EP1381295B1

EP1381295B1 - Dynamic 3d-shaping machine for ready-made upper parts

Info

Publication number: EP1381295B1
Application number: EP01965490A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christos Triantafyllis
Original assignee: Triantafyllis Christos & Son Oe "olympic Shoe Machinery"
Current assignee: Triantafyllis Christos & Son Oe "olympic Shoe Machinery"
Priority date: 2001-04-27
Filing date: 2001-09-11
Publication date: 2009-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-11
Also published as: DE60138967D1; GR1003824B; EP1381295A1; ATE433288T1; BRPI0116867A2; WO2002087378A1

Abstract

Dynamic shoemaking 3D-shaping and combining machine which may completely 3D-shape all the upper parts, to form and to glue the lining in the interior and front part of the upper parts. It consists of the machines frame (10) a heated head (11) the transveyor (30) on which there is being adjusted the elastic pressure tube (21) with its drivers (23) and (24). The pressing part of the special pneumatic piston (22) which carries the transveyor and is fixed at the machine's table. The upper part resraint part (27) of the special pneumatic piston. In drawing 1 and 2 we see the machine's front view and the section A - A', as well as all the accessories in the series of their assembly and operation.

Description

The invention relates to a dynamic 3-D shaping (3-D shaping: the formation of the upper part at the tarsus point) and combining (combining: the gluing of lining or any other strengthener to the upper part) machine which at the same time 3d-shapes, irons and glues the lining to the upper part (upper part: the cut and sewed leather in accordance with the shoe tree).
Referring to documents of prior art, they do not reveal any machines for 3-D shaping of the shoe upper parts, as they only deal with formation of shoe back part (heel). Specifically the document with publication No. ES8704340 discloses a machine for shaping footwear vamps and/or for applying stiffeners and the like, specifically on the back part of said footwear vamps. The EPO document with publication No. EP0598961 discloses a footwear heel piece shaper machine incorporating a mould, a pressing device and a leather stretching apparatus in the shape of a clamp. The document with publication No. US4508956 discloses a heat device for heating portions of shoe upper portion, prior to molding them and the French document with publication No. FR2576194 discloses the operation of a machine for rough molding shoe counters (stiffeners).
The static 3-D shaping machines are used for the 3-D shaping (formation) of the upper part only at the tarsus point. At the static 3D shaping machines for the 3D-shaping (formation) of the upper part, there is being used an elastic male pattern of constant volume with the tarsus form on which there is being placed the flat upper part and is being fastened with tweezers. A respective heated metal female pattern with a cavity when it comes down it pusses (presses) the upper part and 3-D-shapes it.
The technique of the dynamic 3D-shaping and combining machine has taken Into consideration only the positive elements from the static 3D-shaping and with a new structure has solved the actual problems.
The head (11) the cavity of which consists of opposite conicities is stable at the upper part of the machine body (10) and constitutes the female part of the formation system. The layout of the male formation part is on a special double pneumatic piston (22), (27) and consists of an elastic tube (21) which contains compressed air and the special elastic patterns which clasp it (20) (12).
The double pneumatic piston is of double operation and is separated to the main piston (22) for pressing the upper part and the auxiliary on for its preliminary gripping (27).
The 3-D shaping machines which exist up to the present are the static ones. That is to say that they use a forming pattern consisting of a male and a female part. The lower part is from elastic material of constant volume on which the flat upper part is being placed and is being fastened with tweezers. At the next stage the heated head comes down with pressure and gives the shape to the upper part. This type of static 3D shaping machine is generally known pursuant with the Chinese and German prospectus.
At 3D-shaping machines which exist through the present time only the partial formation of the upper part at the tarsus is possible, this having as a result the upper part in the area of the toe and the shoehorn not to be pressed and to remain not ironed. The 3D-shaping at a boot' s upper part is carried out defectively, also the lining gluing may be not carried out at the same time when required.
The major technical problem is the form of the cavity at the heated head which is one peace without any opposite conicities, as well as the male elastic pattern which is of constant volume, this having as a result the alterations the upper part may acquire by pressing to be small and not to be able to be completely covered. The way of fastening the upper part on the elastic pattern with tweezers is time - consuming.
The present invention refers to a new dynamic 3D-shaping and combining machine which :
It completely and effectively 3D-shapes all the upper parts at the tarsus regardless of the leather size, thickness and quality.
At the same time it irons and presses the toe and the shoehorn and achieves the complete gluing of the lining at the internal front part in all types of upper parts where it is being required.
It achieves the upper part restraint by simple laying down with no auxiliary tweezers or any other procedure.
The machine' s small volume and its trapezoid shape in combination with its simple operation allow the placement of more than one machines circularly around any operator, who will be able in this way to operate more than one machines.
The machine' s operation in general essentially improves the production speed, consequently, reduces the shoe production cost, improving quality at the same time. The specific machine allocation has the advantage to be able to be mounted in any angle, depending on the upper part' s particularity, such as the change of the lining visual control where the angle of 180° is being required, then the heated head is placed on the machine's table steadily and the elastic tube allocation at the top. In this case the operator places the upper case upside down having the visual control of the lining and not of the leather.
All the above are being achieved by the machine's special design as far as it concerns the machine's operation and construction and, in specific:
By the machine's operation which is being carried out as follows:
We place the upper part (37) on the thin silicone foil (mantle) (12), we activate the small preliminary gripping piston (27) by pushing one button, as soon as the upper part touches the heated head (11) we adjust it at the proper position by watching the characteristic indication (measure) situated at the machine's padding, following this we regulate the pressure at the pressure elastic flexible tube (21) and we activate the large pressure piston (22). As soon a the pressing starts the flexible elastic tube (21) together with the pattern which clasps it (20), the thin silicone foil (mantle (12) presses the upper part in the cavity of the forming head (11). The air which is being inside the flexible elastic pressure tube (21) in combination with the pressure of the large piston (22) force all the layout to be deformed and to override the expansion of the upper part (37) inside the head cavity (11), following the interior form with the conicities. The pressing time depends on the leather thickness and quality.
By the form, the shape external and internally of the constant heated forming head (11) which consists of a combination of concave and curved surfaces with opposite conicity and is steadily fixed at the machine's upper part.
By the use of a flexible tube (21) which is tightly closed on both sides by the plates drivers (23) (24) and is filled with air under controlled pressure from the intake screwed union (26) it is upholded with the plates drivers (23) (24) at respective sockets of the transveyor where they are placed, so that during pressing to be able to be adjusted at the leaning the elastic tube and the side tension, in general which it generates at the whole cavity of the heated head (11).
The elastic tube (21) is reinforced at its internal front part by an elastic of cylinder cross section (34) which is askew cut from the internal side.
By the use of the flexible elastic pattern (2) the top side of which is waving no air is cooped during pressing, it clasps the elastic pressure tube (21) and follows its formation, converting it to pressure means to the head's conic cavities (11).
By the silicone foil (12) either formed or not, at a shape of approximately inverted U, we protect the elastic pattern (20) from the temperature of the forming head (11), which buckles on the elastic pattern (20).
When the upper part (37) has decorative metal fittings, then between the upper part and the heated forming head (11) a silicone membrane (36) is being placed at the approximate shape of an omega (w) or of another form, Drawing 8. In this way we avoid scratches at the head's internal cavity (11).
By the machine' s activation there are being pressed by the special double piston (22) (27) (of pneumatic or hydraulic function), the elastic tube (21) the elastic pattern on it (20), the silicone foil and the upper part (37) on them which, due to the reason that they are flexible, they enter as male pattern in the concave part of the forming head (11), receiving its form. The restraint of the upper part (37) which is simply placed on top of the thin silicone foil, is achieved by a special piston (27) which is being activated by pressing a button, which pusses the rod (29) on the large piston and, subsequently, the transveyor (30) on which all the elastic parts of the layout are situated (elastic tube) (21), elastic pattern (20) and silicon foil (12)) in simple restraint touch (preliminary gripping) with the forming head (11), in order the 3D-shaping procedure to follow.
The dynamic 3-D-shaoiing and combining machine presents many advantages. The heated head (11) is very easily and quickly replaced at the machine because it is separate from the heating source.
The head cavity (11) has such a form so that it accepts all the types of upper parts. The combination of the opposite conicity in the head's interior cavity with the concordant co-operation of the elastic pressure tube (21) and the total of the elastic parts of the layout with it creates a full clasp in all the internal surface of the cavity, regardless of the thickness or the size of the upper parts, as well as those of the boot.
The hardness of the elastic pressure tube (21) may be adjusted depending on the air pressure, in accordance with the requirements each time. Great pressure, with pressurized air inside the tube (21) small clasping of the cavity. With gradual reduction of the pressure we may observe and adjust the exact point being required for the case of the upper part each time for the complete clasping inside the cavity were the upper part is.
The elastic pattern (20) which clasps the elastic flexible pressure tube (21) cooperates with the same so that being self adjusted depending on the type of the upper part during pressing to override its surface and to come in full contact with it.
The thin silicone foil (12) which covers the elastic pattern (20)protects it, on one hand with direct contact with the heated head (11) and, on the other hand, provides longer lifetime to it.
The elastic silicone membrane (36) which is located between the shoe upper part (37) and the heated head (11) protects the cavity from the decorative metal fittings of said shoe upper part.
By the small piston (27) we create a simple contact of the upper part (37) to the head (11) (preliminary gripping) which has as a result the annulment of tweezers, the reduction of the upper part placement to the machine an the increase in production.
The invention is being described below with the aid of one example and with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Drawing 1 shows a front view of the dynamic 3D-shaping machine with instruments and accessories.
Drawing 2 presents the general layout of the machine in lateral view and cross-section A-A' with the total of the pneumatic and mechanological accessories.
Drawing 3 shows the system of the special pneumatic piston.
Drawing 4 shows the elastic pressure tube and the plates drivers.
Drawing 5 shows the form of the heated head.
Drawing 6 shows the elastic pattern.
Drawing 7 shows the perspective design of the machine with its trapezoid form.

In drawing 1, Drawing 2, Drawing 7 we see a shoe upper part dynamic 3D-shaping and combining machine with all its accessories.
We have the machine body (10) of trapezoid form, on which there are being adjusted :
The thermal resistance (19) which heats the forming head (11) on which there is being fastened an elastic silicone membrane (36) at the approximate shape of an omega (w) or of another form for the protection of the internal cavity. The upper part (37) is placed above the thin silicone foil (12) which buckles on the elastic pattern (20). The elastic pattern (20) clasps the elastic pressure tube (21) which, in accordance with the invention, is supplied with compressed air and contains a cylindrical elastic (34) for reinforcing its front part. All four (12), (20), (21) and (37) are placed on the transveyor or (30).
At the machine's table there is being adjusted the special double piston (27) and (22) which is also used for the preliminary gripping of the upper part (37) and for the main pressing.
At the machine's body, Drawing 1 we have the pressure adjustor (14) and (15) the manometers (13) and (16) the petal (18) and the elastic board (17).
In Drawing 3 we have in detail the special double piston which consists of the main piston (22) the piston for the preliminary gripping (27) and the transveyor (30), on which all the elastic parts of the layout are being placed. The preliminary gripping piston (27) is adjusted at the cover (33) of the large piston. For the preliminary gripping there is being activated the piston (27) of which the rod (28) pusses the piston (32) upwards, its rod (29) and, consequently, the transveyor (30) until the upper rod gets in touch with the head cavity.
In cases where the preliminary gripping is not enough, there are being placed more than one pistons (27) peripherally of the large piston (22) which at the same time perform a uniform allocation of the preliminary gripping pressure.
Drawing 4 shows us in larger scale the elastic pressure tube (21), the plates drivers (23) and (24) and the screws (25), the intake screwed union (26) and the incorporated reinforcing elastic (34), the drivers (23) (24) freely reciprocate on the transveyor drivers (30).
For its dynamic energy the elastic tube, pursuant with the invention, fills in with air under controlled pressure so that to may be altered and be completely adjacent to the head' s internal cavity.
Drawing 5 depicts the heated head (11) in front view and cross-section A-A'. The concave and the curved form of the cavity consists of two opposite conicities, forming an obtuse angle rounded at the section point. All the internal area of the head is smooth teflon application has taken place in most times.
In Drawing 6 we see in detail the elastic pattern (20) before the assembly to the elastic tube (21) takes place. Its form at the upper part is waving, so when it is pressed inside the head's conic cavity (11) a complete clasping is carried out without any air cooping.
Drawing 7 shows the perspective design of the machine's framework with its trapezoid shape, the framework (10), the auxiliary small tables (34) which are used for placing the upper parts, the indicative driver (measure) (35) which assists in placing the upper parts at the same point and the other relevant items we have mentioned above.

Claims

Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts which comprises: The machine's frame or body (10) of a trapezoid form, on which there is being adjusted a heated forming head (11), on which there is being fastened an elastic silicone membrane (36) for the protection of its cavity, the layout of a flexible elastic pressure tube (21), the elastic pattern (20), the thin silicone foil or mantle (12) for the protection of the elastic pattern (20), the special pneumatic piston (22) and (27) and which machine is being characterized by: the fact that its volume is small with trapezoid form and permits the placement of more than one machine circularly around one operator.
- The heated forming head (11) in its cavity has concave and curved surfaces with opposite conicity and is fixed at the machine's upper part.

- At the side walls of the machine (11) a silicone membrane (37) is being fixed at the approximate shape of an omega (w), which protects the head' s internal cavity from scratches.

- The layout of the flexible elastic pressure tube has drivers (23) (24) which are also used for its sealing, the screws (25), the air intake screwed union (26) and a reinforcing elastic at its front part (34).

- The elastic pattern (20) with the waving form at its top, clasps the elastic pressure tube (21) and no air is cooped during pressing the upper part at the head (11).

- The thin silicone foil (mantle) (12) protects the elastic pattern (20) from the head's temperature and is being bucked on the pattern (20).

- The special double pneumatic piston which consists of the main pressing piston (22), on the rod (29) of which the transveyor (30) is adjusted, on the transveyor there is being placed the layout of the flexible elastic tube (21) (20) (12) as well as the upper part (37).

- The preliminary gripping piston (27) is adjusted at the cover (33) of the large piston.
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claim 1, which is characterized by the fact that the cavity of the forming head (11) consists of concave and curved surfaces with opposite conicity, forming an obtuse angle having a round cross section point.
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claim 1, which is characterized by the fact that the layout of the elastic pressure tube (21) comprises plate drivers (23), (24), being also used for sealing of said elastic tube (21), the screws (25), the air intake screwed union (26) the incorporated reinforcing elastic (34) and, finally a controlled pressure in the interior of the tube (21).
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claims 1 and 3, which is characterized by the fact that the layout of the elastic pressure tube (21) clasps the flexible pattern (20). The waving form of the top of the elastic pattern, due to the opposite conicity of the forming head (11), at the pressing time clasps the upper part gradually without cooping any air.
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claims 1 and 4, which is characterized by the fact that the elastic pattern (20) is being clasped and protected by the head' s heat by a thin silicone foil (mantle) (12) which may be either formed or not and buckles on perspective receptors on the elastic pattern (20).
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claim 1, which is characterized by the fact that it comprises a double special piston consisting of the main pressing piston (22); The preliminary gripping piston (27) is adjusted at its cover (33) ; at the rod of the main piston (29) the transveyor (30) is being adjusted, on which the layout of elastic tube (21) is being adjusted.
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claims 1 and 2 , which is characterized by the fact that the silicone membrane(36) is placed between the upper part and the heated head in order to protect the head form from the decorative metal firings of the upper part when there are also some delicate upper parts.
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claims 1 and 6, which is characterized by the fact that in cases that the preliminary gripping pressure is not enough, more than one pistons (27), are being placed peripherally of the large piston (22), which at the same time carry out the uniform allocation of the preliminary gripping pressure.
Dynamic shoemaking 3-D shaping and combining machine for readymade upper parts, in accordance with claim 1 and the total of its accessories, which is characterized by the fact that, the specific machine layout has the advantage to be able to be mounted in any angle depending on the upper part' s particularity, such as the change of the lining visual control, where an angle of 180° is being required, then the heated head is placed on the machine table steadily and the elastic tube allocation at the top; in this case the operator places the upper case upside down, having the visual control of the lining and not of the leather.