Usm Corporation

British United Shoe Machinery Ltd.

Emhart Industries, Inc.

British United Shoe Machine Ltd.

Raymond Hanson

Malcolm Tillyard

Christopher M Allen

Frank C Price

Nigel R Tout

John Davies

Anthony M White

Hubertus Von Voithenberg

Karl-Heinz Albert

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 device applying a two-component composition to a workpiece surface comprises an applicator head (384) to which the two components are supplied separately via tubes (726, 382) arranged one inside the other. The applicator head includes a ball member (392) over the surface of which the components supplied via the tubes can flow and be applied to the workpiece surface, substantially unmixed at the point of application. The applicator head (384) supports a rotary brush assembly (398) which, when its annular operating surface portion is pressed against the workpiece surface, serves both to mix the substantially still separate components on the workpiece surface and to spread the thus formed adhesive composition over the workpiece surface. A gravity-fed system (T, RV1, RV2) is provided for supplying a first component and a pressurized feed system (P, R, RV3, RV4) for supplying a second component respectively to first and second bellows units (756, 744) from which said quantities are then fed separately at a controlled rate to the point of application (380). For metering the two components the bellows units are caused to increase or decrease in volume at a controlled rate, such that the component flow rate therefrom is constant throughout their operation. A control device for controlling the bellows units includes a pivotal lever (762) to which each unit is connected by an articulated linkage (760, 778).

Handling multi-component compositions

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

Method of bonding a sole to a shoe by applying moisture-curable melt adhesive to the shoe upper, subjecting the adhesive coating to a hot-cure step with airborne moisture, and pressing the sole and shoe upper together with the adhesive between them immediately after the hot-cure step, preferably in less than 90 seconds after leaving the hot-cure. The bond is effected without application of adhesive to the sole, which is merely pre-treated by wiping with solvent or primer solution.

Attaching soles to shoes

A shoe machine for heating a shoe part is disclosed having a housing which defines a chamber. Shrouds are located centrally within the chamber defining first and second operating zones on either side of the shrouds. A heater is displaceable from a first operating position within the first operating zone to a park position within the shrouds to a second operating position within the second operating zone, and heats shoe parts supported within the first and second operating zones.

Apparatus for heating shoe parts

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

Applicator nozzles for applying a band of liquid composition e.g. hot melt adhesive to a workpiece using a hand-held applicator have been unsuitable for some purposes. By this invention a nozzle is provided comprising a resiliently flexible applicator portion terminating in a spreading lip of triangular section, bounding a depression and having an orifice e.g. cruciform in shape, opening into the depression, through which orifice material to be applied is supplied to provide a reservoir of composition in the depression. In a preferred nozzle the lip is defined by a frusto-conical outer surface and a surface of the depression meeting at an effectively circular spreading edge portion. In use the nozzle is placed on a workpiece the reservoir of composition forming a pool on the workpiece, the nozzle axis being tilted so that only a trailing edge of the lip contacts the workpiece as composition is applied.

Applicator nozzle

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 method of treating shoe parts having a coating of a moisture-curable composition utilizes an apparatus in which a support (16) for an article, e.g. a lasted shoe S, can be supported within a chamber (30) in which the support can be enclosed. The chamber (30) is supplied with heat and moisture. More especially, the article is subjected to infra-red radiation from a heater (44) and steam is supplied to the chamber (30) such that the humidity of the atmosphere within the chamber (30) is maintained during the operating cycle at a dew point of between 50.degree. and 60.degree. C. The surface temperature of the heater (44) is between 250.degree. and 420.degree. C., preferably between 300.degree. and 380.degree. C., and the article is subjected to infra-red radiation for a period of between 5 and 25 seconds, preferably 10 seconds. Because the chamber (30) is enclosed, steam is supplied for only the first 5 seconds of the heating period.

Treatment of articles having a coating of a moisture-curable composition

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 method of applying a band of liquid adhesive in which the adhesive is spread by a resiliently flexible tapering applicator portion having an adhesive-guiding surface which extends to a narrow terminal spreading surface, the adhesive-guiding being concave about an axis which extends transversely of the spreading surface. The spreading surface is brought into contact with a workpiece, a pool of adhesive from an orifice in the adhesive-guiding surface is formed against the spreading surface, the applicator portion is caused to flex so that a portion of the adhesive-guiding surface extends along the workpiece surface, and relative movement between the workpiece and the applicator portion is brought about so that the adhesive is spread. An applicator head and an apparatus are also claimed.

Method and apparatus for use in applying a band of liquid adhesive

The machine comprises a plurality of substantially enclosed channels in which a lasted shoe upper is subjected to hot air blown from both sides of the channel. Conveyors carry the uppers along the channels past inlets located at a distance of from 6 to 20 cms from the center-line of the lasted upper as it passes longitudinally along the channel. This arrangement enables air to be blown on to the uppers at high velocity. Moistening means may be provided to introduce moisture into the air before it is blown on to the uppers.

Apparatus for use in heat setting a lasted shoe upper

A method of rapidly heat setting a shoe on a last wherein the shoe is subjected to dry air at elevated temperature, the air moving at a velocity at the shoe exterior of not less than five (5) meters per second for not more than three and one-half minutes. The method achieves shape retention in a lasted upper with improved efficiency.

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Rearsby, United Kingdom

Raymond Hanson