Patent GB-1131711-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus adapted for use in forming a seam between two portions of sheet material
Inventor: BERRILL WILLIAM HERBERT
IPC: A43D8/00
Filed: 1965-01-23
Abstract: 1,131,711. Folding edges of and seaming non- metallic sheet material. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO. Ltd. 20 Jan., 1966 [23 Jan., 1965], No. 3090/65. Heading B5K. Apparatus for use in forming a back seam between edge portions of two quarters 24, 84 of a shoe upper 26 comprises a forming block 4 having two convex curved surfaces 18, 20 inclined to one another and meeting along a curved ridge (16), Fig. 7 (not shown), means 22, 68 for locating the quarter 24 on the surface 18 with an edge portion (25), Fig. 3 (not shown), projecting beyond the ridge (16), means 30 to wipe the portion (25) over the ridge (16) so that it overlies the surface 20, means 90, 92 for locating the quarter 84 on the surface 20 with an edge portion overlying the wiped over portion (25), and means 118 for pressing the edge portions of the quarters 24, 84 together against the block 4. The locating means for the quarter 24 comprises a gauge 22 mounted on a rack 38 slidably mounted in a fixed guide block 46 and a pivotally mounted silicone rubber clamp pad 68 arranged to move towards and away from the surface 18. The locating means for the quarter 84 comprises gauge members 90, 92 each pivotally mounted in a slot 86 on a portion 66 of a bracket (64) carrying the clamp 68. The wiping means 30 comprises flexible fingers 54 and is mounted on a rack 40 slidably mounted in the block 46. The racks 38, 40 are engaged by a splined portion 47 of a shaft 32 which extends through the block 46 and a second block (31), Fig. 9 (not shown). A second splined portion (49) of the shaft (32) engages with a rack (34) in the block (31), which rack (34) is operated by a pneumatic cylinder (36). The pressing means comprises a silicone rubber clamp pad 118 comprising concave curved surfaces (105), (107), Fig. 3 (not shown), meeting along a curved line (109) and which is mounted on a cross plate 116 secured by two insulators 114 to a cross plate 112 seucred to a block 110 slidable in a fixed guide block 106. The arm (117), Fig. 10 (not shown), of a lever (120) is mounted in a slot (115) in the block (110). The lever (120) is pivotally mounted on the block (106) and the second arm (119) thereof is secured to the piston of a pneumatic cylinder (124) pivoted on the machine frame. In operation, the operator positions the quarter 24 of plastic coated fabric on the surface 18 so that its fabric surface lies against the surface 18 and with a skived edge portion (25), Fig. 3 (not shown), thereof extending past the ridge (16) into contact with the gauge 22. The operator depresses a foot pedal (not shown) which causes (a) the clamp 68 to clamp the quarter 24 against the surface 18; (b) the gauge 22 to move to an inoperative position ; and (c) the means 30 to wipe the portion (25) around the ridge (16) on to the surface 20. The operator positions the quarter 84 on the surface 20 with its fabric surface overlying the fingers 54 and its curved edge portion in contact with the members 90, 92 so that this edge portion overlies the wiped-over portion (25), Fig. 4 (not shown). The operator depresses a push button to cause the clamp 118 to clamp the quarter 84 against the surface 20, Fig. 5 (not shown). The means 30 is removed from between the clamp 118, the quarter 84 and the block 4, Fig. 6 (not shown). Two further push buttons are depressed to complete an electric circuit and establish a highfrequency electric field between the plate 116 and the block 4 to fuse the overlapping portions of the quarters 24, 84 to form a seam. Upon completion of the fusion, the quarters 24, 84 are automatically released. A pneumatic circuit for the operation of the apparatus is described, Fig. 11 (not shown). In a modification (not shown), neither of the quarters of plastic-coated fabric is skived. In a further modification, the quarters are made of leather, one of which is skived on the grain side and is positioned on the surface 18 with the grain side outwards. The second quarter is skived on the flesh side and coated with adhesive on the skived edge portion. The flesh side of this quarter is positioned against the surface 20 to overlap the skived edge of the first quarter and a high-frequency field is applied to activate the adhesive to effect seaming. In other modifications, a solvent activated adhesive is used or an adhesive activated by a heated member, e.g. the block 4, in the apparatus. In a still further modification, Figs. 12 and 13 (both not shown), the gauge 22 is replaced by two gauge fingers (200) extending from the means (30) and the members 90, 92 are replaced by a retractable gauge (204) pivotally mounted on a fixed platen (206). The gauge (204) comprises two fingers (203) each comprising a guide pin (205). An auxiliary clamp (208) is caused to clamp the second quarter in advance of the clamp (118).