CH662519A5 - DEVICE FOR APPLYING A MELTED POWDER STRUCTURE TO A BASE OR PRODUCING A MELTED POWDER STRUCTURE APPLYABLE TO A BASE. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a device according to the preamble of patent claim 8 and a method according to the preamble of patent claims 12 and 22.

By applying the molten powder structure to a base, reinforcing and / or stiffening effects and / or decorative effects can be achieved. The pad can be, for example, a shoe upper before it is processed on a shoe last.

The shoe and clothing industry has provided its products with reinforcing, stiffening or decorative elements for many years. Manufacturer of pajamas, blue jeans, sportswear including sports equipment such as Gloves, peaked caps and the like, as well as shoe manufacturers, have sewn, glued or otherwise applied layers of reinforcement material on their products for many reasons. It has been common in the shoe industry to apply the reinforcement elements as a layer of melted thermoplastic material that adheres to a shoe upper. Early attempts to reinforce or stiffen a shoe upper consisted of inserting preformed stiffening elements or heel caps into a shoe upper prior to listing. Separate, deformable layers of material were introduced into the shoe upper prior to being applied, which could be softened by heat or solvent and which could be deformed in the course of the application to a specific configuration, while maintaining the configuration in that they were removed from the last before the shoe upper was removed have been cured. Shoe uppers have also been stiffened by impregnation with a solution or dispersion of a curable stiffening material in a volatilizing liquid prior to loading the shoe upper, the shoe upper being stiffened by curing the impregnation material after loading.

One such method for stiffening shoe uppers is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,316,573 to Chaplick et al. A shoe upper has a specific area in which an elastic, flexible stiffening element is applied in liquid form, which is heated to a melting point and which is brought into a three-dimensional configuration, which it retains during cooling.

Another arrangement for coating shoe parts is described in Kamborian U.S. Patent No. 3,342,624. A stencil plate lies on a shoe upper, while a concave support surface holds the combination. Then a doctor blade wipes over the plate to apply a liquid hardener into the recess in the shoe upper.

A more recent arrangement for stiffening shoe components is described in Babson et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,973,285, in which a molten amount of thermoplastic material is applied to a shoe upper that is held in an edge clamp.

The known arrangements may work well from time to time, but they have difficulty creating stiffeners of equal thickness over seams and overlapping patterns. The adhesion of the stiffening on its edges is often inadequate. Rough edge areas, fibers or "cobwebs" can occur in the known methods. The machines can lose their molten material from seams, drops can hang down, and the patterns take time and patience to be replaced.

The materials used in the known machines are limited to certain properties in terms of viscosity and heat stability, which required careful use, often affecting the appearance of the final product. These special materials are also more expensive.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method which overcomes the disadvantages of the known one. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for producing a reinforcement, stiffening or decorative element in a desired structure, either as a single piece or as part of a base such as e.g. B. an upper or a material similar to material. The structure is said to be made from a wide range of cheap polymeric materials with good physical properties. In addition, it should be possible to easily change the structures using known, cheap template tools in order to meet the requirements of different patterns, reinforcements or decorations.

Another object of the invention is also to provide an apparatus and a method which enables the production of pleasant stiffened or reinforced shoe uppers without having the disadvantages of the known.

The present invention relates to a device which can be used to reinforce and / or stiffen and / or decorate underlays which can be flexible, e.g. the underside of shoe uppers or parts of clothing or the like, on which a molten, powdery material is applied. In its preferred embodiment, the device includes an elongated frame with a number of work stations arranged thereon. The first station contains an order station. The second station contains a heating station and the last station contains a connection and cooling or pressing station. The application station has a horizontal carrier strip of rectangular configuration. The carrier strip is stretched over a frame which can be moved or conveyed to the individual stations. The carrier strip has the function of a carrier surface and consists of a thin layer of woven glass fibers or a metal sieve, which is coated with an anti-adhesive, plastic

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tical, heat-resistant material is coated, which may contain a release substance. A stencil device is pivotally arranged over the carrier strip. The stencil device contains a mesh screen, preferably enclosed between an overlying layer of a smooth, impervious material and an underlying surface of a film, both of which adhere to one another on their side on the screen and through the screen. Both layers have the same, matching cutout, which releases the sieve. The sieve and the layers arranged thereon are held in a frame which is traversed by a trolley in order to apply reinforcing or stiffening material in powder form via a line from a storage container arranged above it. A seal of different thickness can be arranged around at least part of the cutout on the underside of the sieve in order to allow a predetermined amount of powder material to be filled. The powdery material which is applied from the reservoir is preferably a polyethylene, an ionomer or an ethylene vinyl acetate when the machine is used for shoe toe caps. Different versions of vinyl or nylon can be used for other types of reinforcements. The order carriage carries a pair of wiper blades and can be moved via controllable means via the template, such as, for. B. with a stepper motor, which cooperates with a rack or with a cable cylinder and rollers, which are mounted next to the carriage and the screen frame.

The heating station is arranged on the extended frame of the device next to the application station. The heating station contains a lower, flat surface, preferably made of metal, with a plurality of heating elements therein which can be heated to a temperature of 375 to 500 ° F (190 to 260 ° C). The lower flat surface also has a plurality of openings which are distributed over the surface and which are in connection with a vacuum device. The heating station contains an upper flat surface which is pivotally connected to the extended frame at one end. The upper flat part contains a plurality of surface heating elements, with a temperature range of approximately 400 to 700 ° F (205 to 370 ° C) which are arranged in parallel rows therein.

The pressing and / or cooling station, which is arranged at the end of the extended frame, consists of cooling and connecting means. An underlying flat block is in connection with a cooling device. An upper support assembly can accommodate a frame that supports an unreinforced, flexible base such as picks up a shoe upper or a piece of fabric by holding it in the edge area. The inside of the flexible pad, more precisely the shoe upper, is directed against the lower cooling block. The upper bracket may be movably supported over the lower block by reciprocating means, such as a piston / cylinder arrangement that can be activated on both sides and is attached to the frame. Activation of the piston and cylinder arrangement at the pressing station causes the holding device to move against or away from the lower cooled block.

The frame of the conveyable carrier strip is slidably mounted on a pair of horizontal guides, the frame being slidable thereon by means of pressure means to move the strip from the first station to the second station and then to the third station and back again to the first station. The frame of the carrier strip is relative to the guides by means of frame height adjustments such as a pressure cylinder movable up and down to ensure that the strip during the

Working hours in contact with the stations or to ensure a separation between the strips and the stations in the meantime. The carrier strip has a lower support device in the application station which is attached to the elongated frame and which can be moved up and down relative to the template device in order to support the carrier strip during the application of the powder.

A lot of meltable polymer powder, such as e.g. B. an ionomer, a polyethylene or an ethylene vinyl acetate of preferably 35 mesh (US standard) fineness from the storage container through the line into the applicator. The wiper blades are brushed over the fine surface of the template, the meltable powder falling into the cutout arranged therein. Each wiper blade is raised from the surface of the template by means of a control device, depending on the direction in which the blades are swept. The carrier strip is pressed against an arrangement of spacer elements, e.g. the peripheral seals are pressed onto the underside of the template. The carrier strip thus receives an application of a powder structure, the powder being able to be applied in a desired equal thickness, in a variable thickness or in a wedge shape, depending on the manner in which the spacer elements are arranged below the cutout and the manner in which clamping pieces (if any) present) were arranged on the lower support device. The spacer device may include a continuous peripheral seal or a partial seal and thereby selectively keep the carrier strip spaced from a portion of the underside of the template cutout.

Upon receipt of a control signal, the lower support arrangement and any clamping pieces attached to it are lowered under the carrier strip. A pneumatically activated control causes the underside of the template to be lifted from the carrier strip in such a way that air movements caused by the lifting and electrostatic effects are minimized. The three-dimensional structure of the powder, which was generated by the template pattern and the distance or clamping elements, is thus transferred to the receiver strip. Another control signal triggers pressure in the conveyor device in order to transport the frame of the carrier strip on its horizontal guides from the first application station to the second heating station. The acceleration of the carrier strip and its frame is carefully limited so that the powder structure is not affected. While different powder particle sizes and compositions as well as the condition of the carrier strip influence the tolerances of the structures, the acceleration is generally kept below 0.8 g.

At the heating station, the carrier strip is brought into contact with the lower flat surface. Upon contact with switches at the second station, the carrier strip is brought into contact with the lower flat surface by activating the frame adjustment device and the vacuum device in the lower surface is activated so that the carrier strip is brought into close contact with the lower surface. This favors the heat transfer to the powder from the lower heating elements and from the radiation from the upper heating elements.

After the powder structure on the carrier strip has been heated and melted into a three-dimensional viscous mass, the carrier strip can be lifted off the lower flat surface by reactivating the frame height adjustment or by releasing the pressure in the side cylinders. An Activation5

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tion of the printing device causes a transport of the carrier strip on its guides to the third station for connection to an unreinforced base such. B. with an upper or with a piece of cloth or, if a separate loose product is desired, only for cooling the molten structure. The carrier strip is lowered onto the surface of the flat block in a manner similar to that in the heating station, with an additional base being pressed against it, which helps to cool the melted structure on the carrier strip, which has a low specific heat. A shoe upper in its holding frame can at the same time be pressed against the melted structure to place the reinforcement, stiffening or decorative material on it, while still being tough, which ensures adhesion. The cooling effect of the lower block allows the melted structure to be detached from the carrier strip when the base or the shoe upper in the holding frame is pulled back upwards by activating the piston device. Lifting from the carrier strip can be optimized by using a variety of commercial release substances such as Silicone oil or lecithin or dry preparations made from mica, quartz and calcium carbonate or a combination of these substances. The frame that supports the now reinforced, stiffened or decorated underlay, e.g. holding a shoe upper, can be pulled out of the upper holding device and an unprocessed underlay in a frame can be re-inserted into the upper guide while the carrier strip and its frame are conveyed back to the first station in order to start the cycle again.

If individual reinforcement, stiffening or decorative parts are desired, the lower layer of the template and / or the carrier strip itself is preferably provided with a surface which facilitates detachment, for example by using a porous material. The purpose of the porous surface is to allow air bubbles to escape on and in the surface of the molten mass, ensuring a high quality, bubble free product.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and described in more detail below. Show it:

1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention,

2 shows a side view of the front of the machine according to FIG. 1,

3 and 3a a perspective view and a partial section of the first work station,

4 is a perspective view of the opened first work station,

5 is a perspective view of the opened second work station and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a pallet with a shoe upper arranged therein.

In Fig. 1, a linear powder application device 10 is shown, which for reinforcing and stiffening and / or decorating a base such. B. can be used by fabrics or shoe uppers. The device 10 has a linear arrangement of three work stations, the first station being a powder application station 12, the second station being a heating station 14 and the third station being a pressing and cooling station 16. The three work stations 12, 14 and 16 are mounted on a conventional elongated frame 18. The application station 12, which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, has a horizontally arranged carrier strip 20 which is connected to a strip holder 22

is excited. The carrier strip 20 and the strip holder 22 are part of a displaceable unit 24 which can be displaced to the other stations 14 and 16. Referring to Figure 4, the strip 20 is held taut by a first holder 22A which is attached to a lower plate 24A of the slidable unit 24. A second holder 22B tensions the strip 20 by connection to a pair of vertical struts 22C, each of which is pivotally retained by means of a bracket 22D attached to the lower plate 24A. The lower end of each strut 22C has a spring 22E which is connected to the struts which firmly connect the first bracket 22A to the lower plate 24A. A pair of tensioned, opposed frame members 23A and 23B are each separately secured in an upright bracket 23C which is pivotally mounted on the lower plate 24A, the clips 23A and 23B being able to be tensioned apart as shown in FIG. 4.

A template device 26, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is pivotally connected to a holder 25 which extends upward from the elongated frame 18. The stencil device 26 contains the lower surface of the screen frame 28, which receives a reinforcing, stiffening or decorative material P in powder form from a storage container 33 via a flexible line 30. A delivery carriage 32 is disposed within the screen frame 28 and traverses it by activating a bilaterally movable cable cylinder 27, which is arranged on the structure 29, which has axial bearing rods on which the delivery carriage 32 runs. A cable 31 is disposed around a pair of washers 31A, the cable being secured from both sides of a piston in the cylinder 27 at a mounting point on the side of the delivery carriage 32 to pull the cable accordingly when the cable cylinder 27 is activated by a pressure source, not shown becomes. The delivery carriage 32 includes a pair of wiper blades 34 which are movable along the length of the screen frame 28 against the stencil device 26 when the delivery carriage 32 is activated. The wiper blades 34 (shown partially in side view in FIG. 3A), one on each side of the delivery carriage 32, are tensioned downward relative to the delivery carriage 32, but are movable up and down. Each wiper blade 34 has a pin 35 at each end. A pair of control levers 37 and 39 are located on the edges of the screen frame 28 opposite the pins 35. Each control lever 37 and 39 can be pivoted about an axis 41 at the outer end and is inclined to facilitate the up and down movement of the individual wiper blades 34 depending on the direction of travel of the delivery carriage 32. The trailed wiper blade 34 can slide over the cutout 42 on the surface of the stencil device 26 while the front wiper blade 34 is raised slightly, as shown in FIG. 3A, which shows the dispensing carriage 32 moving to the right. When the delivery carriage 32 changes direction, a previously raised wiper blade 34 sweeps over the stencil surface 40 and the other wiper blade 34 is raised as it moves toward the end of the screen frame. Of course, other devices can also be used to move each wiper blade 34 up and down, e.g. a pressure cylinder disposed between each wiper blade 34 and the delivery carriage 32.

The template device 26 is slidably received by a pair of guides 36 which are arranged on the underside of the structure 29. The stencil device consists of a wire mesh screen 38 and a layer of smooth, stiff impenetrable material.

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rial 40, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 3A and 4. The powder P, which is used for the stiffening of shoe uppers, preferably has a fineness of 35 mesh, possibly also a greater fineness of 50 to 100 mesh for finer Pattern of shoe reinforcements is desirable. The types of powder used for this device are preferably polymers such as e.g. Ionomer, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate or combinations of these substances. The mesh sieve 38 is of a finer fineness, for example 8 to 30 mesh, in order to allow powder P to pass through the delivery carriage 32. The template surface 40 has at least one cutout 42, as shown in FIG. 3, which has the shape of the desired powder structure on the base at the third work station 16. A film-like lower surface 40A can be glued to the underside of the sieve 38, this film having an identical cutout 42 in accordance with the cutout 42 in the template surface 40. The upper and lower surfaces 40 and 40A can be pressed together such that they adhere to one another through the mesh openings of the sieve 38 by means of an adhesive.

The heating station 14 as the second work station is arranged on the frame 18 opposite the application station 12, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The heating station 14 includes a lower flat surface 44 with a plurality of electrical heating elements, which are not shown. The lower surface 44 also has a plurality of openings 46 which are distributed over the surface and which are connected via a vacuum line 47 to a vacuum device, not shown. The heating station 14 also has an upper flat surface 48, which is arranged in a housing 50 and is pivotally connected to the frame 18 at one end via a clamp 52. A stop bracket 51 on the other side of the housing 50 acts on a limit bracket 53 which monitors the distance between the upper surface 48 and the lower surface 44. The top surface 48 has a plurality of radiant heater elements 54 that are powered by an electrical source, the elements 54 being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows in the housing 50.

The third station 16 is a press station, which has connection and / or cooling devices, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pressing station 16 contains a lower flat block 56, which is connected via a suitable line 58 to a cooling source, not shown. The block 56 is attached to the elongated frame 18. An upper holding device 60 is fastened in a vertically pivotable manner to a holder 62 which in turn is arranged on the frame 18. A piston / cylinder unit 64 is arranged between the holding device 60 and the holder 62. The unit 64 is connected to a pressure source, which can activate the unit upon a signal from a switch which is attached to one of the guide rails 66 which extend over the undersides of the three work stations 12, 14 and 16. The upper holding device 60 receives a holding pallet 70, which is shown in the open position in FIG. 6, the base in this case being a shoe upper U. The holding pallet 70 has two rectangular flat parts 72 and 74, between which hinges 75 are arranged on one side. A cushion (not shown) is arranged on one of the two flat parts 72, the unreinforced shoe upper U lying above the cushion in the present exemplary embodiment. A cutout 76 is arranged in the opposite flat part 74, which with the desired configuration of reinforcement, stiffening or decoration on the base U

matches. The pad causes the base U to be pressed out slightly through the cutout 76 in the flat part 74 when the two flat parts are closed. FIG. 6 shows a layer of molten material M which has already been applied to the shoe upper U as a toe cap.

The frame 24, which carries the carrier strip 20, is slidably mounted on the guides 66. A piston unit 80 between the frame 24 and a vertical portion of the frame 18 moves the frame 24 on the guides 66. Other drive devices such as e.g. a stepper motor with a rack and pinion gear could be used here. Each work station 12, 14 and 16 has a signaling device such as e.g. a switch (not shown) at a corresponding point on the guide 66 in order to trigger the corresponding work steps on the machine 10.

The carrier strip 20 has a lower flat support 82 which can be moved against the underside of the carrier strip or away from it. The support 82 can be activated by a corresponding signal from a printing device 84 in order to cause the support strip 20 to be supported during the application of the powder structure. The pressure device 84 is attached to a bracket 81, which in turn is attached to one side of the frame 18, as shown in FIG. 4. A clamping piece S can be arranged on the upper side of the support 82, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4. The clamping piece S can be a strip of sealing material, which is arranged such that it presses the carrier strip 20 against the underside of the film 40A on the sieve 38, on which no peripheral seal is arranged around the cutout 42. The clamping piece S is preferably used when the desired product is a shoe upper reinforcement, since in this way a bevel on the powder structure can be produced from the edges of the peripheral seals to the opposite side of the cutout without a seal. If no clamping piece S is arranged on the support 82 under the carrier strip 20, the product can have a slight bevel depending on the dimension of the peripheral seals.

The structure 29, on which the sieve frame 28 is mounted, has, as shown in FIG. 1, a hinge 83 at one end, which is attached to the elongated frame 18, and a bracket 85, which is attached to the other end, as shown in FIG. 4 shows. A guide wheel 87 is mounted on the lower end of the clamp 85. A guide 89 is mounted on a rail 91, wherein it is slidably connected to a cylinder 95 via a rod 93 so that it can be moved back and forth relative to the frame 24. The guide 89 has a slightly rising surface 97 on which the guide wheel 87 rotates.

During operation of the device 10, a certain amount of meltable powder is fed from the storage container 33 via a flexible line 30 into the delivery slide 32. The delivery carriage displacement device, in the present example the cable cylinder 27, which is fastened to the carriage 32, moves the delivery carriage 32 on the guide rods of the construction 29 over the sieve frame 28 in response to a corresponding signal. The wiper blades 34 are thus caused to move over the template surface 40 streak. The slope of the guide 89 preferably has a modified sinus shape, which slowly raises the template device 26 in order to avoid disruptive influences of incoming air and electrostatic effects on the unstable three-dimensional powder structure on the carrier strip 20 before further transport to the second work station 40. The purpose of the punctiform spacing elements D which are shown in FIG. 4 is to control the

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entering air when the stencil device 26 is lifted off the carrier strip 20. The spacer elements D keep the two surfaces sufficiently apart to avoid the occurrence of a vacuum in between.

After the carrier strip 20 has been moved with its load from the powder structure C thereon along the guides 66, a switch on the heating station 14 is activated in order to stop the further movement of the frame 24. A signal causes the carrier strip 20 to be lowered onto the lower flat surface 44 by means of the frame height adjustment 77. The vacuum device is then activated, which creates a vacuum via the openings 46 and sucks the carrier strip 20 against the heated lower surface 44 and thus causes maximum heat transfer . The heating elements in the lower surface 44 and the surface heating in the upper surface 48 cause the powder to melt together in its three-dimensional structure.

After a reasonable period of time, preferably up to about 25 seconds, and upon a corresponding signal, the vacuum device is switched off. The carrier strip 20 and the frame 24 are lifted from the lower surface 44 by the frame height adjustment and then by means of the unit 80 onto the third work station 16 transported on which a pad such as an upper U is arranged.

The carrier strip 20 in the third work station 16 can (1.) be lowered onto the block 56 by means of the frame height adjustment 77, or (2.) be held directly above the block and pressed onto the block with the aid of the pallet 70, the carrier strip is cooled by the cooling device in order to solidify the viscous structure on the carrier strip 20. A shoe upper U in the upper holding pallet 70, which is arranged in the holding device 60, is then pressed downward by the cylinder unit 64, so that the inside of the shoe upper is temporarily pressed onto the carrier strip 20 against the now cooling but still adherent viscous structure . By reversing the pressure cylinder unit 64 into its uppermost position, the cooled structure, which adheres to the inside of the shoe upper U, is lifted off the smooth surface of the carrier strip 20. The document holding pallet 70 can be pulled out of the holding device 60 and an unprocessed base can be clamped again in the device. The carrier strip 20, which has now been freed from the melted powder structure, can return to its position at the first work station. For this purpose, it is slightly lifted off the block 56 by means of the frame height adjustment 77 and then moved away on the guides 66 by means of the pressure cylinder unit 80 on the frame 24.

If the manufacture of a separate molten powder structure is desired, no underlay is clamped into the pallet 70. The powder structure is then at most only pressed through the pad on the pallet 70, the pad preferably being made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, which is not damaged by heat. In such a case, the pressing smoothes rough spots on the melted powder structure. The cushion can either be made of a porous material or be coated with such a material in order to ensure a bubble-free product. The melted powder structure could, for example, be a toe cap for processing with a shoe upper in a further work process.

The types of powder P which can be used in the process according to the invention are described with reference to the following examples:

A) A preferred application of the present invention is the reinforcement or stiffening of shoe uppers. An ionomer powder with 35-50 mesh of the sodium type (sodium cation type) has a melt index of 2.5, a flexural modulus of 51,000 psi (35,000 N / cm2), a softening temperature (vicat) of 63 ° C and has no other additives on. A cutout of the desired size is made in the template surface, after which it can be placed on an 8 mesh screen made of 0.015 inch (0.38 mm) stainless steel wire. The choice of an 8 mesh screen represents a compromise between different, sometimes contradicting, factors:

a) fine meshes cause a fine action of the wiper blades,

b) the use of a sieve wire that is too thick makes the leading edge too thick,

c) Small diameter wire meshes result in less surface area for remaining powder particles to stick together or to bridge the meshes. Spacers on the bottom of the template are used for a melt product of approx. 0.040 inch (1 mm) thickness. Taking into account the density and flow behavior of the powder, a peripheral seal of 0.100 inch (2.5 mm) is used on the underside of the stencil device. The clamping piece S is placed on the lower support device in such a way that it deforms that part of the carrier strip and presses it against the underside of the template on which no peripheral seal is arranged.

At the heating station, the lower heating unit is designed for approximately 490 ° F (255 ° C). Each radiant heater above the carrier strip is designed for a surface temperature of approx. 600 ° F (316 ° C).

The application mechanism is designed for a total time of approx. 25 seconds to melt the powder on the carrier strip, in which time the product is transported to the last station, where it is cooled, while the base is pressed against it. The final product for a toe cap has an increasing thickness from 0.012 inch (0.3 mm) to 0.035 inch (0.89 mm) at its thickest edge.

B) In a further embodiment, an additive of 0.3% polyalkoxy-amine as an antistatic agent and 0.3% fine quartz as a dryer and flow conveyor is added to the powder. This means that fewer powder residues remain on the sieve and that the powder particles move less as a result of electrostatic influences during the filling process. It also improves the quality of the structure. In this case, the product may have a thickness of 0.040 inch (1.02 mm) at its thickest edge.

C) In a further exemplary embodiment, which starts from example A) already described, 0.05% conductive carbon black (conductive furnace black) is added as an additive. Filling and flow behavior and the quality of the structure are the same as in embodiment D). In this case, the melting time on the heating station can be reduced to about 20 seconds with a product thickness of 0.040 inch (1.02 mm).

D) For a flexible toe cap for women or men shoes, a 35 mesh low density polyethylene powder with a melt index of 22, a flexural modulus of 19,000 psi (13,000 N / cm2) and a softening temperature (vicate) of 83 ° C without additives be used. The lower heating block is heated to a temperature of approximately 400 ° F (205 ° C). The upper radiant heater is heated to a temperature of approximately 500 ° F (260 ° C). The product has an increasing thickness of 0.012 inches - 0.035

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inch (0.3-0.89 mm) and the heating or melting temperature is about 18 seconds.

E) A 35 mesh ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer is used for a soft toe cap for finches, women's and some children's shoes. The melt index is 9, the flexural modulus is about 13,500 psi (9,300 N / cm2) and the softening temperature is about 59 ° C. The machine settings are the same as in embodiment D), the melting time being approximately 12 seconds and the product having an increasing thickness of 0.012-0.35 inch (0.12-0.89 mm).

F) If the device is used for the production of heel-eye or surface reinforcements, a powder of nylon 12 and 0.3% polyalkoxy-amine with 100 mesh fineness is preferably used. The stencil screen has about 30 mesh. Since this special product has no increasing thickness, the seal of constant thickness extends around the entire periphery of the cutout. The punctiform spacers have a thickness of 0.04 inch (1.02 mm). The machine setting is the same as in embodiment A) with a heating time of 12 seconds and a thickness of the product of 0.017 inch (0.43 mm).

G) A thin reinforcement similar to that of embodiment F) can be produced with a 100 mesh vinyl powder with 0.3% polyalkoxy-amine. A heat stabilizer can be added if desired. The same powder properties as in the other exemplary embodiments are achieved.

The support surface can also be in the form of an endless belt which can be conveyed intermittently between a pair of rollers. The belt could run along the work stations in a frame arrangement. The powder, which is applied to the carrier surface, can be used for reinforcing or stiffening the toe parts of shoe uppers or for bands for shoes. Reinforcements and / or colored decorations can also be produced on such shoes or boots.

The molten powder can also advantageously be applied to items of clothing, such as Visor hats, sports gloves, collars, pajamas, knee or elbow panels or other clothing where reinforcement or decoration is desired. The possibility of producing products with increasing thickness also makes it possible to influence the flexibility of the underlay, which is obviously particularly desirable for footwear.

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Claims (28)

662 519 PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device for applying a molten powder structure to a base, characterized by - a frame (18), - a support surface (20) which is displaceable relative to the frame, - A material application device (12) which is arranged above the carrier surface in order to provide the carrier surface with powdery material, and - A cutout (42) in the application device, which allows the application of a powder structure containing a predetermined amount of the powdery material to the support surface. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a heating device (14) which is arranged adjacent to the material application device (12) in the frame (18) in order to heat the displaceable support surface (20) with the powder structure thereon. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized by a pressing station (16), in which the base (U) is arranged in a holder (70), the base of the pressing station being able to be fed on a sliding device. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressing station (16) has pressing devices (64) for pressing the holder (70) and the base (U) onto the support surface (20). 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressing station (16) has cooling and support devices (56, 58) which lie below the support surface (20), if the pad (U) and the holder (70) are pressed against it. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the carrier surface (20) in a plurality of steps by means of drive devices arranged between the frame (18) and the carrier surface from the application device (12) to the heating device (14) and to the pressing station ( 16) is eligible. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the document holder (70) can be removed from the pressing station (16), the tough melted powder material being applied to the substrate, e.g. on an upper, sticks when the molten powder is detached from the carrier surface (20). 8. Device for producing a molten powder structure, which can be applied to a base, characterized by - a frame (18), - a support surface (20) which is displaceable relative to the frame, - A material application device (12) which is arranged above the carrier surface in order to provide the carrier surface with powdery material, and - A cutout (42) in the application device, which allows the application of a powder structure containing a predetermined amount of the powdery material to the support surface. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized by a heating device (14) which is arranged adjacent to the material application device (12) in the frame (18) in order to heat the displaceable carrier surface (20) with the powder structure thereon. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized by a pressing station (16) with a cooling device (56, 58) for cooling the structure of molten powder on the support surface (20). 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized by a pressing device (64) at the pressing station (16) for pressing the structure of molten powder on the carrier surface (20) against the cooling device (56, 58). 12. A method for reinforcing a shoe upper, using the device according to claim 1, characterized in that powdery material is applied through the shaped cutout (42) to the support surface (20), that the powdery material is heated on the support surface and that melted powder structure is transferred from the support surface to a shoe upper, for which purpose the shoe upper is placed there. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the shaft is cooled during the action of pressure between the shaft and the powder structure on the support surface. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the shaped cutout (42) is arranged in the bottom of a container (28), that the carrier surface (20) is held under the cutout in the container (28), that powdery material in the container (28) is given and that the powdery material is wiped through the cutout onto the carrier surface (20). 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the powdery material and the support surface (20) for the heating operation are moved into a heating unit (14). 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the powdery material is held during the heating operation by means of vacuum under the support surface (20) against the support surface. 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the molten powder structure is conveyed to a press station (16) in order to transfer the molten powder structure there to the shoe upper. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that a cooling plate (56, 58) is arranged under the support surface (20) in order to cool the powder structure during the pressing of the powder structure and the shoe upper. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the shoe upper is removed from the press station (16), the powder structure adhering to it. 20. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that a permeable carrier surface (20) is used, that the powdery material is applied in such a way that a three-dimensional structure of powder is formed on the carrier surface and by heating the powdery material the powder structure is converted into a melted three-dimensional structure. 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the heated molten structure is cooled during the application of pressure in order to bring about the detachment from the carrier surface (20). 22. A method of changing the stiffness or appearance of a pad using the device of claim 1, characterized in that meltable powder is placed in a container (28) that the meltable powder has a cutout (42) in one Stencil (40) is wiped away that the powdery material is received by the carrier surface (20) under the template (40) and that the powdery material on the carrier surface (20) within the limits of at least one partial peripheral seal (G) on the Underside of the cutout (42) is piled into a three-dimensional powder structure. 23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the carrier surface (20) for melting the powder structure is transported to a heating device (14). 24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that the carrier surface (20) with the melted Pul2 5 10th 15 20th 25th 30th 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 3rd 662 519 structure to solidify the molten structure is transported to a cooling device (56, 58). 25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that a base (U) is pressed against the cooling structure of molten powder on the support surface (20) so that they are connected to one another, thereby changing the properties of the base. 26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that a partially peripheral seal (G) of decreasing thickness towards its ends is used on the underside of the cutout (42) in order to produce a tapering powder structure. 27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that prior to the accumulation of the meltable powder on the carrier surface (20), a support surface (82) is pressed against the carrier surface (20) from below. 28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that a clamping piece (S) is arranged on the support surface (82) in order to obtain a deformed support surface (20) to improve the surface structure of the powder structure.