Patent GB-671441-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines organised for performing levelling or like operations on shoe bottoms
IPC: A43D89/00
Filed: 1949-10-20
Abstract: 671,441. Sole-levelling machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). Oct. 19, 1950 [Oct. 20, 1949], No. 26934/49. Class 17 (i). An intermediate or cone support between toe and heel supports of a machine for levelling or like operations on shoe bottoms of the kind described in Specification 478,185 is adjustable relatively to the toe support automatically but to a lesser extent on adjustment of the heel support relatively to the toe support to suit the size of shoe so that regardless of the size of shoe being operated on, the cone support will engage the cone of the last in substantially the same relative position. The machine is thus enabled to operate on a wide range of sizes without the necessity of changing supporting jacks. The cone support is simultaneously adjusted heightwise of the shoe on the jack relative to the heel and toe supports. In the form of levelling machine shown, the heel portion of the shoe is supported on a heel post 10 and a support 28 for the toe is carried by a toe part 12 to which the post 10 is pivoted at 42. Intermediately, the shoe is supported on a cone support 60. The shoe supporting means is pivoted on a shaft 38. Pressure is applied by a roll 14 progressively along an outside on a shoe on a last supported in the machine, as the jack is swung to and fro by power means as described in Specification 269,114, [Class 17 (i)]. The toe supporting means 28 is adjustable on arcuate guides on the post 12 and a block 30 on this post is vertically adjustable by a wedge 32 as described in Specification 419,944. Adjustment of the extent of travel of the shoe supporting jack in relation to the length of shoe being operated on is also provided for as described in Specification 104,728, [Class 17 (i)]. A holder 64 which carries the cone supporting pad 62 of rubber is connected through a linkage system 50, 72, 82, 92 with the heel support 10 and is also pivotally mounted in the machine about an axis widthwise of a shoe on a member 96 mounted for sliding movement heightwise of the shoe relatively to the toe support. The swinging movement is caused to adjust the cone support lengthwise of the shoe while the sliding movement adjusts it independently heightwise of the shoe relatively to the toe support. The heightwise adjustment is arranged to take place as the result of engagement of foot 158 which partakes of the swinging movement of the support 60 with a roll 160 fixed relatively to the toe support. At the beginning of the levelling operation when the shoe supporting means begins to move an arm 114 which carries a pawl 112 and is rotatably supported at end of a projection 116 on a block 98, the pawl is held out of engagement with a ratchet .wheel 110 on a shaft 104 or with a pinion 102 keyed to which the slide 96 meshes to lock this slide against downward movement. On further movement of arm 114 in the same direction the slide 96 is moved upwards to force the pad 62 more firmly against the last. At completion of levelling operation caused by engagement of tail of a toggle link 122 with a cam roll 126, the toggle 120, 122 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 and force exerted by the pad is relieved. When the heel post 10 is moved away from toe post 12 to adjust the shoe supporting means for a larger size of shoe by rotation of a threaded adjusting member 44, a bell-crank lever 84 is moved to move the cone support also away from the toe support about the pin 94. When there is no shoe on the supporting means the foot 158 on a cam plate 138 carried by a member of the holder 64 engages the roll 160. This plate 138 is made separate from the holder 64 to avoid breakage of the parts in these conditions. During downward movement imparted to shoe supporting means in placing shoe thereon the foot 158 is moved downwards away from the roll 160. When the heel support is adjusted by member 44 away from the toe support to accommodate a shoe of larger size the pad 62 is moved down to compensate for increase in cone height of last of larger size. The initial position heightwise of a shoe positioned in the machine is adjustable by screw 150 which is independent of adjusting means 44. Specification 236,270 [Class 17 (i)], also is referred to.