FR2574261A1 - Method for lasting a vamp or upper of an article of footwear using a blank and with the aid of a last, and devices for implementing it - Google Patents

Abstract

The method is characterised in that the said blank 2 is sandwiched between a pad 1 made from deformable elastic material and a last 3 previously equipped with an insole 4, of which at least a part of the parameter of the outer face is coated with a suitable adhesive, the last and the pad are brought together so as to cause, by means of the last being driven into the pad, the at least partial enveloping of the last by the said blank, and the jutting-out part 2a of the blank is folded against the pre-glued part of the said insole. Application to the lasting of vamps of articles of footwear.

Description

METHOD FOR FORMING AN UPPER OR ROD OF AN ARTICLE
FOOTWEAR FROM A BLANK AND USING A SHAPE
AND DEVICES FOR IMPLEMENTING IT
The present invention relates to a new method of forming a vamp or upper of an article of footwear from a blank and using a form as well as devices for its implementation.

 The object of the invention is to propose a new technique for placing a vamp or rod on a first, making it possible to very significantly improve the production rates and capable of adapting to a large number of types of vamps. or stems.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is a method of forming an upper or upper of an article of footwear from a blank and using a shape, characterized in that one takes sandwiching said blank between a mattress of deformable elastic material and a shape previously provided with a first of which at least part of the periphery of the outer face is coated with an appropriate adhesive, the shape and the mattress are brought together so as to cause by pressing the shape into the mattress, the at least partial wrapping of the shape by said blank and folding the projecting part of the blank against the pre-glued part of said first.

 The folding down of the projecting part of the blank is carried out by the mattress itself covering said part, but it can also be carried out by means of one or more mobile members directly applying said projecting part against said part. pre-glued, after approximation of the shape and the mattress.

 The method applies to the forming of a vamp extending only over the front part of the footwear and, for this purpose, the blank is placed on said mattress, then forms it with its first and the mattress with its draft are brought together and pressed against each other.

 The method also applies to the forming of an uppers of closed footwear, in which case the preform is first of all prefabricated and then placed on said form provided with its first and one presses and presses one against the other said mattress, on the one hand, and the form-first-prefabricated blank assembly, on the other hand.

 Such a method makes it possible to perfectly press and tension the material of the upper on the shape of the fact that the elastic deformable material of the mattress perfectly matches said upper during its compression against the latter and to distribute in a relatively uniform manner the tensions exerted by the forces of pressure and superficial friction.

The invention also relates to devices for implementing the method which will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
- Figures la, lb, lc, ld and 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e illustrate
schematically respectively two variants of implementation
work of the process of the invention;
- Figure 3 is a plan view of an installation for
the implementation of the process of the invention applied to
vamp or upper forming covering only the front part of the footwear; -
- Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views of the installa
tiqn of figure 3 following respectively the lines
IV-IV and VV
- Figure 6 is an elevational view at a larger
scale of the first gluing device
- Figure 7 is an elevational view at a larger
scale of the vamp or rod forming device
- Figure 8 is an elevational view at a larger
scale of the edge folding device
upper or upper
- Figures 9 to 14 illustrate a device for setting
implementing the process applied to the vamp forming or
closed shoe upper;
- Figures 15 to 17 illustrate various modes of
production of a deformable material mattress
elastic.

With reference to FIGS. 1a to 1d, and 2a to 2c, we can see a mattress 1 on which rests a blank 2 of vamp or rod, precut and possibly preformed. As a variant, the blank could be replaced by a strip product constituting a chain of blanks which will be individualized (cut) after forming.
The mattress 1, of any appearance, for example rectangular in plan, is made of an elastic deformable material, that is to say that it can return to its initial shape after deformation. According to the embodiment shown, the mattress consists of two parts 1a, 1b, of variable resistance to deformation (cellular foam or fibers), the least resistant part (1b) being placed near the blank 2. Optionally , the mattress may include a recess constituting a coarse imprint of all or part of the shape.

 Advantageously, the surface of the mattress (as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 16 and 17) may include (lc, ld) patterns in relief, exeroissances or folds constituting as many elements capable of catching the blank 2 on the mattress 1 and allow the tensioning thereof on the form.

 The mattress can also be made up (FIG. 15) of a certain number of integral parallelepipedic or cubic elements (the) of which the physical and mechanical characteristics (deformability, nature of the material, roughness and surface appearance, etc.) may vary according to the location of the element in the mattress.

 The mattress 1 supporting the blank 2 is brought opposite a shape 3 (or vice versa), on which the footwear will be mounted. This form 2 carries an insole or first 4 pre-glued which will be fixed to the vamp or rod after forming the blank.

 The mattress 1 is brought closer to the form 3 until the form is pressed into the mattress. The blank 2, applied by the mattress with an appropriate pressure thanks to the variable deformability of the mattress, envelops the shape 3 and thus constrains the vamp or rod to conform to this shape.

 The blank 2 is thus sandwiched between the form 3 and the mattress 1 and therefore undergoes tensioning of its entire surface due to the friction exerted by the surface of the elements le and / or the spherical protrusions (lc, FIG. 16 ) or tapered (ld, figure 17).

 During this shaping the edges 2a of the vamp will overflow from the shape 3 and will have to be folded over the first 4 (Figures la, ld; 2c, 2d, 2e).

 To do this, in accordance with the invention, two variants are possible.

 According to FIGS. 1c and 1d, the form 3 is pressed deep into the mattress 1 so that the edges 2a of the blank are completely buried in the mattress.

 The elasticity of the bulge of the mattress acts on the edges 2a which tend to fall back on the first 4.

Since this force may be insufficient, push cylinders 6 distributed regularly around the shape press on the mattress 1 at the periphery to fold the edges 2a onto the first 4.

 According to Figures 2d and 2e, the form 3 is pressed into the mattress 1 until the first 4, previously coated with a bead of glue, is flush with the level of the mattress.

The edges 2a of the blank 2 are then substantially vertical.

Blades 7 regularly distributed at and around the first 4 are maneuvered radially and fold the edges 2a thereon. The bead of adhesive deposited on the first 4 fixes the latter with the edge of the blank 2. The sole of the footwear can then be fixed by gluing and / or sewing on the first 4.

 In the case of making a slipper (without back), simply slide the shape out of the vamp. For a closed shoe or article, the shape must be divisible into several elements or inflatable to be able to be extracted.

 Figures 3 to 8 show an illustration for the implementation of the method of the invention applied to footwear without back (upper extending only on the front part). Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the installation; Figure 4 an elevational view of the installation along the broken line IV-IV and Figure 5 an elevational view of the installation along the broken line V-V.

 In FIGS. 3 to 8, the installation comprises a base 11 to which is fixed a central column 12 on which is mounted a rotating assembly 13 surrounded by a certain number of work stations A, B, C, D, E, F , described below and which are used to mount slippers. It will be noted that each station makes it possible to treat two footwear items at the same time, ie a pair.

 Station A is simplified, its function being to manually ensure the change of shapes 3, (an automatic change device powered by a shape storage carousel can be provided).

 At station B, the first extracts from a distributor are placed on forms and then coated with a net or dots or a film of glue.

 At station C, the two uppers or rods from another distributor are placed on a double mattress forming part of a transfer element and then molded onto the form.

 Station D is a dead station.

 At station E, the soles are extracted from a distributor, then glued over their entire surface, finally, fixed on the first and uppers coming from station C.

 At station F, the slippers are removed from the forms and then checked before storage by an operator.

 The rotating assembly 13 is driven by a central motor 14, fixed at the top of the column 12, by means of appropriate means (indexer or reducer for example).

 This equipment 13 comprises a circular plate 15 on which are fixed arms 16, six in number in the embodiment shown, regularly spaced. Each arm 16 carries at its free end two forms 3 connected by a crosspiece 17.

 The rotating assembly 13 is of the step-by-step type, that is to say that it stops to carry out the operations, each double form being located at the right of a station.

 Item A intended for changing forms does not require further explanation.

 Station B is shown in Figure 4 and in more detail partially in Figure 6.

 This station B includes a distributor 17 of the first 4 rotating step by step thanks to a motor 18 mounted on a column 19. The first are arranged in a plurality of double magazines positioned opposite the double shape.

 They are extracted from below by known means such as an extractor. A centralizer 21, then a transfer member 22, places them on the double form 3 in the low position (broken lines in Figures 4 and 6).

 Advantageously, the centering device 21 can be a positioning jig which receives the first from the extractor in an indeterminate random arrangement. The template ensures correct positioning of the first which are then driven by the transfer member 22 in a determined position and placed correctly on the double-form. This intermediate organ for arranging the first allows the implementation of a distributor 17 loaded in any way.

 The above devices are well known and need not be described in more detail.

 The double form 3 is then raised by a jack 30 (solid lines in Figures 4 and 6) to be located near the gluing device intended to affix a thread of glue near the edge of the first.

 This gluing device is twofold. Each element comprises a supply reservoir 24, supplied with adhesive by a conduit-23, connected to a source of pressurized fluid not represented by a pipe 25. The adhesive is expelled, thanks to the overpressure provided by the fluid, from the reservoir 24 with a pistol 20.

 The reservoir 24 is movable, on the one hand, so as to come to bear against the form 3 and, on the other hand, to follow at least part of the edge of the form.

 The first movement of the tank is ensured by a jack 26 bearing on the tank 24 equipped with a gun itself hooked by an axis 28 to a movable carriage 27. The extension of the jack 26 makes the tank pivot so as to put in contact with a caster 31 carried by the reservoir with the edge of the form.

 The second movement is caused by the movement of the carriage 27 along a template 29, thanks to a drive mechanism 31, for example a chain winding around two axes 30 defining an average trajectory, the adjustment of the trajectory being done by the first movement.

A rotation of the rotating crew 13 brings the double-form provided with first glued in front of the station
C, shown in FIG. 5 and on a larger scale but partially in FIGS. 7 and 8.

 This station C essentially comprises a rotary distributor 32 supplied with blanks of uppers or rods 2. The blanks are taken from the top of the stacks by a double suction plate 33 or a suitable gripping device which transfers them to the double mattress 34 in elastic deformable material as previously described, carried by a double support 35. The optimal positioning is ensured by a centering device 38, the upper being transferred from the member 33 to the centering device 38 by a push rod 33a. by a jack 33b. These various devices are in themselves well known and do not need to be described in more detail.

 As previously described for station B, the centering device 38 can be a positioning template which receives the uppers or rods in any way from the distributor 32 and positions them so that they are transferred in a correct manner onto the support mattresses. .

 The mattress-3A-supports assembly 35 is integral with a venom 36 which can pivot around the axis 37 integral with the base 11. When the blanks are placed on the mattresses, the pivoting of the jack 36 (position in solid lines at the position in dashed lines in FIGS. 5 and 7) brings the mattresses close to the double shape 3.

 The extension of the jack 36 has the effect of bringing into contact and then driving the double shape into the mattresses supporting the blanks, thus causing, as has been explained above, the wrapping of each shape by a blank.

The upper edges are then folded over the first (see Figure 8). Each shape is associated with a set of two blades 41 which can pivot around an axis 42 when they are subjected to displacement, caused for example by a jack 42 ′, by a finger 43. The profile of the blades 41 and the positioning of the axis 42 are determined so that the edge of the vamp is folded first on the tip of the shape and then gradually towards the instep,
A new rotation of the rotating crew 13 brings about the double form provided with vamps fixed to the first opposite the post E (FIG. 5), after waiting in D, station remaining free.

 This station includes a distributor 44 of soles 45, a withdrawal-transfer device 46 and a sizing machine 47.

 The prewashing device pushes the soles from the bottom of the pile into a centralizer. The transfer is of the suction or other type and collects the soles in the centralizer. During the transfer, the soles pass over a gluing machine 47 which deposits a layer of glue over the entire surface of the soles and are then deposited on the double form, in contact with the first ones already assembled.

The actuation of a jack 48 brings the double form closer to the transfer device and presses it for a time sufficient for bonding.

 A new rotation of the rotating crew 13 then brings about the double form covered with slippers mounted opposite the station F (FIG. 4>.

 An extractor 51, in a back and forth movement effected by means of a jack 52, pushes the slippers out of the double form, slippers which are collected by gutters 53, where they are checked by an operator 54.

 Figures 9 to 14 partially illustrate an embodiment of an installation for implementing the method of the invention in the case of uppers or uppers 2 'of closed footwear.

 In Figure 9 there is shown schematically a magazine 55 for vertical storage of overlapping overlays 2 '.

 These are gripped one by one and transferred into the cavity of a centering mold 56 made of rigid or semi-rigid material by a manipulator arm 57. The latter is for example the known device consisting of an articulated arm provided at its end of a crosspiece 58 comprising at each end of the retractable claws 59 capable, by extension, of being applied against the internal wall of the preformed uppers 2 ′ and of allowing their grip. Since such a system is well known, it need not be described in more detail.

 The cavity in the mold 56 is in a way a counter-form suitable for the form (3 'Figures 10 to 12) which will be received later.

 Once the upper 2 'in the mold 56, another manipulator arm shown diagrammatically at 60 transfers into the upper (figure 10) a shape 3' previously provided with a first pre-glued 4, from a post of preparation-storage not shown.

 The arm 60 is an articulated arm comprising (schematically) two opposing clamps 61 for lateral grip of the shape 3 'in the immediate vicinity of the first.

The clamps 61 are articulated at 62 on the arm 60 and moved by jacks 63.

 In addition, in the axis of the arm 60 a pusher 64 moved by a jack 65 is responsible for applying a certain pressure to the shape 3 'in the upper 2' to make it fit well with it.

 The arm 60 first takes the form 3 'provided with its first (Figure 11) and places it in the upper 2' (Figure 10) whose upper edge 2'a slightly overflows the orifice of the mold 56 as well as the first 4 so that it can be folded down on the latter.

The shape is then pressed by the pusher 64 against the vamp, while the side clips 61 are retracted and then tightened (Figure 12) to be applied against the outer face of the vamp 2 'and re-enter the whole shape- first- vamp to take him to the forming station
sv (figure 13). The edge of the mold cavity 56 is chamfered at 66 to facilitate the movement and correct gripping of the clamps 61.

 At the forming station, said assembly 3'-4-2 'is positioned and locked on a fixed support 67 on either side of which are arranged two mattresses 1' and 1 "made of elastic deformable material, mounted on supports 68 and 69 vertically movable and so as to approach or move away from said support 67.

 The mattresses 1 ', 1 "have a configuration suitable for the shape 3' and the support 67 in order to best envelop the upper 2 'when the mattresses are brought together and pressed against the upper.

 The folding over the first 4 of the projecting part 2 ′ a of the vamp is effected by overflowing of the upper parts of the mattresses l ′, ″ or, better, as in the device of FIG. 8, by two pairs of horizontal blades such as 41, arranged respectively in line with the front and rear parts of the form, parallel to the plane of the first and above it, these blades not being shown in FIG. 13.

 Of course the arm 60 is withdrawn before the end of the compression of the mattresses and the folding of said projecting part 2'a.

 As shown in FIG. 14, the rear mattress 1 ″ may have a hollow imprint 70 to better fit the rear part of the shape and lateral pressures (symbolized at 71) can be exerted on the mattress. It can be the same for the front mattress 1 '.

 The 1 "rear mattress can also be replaced by a stirrup shaped to the heel of the form and pressed against the latter so as to apply the rear slap against the form.

 The configurations of the mattresses of course depend on the shapes and uppers and their constitution or appearance can be as shown in Figures 15 to 17 or la.

 Finally, the invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments shown and described above, but on the contrary covers all variants thereof, in particular with regard to the number, the shape, the constitution or the surface appearance of the mattress of elastic deformable material, as well as the arrangement of the means for obtaining the sandwich under pressure of an upper or any rod between an appropriate shape and this or these mattresses in order to bring about the folding of the projecting part of said upper against a first, preferably pre-glued, previously placed on said form. It should also be noted that the mattress can optionally be replaced by an elastic band or membrane held on its edges and pressing the blank against the shape in the manner of a mattress, the folding of the projecting edges of the blank s' effecting by blades similar to blades 41 and applying both the strip or membrane and the edges of the blank against the first bearing by the form.

Claims (17)

 1. A method of forming an upper or upper of an article of footwear from a blank and using a shape, characterized in that said blank (2) is sandwiched between a mattress (1) made of elastic deformable material and a shape (3) previously provided with a first (4) at least part of the periphery of the outer face of which is coated with an appropriate adhesive, the shape and the mattress are brought together so to cause by pressing the form into the mattress the at least partial wrapping of the form by said blank and the projecting part (2a) of the blank is folded against the pre-glued part of said first.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said folding down of the projecting part (2a) of the blank is produced by the mattress (1) itself covering said part.  3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said folding down of the projecting part (2a) of the blank is produced by means of one or more mobile members (41) directly applying said projecting part against said pre part - glued, after approximation of the shape and the mattress.  4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, more particularly intended for the formation of a vamp extending only on the front part of the footwear, characterized in that the blank (2) is placed on said mattress (1), then the form (3) with its first (4) and the mattress (1) with its blank (2) are brought together and pressed against each other.  5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the blank is precut and possibly preformed.  6. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the blank is part of a string of blanks shaped in a strip and is cut after forming.  7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, more particularly intended for the formation of an uppers of closed footwear, characterized in that. prepares the blank (2 ') beforehand then it is put in place IJ- its first (4) and in that on said form (3') provided with its first (4) and in that the assembly forms -first-shaped blank, on the one hand, and said mattress (l ', l "), on the other hand, are brought together and pressed against each other.  8. Device for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a shape (3) corresponding to the type of vamp to be formed, means for placing and maintaining on the shape a first (4), means for partially externally pre-gluing the first after positioning on the form, at least- a mattress (1) made of elastic deformable material, means for sandwiching and positioning the blank to be formed (2) between the mattress and the form, means for bringing together and pressing the mattress or mattresses and the form one against the other and means for folding the projecting part (2a) of the blank against the pre-part glued from the first.  9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said means for folding down said projecting part are constituted by the mattress or mattresses (1,1 ', 1 ") coming to cover said part (2a, 2'a) of themselves or under the action of lateral pushers (6).  10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said means for folding down said projecting part (2a, 2'a) are constituted by movable blades (41) applying said projecting part against the first (4) at the end of the movement of approximation of the mattress or mattresses and the shape.  11. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, more particularly intended for the implementation of the method according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one mattress of elastic deformable material (34) fixed to the end of the rod of a jack (36), the mattress-jack assembly being able to move between two positions, one for which the mattress is facing a delivery station one by one of the blanks ( 2) by means of a centering-positioning member (38) and the other, for which said mattress provided with its blank is opposite the shape (3).  12. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, more particularly intended for the implementation of the method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises an open mold (56) suitable for the shape (3 '), means (57) for transferring a preformed blank (2 ') from a magazine (55) into the mold cavity, means (60) for bringing the shape into the mold in place in the blank (2') provided with a first (4), means (60) for gripping the form-blank assembly and transferring it from said mold (56) to a fixed support (67), two mattresses (1 ', 1) made of elastic deformable material shaped so as to match respectively the front and rear parts of said form and means for bringing the two mattresses closer and further apart from the respective parts of the form.  13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that said means for gripping and transferring the form-blank assembly consist of an articulated manipulator arm (60) comprising a clamp (61) for gripping the lateral sides of said assembly, to which is associated with a pusher (64) capable of being applied against the first bearing by the shape.  14. Device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of blades movable horizontally to the right respectively of the front and rear parts of the form (3 '), in order to fold down said projecting part (2'a ) of the blank against the first (4).  15. Device according to one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that each mattress (1,1 ', 1 ") consists of a plurality of elements (lb, le) of variable resistance to deformation.  16. Device according to one of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the surface of each mattress (1,1 ', l ") has patterns (lc, ld) in relief, protuberances, folds and / or an imprint hollow.  17. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the two mattresses (1 ', 1 ") are shaped so as to match at least partially the part of the shape (3') which concerns them as well as the part of said support (67) for maintaining shape.