British United Shoe Machinery Ltd.

Dvsg Engineering Und Patentverwaltungs Gmbh

David C Reedman

Clive Preece

Frank C Price

Gaynor E Taylor

Paul M Taylor

Hugh G Sasse

Ian Jolliffe

John E Simmons

Sterghios Topis

Peter M Witty

David L Smith

Stephen J Marshall

Andrew G Walter

Reducing workpiece thickness

Automatic sewing machine system

For accurately positioning a shoe upper on its last preliminarily to a pulling over and toe lasting operation, the machine comprises an optical scanning system (20) by which, in cooperation with a central processor unit (22), coordinate axis values can be determined for selected portions of the topline region of the shoe upper (the 'actual' values) and be compared with a set of taught data relevant to the shoe style, such taught data representing the positions in which the selected portions of the topline region of the shoe upper are to be located (the 'should be' values), the central processor unit (22) comparing the actual and 'should be' values and supplying correction signals to motors (16) associated one with each of the pincers (10, 12) whereby the shoe upper is selectively tensioned in order to achieve the desired location of the topline region of the shoe upper on its last.

Pulling over and toe lasting machines

An optical system and method for digitizing a last or other irregularly shaped article comprises a laser device fixed on a base directing a light beam at a last supported for rotation about an axis, perpendicular to which the light beam is directed. Two cameras are fixed to the base, one at each side of the laser device, and each comprises an array of cells for detecting the point of incidence of the light beam on the last surface. As the last is rotated, the point of incidence varies in relation to a datum, e.g. the axis of rotation, and the point maximum intensity of illumination on the array of cells will vary across the array accordingly. By a correlating technique, the distance of the point of incidence from the datum can be determined according to the point of maximum intensity of the array. Thus, for digitizing the last, it is necessary merely to rotate it and also move it in a direction along its length for a large number of point positions to be detected, these being then stored as digitized coordinate axis value (R-theta-z). Because the last is an irregularly shaped object, in certain circumstances it is necessary to provide more digitized point positions than in other areas. These are all catered for either by flagging for a subsequent in-fill operation or by back-stepping over reduced angles of rotation of the last.

Digitizing the surface of an irregularly shaped article

A system for identifying workpieces by scanning them and 'reading' details of their configuration is adapted for applying a desired pattern of material in liquid form (e.g. ink) or in powder form (e.g. toner material or a hot melt adhesive) to the workpieces regardless of their location and orientation on a workpiece support (18, 118). This is achieved by the pattern data (relating to the desired pattern) selected from a store being modified in accordance with positional data (relating to the location and orientation obtained during scanning FIG. 2). When the applied material is liquid and dispensed from such as a suitable tool such as a pen (152) or other liquid applicator. When the ink is in powder form, a suitable tool is an electrostatic printer (36) e.g. an ionographic printer.

Detecting workpiece orietation and treating workpieces without reorieting

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Wartnaby, United Kingdom

David C Reedman