CA2123046A1 - Method and apparatus for making seamless uppers for footwear - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for making seamless uppers for footwearInfo
- Publication number
- CA2123046A1 CA2123046A1 CA 2123046 CA2123046A CA2123046A1 CA 2123046 A1 CA2123046 A1 CA 2123046A1 CA 2123046 CA2123046 CA 2123046 CA 2123046 A CA2123046 A CA 2123046A CA 2123046 A1 CA2123046 A1 CA 2123046A1
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- mold
- last
- cavity
- axis
- frame
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing a seam-less upper having an integrally molded sole includes a molding station with a first mold block, second and third mold blocks movable successively to the first molding block and within the axis thereof. A last is provided in the cavity formed in the first molding block and can be moved outwardly of the block. It is only when the second and third molding blocks have been closed successively onto the first molding block that plastics material is injected into the space defined between the last and the wall surfaces of the two mold-ing blocks. The split line of the mold is between the second and third mold parts forming the sole and the first mold part forming the upper, to allow the seam line to be formed along the edge of the sole or of the foxing of the boot so that it will be non-apparent on the boot per se.
Description
The present invention relates to an appara-tus and method for molding footwear from plastics mate-rial and in particular for forming a seamless upper for footwear.
There are many examples of injection molded footwear. Typical of such footwear and the apparatus for producing it is described in U.S. Patent 3,160,921 issued December 15, 1964 to Herbert Ludwig. As with most such footwear, the Ludwig boot has a seam extend-ing from the toe to the vamp and similarly at the heelalong the Achilles area. This seam is produced by the mold halves which split in a vertical plane.
The problem appears to lie in the fact that such injection molds, which are lasted molds, must be split in order to accommodate the last and to be able to properly demold the upper from the last.
In many cases injection molded boots are produced on carrousel molding machines having a plu-rality of stations. A split mold for forming the upper is also located on each station on the carrousel. The lasts are disposed horizontally and the mold halves split along horizontal planes onto the lasts while the sole plate moves horizontally towards the split mold to close the mold. Thus the resulting upper has a seam in a plane along the axis of the last.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide plastics molded footwear having a seamless upper.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus for injection molding a foot-wear upper without a visible seam.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a carrousel apparatus for producing footwear 2123~6 including an upper and sole wherein the upper is seam-less.
-It is a further aim of the present invention to produce a calf-length boot having a seamless upper.
An apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a first mold member having wall surfaces defining a cavity conforming to the outer sur-face of at least the lower portion of a footwear upper.
The first mold defining an opening for the cavity cor-responding to the demarcation of the upper. A last ismounted for movement in the cavity between a first position in the cavity, adjacent but spaced from the wall surfaces of the cavity, to define the inner sur-face of at least the lower portion of the upper and a second position at a greater distance from the cavity wall surfaces to allow demolding of the upper from the last. Means are provided for closing the opening of the first mold thereby closing the cavity with the last in the first position and injection means are provided for injecting plastics material into the cavity to fill the space between the last and the mold wall surfaces in order to form the seamless upper.
In a more specific embodiment, the means for closing the opening of the first mold is a second mold defining a second cavity shaped to form at least an intermediate sole portion.
In a more specific embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a frame and the first mold member is mounted to the frame. The last is also mounted to the frame and is movable in an axis relative to the first mold within the cavity of the first mold.
The second mold member is mounted in vertical alignment with the axis of the last and the first mold such that at least one of the first and second molds is movable 2123Q~6 in the axis relative-to the frame from a first position with the last in the first position within the cavity of the first mold and with the first mold spaced from the last sufficient to allow an injected plastics material to form an upper, to a second position wherein the first and second molds are separated and the last is moved outwardly of the cavity of the first mold to permit demolding of the upper from the last.
In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, injection means for injecting plastics is provided in the first mold and means are provided for actuating the injection means in the second position of the cycle.
In a further embodiment, a second injection means is associated with the second mold to inject a plastics of a different density and/or a different colour for forming the sole which may be different from the density of the plastics material forming the upper.
A method in accordance with the present invention comprises providing a molding station having first and second mold parts movable towards each other in a vertical axis and a last in a cavity of the mold parts wherein the cavity of the first mold part defines with the last, at least a lower portion of the upper and the cavity of the second mold part defines at least an intermediate portion of the sole of the footwear with the last. The steps include moving at least one of the first and second mold parts towards each other in an axis from a position wherein the first and second mold parts are spaced apart to a position wherein the mold parts are closed onto each otheri simultaneously moving the last to a position within the cavity of the first mold part; injecting plastics material into the cavities of the first and second molds; cooling the 21230~6 plastics material being molded; separating the molds along the vertical axis; and, moving the last outwardly of the first mold and demolding the upper from the last.
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, preferred embodiments thereof, and in which:
Figure 1 is an end elevation partly in cross-section of a molding station in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in cross-section similar to Figure 1 showing the parts in a different operative position;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation partly in cross-section similar to Figure 2, showing further parts in the same operative position;
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the molding station similar to Figure 3 with the parts in a dif-ferent operating position;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of a molding station showing another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section similar to Figure 5 showing the parts in a still different operative position;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section similar to Figures 5 and 6 showing the parts thereof in a still different operative position;
Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section similar to Figure 7 showing the parts in a dif-ferent operating position; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in cross-section of a detail of the present invention showing its second molds.
Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a molding station 10 which could be part of a carrousel. A typical carrousel might be a Union Car-rousel Last Machine, which has been adapted to the par-ticular molding operation of the present invention.
Such a carrousel last machine is well known and might be a a low pressure direct injection onto an upper and sold by MAIN Group, and will not be described in the present specification. Only a single molding station which would be repeated at several locations on the carrousel, will be described.
As shown in Figures 1 to 4 the molding sta-tion 10 includes a frame 12, including posts Z6, sup-porting table 25, and a first mold member 16 on frame 12 and adapted to slide vertically relative to the table 25.
A first mold member 16 includes a one piece mold block 36 having a cavity 22 defined by surfaces which replicate the outer surface of the finished lower portion, at least, of the upper. A bracket 34 slides on posts 26 and is fixed to telescoping hydraulic cyl-inder 28 which drives the bracket 34.
A sub-frame 38 is located below the table 25 and is adapted to slide on columns 26 which support the table 25. The sub-frame 38 mounts rods 40 which in turn support a last 18 The last 18 is movable within the mold block 36 As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the last 18 includes a collar 48 which fits tightly at the neck 50 of the mold block 36. The rods 40 slide in seals pro-vided at the collar 50. Compression springs 32 are pro-~1~3D~I;
vided on posts 26 and extend between bracket 34 and sub-assembly 38.
Hooks 44 may be fixed to the table 25 and extend downwardly to provide the lower limit of travel of the sub-frame 38.
As shown in Figure 9, the head of the car-rousel includes an arm 52 extending radially and mount-ing a rotating head 54. A second mold member 20 defin-ing a cavity 24 to form an intermediate sole portion is mounted to the head 54. A third mold 21 is mounted to the head 54 by rods 56 at 180 from the second mold 20.
The second mold 20 and third mold 21 can be rotated between a first position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a second position at a succeeding position on the carrousel (not shown) with the mold 21 in place as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The arm 52 and rotating head 54 is identical to the structure of the MAIN Group Carrousel low pres-sure last machine described above. However, in the pre-sent case, instead of mounting the last on the rotatinghead 54, the head mounts the molds forming the sole.
First mold member 16 further includes a mold part 60 associated with the mold block 36 as shown in Figures 1 to 4. This mold part 60 provides a cavity wall associated with cavity 22 to form the bottom meta-tarsal inner portion of the upper which extends inwardly of the last 18. In order not to interfere with the last 18 and to allow the last to move out of the cavity 22 as will be described, the mold part 60 can move away from the mold block 36 as shown in Figure 4, since it is mounted on the end of a sliding rod 62.
Rod 62 slides in an angled bore 64 in the mold block 36. The other end of rod 62 is adapted to travel in a loss motion slot 66 formed on the sub-assembly 38.
~ - 7 2123D~ 6 Figure 1 shows the molding station in a position prior to forming a footwear product. In this case the cylinder 28 and bracket 34 are at their lower most position. The last 18 is within the cavity 22 while the sub-frame 38, on which the last 18 is mounted, is at its lowest position seated on the hooks 44 extending downwardly from the table 25.
The mold part 60 is in its closed position and the second mold 20 is closed onto the mold I0 block 36. The cavity 22 with the last 18 is closed and is ready for the first plastics injection to form the upper and an intermediate portion of the sole.
In Figure 2 the cycle has been initiated and the cylinder 28 including bracket 34 have moved upwardly in the vertical axis.
The injection molding procedure is started and as shown in Figure 2 the plastics material has been injected to form the upper and an intermediate portion of the sole which is delimited by the mold 20. As shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the mold 20 will then be raised. As seen in Figure 9 the arm 52 is mounted to a carriage 68 which travels on a track 70 formed on the carrousel. Thus, as shown in Figures 2 and 9, the mold 20 will be raised a short distance to be released from the mold 16 and allow the head 54 to be rotated at 180 in order to move the mold 21 into the position over the cavity 22 of first mold 16. The carrousel will have rotated the station 10 to the next injection posi-tion and the mold 21 is then lowered into a position as shown in Figure 3. A second plastics material of a different density is then injected to form the sole onto the intermediate portion of the sole. The second plastics material may be of a different colour and/or same density.
~_ - 8 2123~46 As shown in Figure 4 the cylinder 28 con-tinues its travel, in the vertical axis, moving the sub-frame 38, and thus the last 18, out of the cav-ity 22.
However, as the last 18 begins its upward travel on the rods 40, the mold 21 will have been removed from the top of the block 36 as previously described. The upward movement of the sub-frame 38 causes the mold part 60 to be disengaged from the mold block 36 by means of rod 62. Thus, the last 18 has a clear path to move upwardly and outwardly of the cav-ity 22 and allow the footwear product to be demolded from the last 18.
The only apparent split line is in a hori-zontal plane at the level of the sole. Thus, any seam will be coincident with an edge of the sole or other line demarcation on the upper and, therefore, the split line or seam is not apparent. It is important that the separation between the molds and the split line be at the highest point in order to allow air to escape dur-ing the molding.
The plastics material flows into the area between the last 18 and the cavity walls of the mold 21 to form the sole and heel portions. Different colour and/or different dènsity sole and heel can thus be integrated on the bottom of the upper.
Although not shown, the head 54 can be piv-oted 90 to move molds 20 and 21 out of position in order to allow access to the footwear which is on the last 18, and the footwear is then removed from the last. During the demolding of the upper and sole from the last 18 air can be injected through a nozzle (not shown) which can be provided on the sole part of the 2123~6 last 18 to thereby separate the sole of the boot from the last 18.
The sub-frame 38 is then lowered by retract-ing the cylinders 28. The weight of the sub-frame 38 on the bracket 34 should be sufficient to lower the last 18. However, in the event that sub-frame 38 is somehow held in suspension, there are springs 32 which extend between the brackets 34 and the sub-frame 38 to help move the sub-frame 38 downwardly to its lowest po-sition as shown in Figure 1. The cycle is then repeated.
Referring now to Figures 5 through 8 there is shown a more sophisticated embodiment of the present invention whereby calf length boots can be molded in the mold. Some of the corresponding numeral have been raised by 100 in these figures but they will not neces-sarily all be referred to. In any event the mold parts 120, 121 are identical to mold parts 120, 121 in Figures 1 to 4 and 9, and although the structure mount-ing the mold parts 120, 121 are not shown it would be identical to that shown in Figure 9.
The height of mold block 136 is increased and the cavity 122 is lengthen to include the outer shape of the calf portion of the boot. From a molding point of view the calf portion of the boot has greater dimensions than the ankle portion creating demolding problems. In the present embodiment, the last 118 has a second portion 119 which moves independently of last 118 but in the vertical axis.
A second sub-frame 100 shown in Figures 5 to 8 includes pistons 102 which are within cylindrical chambers 104 defined in last part 119.
Figure 5 shows the mold parts 116 and 120 or 121 closed onto the last parts 118 and 119. The 2123û46 plastics material is injected into the space defined between the cavity walls and last walls to mold a boot.
It is understood that the sequence of mold-ing the sole as described in respect of Figures 1 to 5 and 9 would be followed in the present embodiment. How-ever, in Figure 5 the representation of the second mold is identified by reference numerals 120 and 121 to indicate that both molds 120 forming the intermediate portion of the sole, and injected with the plastics material which is injected to form the upper, can then be replaced by mold 121 to complete the sole using a plastics material, preferably of a different density and maybe of a different colour.
In Figures 6 through 8 mold 121 is identi-fied.
When it is required to demold the boot the last 119 is moved downwardly away from the cavity 122 as shown in Figure 6. This is accomplished by the bracket 134 moving downwardly and drawing rods 102 which move in cylindrical chamber 104 formed in the last 119. The air 174 is shut so that the cylindrical chamber 141 and piston 143 are deactivated. In fact air is provided in the cylindrical chamber 141 above the piston head of rod 143 when the lasts 118 and 119 are closed in the mold 116 as shown in Figure 5. This is to insure a tight closure of the two last portions 118 and 119 .
To allow the last portion 119 to move down-wardly as shown in Figure 6 the air must be released from the chamber 141, allowing the piston head of pis-ton rod 143 to be free of any mechanical connection with last 119 during its downward movement. Once the bracket 134 has reached the end of its bottom stroke as shown in Figure 4 it is then moved upwardly causing the 212~0~6 rods 102 to move in the loss motion chamber 104 without - moving the last portion 119. As the bracket 134 engages the sub-frame 138 by means of bumpers 135 the sub-frame 138 will begin its upward stroke, pushing the rod 140 which in turn lifts the last 118 from the cav-ity 122 as shown in Figure 8. A further upward movement of the bracket 134 and sub-frame 138 will cause the last part 119 to return along its upper stroke into the mold cavity 122. However, by the time the last part 119 reaches its position within the cavity 122 the calf portion of the boot will have been demolded from the cavity 122 and the last portion 119. The complete boot can then be demolded from the last 118.
Once the boot B has been demolded from the last 118 the bracket 134 and sub-frame 138 are reversed and start their downward movement to reach a position as shown in Figure 5. At the same time air is intro-duced into the cylinder 141 above the head of the pis-ton rod 143 to positively close the last portion 118 against the last portion 119 within the mold 122. A
second mold 120 is then closed on the opening formed and the cycle can be repeated.
There are many examples of injection molded footwear. Typical of such footwear and the apparatus for producing it is described in U.S. Patent 3,160,921 issued December 15, 1964 to Herbert Ludwig. As with most such footwear, the Ludwig boot has a seam extend-ing from the toe to the vamp and similarly at the heelalong the Achilles area. This seam is produced by the mold halves which split in a vertical plane.
The problem appears to lie in the fact that such injection molds, which are lasted molds, must be split in order to accommodate the last and to be able to properly demold the upper from the last.
In many cases injection molded boots are produced on carrousel molding machines having a plu-rality of stations. A split mold for forming the upper is also located on each station on the carrousel. The lasts are disposed horizontally and the mold halves split along horizontal planes onto the lasts while the sole plate moves horizontally towards the split mold to close the mold. Thus the resulting upper has a seam in a plane along the axis of the last.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide plastics molded footwear having a seamless upper.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus for injection molding a foot-wear upper without a visible seam.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a carrousel apparatus for producing footwear 2123~6 including an upper and sole wherein the upper is seam-less.
-It is a further aim of the present invention to produce a calf-length boot having a seamless upper.
An apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a first mold member having wall surfaces defining a cavity conforming to the outer sur-face of at least the lower portion of a footwear upper.
The first mold defining an opening for the cavity cor-responding to the demarcation of the upper. A last ismounted for movement in the cavity between a first position in the cavity, adjacent but spaced from the wall surfaces of the cavity, to define the inner sur-face of at least the lower portion of the upper and a second position at a greater distance from the cavity wall surfaces to allow demolding of the upper from the last. Means are provided for closing the opening of the first mold thereby closing the cavity with the last in the first position and injection means are provided for injecting plastics material into the cavity to fill the space between the last and the mold wall surfaces in order to form the seamless upper.
In a more specific embodiment, the means for closing the opening of the first mold is a second mold defining a second cavity shaped to form at least an intermediate sole portion.
In a more specific embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a frame and the first mold member is mounted to the frame. The last is also mounted to the frame and is movable in an axis relative to the first mold within the cavity of the first mold.
The second mold member is mounted in vertical alignment with the axis of the last and the first mold such that at least one of the first and second molds is movable 2123Q~6 in the axis relative-to the frame from a first position with the last in the first position within the cavity of the first mold and with the first mold spaced from the last sufficient to allow an injected plastics material to form an upper, to a second position wherein the first and second molds are separated and the last is moved outwardly of the cavity of the first mold to permit demolding of the upper from the last.
In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, injection means for injecting plastics is provided in the first mold and means are provided for actuating the injection means in the second position of the cycle.
In a further embodiment, a second injection means is associated with the second mold to inject a plastics of a different density and/or a different colour for forming the sole which may be different from the density of the plastics material forming the upper.
A method in accordance with the present invention comprises providing a molding station having first and second mold parts movable towards each other in a vertical axis and a last in a cavity of the mold parts wherein the cavity of the first mold part defines with the last, at least a lower portion of the upper and the cavity of the second mold part defines at least an intermediate portion of the sole of the footwear with the last. The steps include moving at least one of the first and second mold parts towards each other in an axis from a position wherein the first and second mold parts are spaced apart to a position wherein the mold parts are closed onto each otheri simultaneously moving the last to a position within the cavity of the first mold part; injecting plastics material into the cavities of the first and second molds; cooling the 21230~6 plastics material being molded; separating the molds along the vertical axis; and, moving the last outwardly of the first mold and demolding the upper from the last.
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, preferred embodiments thereof, and in which:
Figure 1 is an end elevation partly in cross-section of a molding station in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in cross-section similar to Figure 1 showing the parts in a different operative position;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation partly in cross-section similar to Figure 2, showing further parts in the same operative position;
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the molding station similar to Figure 3 with the parts in a dif-ferent operating position;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of a molding station showing another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section similar to Figure 5 showing the parts in a still different operative position;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section similar to Figures 5 and 6 showing the parts thereof in a still different operative position;
Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section similar to Figure 7 showing the parts in a dif-ferent operating position; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in cross-section of a detail of the present invention showing its second molds.
Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a molding station 10 which could be part of a carrousel. A typical carrousel might be a Union Car-rousel Last Machine, which has been adapted to the par-ticular molding operation of the present invention.
Such a carrousel last machine is well known and might be a a low pressure direct injection onto an upper and sold by MAIN Group, and will not be described in the present specification. Only a single molding station which would be repeated at several locations on the carrousel, will be described.
As shown in Figures 1 to 4 the molding sta-tion 10 includes a frame 12, including posts Z6, sup-porting table 25, and a first mold member 16 on frame 12 and adapted to slide vertically relative to the table 25.
A first mold member 16 includes a one piece mold block 36 having a cavity 22 defined by surfaces which replicate the outer surface of the finished lower portion, at least, of the upper. A bracket 34 slides on posts 26 and is fixed to telescoping hydraulic cyl-inder 28 which drives the bracket 34.
A sub-frame 38 is located below the table 25 and is adapted to slide on columns 26 which support the table 25. The sub-frame 38 mounts rods 40 which in turn support a last 18 The last 18 is movable within the mold block 36 As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the last 18 includes a collar 48 which fits tightly at the neck 50 of the mold block 36. The rods 40 slide in seals pro-vided at the collar 50. Compression springs 32 are pro-~1~3D~I;
vided on posts 26 and extend between bracket 34 and sub-assembly 38.
Hooks 44 may be fixed to the table 25 and extend downwardly to provide the lower limit of travel of the sub-frame 38.
As shown in Figure 9, the head of the car-rousel includes an arm 52 extending radially and mount-ing a rotating head 54. A second mold member 20 defin-ing a cavity 24 to form an intermediate sole portion is mounted to the head 54. A third mold 21 is mounted to the head 54 by rods 56 at 180 from the second mold 20.
The second mold 20 and third mold 21 can be rotated between a first position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a second position at a succeeding position on the carrousel (not shown) with the mold 21 in place as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The arm 52 and rotating head 54 is identical to the structure of the MAIN Group Carrousel low pres-sure last machine described above. However, in the pre-sent case, instead of mounting the last on the rotatinghead 54, the head mounts the molds forming the sole.
First mold member 16 further includes a mold part 60 associated with the mold block 36 as shown in Figures 1 to 4. This mold part 60 provides a cavity wall associated with cavity 22 to form the bottom meta-tarsal inner portion of the upper which extends inwardly of the last 18. In order not to interfere with the last 18 and to allow the last to move out of the cavity 22 as will be described, the mold part 60 can move away from the mold block 36 as shown in Figure 4, since it is mounted on the end of a sliding rod 62.
Rod 62 slides in an angled bore 64 in the mold block 36. The other end of rod 62 is adapted to travel in a loss motion slot 66 formed on the sub-assembly 38.
~ - 7 2123D~ 6 Figure 1 shows the molding station in a position prior to forming a footwear product. In this case the cylinder 28 and bracket 34 are at their lower most position. The last 18 is within the cavity 22 while the sub-frame 38, on which the last 18 is mounted, is at its lowest position seated on the hooks 44 extending downwardly from the table 25.
The mold part 60 is in its closed position and the second mold 20 is closed onto the mold I0 block 36. The cavity 22 with the last 18 is closed and is ready for the first plastics injection to form the upper and an intermediate portion of the sole.
In Figure 2 the cycle has been initiated and the cylinder 28 including bracket 34 have moved upwardly in the vertical axis.
The injection molding procedure is started and as shown in Figure 2 the plastics material has been injected to form the upper and an intermediate portion of the sole which is delimited by the mold 20. As shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the mold 20 will then be raised. As seen in Figure 9 the arm 52 is mounted to a carriage 68 which travels on a track 70 formed on the carrousel. Thus, as shown in Figures 2 and 9, the mold 20 will be raised a short distance to be released from the mold 16 and allow the head 54 to be rotated at 180 in order to move the mold 21 into the position over the cavity 22 of first mold 16. The carrousel will have rotated the station 10 to the next injection posi-tion and the mold 21 is then lowered into a position as shown in Figure 3. A second plastics material of a different density is then injected to form the sole onto the intermediate portion of the sole. The second plastics material may be of a different colour and/or same density.
~_ - 8 2123~46 As shown in Figure 4 the cylinder 28 con-tinues its travel, in the vertical axis, moving the sub-frame 38, and thus the last 18, out of the cav-ity 22.
However, as the last 18 begins its upward travel on the rods 40, the mold 21 will have been removed from the top of the block 36 as previously described. The upward movement of the sub-frame 38 causes the mold part 60 to be disengaged from the mold block 36 by means of rod 62. Thus, the last 18 has a clear path to move upwardly and outwardly of the cav-ity 22 and allow the footwear product to be demolded from the last 18.
The only apparent split line is in a hori-zontal plane at the level of the sole. Thus, any seam will be coincident with an edge of the sole or other line demarcation on the upper and, therefore, the split line or seam is not apparent. It is important that the separation between the molds and the split line be at the highest point in order to allow air to escape dur-ing the molding.
The plastics material flows into the area between the last 18 and the cavity walls of the mold 21 to form the sole and heel portions. Different colour and/or different dènsity sole and heel can thus be integrated on the bottom of the upper.
Although not shown, the head 54 can be piv-oted 90 to move molds 20 and 21 out of position in order to allow access to the footwear which is on the last 18, and the footwear is then removed from the last. During the demolding of the upper and sole from the last 18 air can be injected through a nozzle (not shown) which can be provided on the sole part of the 2123~6 last 18 to thereby separate the sole of the boot from the last 18.
The sub-frame 38 is then lowered by retract-ing the cylinders 28. The weight of the sub-frame 38 on the bracket 34 should be sufficient to lower the last 18. However, in the event that sub-frame 38 is somehow held in suspension, there are springs 32 which extend between the brackets 34 and the sub-frame 38 to help move the sub-frame 38 downwardly to its lowest po-sition as shown in Figure 1. The cycle is then repeated.
Referring now to Figures 5 through 8 there is shown a more sophisticated embodiment of the present invention whereby calf length boots can be molded in the mold. Some of the corresponding numeral have been raised by 100 in these figures but they will not neces-sarily all be referred to. In any event the mold parts 120, 121 are identical to mold parts 120, 121 in Figures 1 to 4 and 9, and although the structure mount-ing the mold parts 120, 121 are not shown it would be identical to that shown in Figure 9.
The height of mold block 136 is increased and the cavity 122 is lengthen to include the outer shape of the calf portion of the boot. From a molding point of view the calf portion of the boot has greater dimensions than the ankle portion creating demolding problems. In the present embodiment, the last 118 has a second portion 119 which moves independently of last 118 but in the vertical axis.
A second sub-frame 100 shown in Figures 5 to 8 includes pistons 102 which are within cylindrical chambers 104 defined in last part 119.
Figure 5 shows the mold parts 116 and 120 or 121 closed onto the last parts 118 and 119. The 2123û46 plastics material is injected into the space defined between the cavity walls and last walls to mold a boot.
It is understood that the sequence of mold-ing the sole as described in respect of Figures 1 to 5 and 9 would be followed in the present embodiment. How-ever, in Figure 5 the representation of the second mold is identified by reference numerals 120 and 121 to indicate that both molds 120 forming the intermediate portion of the sole, and injected with the plastics material which is injected to form the upper, can then be replaced by mold 121 to complete the sole using a plastics material, preferably of a different density and maybe of a different colour.
In Figures 6 through 8 mold 121 is identi-fied.
When it is required to demold the boot the last 119 is moved downwardly away from the cavity 122 as shown in Figure 6. This is accomplished by the bracket 134 moving downwardly and drawing rods 102 which move in cylindrical chamber 104 formed in the last 119. The air 174 is shut so that the cylindrical chamber 141 and piston 143 are deactivated. In fact air is provided in the cylindrical chamber 141 above the piston head of rod 143 when the lasts 118 and 119 are closed in the mold 116 as shown in Figure 5. This is to insure a tight closure of the two last portions 118 and 119 .
To allow the last portion 119 to move down-wardly as shown in Figure 6 the air must be released from the chamber 141, allowing the piston head of pis-ton rod 143 to be free of any mechanical connection with last 119 during its downward movement. Once the bracket 134 has reached the end of its bottom stroke as shown in Figure 4 it is then moved upwardly causing the 212~0~6 rods 102 to move in the loss motion chamber 104 without - moving the last portion 119. As the bracket 134 engages the sub-frame 138 by means of bumpers 135 the sub-frame 138 will begin its upward stroke, pushing the rod 140 which in turn lifts the last 118 from the cav-ity 122 as shown in Figure 8. A further upward movement of the bracket 134 and sub-frame 138 will cause the last part 119 to return along its upper stroke into the mold cavity 122. However, by the time the last part 119 reaches its position within the cavity 122 the calf portion of the boot will have been demolded from the cavity 122 and the last portion 119. The complete boot can then be demolded from the last 118.
Once the boot B has been demolded from the last 118 the bracket 134 and sub-frame 138 are reversed and start their downward movement to reach a position as shown in Figure 5. At the same time air is intro-duced into the cylinder 141 above the head of the pis-ton rod 143 to positively close the last portion 118 against the last portion 119 within the mold 122. A
second mold 120 is then closed on the opening formed and the cycle can be repeated.
Claims (10)
1. An apparatus for footwear comprising a first mold member, including wall surfaces defining a cavity conforming to the outer surface of at least the lower portion of a footwear upper, the first mold defining an opening for the cavity corresponding to the demarcation of the upper, a last mounted for movement in the cavity between a first position and the cavity adjacent but spaced from the wall surfaces to define the inner sur-face of at least the lower portion of the upper, and a second position at a greater distance from the cavity wall surfaces to allow demolding of the upper from the last, means for closing the openings of the first mold, thereby closing the cavity with the last in said first position, and injection means for injecting a plastics material into the cavity to fill the space between the last and the wall surfaces of the cavity in order to form the upper.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means for closing the opening of the first mold is a second mold defining a second cavity having wall sur-faces conforming to the shape of at least an interme-diate sole portion and wherein the space between the last and the wall surfaces of the second mold will enable the intermediate sole portion to be molded with the upper and to be jointed thereto.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second molds is movable in an axis relative to the frame from a first position with the last in position within the cavity of the first mold, and with the first mold spaced from the second mold, to a second position wherein the second mold is closed onto the opening of the first mold, and a third position with the first and second molds are separated and the last is moved outwardly of the cavity of the first mold to permit demolding of the footwear from the last.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the first mold is mounted on a frame, the last is mounted to the frame and in the cavity and is movable in said axis while the second mold slides in said axis to meet the first mold.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein a third mold part similar to the second mold part is mounted on a rotatable head at a 180° from the second mold part which in turn is mounted to a bracket on a frame, and wherein the second and third mold parts can rotate about the axis of rotation of the rotating head so as to move the second mold part out of the way in order to align the third mold part with said axis and the opening and means to close the third mold part onto the opening and means for injecting a second plastics material to complete the sole of the footwear.
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means provided for moving the last include a tele-scopic cylinder arrangement provided in said axis away from the first mold and connected to said bracket, while connecting rods extend between the bracket and the last.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the first mold block has a bottom surface and a second opening corresponding to the edges of the cavity at the bottom surface of the first mold block, at least one connecting rod extends between the sub-frame below the first mold block and the last within the cavity, the sub-frame being slidable on the frame, and means are provided for limiting the movement of the sub-frame, and thus the last in the said axis.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the last has two parts, a first last part which has connecting link members extending between the first last part within the cavity of the first block and the sub-frame, and a second last part which is movable in the said axis from the cavity through the second open-ing, and means connecting the bracket to the second last part to withdraw the second last part from the cavity when it is required to demold the footwear so formed from the first last portion.
9. A method of manufacturing seamless molded footwear comprising a molding station having first and second mold parts movable towards each other in an axis, and a last in a cavity of the mold parts wherein the cavity of the first mold part defines with the last, at least the lower portion of the upper and the cavity of the second mold part defines at least an intermediate sole portion with the last; the steps in-cluding moving at least one of the first and second mold parts towards each other in an axis from a posi-tion wherein the first and second mold parts are spaced apart to a position wherein the mold parts are closed onto each other while simultaneously moving the last to a position within the cavity of the first mold part;
injecting plastics material into the cavities so formed, cooling the plastics material being molded and separating the molds along said axis, and then moving the last outwardly of the first mold and demolding the footwear from the last.
injecting plastics material into the cavities so formed, cooling the plastics material being molded and separating the molds along said axis, and then moving the last outwardly of the first mold and demolding the footwear from the last.
10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein a further step includes, after injecting the plastics material, removing the second mold part and moving a third mold part to close onto the first mold part and injecting a second plastics material at least to the sole portion formed by the third mold part.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US18448094A | 1994-01-19 | 1994-01-19 | |
| US08/184,480 | 1994-01-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2123046A1 true CA2123046A1 (en) | 1995-07-20 |
Family
ID=22677055
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2123046 Abandoned CA2123046A1 (en) | 1994-01-19 | 1994-05-06 | Method and apparatus for making seamless uppers for footwear |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2123046A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109454817A (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2019-03-12 | 东莞塘厦怡丰运动科技有限公司 | A kind of sole two-color dual-density molding die |
| WO2019222828A1 (en) * | 2018-05-25 | 2019-11-28 | Bauer Hockey, Ltd. | Skate or other footwear |
| US11130044B2 (en) | 2014-10-22 | 2021-09-28 | Bauer Hockey Llc | Hockey skate including a one-piece frame with integral pedestals |
| US11406157B2 (en) | 2016-02-09 | 2022-08-09 | Bauer Hockey, Llc | Skate or other footwear |
| US11969056B2 (en) | 2022-06-17 | 2024-04-30 | Bauer Hockey Llc | Skate or other footwear |
-
1994
- 1994-05-06 CA CA 2123046 patent/CA2123046A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11130044B2 (en) | 2014-10-22 | 2021-09-28 | Bauer Hockey Llc | Hockey skate including a one-piece frame with integral pedestals |
| US11826633B2 (en) | 2014-10-22 | 2023-11-28 | Bauer Hockey Llc | Hockey skate including a one-piece frame with integral pedestals |
| US11406157B2 (en) | 2016-02-09 | 2022-08-09 | Bauer Hockey, Llc | Skate or other footwear |
| WO2019222828A1 (en) * | 2018-05-25 | 2019-11-28 | Bauer Hockey, Ltd. | Skate or other footwear |
| CN112469554A (en) * | 2018-05-25 | 2021-03-09 | 鲍尔曲棍球有限责任公司 | Skates or other shoes |
| CN109454817A (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2019-03-12 | 东莞塘厦怡丰运动科技有限公司 | A kind of sole two-color dual-density molding die |
| CN109454817B (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2024-01-12 | 东莞塘厦怡丰运动科技有限公司 | Double-color double-density forming die for sole |
| US11969056B2 (en) | 2022-06-17 | 2024-04-30 | Bauer Hockey Llc | Skate or other footwear |
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