GB963972A - Improvements in apparatus for conforming shoe uppers - Google Patents

Abstract

963,972. Shoe making apparatus. W. G. HAWKINS. Aug. 19, 1960 [May 22, 1959], No. 17458/59. Heading A3B. In a shoe upper conforming apparatus comprising a last 1 and support 10, and a plurality of poweroperated grippers 6, pulling-over movements of the grippers on the upper 9 are controlled by affixing to the upper a patch 5 which carries a fluorescent pattern which, when the upper 9 has been pulled over to an optimum position, is detected by a sensing system comprising photoelectric cells 13 and movement of the pulling over grippers 6 is then arrested. The cells 13, which correspond severally to the grippers 6 and are housed in a sensing head 8 above the upper, cause a current change which is amplified by a phase-sensitive detector 14 and then fed to relay amplifier equipment 15 which in turn operates a series of gripper relays 16 connected severably to solenoid type flow control valves 17 controlling the supply of pressure fluid to the grippers 6. The phase detector 14 is energized by a reference signal derived from a photo transistor 18 exposed to a mercury vapour lamp 19 to constitute a normal. Each gripper mechanism preferably consists of a single-acting hydraulic device comprising a cylinder 20, a slidable piston 21 and pincers 22. In operation, the upper and last correctly positioned, start button 25 is closed to energize a self-holding relay 26 and thus operate a solenoid valve 27 to direct pressure fluid first to pincer control valves 28A, 28B and then to the solenoid valves 17 to retract the pincer carrying pistons 21 and commence the lasting operation. The latter having been completed wiper blades 12 advance and swing in and simultaneously the grip of the pincers 22 is progressively released.