portion of a last, upper tensioning devices for gripping the upper during relative heightwise movement between the work supporting means and the upper tensioning devices, toe wipers, and a heel rest, movement of the heel rest effects adjustment of the relative positions of inner and outer ball-lasting devices. Movement of the heel rest lengthwise of the last to engage the heel end of the upper, moves the lasting devices toewardly and reduces their relative displacement. Movement of the heel rest widthwise of the last (as for changing from left to right shoes) also displaces the ball-lasting devices lengthwise of the last and displaces ball grippers heightwise. The invention is applied to the machine described in Specification 871,990 modified as in Specification 941,309. The heel rest 2 is adjustably mounted on a base member 4 which is slidable along guideways 6 in a support 8. A tongue 18 on a frame member 16 fits slidingly into a channel 20 in a rearward part of the support 8. The forward part of the support 8 has an arcuate guideway 10 engaged by rollers 12 mounted on the frame member 16. Lateral movement of the heel rest support is effected by means of piston rods 40 actuated by fluid pressure cylinders 38 and adapted to engage stops 32 slidable on a guide 30. The stops 32 are threaded on a shaft 26 carrying a collar 24 having a ball headed connection 22 with the support 8. The stops 32 are moved into engagement with a fixed stop 42. The stops 32 engage oppositely threaded portions of the shaft 26 so that the lateral swing of the support 8 can be varied by turning a handle 34 connected to the shaft 26 by a pin and slot connection. Movement of the heel rest 2 to engage the heel is effected by a fluid pressure operated cylinder 52 and piston 50 through a two-armed lever 54 pivoted on shafts 56, a pivoted link 58, and a member 60 slidable in guides 62. The base member 4 s coupled to the member 60 through a connection 64, 66 permitting lateral movement of the member 4. A pair of ball lasting devices (not shown, but similar to those in Specification 871,990 with clamping means as in Specification 941,309) are operatively connected to arms 68 secured to the shafts 56. The ends of the shafts 56 carry bevel gears 70 interconnected by a differential gear 72. The lever 54 carries a pair of fluid pressure-operated pistons 78 co-operating with levers 76 keyed to the shafts 56. When one of the piston rods 40 (Fig. 1) is operated to swing the heel rest 2 laterally, fluid is also supplied to the appropriate cylinder to move the associated lever 76 clockwise (Fig. 3). Through the differential gearing 70, 72 the other lever 76 and its shaft 56 are rotated anticlockwise and the positions of the ball lasting units are thus changed over lengthwise of the last. The movements of the levers 76 are limited by stop arms 82. By means of pivoted linkages 84, 86, 90, a given angular movement of lever 54 produces a smaller movement of the stop arms 82 and the resulting relative movement of the levers 76 and 54 reduces the relative displacement of the lasting devices. The ball grippers (not shown) which may be as described in Specification 871,990 are arranged so that when the heel rest is swung laterally to accommodate a right or left shoe, fluid pressure means is operated to move one gripper downwardly and the other upwardly, the limits of movement being adjustable (Fig. 4, not shown). An adjustable stop member 120 (Fig. 3) may be provided to limit the movement of the heel rest e.g. to that necessary to enable one shoe to be removed and another placed in position.