GB1375159A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1375159 Boots &c BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO Ltd 18 Oct 1971 [17 Oct 1970 22 Dec 1970] 49394/70 and 60864/70 Heading A3B [Also in Division B5] A method of shoemaking includes the step of directing heat on to the side portions of a shoe upper A during the moulding of a shoe bottom unit onto the upper. The method is particularly suitable for shoes having uppers of synthetic plastics material, the heat treatment imparting the required degree of shape retention to the uppers. Apparatus suitable for performing the method includes a mould assembly, a heated form and heating means. In a first embodiment (Fig. 1) the mould assembly 10 includes a base plate 8 on which are mounted a sole mould (not shown) and two movable side moulds 14, 16. A pair of radiant infra-red heaters 22, 24 are fixed to the side moulds 14, 16 by wing bolts 28. The upper A is mounted on a heated form 30 which is movable between a raised retracted position and a lower advanced position. The apparatus may be used in a top-closure sequence in which the side moulds 14, 16 are moved together and the mould cavity is then closed by lowering the form 30 to its advanced position or in a side-closure sequence in which the form 30 is lowered to its advanced position and the mould cavity is then closed by moving the side moulds 14, 16 together. Microswitches, e.g. 40, switch on the heaters 22, 24 when the mould is closed and a timing device switches the heaters off after a predetermined time. In a second embodiment (Fig. 3) the mould assembly 10a includes a base plate 8a on which are mounted a sole mould 12a and a pair of movable carrier members 106, 108. The side moulds 14a, 16a are fixed to the carriers 106, 108 and the heaters 22a, 24a are mounted on arms 128 which are pivoted to the carriers 106, 108. Brackets 140 fixed to the base plate 8a have pin 142 which engage slots 134 in lower portions 132 of the arms 128. Movement of the carriers 106, 108 to bring the side moulds 14a, 16a together causes the heaters 22a, 24a to swing about their pivots to move the heaters 22a, 24a from the retracted positions shown in Fig. 3 to their operative positions adjacent the upper. The heaters 22a, 24a are switched on by the sensing mechanism which senses when the mould is filled to terminate the injection of moulding material into the mould cavity. The heaters 22a, 24a are switched off by a timing device as above.