British United Shoe Machinery Ltd.

British United Shoe Machine Ltd.

Terence J Brown

John Davies

Alfred R Corbett

Alan Thompson

Giovanni Cottino

A shoe support for supporting lasts of a wide range of sizes comprises two support members in the form of spaced-apart bars (38) each of which can pivot at an axis (36) extending adjacent an elongated edge of its associated bar so that the distance between the ends of the bars can be varied. Instead of bars (38), plate members (138) may be used, dimensioned so as to provide a substantially continuous support surface, for e.g. shoe components, when pivoted to a horizontal position. For maintaining the support members (38;138) in adjusted position, furthermore, a friction arrangement (40,42; 144,146) is provided. The shoe support is especially suitable for use in a shoe transporter system forming part of a drying apparatus in which the bottoms of shoes and/or shoe components to which a coating of e.g. adhesive has been applied can be supported by the shoe supports with the coated surfaces exposed to turbulent air and heat.

Shoe Support

A shoe support (18') for use e.g. in a machine for operating progressively on side wall portions of a lasted shoe upper comprises a last pin (722') and a toe support (792) both of which are movable heightwise to bring a shoe supported thereby to a heel seat height datum and toe end height datum as determined respectively by a toe abutment (806) and a holddown (450') which engages the insole in the heel seat region of the shoe. Heel end centralising means (390) and toe end centralising means (822') are also provided. More particularly toe centralising fingers (822') are provided with collars (882) mounted for equidistant heightwise movement to engage the lasting marginal portions of the shoe in the forepart region and thus level the shoe bottom about the heel-to-toe line determined by the holddown and toe abutment. In addition the last pin can rock about a lengthwise axis and is locked in 'rocked' position by a wedging system (862, 866). When the shoe has been properly located the last pin is urged to pivot toewardly thus to cause the last pin to 'bind' on the last pin hole formed in the last and, by the counter-force supplied by the toe support (792), the shoe is thus securely clamped on the last pin and toe support.

Shoe support

Two embodiments of the invention are described, namely a machine for performing an adhesive-applying operation progressively along marginal portions of the bottoms of lasted shoes and a machine for performing a roughing operation progressively along side wall portions of lasted shoes, each machine comprising a tool holder (670) for supporting a tool (20) for operating along three axes (X-, Y- and Z-axes) upon a workpiece surface, e.g. marginal portions of a shoe bottom. In addition the tool holder (670) is capable of pivoting in two directions, widthwise and lengthwise of the shoe bottom, about a point (P), but without displacment of said point in relation to the shoe support by reason of such pivotal movement. The movement along the various axes and the pivotal movement are all controlled by n.c. motors, e.g. stepping motors ((84), (144), (122), 698, 700), and operator-actuatable means is provided for enabling the path of such tool, including such pivotal movement, to the digitized under operator control.

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Wigston, United Kingdom

Terence J Brown