GB2171589A - Forepart and joint lasting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A forepart and joint lasting machine is disclosed in which the toe 41 and side 42, 44 pincer assemblies are carried on platens 5, 6 extending in horizontal planes on either side of the last 30 and pivotally mounted on a base member 1 secured to the last 30 and extending on either side thereof. The pincer assemblies 41-44 are mounted in slots 23, 24, 25 formed in the platens 5, 6 for heightwise and longitudinal movement along the slots 23, 24, 25, the slots 23, 24, 25 being positioned such that their longitudinal axes are parallel to tangents to curved portions of the last 30. Pivotal movement of the platens 5, 6 is controlled by a piston 10 and cylinder 11 assembly located between forwardly extending arm elements 7, 8 of the platens 5, 6. The degree of pivotal movement may be controlled by adjustable stops mounted on the base member 1 on either side of each platen 5, 6, the position of the stops acting to locate the pincer assemblies in positions corresponding to a specific last size. Stops may be replaced by cam means or by adapting the piston assembly to incrementally displace to allow wider range of shoe sizes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Forepart and joint lasting machine The present invention relates to improvements in forepart and joint lasting machines and is especially concerned with such machines that allow quick and easy adjustment of the position of side pincer assemblies to accommodate different last sizes.

Priorto wiping the forepart and joint margins of a shoe upperagainstan insole, whereby the margin is secured to the insole, it is necessaryto pull the upper overthe last in orderto conform the uppertothe shape of the last and to remove any wrinkles therefrom. This is generally achieved by the use of toe and side pincer assemblies which are arranged to grip the edge of the upper margin and to apply a yieldableforcetheretotopulltheuppertautoverthe last and to hold the upper in position whilst adhesive is applied to the margin ortothe insole ifthey have not been precoated.The pincers are then further arranged to release the margin a fraction of a second before the wiping instrumentalitieswipethemargin ontothe insoleand apply pressuretosecurethe margin to the insole.

The pincer assemblies are generally secured to a base mounted on the lasting machine frame, their position being fixed according to the size of last being used, the size of the last being determined by the size of shoe being manufactured.

Thus it is necessary, when preparing to last shoes of a different size from those previously lasted on the machine, to individually reposition each pincer assembly relative to the larger or smaller last. This involves releasing the assembly secu ring means, repositioning the assembly and then resecuring it in position. The positioning of each assembly then has to be checked and any necessaryfurtheradjustments made. This is a time consuming and therefore expensive procedure especially when short runs of different size shoes are required. There is therefore, a need for a mode of mounting side pincer assemblies in particularto enable rapid repositioning to be achieved to accommodate different shoe sizes.

We have now provided a forepart and joint lasting machine in which the repositioning of pincer assemblies can be readily effected whereby a wide range of shoe sizes can be accommodated without the need for individual adjustment ofthe pincer assemblies.

In our machine there is provided, extending on either side of the last, a base secured to the lasting machine frame and which carries two platens, each platen extending in a substantially horizontal plane along a respective side of the last and is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicularto the plane ofthe platens and located at or adjacent the toe end of the last. Side pincer assemblies are secured to each said platen along lines running substantially parallel tothetoe and or side portion of the last.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic illustration of a partofa forepart and joint lasting machine viewed from above and embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view from above ofthe part offigure 1 including pincer assembles.

For clarity, only the partofthe machine immediately relevant to the invention is shown.

Thus,forexample,forepartandjointwiper assemblies have been omitted in figure 1.

In the drawings a base plate 1 is secured to the machineframe (not shown).Apivot plate including upstanding pivot pins 3 and 4 is secured to base plate 1 in a position whereby the pivot pins3 and 41ie adjacent and on either side of the toe end of the last, the position of which last is shown in dotted outline at30(figure 1).

Two platens 5 and 6 are mounted on base plate 1 to pivot about pins 3 and 4. Only platen 5 is shown and described in full with reference to figure 1,platen 6 being a mirrorimagethereof.

Platen 5 comprises a body portion 13 from which extends in a direction substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the last a bracket element 14 containing an aperture 1Sfor location on pivotpin4 whereby the platen is enabled to swing towards and away from the lastina plane substantially parallel to the plane of the last. Arm 7 of platen 5 extends outwardly of body 13 along the longitudinal axis of the arm extending essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe last.

Piston 10 of a piston and cylinder arrangement 11 is pivotally attached at 9 to the end of arm 7, the opposite end of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 being pivotally attached to the corresponding arm 8 of platen 6 at 12. Stop members 20 and 21 are mounted on plate 1 for engagement with peg 22 extending perpendiculartobodyl3ofplatenSand the side 16 of platen 5 respectivelywhereby, in this embodiment, the maximum degree of swing of platens 5 and 6 is limited such that each extreme position corresponds to a particular size of shoe to be lasted. It is to be understood that there are corresponding stops on platen 6 and the left hand side of plate 1.

Three slots 23,24 and 25 are formed in platen Sand are arranged to lie with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to respective tangents to the curved sides ofthe machine last positioned at 30.

Aforward fixed toe pincer assembly 40, figure 2, is mounted on plate 1 at 26 and lies on a line extending from the longitudinal axis of the last.

An adjustable toe pincer assembly 41, figure 2, is mounted on platen 5, the pincer post passing through slot 23. The assembly is secured in position by nut means located on either side of the assembly post and engaging on a corresponding screw threaded end portion ofthe said post.

Two side pincer assemblies, 42,43 figure 2 are similarly secured in slot 24 and a further side pincer assembly, 44figure 2, secured in slot 25.

The pincer assemblies are of conventional design.

Thus the adjustable toe and side pincer assemblies, for example, have pincerjawsthatare movable towards and away from the lastforfine adjustment.

The jaws of the pincers are opened and closed using known hydraulic or pneumatic methods.

In use of the above described embodiment, the last forthe smaller shoe size is placed in position and the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 activated to bring platens 5 and 6 into contact with the innermost stops. i.e. stop 21 in respect of platen 5.

An upper is draped over the last and the toe and side pincer assemblies then located in the appropriate slots in positions in which they are enabled to grip the upper margin to pull the upper taut overthe last.

Having positioned the pincer assemblies for the smaller last it is only necessary, when desired to use the large size last, to fire the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 to cause the platens to pivot about pins 3 and 4 until they make contact with the outer stops (stop 20 for platen 5), individual adjustment of the pincer assemblies in the slots being unnecessary and only minor lateral adjustments of the pincer jaws may be necessary to enable the pincers to operate in the required manner on the larger sized shoe.

Either or both of stops 21 and 20 may be replaced by cam means enabling a wider range of shoe sizes to be accommodated by permitting different degrees of pivotal movement of the platen about pins 3 and 4.

Alternatively, either or both of stops 20 and 21 may be renewed and the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 replaced by a twin piston arrangement in which the cylinder is secured to frame. In this arrangement the piston and cylinder may be programmed to cause the pistons to move outwardly or inwardly in discrete steps each step corresponding to a change in last size. This arrangement also allowsforthe platen and associated pincer assemblies to be swung inwardly towards the last after stretching the upper about the last and immediately before wiping.

The method of mounting the side and toe pincer assemblies of the present invention can be adapted for lasts positioned either "bottom up" or"bottom down".

It is not essential that platens 5 and 6 be separately located on pivot plate 2. If desired pins 3 and 4 could be replaced by a single pivot pin about which both platens 5 and 6 may swing.

Claims (12)

1. A forepart and joint lasting machine including a frame to which is secured a last, on which is positioned an insole, toe and side pincer assemblies and toe and joint wiping instrumentalities; the said toe and said pincer assemblies being arranged to grip the edge of the margin of an upper placed on the last and to apply a yieldable force thereto whereby the said upper is stretched over and caused to conform to the shape of the last, optionally the pincers acting to hold the upper in position during the application of adhesive to the said margin, the said pincers releasing the margin immediately prior to the wiping instrumentalities wiping the said margin of the upper onto the insole; wherein the toe and side pincer assemblies are carried on two platens, each said platen extending in a substantially horizontal plane along a respective side of the last and being moulded on a base member which member is secured to the frame and extends forwardly and to either side of the said last in a substantially horizontal plane, each said platen being mounted on the said base member for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the platen and passing through a point positioned adjacent the said toe end of the said last, means being provided to cause each said platen to pivot about its respective axis from one fixed position to anotherfixed position whereby the position of the toe and side pincer assemblies is relative to a line coincident with the longitudinal axis of the last to accommodate different last sizes.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each said platen is mounted for pivotal movement about respective axes positioned on either side of a line parallel to and in the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of the last.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each said platen includes an element extending forwardly of the toe of the said last and said means comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement pivotally secured between each said element.

4. A machine according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the toe and side pincer assemblies are adjustably mounted on the platen in slots formed therein, the said slots havirrg their longitudinal axes parallel to respective tangents to the curved sides of the said last.

5. A machine according to any of the preceding claims where a single fixed forward toe pincer assembly is secured to the said frame and positioned in a vertical plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the last.

6. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the toe and side pincer assemblies are mounted on the platens for heightwise adjustment.

7. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein stops are secured to the said base member one either side of each said platen to define positions of the platens in which the pincer assemblies location correspond to specific last sizes.

8. A machine according to claim 7 wherein the positions of the stops are adjustable.

9. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the said means comprises two piston and cylinder arrangements, the cylinders being secured directly or indirectly to the said frame and the pistons pivotally secured to the said respective forwardly extending elements of the said platens.

10. A machine according to claim 8 wherein the piston and cylinder arrangements are controlled by means programmed to cause the pistons to move outwardly or inwardly in discrete steps, each said discrete step corresponding to a change in last size.

11. A machine according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the platens and associated pincer assemblies are swung inwardly towards the last after the upper is stretched about the last immediately prior to the application of adhesive and/or wiping.

12. A forepart and joint lasting machine substantially as herein, described with reference to the drawings.