Usm Corporation

British United Shoe Machinery Ltd.

James R Flanders

Richard E Storer

Robert A Newton

Frank C Price

Frank Hartshorn

William H Berrill

Alan Sanderson

Francis B Sharp

Graham J Mansfield

David W Halford

Frank Bramley

John F Carr

Andrew P Clarkson

A side (or heel seat and side) lasting machine comprises two lasting rollers (232; 232') arranged one at either side of a shoe support (20) by which a shoe is supported bottom up. Each roller (232; 232') has a helical rib arrangement (294) which, when rotated while in pressing engagement with the shoe bottom, effects an inwiping movement on the lasting marginal portions of the shoe upper. The rollers (232; 232') are inclined to the longitudinal center line of the shoe support, with their free ends directed heelwardly; the acute angle subtended between each center line and the roller axis of rotation is in the order of 50.degree. to 62.degree., preferably 57.degree.. The lasting rollers (232; 232') are of non-metallic material, preferably synthetic polymer or ceramic material, and have a single helical rib the pitch of which is in the range of 10 to 15 mm.

Machine for lasting side portions of shoe uppers

The speed of rotation of a side wall roughing tool (250) can be varied in accordances with the speed of relative movement between the tool (250) and side wall portions of the shoe being roughed (the traverse speed of the tool). To this end, a flow control arrangement (F) is provided including a plurality of flow control valves (CV1, CV2), the arrangement being such that, with the rate of flow through each such valve set, the operator can select one or other to be switched into the hydraulic circuit by which a hydraulic motor (232) is driven, said motor effecting rotation of the tool. The selection of one or other flow control valve (CV1, CV2) is made by the operator during the digitishing of the path of the tool relative to the shoe and such information is stored together with the programmed instruction, in the form of digitised corrdiante axis values, for said path.

Machine for roughing side walls portions of a shoe

The apparatus comprises a pulling over and toe lasting machine and a side and heel seat lasting machine. The pulling over and toe lasting machine comprises two linear potentiometers (102, 104) for monitoring the movement of the heel rest (26) both lengthwise and heightwise of a shoe, a left/right sensor (PrS2) and a proximity switch (PrS1) which senses when the wiper plates (20) reach a predetermined position in their inwiping movement and causes output value information from the potentiometers (102, 104) and left/right sensor (PrS2) to be 'read'. The side and heel seat lasting machine comprises two side lasting assemblies (36) tiltable in a direction lengthwise of the shoe, to accommodate to the spring of the last, and two adhesive-applying nozzles (40) arranged to track along opposite portions of the shoe. A further linear potentiometer (146) monitors the nozzle movement, and stepping motors (66) are provided for effecting tilting movement of the assemblies (36). The side and seat lasting machine also comprises computer control means (FIGS. 7 to 11) which received the output value information from the linear potentiometers (102, 104) and left/right sensor (PrS2) of the pulling and lasting machine and, in accordance therewith, causes the angle of tilt of the side lasting assemblies (36) and also the distance through which the nozzles (40) are driven to be set. The apparatus may also include an automatic unloading device (122).

Apparatus for lasting toe, side and heel seat portions of a shoe

In a combined heel seat and side lasting machine, in which the heel seat lasting operation takes place during the dwell time necessary for the cement side lasting operation, the backpart of the shoe remains free of any clamping pressure at least in and adjacent the backseam region thereof, which pressure would have the effect of forcing excess material out of the heel seat region into the region to be lasted by the side lasting instrumentalities, while at the same time provision is made for locating the shoe, prior to the side lasting operation, in a predetermined relationship, both heightwise and lengthwise, with the heel seat lasting instrumentalities. To this end, the shoe is first located lengthwise by the heel band (16), whereafter, with the shoe clamped against a holddown (20), the heel band is retracted out of engagement with the backseam region of the shoe during the side lasting operation. If desired, to assist in controlling any excess material, breast line grippers (172) may be provided, in which case the heel band, in its retracted position, is caused to clamp on to the shoe to maintain the tension provided by the breast line grippers and enable them to be released prior to initiation of the side lasting operation.

Lasting heel seat and side portions of a shoe

In a heel seat lasting machine (or combined side and seat lasting machine) the shoe is located lengthwise and heightwise in relation to the heel seat lasting instrumentalities (18) by first locating it lengthwise by the heel band (16), retracting it through a predetermined distance to separate it from the heel band, locating it heightwise against a holddown (20), and returning it to its lengthwise location, moving the holddown therewith during the return movement.

Machines for lasting heel seat portions of shoes

Side lasting machine has a last support and two side lasting assemblies each comprising a plurality of lasting fingers, a plurality of clamp pads arranged beneath the fingers, one associated with each pair of fingers, and, depending from each finger and interposed between the pads and the upper, a plurality of lasting bands. Each band extends over the width of not less than two fingers; preferably in the region of the two most heelwardly disposed pairs, a single band is provided. Each pad is mounted for independent pivotal movement about a vertical axis, to enable it to conform more readily to the last contour. The pads hold the bands against the upper under a pressure sufficient to allow slipping therebetween, the band thus applying an updrafting force to the upper as the fingers move inwardly.

Shoe upper conforming machine

In a side (or heel seat and side) lasting machine, opposite side portions of the upper are clamped against the last, by means of clamp pads arranged in two rows one at each side of the last, prior to the lasting margin being wiped over corresponding marginal portions of the insole. To ensure that the upper lies snugly against the last prior to the in-wiping operation, the most heelwardly disposed pad of each row is so mounted that, as it is moved inwardly towards the last, it engages the upper at a position spaced from the feather line thereof, continued inward movement thereafter causing the pad to move towards the feather line, thereby causing an upward drafting of the upper. Said pads may be mounted to pivot or to be deflected to effect such upward draft. If desired, adjacent pads may be similarly mounted.

Growing community of inventors

Blaby, United Kingdom

James R Flanders