1,008,081. Copy grinding. RALPHS ENGINEERING CO. Ltd. Jan. 8, 1962 [Oct. 6, 1960], No. 34362/60. Heading B3D. [Also in Division B4] A machine for trimming the edges of a batch of shoe soles S, Fig. 2, comprises a follower 31 engageable with a template 32 to control the operation of a motor-driven grinding tool 15, the template and batch of shoe soles being turned between successive traversing movements of the follower and tool. The tool spindle 14 is mounted in a carrier 13 pivotal movement of which about an axis 16, Fig. 1, on a crosshead 18 is effected by means of a pneumatic cylinder 20. Forward and rearward sliding movement of the carrier 13 with the crosshead is effected by means of a pneumatically-controlled hydraulic cylinder 23. The shoe soles are clamped between spigots 35, 36, the spigot 36 being raised and lowered by means of a pivotally-mounted lever 39 operatively connected to a treadle 50. Prior clamping of the shoe soles is effected by means of a pneumatic cylinder 53. The spigot 35 is mounted on a spingle 58, Fig. 4, having fixed to its lower end a sprocket 55 engaged by a chain 56 which passes round a further sprocket. The ends of the chain are coupled to piston rods 57a, 57b, Fig. 3, extending from a pneumatic cylinder 57 by means of which the stack of soles can be swung about the axis of spindle 58 through approximately 180 degress. Adjustable stops 66, 67, Fig. 1, are provided for engagement by the follower at each end of traverse of the tool. Stop 66 can be retracted by means of a pneumatic cylinder 72 to provide clearance for the movement of the follower. The spigots 35, 36 are aligned with each other by means of a device comprising a lever 90 pivoted at 91 and having a block 94 formed with a V-groove 75 which is adapted to engage with tails 76 formed on the spigots. The lever 90 is operable by means of treadle 50 and is retracted, when required, by a pneumatic cylinder 103. The follower may, alternatively, be in the form of a sleeve loosely mounted on the tool spindle. In operation, treadle 50 is depressed to cause the spigots 35, 36 to grip the stack of soles and at the same time to operate the aligning device to cause its groove 75 to engage the tails 76 on the spigots. Cylinder 53 is then energized to apply power clamping to the soles and, simultaneously, cylinder 103 is energized to retract the aligning device. The stop 66 is at this time in its initial operative position adjusted into alignment with the adjacent end of the template. At the completion of the retraction movement of the aligning device, an air valve 112, Fig. 5, is switched over to supply air to the left-hand end of cylinder 20 so as to rock the carrier 13 and swing the tool towards the work until the follower engages the stop 66. The valve 112 causes valve 117 to be actuated to force oil into cylinder 23 to effect the forward traversing movement of the carrier 13 and tool. The follower rider off stop 66 on to the heelward end part of the template and follows the contour of the exposed side of the template passing ultimately round the toe end of the template and up against stop 67. This causes the soles to be trimmed along one side and partly around the toe end. At the end of the forward traversing movement, an abutment on crosshead 18 trips a valve 118 to operate cylinder 57 to effect partial rotation of spindle 58 and turn the stack of soles through approximately-180 degrees and also to operate cylinder 72 so as to swing stop 66 away from its initial setting to provide clearance for the follower. As the turning movement of the soles and template is about to be completed to present their other sides to the tool and follower, a valve 124 is tripped to reverse the valve 117. The return traversing stroke is thereby caused to occur during which the follower rides off stop 67 on to the second side of the template and eventually partly around the toe end of the template. When this stage is reached, an abutment on the crosshead trips a valve 126 to return the valve 112 to its original setting. This operates cylinder 20 to withdraw the tool and follower from the work and template and on such withdrawal a further valve 128 is tripped by the action of cylinder 20. This causes spindle 58, stack of soles and the template to be turned back to their initial setting and stop 66 is reset to its initial position. Finally, the return movement of cylinder 57 causes cylinder 53 to release clamping of the stack of trimmed soles which can then be removed from the machine.