Patent GB-314688-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for manufacturing footwear
IPC: A43D5/02
Filed: 1928-07-16
Abstract: 314,688. Glidden, A. A., Knowland, T. M., and Drechsler, A. E. July 16, 1928. Special kinds of boots and shoes, machines for. -An apparatus for making rubber shoes, tennis shoes, and rubber boots comprises an endless conveyer to which a plurality of last supports are detachably connected. The conveyer carries the lasts successively to a plurality of opeaators, a last support being automatically disconnected from the conveyer when it arrives at an operator. A treadle is provided at each operator's position, which causes the last support to be carried to the next operator on depression of the treadle. A frame rectangular in plan houses trachs for a conveyer chain 62, Fig. 6, driven by an electric motor through variable gearing, preferably of the " Reeves " type, comprising a pair of expanding and contracting pulleys connected by a belt. The chain rests on rollers 66, Fig. 5, and carries guides 68 and projections 64 adapted to engage the last supports. Each last support is mounted on a carriage 52, Figs. 5 and 6, provided with upper and lower guide rollers engaging tracks in the frame. So that the rollers can accommodate themselves to irregularities in the track and negotiate curves the upper rollers are each urged upwardly by a spring 60 housed in a sleeve which can turn about a vertical axis, Each carriage carries a pivoted hook 72 spring pulled into the path of the pins 64 and kept out of engagement therewith when the last is a.t an operator's position by a pin 76 engaging a forward extension 74 of the hook. For holding the last stationary at an operator's position, a pin 83 on the carriage 52 is engaged by the down-turned end of a, lever 77 normally urged to operative position by a spring 80. A treadle at the operator's position, when depressed, pulls on a link 88, releasing the pin 83 and withdrawing the pin 76. The hook 72 is then engaged by the next pin 64 to reach it, and the last is moved to the next operator. If a last is at an operator's position when the previous operator sends another last towards that position, the second last is stopped by an arm 99 on the carriage of the first last engaging a projection 98 from the hook 72 of the second last carriage. Each carriage 52 supports an arm 104 about which a last pin 129 is universally adjustable, and frictionally held in adjusted position. The arm 104 carries a pin 109 about which an ear on a boss 126 can move, friction washers and an adjustable spring being provided. In addition, recesses. 114 on the ear co-operate with a tooth on a spring 111 secured to the arm 104. The boss 126, Figs. 9 and 10, is bored to receive a sleeve integral with the pin 129, a nut 134 on the sleeve engaging a spring 135 which presses a head 130 on the pin against a friction washer 131, the nut determining the friction against which the pin 129 can turn on its own axis. For clamping the last to the pin, a pair of flanges 159, 160 engage inclines on the last pin, so that as they are moved upwardly they project, and engage a surface 165 in the last. These flanges are on jaws pivoted to a stem 153 resiliently carried by a slide 137 operated by a crank pin on a, rock shaft 141 operated by a handle 146, Fig. 5. The Specification describes, in detail, how 19 operators, spaced around the conveyer, may build rubber boots, each carrying the work a step further. In the case of a step taking longer than others, two operators may each deal with, alternate lasts. Near the end of the operation the work passes through a dryer, Fig. 2, comprising heating units 174 and a fan 175. The last carrier supports a table 101 which may carry shoe parts placed thereby by one operator for use by a subsequent operator.