GB2080670A - Shoe treeing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for carrying out stretching and simultaneous stabilisation, using steam, of shoe uppers of the moccasin type employs spreadable shaping members or moulds (3, 18, 19) and pneumatic units of piston/cylinder type (8, 31, 32) for carrying out the lengthening and widening of the mould parts. In accordance with the invention, means (35, 40, 42, 43) are provided for simultaneously presetting the degree of lengthening and the degree of widening of the shoe uppers to the extents required by each size number of the finished shoe. These presetting means include stops (42, 43) which can be positioned by a single common control 40 and threaded shaft 35. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automatic machine for carrying out stretching of shoe uppers of the moccasin type on spreadable shaping members, having a device for presetting the lengthening and widening paths of travel of said members This invention relates to apparatus for automatically carrying out stretching and simultaneous stabilisation, using steam, of shoe uppers of the moccasin type and the like, employing metal shaping members or moulds which can be opened out. In such apparatus the values of the paths of travel traversed by parts of the apparatus to provide the appropriate amount of lengthening and widening vary, corresponding to the various types and size numbers of the shoe uppers; the shoe uppers may be of leather or the like, or made of a man-made material.

As is known, uppers for shoes of the. moccasin type initially have a tubular shape, with one single opening which corresponds to the passage for the foot. They comprise various peripheral stitchings which inevitably give rise to various wrinkles and irregularities. In order to provide such shoe uppers with a stable and definitive shape when making shoes of the moccasin type, current techniques employ machines which make use of metal shaping members or moulds, which can be spread apart and lengthened using various types of mechanisms for exerting force and providing a spreading action.The tubular uppers are loaded on to such metal shaping members and then subjected to longitudinal and transverse stretching for predetermined lengths of time until the shoe upper has taken on the final shape of the shoe, without wrinkles and/or irregularities; the stability of the shape of the upper is obtained using treatment with steam and after such stabilisation, the uppers are ready to be passed to the succeeding operations of mounting the sole, the heel and the various trimmings.

The most recent machines for stretching moccasins carry out the lengthening movement of a spreadable mould by subjecting part of the mould to an axial force which displaces it away from a fixed heelpiece, or vice versa, this force being generally provided using a piston/cylinder unit which is pneumatically powered. The spreading apart of the two half members of the front part of the mould, in order to achieve the widening of the shoe upper, is, on the other hand, normally done by inserting, using a separate piston/cylinder unit, a wedge-shaped member between two plates which are linked to the half-members and which can be spread apart in a direction perpendicularto the direction along which lengthening takes place, whilst the shoe upper is kept undertension.

In machines of this type, the setting up and regulation of the values determining the amount of lengthening and widening of the shaping members is, in general, obtained using devices operating on a time basis or the like, and these must be regulated, for each type and for each size (size number) of shoe upper, using separate operations, one of which con certs the amount of travel during lengthening and the other of which concerns the amount of travel during widening as well as further operations for the programming of the operation of the piston/cylinder units.

Such separate programming operations are always complicated in practice, as they require a certain amount of time and the presence of competent personnel, and furthermore uniform and identical stretching of all the shoe uppers constituting a batch cannot always be guaranteed through the lack of any clearly-defined end stops for use during the travel operations of the shaping members in both the direction of lengthening and that of widening.

Thus, when such machines provide for the use of several stretching heads for varying types of shoe uppers, the uniformity and regularity of manufacture is not always satisfactory.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for shaping moccasin shoe uppers, the apparatus comprising at least one moulding assembly consisting of a heel portion and an axially split front portion, means for moving the heel portion toward and away from the front portion and for moving the two halves of the front portion toward and away from one another laterally, and a mechanism enabling these mould portions to be moved apart from one another in such a way that a preformed moccasin type shoe upper placed over the portions when they are in their close together position may be first longitudinally stretched and its front portion then transversely stretched while maintaining it longitudinally stretched and to be held in such stretched configuration while a treatment to fix the shape is carried out, the mechanism comprising at least two piston/cylinder units linked to the mould members to enable them to be spread and brought together, at least two adjustable travel defining members defining the travel of each of the respective piston/cylinder units and means for adjusting the positions of the travel defining members simultaneously comprising a shaft on which both travel defining members are mounted, the shaft having a first threaded portion on which the first travel defining member is mounted and a second threaded portion upon which the second travel defining member is threadedly mounted, the senses and pitches of the threads on the respective portions being so chosen that adjustment of one travel adjustment member by a distance corresponding to a given shoe size difference causes the other travel adjustment member to move in position by an amount corresponding to the same given shoe size difference.

According more specifically to the invention there is provided apparatus for stretching and simultane ously stabilising, using steam, shoe uppers of the moccasin type, comprising a base, spreadable shaping members on that base and a plurality of piston/cylinder units mounted on the base and arranged for the lengthening and spreading apart of the shaping members, the apparatus including means for simultaneously presetting the extent of lengthening and widening ofthe shoe uppers in the proportions required by the size of the shoe the pre venting means including a threaded shaft having two oppositely threaded portions of differing pitch, means mounting the shaft to enable it to rotate axi ally but not translate longitudinally, first and second female screw-threaded members each in threaded engagement on one of said portions, means prevent ing rotation of said female members about the axis of said shaft, fixed stop means associated with each female screw threaded member, the positions of the female members with respect to their respective fixed stops being adjustable by rotation of said threaded shaft, said threaded shaft being movable together with a slide member carrying mechanisms for providing control of the axial and transverse spreading apart of said shaping members, two pairs of support plates which are movable in the transverse sense, each one of said support plates having associated therewith a shaping member for the shoes which is one of two separate halves, the two halves being arranged in line with a heel portion fixed to said base, said slide body being rendered movable, with respect to the fixed heel portion, by means of a piston/cylinder unit operable by fluid under pressure, in order to stretch the shoe uppers fitted onto the shaping members, and two identical pivoting lever mechanisms and a respective piston/cylinder device operatively connected to each for spreading apart said pair of plates carrying the shaping members, means for bringing this pair of piston/cylinder units into operation only at the end of the longitudinal travel of the pair of shaping members away from said heel portion, this distance being determined by the distance between one ofthe female screw threaded members and its fixed stop, and the distance of travel during the widening or spreading out operation being determined by the distance between the other female screw-threaded member and its associated fixed stop, and timer devices of known type for carrying out sequential control of the lengthening and widening paths of travel.

Such apparatus enables the disadvantages of separately programming the travels provided for lengthening and widening of the shaping members to be dispensed with, so as to ensure that the stretching operation is performed with rapidity and regularity, resulting in reduced costs and saving on specialised operatives and, consequently, leading to increased production.

Preferably the apparatus is designed in such a way as to carry out complete and contemporaneous stretching of two shoe uppers (a pair of moccasins) using associated stabilisation employing steam and, above all, employing one single manual presetting operation, employing index markings for values of both the amounts of travel in the lengthening and widening senses. This leads to marked advantages in terms of the uniformity of stretching of the two shoe uppers constituting a pair of moccasins, and in terms of the productivity of the machine and its reliability of operation.

In the detailed description which follows, a machine for stretching moccasins, employing stabil isation with vapour, is described, the machine being of the type used shaping members which can be spread apart and distanced with respect to the heel which is maintained in a fixed position and employ ing piston/cylinder units for controlling the paths of travel during lengthening and widening of the shap ing members.According to the present invention, the machine comprises a base member on which a substantially annular support is mounted carrying at its internal part a slide member which can be moved axially with respect to the support, said slide member supporting, symmetrically with respect to the axis of the annular support, two pairs of plates movable inside guides which are perpendicular to the guide of said slide member, said plates being capable of being spread apart and each pair of said spreadable plates having associated with it a shoe shaping member in two separate havles and being each positioned in line with a heel which is fixed to the annular support, the plate-carrying slide member being rendered movable, with respect to the fixed heel portion, using a piston/cylinder unit operated by fluid under pressure, in orderto stretch the shoe uppers which are loaded onto the shaping members and restrained by the heel portions, simultaneous spreading apart of the pair of plates carrying the shaping members being carried out by employing two identical pivoting lever mechanisms each one of which is operated by its own pneumatically operated cylinder and piston unit, which are adapted to come into operation only at the end of the lengthening path of travel of the shaping members, a manuallycontrolled device further being provided for simultaneous setting up of the values for the length of travel during lengthening and widening required by the shoe uppers during stretching, said device being made up by a threaded shaft, mounted rotatably and coaxially with respect to the annular support and translatable together with said slide body, said shaft being provided with two threaded portions with opposing threads and differing pitches which carry two threaded blocks or female screws which are guided so as to be movable in the linear sense as a result of rotation of said threaded shaft so as to constitute stop means which can be positioned at predetermined distances, which can be set up using graduations associated with the female screws movable in the linear sense. The length of travel during lengthening is defined by the distance between one block and a fixed stop member whilst the widening or spreading apart length of travel is determined by the distance between the other block and an operating bar which is inserted between said lever mechanisms and associated piston/cylinder units, known timer mechanisms beingfurther provided for sequential control of said lengthening and widening paths of travel.More particularly, said threaded shaft having the pair of th reads of differing pitch is rotatably mounted on fixed end supports and can be operated by means of a hand wheel or the like, whilst the female screw which is movable in the linear sense for defining the travel during lengthening has a graduation associated with it which cor responds to various sizes (size numbers) of shoe and is readable on an index which is fixed to an end support, the setting up of a given value on the graduation automatically positioning the other small block, which acts as a stop, as well, thus establishing the widths of the widening stage.

Further constructional and operational characteristics of a machine according to the invention are evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a machine for stretching moccasins in accordance with the invention, in its rest position; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section through the machine shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows, partially in end view and partially in cross-section according to line Ill-Ill of Figure 1, the same machine as in the above Figures.

With reference now to the drawings and in particularto Figures 2 and 3, the machine constituting the invention is made up by an arcuate support 1 substantially in the form of a C-shaped ring and mounted on a base-plate (which is not shown); the gap in the C of arcuate support 1 is closed by a plate 2 to which, at a predetermined distance, two heel parts 3 having a shaping appropriate to the shoes are rigidly fixed, only one of these being visible in Figure2.

Inside the upper part of arcuate support 1, is a keyway in which a slide member 4 is mounted.

Member 4 can be moved axially with respect to the annular support 1, i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of Figure 3 and slides on opposed dovetail surfaces 5.

The arcuate support 1 has a bracket 6 rigidly fixed to its upper part and this has the free end of a rod 7 of a piston/cylinder unit 8 rigidly fixed to it. Unit 8 operates on compressed air and is fixed on a projection 9 integral with slide member 4. By means of this arrangement, longitudinal movement in either direction of the slide member 4 can be effected by supplying pressure to piston/cylinder 8, the rod 7 of which is fixed.

Four plates 10, 11, 12, 13 (Figure 1) are mounted inside the slide member 4 so as to be able to move longitudinally inside dovetail-shaped guides 10a which run perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the slide member 4. Each one of the plates has associated with it, via support plates 14, 15, 16, 17, one member of a pair of metal shaping members or moulds for the shoes. One pair is denoted 18-1 8a and the other 19-19a in Figure 1. Each pair of halfmoulds is located in line with one of the fixed heels 3 so as to allow for stretching of a shoe upper, which is fitted over the mould and retained by the heel, as a result of longitudinal movement of the slide member 4.The plates of plate pairs 10, 11 and 12, 13, which are slidably mounted inside the guides 10a can be spread apart or brought closerto each other by means of a pair of levers or links 20, 20a and 21, 21a, which are mutually pivoted on pivot pins 22 and 23 respectively (see Figures 1 to 3). The other end of each link is linked pivotally to one ofthe plates 10, 11, 12, 13 at 24,25, 26 and 27 respectively.

The pivot pins 22 and 23 are set in one end of guide blocks 28 and 29 respectively. The other ends of the guide blocks are fixed to a transverse bar which accordingly moves together with the small guide blocks 28 and 29.

Two pneumatic piston/cylinder units 31,32 are mounted on a cross member 37 integral with slide member 4. The piston rods 33,34 of these are directly connected to the bar 30 and are coaxial with the small guide blocks 28, 29. Consequently, by mov ing piston rods 33,34 to and fro pieces 10, 11 and 12, 13 can be spread apart or brought together via movement of operating bar 30 acting on pivot pins 22,23 to rotate levers or links 20, 20a and 21,21a, and spread apart or bring together the members of each pairof pieces 10,11 and 12,13.

According to the invention, in order to be able to establish the values for the paths of travel of the shaping members or moulds 18, 18a and 19, 19a away from the respective heel 3 and the extent of spreading apart of the half-moulds or shaping members using one single operation carried out in a sequential manner and as a function of the size of the shoe uppers placed on the mould, the machine is equipped with a shaft 35 having two different diameter portions 35a and 35b. Shaft 35 passes with clearance through apertures in cross member 37, and further cross member 36 integral with slide member 4.However, shaft 35 moves only together with longitudinal slide member 4, since it is locked axially relatively thereto by a nut and washer assembly 38 at one end which abuts cross member 37 and by a shoulder 39 between portions 35a and 35b, which shoulder abuts cross member 36. Shaft 35 can still rotate, with respect to the slide member 4, but can only move axially together with slide member 4.

Shaft 35 is externally threaded with two threads of differing sense; for example, the portion of major diameter 35a has a right-hand thread of given pitch which extends over that portion of shaft 35 comprised between the cross member 36 through which shaft 35 passes and a manually-operated control wheel 40. This part of shaft 35 passes with clearance through a small block 41 fixed to the arcuate support 1; while the minor diameter portion of the shaft 35b, which lies between cross member 36 and extends into the nut of assembly 38, is threaded in the opposite sense to that on portion 35a and is of different pitch, normally of lesser pitch. The threaded portion 35a carries an internally threaded positioning nut 42, which is guided in such a way that when shaft 35 is rotated it can only move longitudinally relative thereto. Shaft 35 can be rotated manually by turning hand wheel 40; the nut 42 is thus able to adopt varying positions (indicated by 42a-42b.... 42e in Figure 1) and consequently, varying distances from the fixed small block 41. Block 41 constitutes a stop for the forward movement of the slide member 4 (to the right as seen in Figure 2), the amount of forward travel possible depending on the position of nut 42 on shaft 35. In this connection it should be remembered that since the hole in central cross member 36, which member is integral with slide member 4, only allows the passage of the smaller diameter portion of the shaft 35, member 36 abuts shoulder 39 and the member 4 cannot move longitudinally relative to shaft 35.

A small internally threaded block 43 is located on the threaded part 35b and this is restrained from rotating about the axis of shaft 35. Thus when shaft 35 is turned, block 43 moves in the opposite direction to the movement of nut 42. The displacement block 43 and nut 42 will be by differing amounts as a result in the differences in pitch between their respective threads. The small block 43 when the machine in the rest position, is positioned close to the bar 30 adapted to control the spreading apart of the mould-carrying sectors through the centre of which bar shaft 35 passes freely. Block 43 thus constitutes a stop for the travel of the bar 30. Block 43 can adopt varying positions as shown at 43a,43b . . .

43e in Figure 1 when hand wheel 40 is turned.

The values of the paths of travel between bar 30 and block 43 and between nut 42 and block 41 correspond to the widening and lengthening movements respectively exerted on during the use of the apparatus. Thus, when setting up the apparatus for a particular shoe size, setting of the distance of the nut 42 from the respective fixed stop 41 (extent of travel during lengthening) takes place simultaneously, with the setting of the distance between the small block 43 and the bar 30 (extent of travei during widening). The nut 42 is provided with a graduated stem or cursor 44, which moves with respect to a fixed index 45 or block 41.This cursor, the position of which corresponds to the displacements which need to be performed by the nut 42 and block 43, starting from the initial position when the machine is not operating, can be graduated with the size of the shoes which are being made up. Thus, by rotating the hand wheel 40 to a point where the scale or cursor 44 is brought to a position where the number corresponding to the size of the shoe is being made up lies against index 45, simultaneous displacement of nut 42 and block 43 into the exact working position is achieved, i.e. to distances with respect to their own end positions of travel, which correspond to the correct amount of travel for lengthening and widening of that shoe size. One single operation of the hand wheel 40 thus makes it possible to set up the machine for all the stretching operations involved in a given type and size of shoe upper.

In order to carry out the stabilisation operation using steam which is done on the shoe uppers while they are in the stretched state, provision is made, as is known in the art, to introduce steam into the shaping members or moulds via connectors, two of which are shown at 46,47 in Figure 3. The steam reaches the shoe surfaces themselves via internal passages provided in the moulds and outlet passages 48,49, 50 and 51, which are formed on the upper region of the actual moulds as seen in Figure 2.

Operation of the machine as described above takes place in practice as follows: Starting with the machine in the rest position (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) and thus in a position where the half-moulds are close to the heels and with the scale set to "0" corresponding to the reading of the cursor 44 against the index 45, a pair of shoe uppers (a pair of shoes) is loaded onto the shaping members or moulds, and these have a given size number; the hand wheel 40 is then rotated until the number on the graduated cursor 44 which corresponds to the selected size number, is positioned against index 45; for example for size "42" the "2" of the scale may be brought to lie against index 45. While this happens the rotation of shaft 35 automatically displaces nut 42 e.g. to the left as seen in Figure 2 and block 43 to the right, as a result of the opposite sense threads on the shaft 35.These small blocks which provide for the positioning are thus automatically and simultaneously positioned so as to provide for exact performance of the paths of travel during lengthening and widening of the shaping members or moulds; more precisely, the distance between the small block 42 and the fixed stop 41 constitutes the length of travel during lengthening and the distance between the small block 43 and the bar 30 determines the extent to which the mould-carrying plates can spread apart.

Thus, both the shaft 35 and its associated nut 42 and block 43, and the displaceable plates 10, 11, 12, 13 and associated mould halves are all rigidly linked to the translatable slide member 4, and if at this point are under pressure is admitted into the piston/cylinder unit 7,8 (using a normal type of pedal control or the like) the cylinder 8, as it moves towards the right, causes the slide 4 to move longitudinally and carry the nut 42 with it right up to the position of the stop 41, shaft 35 meanwhile passing through the clearance hole in stop 41. This moved ment causes the shoe uppers, which are located on the shaping members and retained by the respective fixed heel portions 3, to be put undertension.

During this lengthening operation, since the shaft 35 is also displaced towards the right, block 43 is also displaced to the right, but so also is bar 30, so the distance between block 43 and bar 30 remains at a length which corresponds to the desired travel during spreading apart of the shaping members. After completion of the lengthening stage, whilst the shoe uppers are kept under tension, the operating piston/cylinder units 31,32 automatically come into operation and their piston rods 33,34 cause the bar 30 which is linked to the lever mechanism, to move towards block 43; during its travel towards block 43, the lever mechanisms which are able to open out in scissor-like fashion, spread the members of each pair of mould-carrying plates apart (as is indicated by the arrows in Figure 1) until bar30 comes to a stop against the block 43. The shaping members or moulds thus subject the shoe uppers both to tension and to widening and are maintained in this condition for the whole period of time needed to stabilise the shoe uppers by the introduction of steam inside the shaping members.

In the final stage of the process, the pistons are caused to return to the rest position and, consequently, the two shoe uppers which have by this time taken on the stable shape of a pair of shoes, can be removed from the moulds.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for shaping moccasin shoe uppers, the apparatus comprising at least one moulding assembly consisting of a heel portion and an axially split front portion, means for moving the heel por tion toward and away from the front portion and for moving the two halves of the front portion toward and away from one another laterally, and a mechan ism enabling these mould portions to be moved apart from one another in such a way that a pre formed moccasin type shoe upper placed over the portions when they are in their close together posi tion may be first longitudinally stretched and its front portion then transversely stretched while main taining it longitudinally stretched and to be held in such stretched configuration while a treatment, to fix the shaping is carried out the mechanism compris ing at least two piston/cylinder units linked to the mould members to enable them to be spread apart and brought together, at least two adjustable travel defining members defining the travel of each of the respective piston/cylinder units and means for adjusting the positions of the travel defining mem bers simultaneously comprising a shaft on which both travel defining members are mounted, the shaft having a first threaded portion on which the first travel defining member is mounted and a second threaded portion upon which the second travel defining member is threadedly mounted, the senses and pitches of the threads on respective portions being so chosen that adjustment of one travel adjustment member by a distance corresponding to a given shoe size difference causes the other travel adjustment member to move in position by an amount corresponding to the same given shoe size difference.

2. Apparatus for stretching and simultaneously stabilising, using steam, shoe uppers ofthe mocca sin type, comprising a base, spreadable shaping members on that base and a plurality of pis ton/cylinder units mounted on the base and arranged for the lengthening and spreading apart of the shaping members, the apparatus including means for simultaneously presetting the extent of lengthening and widening of the shoe uppers in the proportions required by each number designating the size of the shoe, the preventing means including a threaded shaft having two oppositely threaded portions of differing pitch, means mounting the shaft to enable it to rotate axially but not translate lon gitudinally, first and second female screw-threaded members each in threaded engagement on one of the portions, means preventing rotation of the female members about the axis of the shaft, fixed stop means associated with each female screw threaded member, the position of which with respect to its respective fixed stops being adjustable by rota tion of the threaded shaft, the threaded shaft being movable together with a slide member carrying mechanisms for providing control of the axial and transverse spreading apart of the shaping members, two pairs of support plates which are movable in the transverse sense, each one of the support plates hav ing associated therewith a shaping memberforthe shoes which is one of two separate halves, the two halves being arranged in line with a heel portion fixed to the base, the slide body being rendered movable, with respect to the fixed heel portion, by means of a piston/cylinder unit operable by fluid under pressure, in order to stretch the shoe uppers fitted onto the shaping members, and two identical pivoting lever mechanisms and at least one second piston/cylinder device operatively connected to each for spreading apart the pair of plates carrying the shaping members, means for bringing the second piston/cylinder unit(s) into operation at the end of the longitudinal travel of the pair of shaping members away from the heel portion, this distance being determined by the distance between one of the female screw-threaded members and its associated fixed stop, and the distance of travel during the widening or spreading out operation being determined by the distance between the other female screw-threaded member and its associated fixed stop, and timer devices of known type for carrying out sequential control of the lengthening and widening paths of travel.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the threaded shaft is rotatably mounted on end supports, which supports are rigidly fixed to the axially displaceable slide member, and bears at one end a manually operable hand wheel or the like which is accessible by the operator to vary the lengthening and spreading paths.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 and including a graduated cursor associated with that displaceable female screw-threaded member which is provided for defining the length of travel during lengthening, and with its associated stop, the cursor carrying a predetermined graduation which corresponds to various sizes (size numbers) of shoe, and an index mark positioned on the fixed support and lying adjacent the cursor fixed to the movable female screw-threaded element, whereby setting a given numerical value on said graduation provides for automatic and simultaneous positioning of the other female screw-threaded member by an amount corresponding to the size number.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein each of the lever mechanisms which swing in order to cause spreading out of the pair of adjacent plates which are displaceable in the linear sense, is made up of two linkages which are pivoted at one end on the two adjacent plates and have their other ends pivoted on a common guide block, in such a way that they can be opened out in a scissorlike manner, the guide blocks of the two lever mechanisms being simultaneously operated by a transverse bar which is subject to the force applied by the rods of the piston/cylinder units provided for travel during spreading apart of the shaping members.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the shaft having two threads of differing senses and pitch has sections oftwo different diameters, the portion ofgreater diameter being of greater pitch, and carrying the female screwthreaded member whose position determines the extent of travel during widening, and wherein a shoulder between the two threaded portions abuts against a central support having a through passage of diameter such that it allows the smaller diameter portion of the shaft to pass through, the central support constituting the means of connection between the shaft and the slide member which is movable in the linear sense.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spreadable shaping members have internal channels and outlet holes for carrying out treatment using steam, over predetermined periods of time, on the shoe uppers whilst they are kept in the stretched and widened state.

8. Apparatus for stretching and simultaneously stabilising, using steam, shoe uppers ofthe moccasin type, comprising a base, spreadable shaping members on that base and a plurality of piston/cylinder units mounted on the base and arranged for the lengthening and spreading apart of the shaping members, the apparatus including means for simultaneously presetting the extent of lengthening and widening of the shoe uppers in the proportions required by each number designating the size of the shoe, said preventing means including a threaded shaft having two oppositely threaded portions of differing pitch, means mounting the shaft to enable it to rotate axially but not translate longitudinally, first and second female screw-threaded members each in threaded engagement on one of said portions, means preventing rotation of said female members about the axis of said shaft, fixed stop means associated with each female screwthreaded member, the position of which with respect to its respective fixed stops being adjustable by rotation of said threaded shaft, said threaded shaft being movable together with a slide member carrying mechanisms for providing control of the axial and transverse spreading apart of said shaping members, two pairs of support plates which are movable in the transverse sense, each one of said support plates having associated therewith a shaping member for the shoes which is one of two separate halves, the two halves being arranged in line with a heel portion fixed to said base, said slide body being rendered movable, with respect to the fixed heel portion, by means of a piston/cylinder unit operable by fluid under pressure, in order to stretch the shoe fitted onto the shaping members, and two identical pivoting lever mechanisms and a respective piston/cylinder device operatively connected to each for spreading apart said pair of plates carrying the shaping members, means for bringing this pair of pis tonicylinder units into operation only at the end of the longitudinal travel of the pair of shaping members away from said heel portion, this distance being determined by the distance between one of the female screw-threaded members and its associated fixed stop, and the distance of travel during the widening or spreading out operation being determined by the distance between the other female screwrthreaded member and its associated fixed stop, and timer devices of known type for carrying out sequential control of the lengthening and widening paths of travel.