FR2489110A1 - Shoe carding machine preparing for sole application - has controlling microprocessor storing shape of shoe last to control carding programme - Google Patents

Abstract

The carding machine forms part of an automatic shoe mfg. line. It has a table with at least one housing movable along two perpendicular axes and supporting a carding head with a circular brush and a DC drive motor for the latter. The position of the housing relative to the table, the rate of rotation of the carding brush and the position of the latter are all controlled via a microprocessor. This is fed with information defining the shape of the shoe and the required carding programme. The machine is used as part of an automatic shoe mfg. line allowing a high prodn. rate.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of shoe manufacturing and especially to the carding operation of shoe uppers mounted on forms, which constitutes one of the phases of mounting a shoe. It relates more particularly to an automated carding machine which can be equipped with a modular conveyor for the transfer of shape supports and capable of being inserted in a shoe manufacturing line.

We know that, in the series of assembly and finishing work on a shoe, carried out in a traditional or partially automated chain, one of the phases consists in carding the elements of shoes, that is to say scraping or grinding by brushes or card the front ends, rear ends and lateral flaps of the shoe upper introduced on a form before ensuring the installation of glued outsoles
Such carding is currently carried out using grinding wheels, abrasive belts or rotary brushes either with positioning and manual control or with the aid of automated machines working with jigs or probes capable of determining the depths of rods and copy the contours of the sidewalls to ensure proper preparation of the stem surface before gluing. These machines are complex and delicate to operate. In addition, although certain operations have been automated during carding (see for example French patent no. 78.25591 and European patent application No. 79.400458.0), efforts to develop a machine have so far been unsuccessful. fully automatic and able to work simultaneously on a pair of shoes.

 The invention aims to obviate the aforementioned drawbacks and to fill the gap existing in the carding phase of the shoe parts. It aims to ensure high processing productivity by providing a fully automatic machine with operations recorded on a preset program and with sequential control. It offers equipment allowing carding either by foot or preferably by pair of shoes and which can be integrated either in place of known carding machines in a traditional shoe assembly line or within an automated shoe production line, such as that described in the aforementioned French and European patents.

 The new machine is based on the principle of working on a fixed foot (s) using one or more mobile carding heads in all directions and at adjustable speed with automatic shoe size selection and profile registration. of the shape, the end of the shoe upper on the shape being automatically positioned by a support as a function of the size.

 According to its basic structure, the carding machine of the invention essentially comprises, mobile on a displacement table according to two orthogonal acts, at least one frame (or case) enclosing a carding means which comprises, sliding in a fixed spindle a head with circular carding brush controlled in vertical translation and in 360 ° rotation by DC motor, the movements of the frame on the table as well as the speed of rotation and translation of the cards in a direction always perpendicular to the edge ( or external profile) of the form being controlled by an electronic cabinet with microprocessors which also permanently records the profile of the form in a preset program on tracks (n, variable whole number).

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the machine is provided with two automatic carding heads making it possible to work on a pair of shoes and thus significantly improve the productivity
In this embodiment, the machine performs two identical operations, with a single command, on two shoe elements, such as the right upper and the left upper, symmetrical in all points with respect to a median axis traced equidistant from the two elements.

 In practice, although the machine can be supplied with rods on forms manually, in a conventional shoe production chain, it is particularly advantageous to associate it with a form transfer conveyor allowing a timed supply and able to be integrated into an automatic shoe assembly and finishing line.

 The shape transfer system is of the modular conveyor type with n continuous circulation platform trays with exchange of the trays on two levels on a service bench. The latter, which serves as a chassis for the conveyor, is provided, facing the carding heads in alignment with the pair of forms, with an automatic positioning device for supporting the ends of the rods on the form during carding and for controlling registration of the shoe size.

 According to a characteristic and a particular advantage brought by the invention, it becomes possible to put on the forms fixed on the trays or carriages of the modular conveyor, any type of rod size and this in any order, provided that the shoe elements are simply placed in pairs, that is to say a right foot and a left foot of the same size. Thus can alternate on the carriages pairs of rods of size as well as of structure (sandals, low shoes, boots) different; in fact, thanks to the fully automated registration of the shoe size and the blocking of the support of the ends of the rods before carding, the card (s) do their scratching work with rapid selection of the type of shoe and automatic detection of its dimensional characteristics. It is also possible to use an optical means for detecting the shoe model.

 In this non-limiting embodiment with a modular conveyor, the electronic microprocessor cabinet, which performs the recording and control of all the movements of the carding machine itself, is coupled to a programmed automaton, also with memory, which controls the displacement of the trolleys and ensures synchronization of their transfer with the controls of the carding operation itself.

Other characteristics and advantages will also appear during the more detailed description which follows, relating to a nonlimiting embodiment by the appended drawings which schematically represent:
. Figure 1: a general perspective view of an installation
with carding machine according to the invention;
. Figure 2: one of the two elements of a transfer conveyor
of shapes, illustrating the main organs of a
level exchanger for the conveyor
e Figure 3: an automatic support positioning system
rod ends and shoe size control, say
placed on the frame or bench of the conveyor;
. Figure 4: a sliding table on which moves, in
translation, the machine frame or housing
carding proper;
, Figure 5: a more detailed view of the carding heads of a
machine according to the invention;
. Figure 6: the cabinets and control panel of an installation
lation according to Figure 1;
. Figure 7: a side view of a form holder and its shape
associated, fixed on a trolley or mobile tray t
transfer conveyor; and
. Figure 8: a schematic drawing illustrating the movements
of a card according to the invention along the blanks5
folded down with a shoe upper mounted on its
form.

 The general installation of FIG. 1 shows an automated carding machine according to the invention, equipped with a bench with a shape transfer conveyor with level exchanger and intended to be incorporated into an assembly line, whether automated or not. shoe finishing. However, as said above, the conveyor is not necessarily an integral part of the accessories of the machine because, in a conventional shoe production chain, the shapes and their uppers can be presented manually to the carding operation . In addition, the carding machine shown is equipped with two heads for working on pairs of shoes but, while remaining automatic with a recorded program of adjustments, it can be designed to work on only one foot, if desired.

 This installation includes the following main parts: the carding machine A itself, the bench B of the conveyor for circulation and transfer of the forms, the device C for positioning the supports of the ends of the rods on the forms and for controlling the dots, the cabinet. DD with consoles, intended for all command recording operations, and adjustment of all the working elements (visible in Figure 6).

 The formas circulation system B, which serves here the machine A - and supports the device C, is based on the principle of the automated conveyor with level exchangers described in the aforementioned French and European patents. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, it comprises, on the sliding frame of the bench B, a series of plates or carriages 1 in step-by-step advance, intended to each carry one or preferably two forms (or 2) articulated on cylindrical supports 3 whose height allows to work, if desired, on boots or other high shoes. A plate 1 can also be provided with a cam support 4 (not shown) intended for the control of work on one or two feet at a time. The plates circulate on ball rollers 5 guided laterally by the slides 6 (see Figure 7) of the BA bench. At each end of a conveyor module (for example 1.20 m or more) there is a pneumatic level exchanger ( E and E ') intended to lower the carriages to a lower level (not visible in Figure 1) and then to raise them one by one to the upper level visible in the general figure nO 1.

 Each exchanger comprises a set of pneumatic cylinders 7, 7 'and 8, 8' held on a frame 9, 9 'provided with slides or supports 10, 10' integral with the cylinders 8, 8 'and intended to raise or lower the plates or trolleys 1 when exchanging levels.

The order of operations for an exchange of levels is as follows: the jack 8 pushes an upper plate; the jacks 7 and 7 'descend at the same time, 7 descending empty while 7' descends an upper plate; then, after lowering the plate, the jack 8 'pushes the latter to the lower level of the conveyor; the jacks 7 and 7 'then go up simultaneously (7' going up empty while 7 goes up the plate from the lower floor to the upper working level). The descent and ascent of the trays on the support rails 10, 10 ′ takes place along the columns 11, 11 ′ with ball bushings.

 On the bench B of the conveyor and facing the carding machine 1 is installed the device C intended for holding the ends of the rod (on the form) during carding and for the automatic size detection.

As can be seen better in FIG. 3, the device C essentially comprises: a jack 12 with horizontal movement, two jacks 13 and 14 intended for the vertical movement of the pads 15 and 16 which will come to bear under the ends of the rod during carding , two other rods with vertical displacement (pneumatic for example) 17 and 18 which aim to control the recording of the shoe size by switching a position detector 19. In operation, there is the output according to the arrow of the jack 12 and, simultaneously, the upward release of the jacks or rods 17 and 18. As soon as the head of the rods 17 and 18 comes into contact with the toe of the shoe (here a pair of shoes), the switching of the detector occurs position 19 and the advance stop of 12 then the retraction of the rods 17 and 18. Then the jacks 13 and 14 are released upwards, as soon as the buffers 15 and 16 are supported on the ends of the rods (on form), the switching detectors 20 and 21 stop the rise of the jacks 13 and 14 which remain in place during the carding operation described below
The actual carding machine, designated by (A) in FIG. 1, consists of the frames or housings 22 and 22 resting on the slides 23 of the translation table 24 (see FIG. 4).

This table is of the double displacement type along the orthogonal axes
XX 'and YY', with respect to the center line MM '. The drive is carried out by two DC motors 25 and 26 which control the ball screws 27 and 28. To obtain the copying symmetry of the right foot-left foot movements, these screws 27 and 28 rotate in opposite directions, their movement being reversed by the housing 39 consisting of two gears, one of which is driving and the other driven. The same result can be obtained by using a screw, half of which has a right-hand thread and the other half a left-hand thread, this screw having in its center a reference bearing to avoid its lateral displacement.

 As best seen in partial figure 5, each box 22 or 22 'of machine A is provided with a carding assembly comprising 5 a sleeve (or spindle) 29 inside which moves a piston 30 integral of the carding head 3i 4 The latter, which supports the circular brush 32 (or card) is movable in vertical translation as well as in 360 degree rotation. This rotation is controlled by two DC motors, allowing an offset d no brushes and located inside the housings (motors not shown in the figures) .In operation (see figure 8), the card 32 moves along the contour of the rod flaps 33 on the - shape of one side of the rod then of the other staying at all times perpendicular to the edge (or profile) of the shape> this with a permanent opening of progressive rotation of the brush 32 until a complete rotation of 360 degrees (according to the arrows in Figure 8). The control of the ascent and descent of the brushes 32 as well as of the carding depth are carried out from an electronic device (integral with the frame 22 or 22 ′ and not shown in the figures) which controls a servo motor direct current. We can also replace such a device with a pneumatic adjustment system with very high sensitivity.

 All the operations are controlled automatically by a microprocessor electronic cabinet 34 on the desk D (FIG. 6) which controls in particular: the. displacements of the table 24 in XX ′, YY ′ by the motors 25 and 26: the DC motors (not shown) which cause the rotation of the cards 32; the descent and ascent of the cards or brushes 32 as well as the engagement of the rotation of the latter. In addition, the cabinet contains in a pre-established program with several tracks the recording of the edge profile 35 of the shape.

 Coupled to this cabinet in block D is a programmed PLC assembly 36, also with microprocessor memory, which controls the movement of the trays 1 supports of the forms 3 and which gives the starting order to the actual carding machine A ( and therefore to his wardrobe 34). The automaton therefore ensures synchronization between the tray transfer conveyor and the control of the carding operation.

 In accordance with an improvement of the carding assembly, a frame of the carding head is provided with a device 37 for sharpening the carding brushes 32 by means of small grinding wheels 38 whose working rate is adjusted by a counter at preselection.

 The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and extends to variants and improvements in which the same basic principle is implemented. For example, the duplication work on two symmetrical profiles (for example right foot and left foot), with a single command, can be applied in the same way as above during the operation of gluing the uppers and / or soles of shoes, with replacement of the aforementioned carding heads with known sizing means or even during operations for centering the soles. Furthermore, it is wise to adapt to the machine> for example on the frames 22 and 22 'and at the level of the carding heads, a suction device intended to collect the debris and dust generated by scraping the rods.

Claims (8)

R E V E N D lC'A T I O N S  1. Automatic carding machine for shoe uppers on forms, characterized in that it comprises, movable on a table (24) moving along two perpendicular axes (XX ', vY') at least one frame or housing (22) provided with a carding means which comprises, in sliding by rod (30) in a fixed spindle <29), a head (31) with circular brush (32) of carding controlled in vertical translation and in 360 rotation degrees by direct current motor, the movements of the frame on the table as well as the speed of rotation and dice? placement of the cards (32) in a direction always perpendicular to the edge or profile (35) of the shape being controlled by an electronic microprocessor cabinet (34) which permanently saves the profile of the shape in a program with several tracks.  2. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it contains two frames (22, 22 ') with carding heads working with a single duplication command by symmetry with respect to a median axis MM' of said table by two screws (27,28) with reverse movement by a gear case (37), so as to carry out an automatic carding on a pair of shoes.  3. Machine according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the forms (2,3) on which are mounted the rods t33) to be carded remain fixed during carding and are arranged in pairs on a tray or carriage (1) of a modular conveyor (B) with n trays with continuous circulation by exchanger (E, E ') on two levels on a service bench arranged in front of said machine.  4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the plates (1) circulate on ball rollers (5) guided by slides (6) between the two exchangers (E, E ') constituted by sets of couplings of pneumatic cylinders (7,7 '; 8,8') intended, thanks to supports (10,10 ') to raise or lower the trays (1) between an upper level corresponding to the work and a lower level.  5. Machine according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the service bench which serves as a chassis for the modular conveyor (B) is provided, facing the carding heads (29 to 32) in alignment with the pair of forms (3), of a device (C) for automatic positioning of support for the ends of shoe uppers and for recording size control.  6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the device C comprises a horizontal cylinder (] 2) coordinated with two cylinders (13,14) for vertical pushing of the pads (15,16) for supporting the ends of the rods of shoe as well as vertically moving rods (17,18) which control the recording of the shoe size by switching a position detector (19).  7. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, coupled to the electronic cabinet (34), there is a program controller (36) with microprocessor memory for controlling the movements of the conveyor ( B) and trays (1) supporting the forms (3) as well as synchronization with said carding machine (A).  8. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the frame (22) of the carding head or heads (29 to 32) is provided with a system (37) for sharpening the brushes of carding (32) by means of grinding wheels (38) with a working rate adjusted by a preselection counter.