Usm Corporation

British United Shoe Machinery Ltd.

Malcolm Tillyard

Raymond Hanson

Christopher M Allen

Frank C Price

Kingsley J Tutt

Joseph A Shutt

Nigel R Tout

Terence J Brown

For drying coatings of solvent-based adhesive applied to shoe bottoms a through-flow drying apparatus is provided which utilises air at ambient temperature for the constant rate period (i.e. the period during which the surface of the coating is 'wet'), and thereafter applies infra-red heating during the falling rate period (i.e. the period when migration of the solvent through the solid adhesive is to be achieved). In the first stage, jets of air are directed against the shoe bottom at a velocity of not less than 15 meters/second (measured at the inlets (38)), while at the heating station a plate heater (42) of a size which is larger than the area of the shoe bottom is provided. Ideally, when the shoe is removed from the apparatus, an outsole having a reactivated coating of adhesive can be located with the shoe bottom and bonded thereto, without reactivation of the shoe bottom adhesive itself. Also disclosed is a shoe support (46) for supporting shoes of a wide range of sizes with little or no need for adjustment, said support comprising a plurality of pairs of shoe-engaging rolls (60, 62, 64) between which the downwardly depending portions of the shoe last can be accommodated.

Drying a coating of solvent-based adhesive

A nozzle having a flexible blade member with a flat adhesive-receiving surface in combination with a rotary transfer roll and side wall elements forms a reservoir for adhesive 'upstream' (in the direction of roll rotation) of the line of contact of a straight edge of the surface with the roll surface, the arrangement being such that a layer of the adhesive, doctored by blade member to control its thickness and with its width controlled by the wall elements, is applied to the roll surface and carried thereby to the operating locality. An adhesive supply system is also provided for supplying adhesive to the reservoir, said system including a melting device for adhesive in solid form and pressure control means for controlling the pressure under which the adhesive is supplied.

Adhesive-applying apparatus

An apparatus is provided with a chamber (20) into which a plurality of jets of moisture-laden air is directed through apertures (nozzles) 18. Through the chamber lasted shoes S, on the bottoms of which a coating of a moisture-curable adhesive composition has been applied, are progressively moved, supported bottom uppermost. The velocity of the air, which is re-circulated, is between 10 and 20 meters/second (measured at the apertures), its temperature is between 85.degree. C. and 125.degree.0 C. (measured at the point of impingement on the article) and its dew point not greater than 60.degree. C. The lasted shoes are subjected to this treatment for a period of 1 to 31/2 minutes.

Curing coatings of a moisture-curable composition

Apparatus for the heat treatment of lasted shoe uppers, e.g. for use in the curing of moisture-curable adhesive applied to the periphery of a shoe bottom. The apparatus comprises a treatment station (2), a conveyor belt (4) and drive means therefor, the belt being adapted to progressively present portions of lasted shoe uppers to the treatment station, and support means for the belt. The conveyor belt (4) comprises one or more rows of slots (10) extending in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, each slot (10) being so dimensioned that a lasted shoe upper can be supported bottom up by the conveyor belt (4) with the last cone projecting into the slot. The support means preferably comprises two portions, the first portion comprising lands (16) by which the belt (4) is supported adjacent the or each row of slots (10) and a trough aligned with said path of movement, and the second portion comprising a continuous support surface (20).

Apparatus for the heat treatment of lasted shoe uppers

The apparatus comprises a support for a shoe part which is to have adhesive on a surface thereof activated by heat, and a heating member arranged to emit infra-red radiation to heat the shoe part. The heating member is mounted for movement between an operative position thereof in which the heating member is in opposed relationship with the support so that the shoe part can be heated, and an inoperative position in which the heating member is substantially enclosed by infra-red radiation reflecting screens.

Shoe part heating apparatus

A metal plate is heated to bring a heating surface thereof to a temperature of between 450.degree. C. and 300.degree. C. The shoe part to be heated is brought into opposed relationship with and close proximity to the heating surface. This method avoids color sensitivity problems and the necessity to adjust heaters to the shape of the shoe part. Apparatus for carrying out the method may have a support for a shoe on one side of the metal plate and a support for a sole to be attached to the shoe on the other side thereof.

Method and apparatus for use in heating shoe parts

A shoe support for supporting a shoe, bottom uppermost, with the bottom thereof exposed for an operation to be performed thereon, has a heel end support arrangement and toe end support means moveable relative thereto to accommodate shoes of different sizes. Associated with the toe end support means is a 'shoe present' sensing device which, when actuated, initiates movement of the toe and support means. The shoe support also has a shoe length sensing device and an arrangement, associated with the heel and support arrangement and including an inductance sensor, for sensing whether the shoe is a left or right.

Growing community of inventors

Leicester, United Kingdom

Malcolm Tillyard