Patent GB-738797-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to applying shoe covers to shoes
IPC: A43D11/00
Filed: 1953-06-12
Abstract: 738,797. Covering shoe uppers. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. June 12, 1953 [June 13, 1952], No. 16187/53. Class 17 (1). An apparatus for applying a closed type film shoe cover 10 to a shoe S on a last L comprises' a holder device D on which a stack of covers can be supported with their adhesive-coated sides outermost, and means for supporting the shoe so that. the heel end of the upper engages the corresponding portion of the outermost cover and enables that cover readily to be pulled, toe end leading, from the stock and placed over the shoe with the coated side next to the shoe. The covers are of flexible material with an adhesive coating on one side, shaped like a shoe upper, joined by a curved seam at the heel end, and have an ankle opening 12 which receives the cone of the last, and the apparatus facilitates the separation of a cover from a stack. The holder device comprises abutment means to engage the stack at the heel end, and a spreader member received in the ankle opening of the stack, the abutment means and spreader being urged resiliently apart. In the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the fixed shoe support comprises a non-slip surface 68 and vertically adjustable pedestals 70, 72 which are movable into position on slide 74, and a carrier 34 movable on rollers 44, 48 and bearing a series of holders D. The carrier is partially counterbalanced by weight 50, is held in the required position by engagement of one of a series of teeth 56 with a hook 58, is tilted for downward movement, such tilting being limited by roll 62, and is prevented from escape by stop block 63. The holders carry stacks of covers of different size, and each comprises a tapering block 80 with a fore part rest 83, curved portion 84 to engage the heel ends of the covers, a shoulder 86 to support and position the heel ends of the covers, and a retaining plate 88 which overlies to top edges of the heel ends. The pivoted spreader 90 is urged rearwardly by spring 98, the extent of movement being controlled by an adjustable abutment rod 100, and has a sloping face 96 to facilitate application and removal of the covers. In the holder D<SP>1</SP> shown in Fig. 7 the spreader 110 is adjustably secured to plate 42<SP>1</SP>, and has a sloping face 112 and supporting pin 118. Abutment 120, curved at 122, slides in groove 124, has a retaining lip 128, and is urged away from post 110 by spring 130, rod 136 on the abutment sliding in sleeve 134 on post 110, and collar 138 limiting movement. The apparatus shown in Fig. 9 comprises one shoe support, and one holder D", the latter including a block 146 hinged at 144, with a spreader 90<SP>1</SP> urged to the right, Fig. 9, by spring 98<SP>1</SP> but removed when desired by pressing rod 147, a stock supporting shoulder 186, and a cover retaining plate 148. Depression of treadle 164 acts through 162, bell crank 154, and 152 to lower block 146 (as shown in Fig. 9) so that the holder D" is positioned, and the downturned end 150 of plate 148 engages and clamps the last L. Block 146 is normally raised by spring 158. Specifications 687,317 and 697,063 are referred to.