US1475948A - Method of and machine for handling heels - Google Patents

Description

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METHOD OF AND MACHlNE FOR HANDLING HEELS Dec. 4 1923.

F. V. HART METHOD oF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING NEEDS E7/venin 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec( F. V. HART METHOD 0F AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS Filed Deo. 31 1920 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zweizo'n' F. V. HART METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS .Y Filed Dec. 51, 1920 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jn/'@2130 .f @Zd/fw lgll f Mrz/653.'

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F. v. HART METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS v Filed Dec. s1, 1920 8 sheets-smet 8 l ma@ Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

FRED V. HART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOY

UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ACOR- PORATION OF NEW' JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS.

Application filed December 3l, 1920. Serial No. 434,237'.

To all whom it may conce/rn:

Be it known that I, FRED V. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and lState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and c Machines for Handling Heels and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to. which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to methods of handling or assembling heels, or the like` and to apparatus for practicing the same, and it has special reference to the pressing of freshly pasted heels during the setting of the paste, although in many of its aspects, it is not so restricted, but may be applicable to other pieces or articles of shoe stock and for other purposes.

In applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 314, 219, filed July 30, 1919, and assigned to the United Shoe Machinery Corporation, is set forth a so-called tube-type heel press comprising a long tube-like structure consisting of close fitting inwardlypressed longitudinal members or walls between which freshly pasted heels are made to progress in column formation, the walls -frictionally resisting the passage ofl the heels so that the component liftsare held firmly together under pressure during the drying or setting of the paste. Such presses have heretofore been constructed in the form cupy a minimum amount of floorspace when installed in a factory, and which shall .also be so constructed and arranged that the heels are maintained under pressure for a suiicient period of .time to insure the .proper drying of the paste.v

lVith this ob ect in view, one feature of the invention contemplates the construction of a tubetype heel ypress in a plurality of compactly arranged, separated sectionsor units of short extent that are adapted to be successively moved into a loading posi-v tion at which the heels are introduced into the press tubes.

In the co-pending application above referred to, a device is .provided for automatic-v ally loading the single tube-like press with wedge heels which, although presented in similar positions to the loadingv device, are delivered to the press tube, in repeated vseries of four heels each, in predetermined dissimilar positions in accordancewith a method of stacking wedge heels illustrated, described and claimed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 258,722, filed October 18, 1918, by John B. Hadaway and assigned to the United Sho-e Machinery Corporation. The practice of this Hadaway method of stacking heels not only permits, but makes commerciallyfeasible, the pressing of heels of wedge form in a tube-type press, inasmuch asthe heels of each series are arranged i in such dissimilar position that the heels are stacked in a straight row with their adjacent faces in full engagement over their entire area. Therefore, the endwise pressures applied to the column of heels in the press tube are distributed evenly over substantially the entire area of every heel face so thatv the individual heels, and also the component lifts thereof, are evenly and uniformly pressed.

With 4this in mind, another .object of the present invention is to devise a simple way of utilizing, and hence securingthe benefits of, the Hadaway method of stacking wedge heels in connection with a compact-ly arranged multiple tube heel press, while subjecting all heels to the same operating conditions and therefore securing a .uniform product.

Accordingly, another feature of the in-v vention resides in a method of handling,as sembling or pressing heelswhich comprises arranging the heels in repeated `like series, `ineach ofv which the heels are arranged in predetermined relation, and inconsecutively distributing the heels so arranged in regular ,order and one at atimein stacked relation in the several press tubes of the heeljpress, Y

invention is to provide a multiple tube heel press, of the character hereinbefore mentioned, with an automatic loading or positioningdevice, such as already ,referred to, which shall cooperate in such time relation with respect to the several tube presses, that applicants above indicated method may be practiced with facility and a uniform quality of product be assured.

" Accordingly, another vfeature of the invention contemplates a rotary loading or positioning device having` four heel adjusting clamps for arrangingfthe heels in repeated like series offourdissimilarly posiftionedheels each, and a multiple'tube heel press comprisinga rotary support carrying lfive presstubes, or one more than any 'inultiple of the vheels-in a series. The position- Y ing device and the-press tubes vare-mechanically connected to rotate concurrently in steps, respectively of one-quarter and one- 'lifth of a revolution, after each heel is delivered to a press tube, whereby the desired Vends are attained.

'Other objects 0f the invention are to `provide limprovements in ,tube-type presses, to

provide Imeans, adapted particularly for multiple tube presses carried by a rotary support, for controllingthe discharge of the heels from the respective-press tubes, and to provide improved mechanism for receiving' the heels delivered by the 1heel press and transferring them indefinite positions to a position of deposit.

To the accomplishment of theobjects hercinbefore mentioned, and such others as may hereafter appear, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention .coniprises .the novel features, arrangements and combinations of parts `hereinafter described, and then ,particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

vVhile, for illustrative purposes, the .invention has been, and will hereinafter be set forthas specifically applied to the handling' and pressing' of heels, .it should be understood that certain features of the invention are equally applicable to shoe stock of different characteristics and forms and, moreover, may be utilized to advantage for various other purposes. Therefore, only such limitations should lbe imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

The features ofthe invention will be readily V.understood from the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention .in its preferred form, and from the following detailed ,description of v,the construction shown therein.

ln the drawings JFigure .l is a view, inside elevation, of a machine constructed in accordance with y.the present invention, the

central portion of the machinebeing broken away; Fig'. 2 is a view, in end elevation and on enlarged scale, ofthe machine looking" still 'further enlarged scale; Fig'. 7 isa view in side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the niechanisniat the 'delivery end of the machine; Fig. Sis a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a portionkof the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, the section being' taken substantially on the line '8 8 of said figure;`Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the delivery platform anda portion of the transfer mechanism; Fig'. 1G is` a sectional view taken substantially on the line lO-10 of Fig. 7; Fig'. 1l is a detail view in side elevation of ythe delivery end of one of the tube-like sections of the press, said section being,` shown in unloading position; Fig. l12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-'12 of filip'. llgfligs. '13, li'and 15 are detail views,in plan and front and side elevations, respectively, of tlieheel clamps employed in both the loading' and unloading' mechanisms; Fig. `16 is a detail view, in side elevation, yof four heels arranged in the positions in which they are successively presented `by the operator to the loading' mechanism Vof the machine; and Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic View illustrating' -the method of stacking heels which constitutes one of the features ofthe present invention. y

Asshown in lf 1, the invention comprises, in lgeneral, a multiple-.unit heel press 20 consisting' of a plurality of horizontal tube-like presses or receptacles 22, which ure supported in parallel relation, equidistant from each other and from acommon horizontal axis about which the presses are rotated step-by-step to 'bring' their receiving;V ends successively into heel-receiving' position at a loading: station 24: a heel-positioninej and ,loadinsij mechanism 2G, which rcceives uniform .i positioned, freshly pasted heels. deli ers them successively in repeated- .series of predetermined dissimilar positions lili) discharged therefrom lat anunloading station`30, restores the heels to uniform positions and delivers them, thus vuniformly positioned, to a suitable receiver such 4as the platform 32st a'transfer -station 34; and transfer mechanism 86 which removes the heels individually from the platform 32, uniformly changes their positions and'dcposits them successivelyin similar positions upon a conveyer 38 by means of which they may be carried to a heel compressor.

The entire mechanism is mounted upon a base 40, from one end of which rises a yokeshaped support 42 upon which the loading mechanism 26 is mounted. Two standards 44 and 46 are secured to the opposite end of the base 40 and serve to support the unloading mechanism 28 and the transfer mechani'sm 86. rlhe heel press 20 is located between the loading mechanism 26 andthe unloading mechanism 28 and extends horizon- Y tally above the base 40, its several tube-like presses or receptacles 22 being carried upon a rotatable support comprisingr a plurality of supporting devices or spiders 48 which are mounted uponV a horizontal shaftl 50. The shaft 50 is journaled at one end in a suitable bearing formed in a plate 52 that is secured to the front of the standard 42 and its opposite endV in a bearing' formed in a plate 54 that is secured to the'support 44. The sh aft 50 is driven intermittently through suitable connections with the loading' mechanism 26` to be hereinafter described, so as to bring the heel-press units 22'successively into heel receivingr position.

The heel press units or receptacles 22 which constitute the heel press 20, and which are live in number, are adapted to engage the lateral edges of a column of freshly pasted heels and frictionally resist their passage as they are forced therethrough, so that the component lifts of the heels Will be firmly held together during the drying` or setting of the paste. To this end each press 22 is, in `general, similar to the single tube-like heel press described in applicants above mentioned application, the presses severally con- Sistinar of box-like tubes each having four inwardly and yieldingly pressed side members. ln the present construction, however. each side member of each of the live heel presses is pressed inwardly independently of the other side members. l

Each of the heel press units 22 comprises four relatively .movable side members or walls 58, 6th 62 and 64 (Fig. 3) ivhiclrare mounted in the supporting` devices or spiders 48. The side walls are arranged in pairs, the inner faces of each pair beingv oppositely disposed with respect to 'one another and being disposed substantially Vat right angles with relation to the inner faces of the other pair. Each ofthe supporting;` devices 48, in Which the heel presses or receptacles 22 are fie mounted, comprisesl a pair of disk-like spiders 68 and 7() (Figs. l, 3 and 6)vvhich are arranged close to eachother as shown in VFig. l and are rigidlysecuied to the shaft 50. The supporting spiders 68 yand 70 are provided with registering apertures 7 2 (Fig.

press units or individual presses 22 are veach carried by a plurality of supporting arms 74 which are pivotallyv mounted between the several pairs of spiders 68 and 70 to permit adjustment of the oppositely disposed side members of each press toward and from each other for the purpose of varying the size of the presses to accommodate heels of different sizes. As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, each arm 74 is mounted to turn freely upon one of a plurality of short horizontal shafts 76 Which are disposed in coaxial relation and are journaled in bearings in the several pairs of spiders. The side members or Walls 60 which are opposed to the side Walls 58 are carried by a plurality ofY arms 7 8'Which are similar to the arms 74 and are mounted toV turn on the shafts 76 beside the arms 74; The side Walls 62 of each heel press unit are supported by a series of arms 80 which are pivotally mounted between each pair of spiders-68 and 70. The arms 80Which support four of the press units are-severally mounted to turn upon' short horizontal shafts 82, these shafts being severally secured at one end to the supporting; spiders 70. )The arms- 8O supporting the fifth press unit are secured to a single horizontal shaft 83 which extends substantially throughout the length of theheel press and is j ournaled in bearings in each of the several sets of Vspiders 68 and 70. The side Walls 64'Which are opposed to the side Walls 62 are supported by aseries of arms 84 that are severally securedto the` short shafts 76 adjacent the outer sides ofthe spidersi'O. i

The manner in which the'four side Walls of each heel press are attached to their respectivc series of supporting arms is identical and consequently it will be necessary to describe in detail the mounting of only one side Wall to one of its supporting arms. As shovvn in Fig. 3, the side ,Wall 58 ispivotally and yieldingly mounted upon its supporting arm 74. `To this end, the lsupporting` arm 74 l is forked at its outer end, as indicated at 88,

to straddle a bolt 90 Whichextends through the side Wall perpendicularto its working face and is" fixed thereto'. rlhe bolt -90 projects outwardly from the side Wall and extends transversely through a stud 92 which is mounted to turn-l freely in .theforlredend v of the supporting,` arm. kThe free end of the b`olt'90'1s screw-threaded Vto receive a nut 94 and alock-nut v96 which retain the bolt inV -ceived a coiled spring,` 102 which surrounds the Abolt 90 between` the base of the recess 100 andthe stud 92. Suitable washers 104 are provided at the oppositeends of the spring` 102 to take the thrust of the spring.

To accommodate different sizes ofr heels in the individual heel' presses 22, the oppositely disposed members of each pair of side walls are adjustable toward and from each other. The opposed side walls 58 and 6U of each of the tive heell press units are adjusted concurrently, as are also the yopfposed side walls 62 and64. The means for adjusting the side walls` 58 and 60 concurrently will now be described.` The arms 74 upon` which the side walls 58 are' supported are extended inwardly beyond the pivot studs 76,` as Vindicated at 108 in Figs. Sr and `6. The rounded free ends of the extensions 108 ofthe series of arms 74 between each pair of supportingspiders 68 and` 7 0A are refceived in` a plurality of notches- 110 which are equally spaced apart inthe periphery ot' anv adjusting disk 112 which ismounted towturn freely on the shaft between said siaiders. The arms 78 which support the side walls 60 are similarly extended y inwardly beyond the pivot studs 76, as indiat-ed at 114. r1`he rounded free extremities of the'extensions 114 project into peripheral notches 116 which are formed in an adjusting. disk- 118 which. is mounted to turn on the shaft 50 alongside of the disk 112.r There is one pair of disks 112 and 118 for adjusting` each ofV said series of supporting arms.

For the purpose ofturning the adjustingdisks 1.121 to adjust the side walls 58 inwardly or outwardly, one of the supporting arms 74 of the series between each pair of supportingspiders 68 andv 70 is provided with an outward extension 120 of one of its forked ends 88. The extensions 12() of the arms 74 are severally connected by means of links 122with a series of arms 124 which are secured to a shaft 128. The shaft128 ext-ends substantially throughout )the length of the heel press and is journaled in bearings in eachv pair of supporting spiders 68 andY v and the arms 124 are secured-'to the shaft 128V between said bearings. nE a like manner, one of the supporting arms 78 of the series between each pair of supporting,` spiders 68` and 70 is providedl with an outward extension 130 of one of its forked ends;

` The extensions 130 are connected-by means of. links 132 with an arm134 projecting inwardly from the shaft 128.

Leraars y For the. pur-- pose of turning the shaft 128 to actuate the arms 74 and 78, a wormwheel 136 in secured tothe shaft 128 adjacentthe outer sideof the spider 70 which is rnearest the loading end of the press. Intermeshing with the Vworm wheel 186 is a worm 138 secured to a short radial shaft 140 whichr is journaledy inV bearings upon said supporting spider 70.

The outer end of the shaft 1.40V is squared,

as indicated at 142, to receive an. adjusting` Ywrench by means of which' the worm'may'be turnedto effect the required adjustmenttherein. By meansof theabove described construction, it will be seen that-as the worm 138Y is turned to rotate. the shaft 128, the

Aseveral arms 74 which are connected with the shaft 128 through the links 122 and the arms 124 will be swun` in one direction,

while thev several arms '8 which are connectedwith the shaft .128 through the links and 7 8 which are operatively connected with said disks will swing,` concurrently and proportionately with they first mentioned arms; As a result, the opposed side walls 58 and 6) of all five heel press units 22 willV be adjusted ccncurrently and proportionately toward or from each other, f

The side walls 62 and 64 of the five heel 2guides are also concurrently adjusted by means of the following devices.. The arms 80 upon which the side walls 62 arev mountj ed are provided with extensions'146'which are so disposed with respect tothe arms 80 that said arms, together with the extensions, constitute bell crank levers. rlhe inner ends of the extensions 146 of the series-of arms 80 which are located between a pair of spiders 68' and 70 are equally spaced apart in' peripheral notches '148 in an adjustingdisk 150 which is incuntedto turn freely on the shaft 50'.v @ne of these disks is located adjacent the. outer side cf each spider v70 and is confined? between ahub on the spider and a collar 152 which ispinned to the shaft 50. Each adjusting,` disk 150 is provided also witha set of slots 154 (Fig. 3) which are equidistant from each other and from the shaft 50; The slots 154 are entered by Studs 156 projecting' laterally from extensions 158 of one of the forked ends of each supporting arm which supports the side walls 64. The disks Y150 are rotated by one of the extensions 146 of the series located between each pair of spiders to eect the adjustment ofthe side walls 62 and 64. To this end, a. worm wheel 160 is secured to the guideway Lll) other.

end oi the shaft 83 at the loading end of the press. cooperatively engaged by the teeth oi the worm gear 162, said worm being fast upon a short radial shaft 164 which is journaled in bearings 166on the outer side of the spider 68 which is nearest the loading` mechanism. The outer end of the shaft 164 is squared, as indicated at168, to receive a wrench or crank by means loi which it may be turned. As the shaft 83 is turned by the above described worm gearing, the extensions 146 oi the arms 8O upon said shaft are swung to rotate the series 01' disks 150 in one direction or the other. As the disks 150 are thus rotated, all the rest oi' the arms 8O are swung concurrentlyKA and proportionally, with the particular set of said arms just reif'erred to, thus causing all live sets of side walls 62 and 64 to be adjusted concurrently and proportionately toward or from each other. lt will'be seen that by means of the devices above described for effecting the adjustment of the opposed sidewalls of the heel presses, the side vwalls will be securely held in their adjusted positions.V i j The adj acent side walls of each heel guide are at all times maintained with their inner iaces perpendicular to each lother by means oi' two sets of angle rods 172 and 174 having arms disposed `at right angles to each The angle rods v172 are disposed at intervals throughout the length of the side walls 58 and 64. @ne arm of each angle rod is adapted to slide longitudinally in a which extends transversely through the side wall 58 from one narrow longitudinal edge thereof to thel other, while the other arm of each angle rod is adapted to slide in a guideway similarly formed in the side wall 64. The angle rods 174 are arranged with respect to the side walls 60 and 62 in the same manner asv that in which the set of angle rods 172 are arranged with respect to the side walls 58 and64. As the side walls 58 and 60 are adjusted toward or from each othen'one larm of eachvoll the rods 172 and 174 will slide inwardlyor outwardly within the guideways in the side walls 62 and 64 and the side walls 62 and 64 are adjusted toward and from each other, `the other arms ot each oi the angle rods 172 and rllhe teeth ot the worm wheel 160 are the heels successively in dissimilar positions into the tubes or sections of theheel press. With the exception of the improved conf struction ofthe clamps in which the heels are held,'the construction and mode of op-A eration of the loading mechanism 26 is vthe same as that disclosed' in applicants hereinbeiore mentioned co-pending application, Serial No. 314,219.

spaced 96 apart upon the carrier. The car-V f rier disk 180 is rotated step-by-step through,

quarter revolutions to bring the heel clamps Therefore, only a brief and general description of the common fea- 184 successively into position to receive a.

heel at a receiving station 186, by means of suitable mechanism (not shown) which is adapted tobe connected .with a main driving shaft 188. The heel lclamps 184 are so arranged on the carrier disk 180 and cer-.L

tain of them are so actuated relatively to the carrier disk during the rotation of the lat` ter that the heels are successively presented to the heel press 20" at the loading station 24 in position to be loaded into the press in accordance with the method of advantageously stacking wedge heels described in the above-mentioned Hadaway application, Serial No. 258,722.

As set forth in'said Hadaway application,

the method of stacking heels `contemplates the arrangement of the heels so that the top lift face of each heel is opposed to and covered by the top lift face of the next, and

the larger base face o'teach heel is opposed to and` covered by the' adjacent large basey face of the next heel, base to base contacting heels being turned 180 to bring about this result.v 1n stacking heels in accordance with this method, the heels are successively positioned at a4 loading station] adjacent the receiving end of the press, in the positions indicated at A, B, C and D, respectively, in Fig. 16, andi-the heels are, introduced sepa rately, as thus positioned, into the press in the order in which they are lettered in said figure. -l/Vhen stacked, the heels, are ar-V ranged in repeated series, each consistingof `tour heels assembled in the relative positions indicated in Fig. 16. f

In order that this method 'of stacking heels may be utilized in connection with av multiple tube heel press so that all .the heels.

will be subjected tothe same operating con? ditions, the present invention contemplates the provision in the press of a number of individual press tubes or sections which is one projecting upwardly romthe sleeves 202.v

i`he lower ends ci the bolts 206 engage the direction to move the idler sprocket Wheels.

19S toward one side or the other oi' the machine, and thus cause the required amount of rotation ot the heel press independently of the carrier disk 180 which is necessaryV to canse the heel guides to be'properlj7 positioned at the loading station 24. T he ad'- justing bolts 208 are provided with nuts 210 which .may be tightened against the upper faces ot the lugs 208 vto bind the bolts in adjusted position. y

As already stated, the heel clamps 18st of the loadingmechanism 26 differ from those disclosed in applicant-s co-pending application. and are illustrated in detail in Figs. 18, 1d and 15.V The improved clamps, in common with the clamps disclosed in said application, are arranged to permit the heels to be inserted therein, top litt face foremost, v movement at right angles to the plane orp the carrier dislr 180, and to permit the removal of the heel by aurther movement in the same direction as they were introduced. in accordance with the present construction, however, the improved clamps are especially designed to firmly hold the heels during the rotation of the carrier disk 180.

To this end, as shown in the aforesaid fig# ures, each heel clamp 184i comprises a pair ot opposed grppers 214 which are constructed and arranged to conform to the opposite lateral edges ot the heels throughout a substantial portion oi' the lheight and length of the heel. To permit the grippers 214to readily adjust themselves to the heels 'as the latter are introduced between them,

the grippers are severally secured to a pair ot opposed supporting arms V216 consisting ot blade-like membersy eachV of which is pivoted at its inner extremity to a plate217 that is riveted to the opposed webs of pair ot' angle iron supports 218 so that the supporting arms 216 will be capable ot swinging toward and from each other. Throughout a greater portion of their length the supporting arms 215 are rtwisted out oi the plane ot' their Ahinged extremities so as toV contorni tothe contourot' the outer 'faces ot the gripper-s 214i and to position the grippers so that they will properly engage the lateral edges of the heel. The angle iron supports 218 are ar 1ang'ed with one web of each support located in the same 'piane and extending toward the corresponding web of the other support and these webs are adjnstably clamped between a. plate 220 and a clamp support 222 by means of a pair oi screws 22A which extend through the platel 22() and also serveto secure the plate to the support.` lThe plate 220 and the clamp support are the saine as corresponding parte shown in the machine oi said co-pendi ing .applicationj Serial No.v 314,219. gripper supporting arms 216 are yieldingly pressed toward one another bymeans `of ga pair of springs '228 to cause the grippers 214i to firmly grip the heel. rEhe springs 228 are severally coiled about a zpair of supporting bolts 230 which extend outwardly through the opposed webs of the angle iron supports `218 and through the inner ends of the sul porting arms 216, each spring beingconiined between said arms and a nutv upon the outer Yend of the respective bolts 230; gripper-supporting arms 216 under the influence or" Athe springs 228 isqliinited by the engagement of the arms with the heads of the rivets which secure the plates 2lito the angle ironY supports 218 The nuts 232 may be adjusted on .the bolts 280 to vary the'tension ot' the spring 228 vand the nuts are held in adjusted position by means ot lock-nuts 234. t willbe seen that by virtue of the provision for yieldingly pressing the supporting armsV 216 toward each other, the grippers 214:` are permitted to readily adjust themselves tothe contourvo the 'lateral edges of the heels, and are caused to securely hold the heels while they are being transsection and into the`path of the heels as they are loaded therein. Asshown, the side walls are made somewhat shorter than the side walls'62 and 64 to permit the clamping jaws 'to be thus arranged-without projecting beyond the receiving end of the heel press section. Y The clamping jaws 240 are carri'edat the tree ends of a pair of clamp The is'v

The inward movement ot the" arms 242, the opposite endsfof which are I to their top lift faces by means of opposed able upon the' shaft 182.

edges e on the clamping` jaws 240, these edges being formed at the junction Vof two Vinclined faces 256 and 258 that are formed at the innerv ends of each clamping jaw.

'By means of the inclined faces 256 the clamping aws 240 are readily spread apart by each heel Vas it is discharged from the heel clamp of the vcarrier disk 180 at the loading station 24 to permit the heel to enter the heel press section. The clamping javvs 240 are particularly useful for retaining in the press tubes 'those heels which are loaded therein in the .position of the lheel which is indicated at 260in Fig. et. i

After theV automatic loading device 26 has been in operation lone enough to fill the press tri-.bes of the heel press. a single several l heel is forced out or discharged from the delivery end of the uppermost press 22 each time i, fresh heel is introduced at the receiving end thereof by the loadingplunger 196 of the loading` device. As the heels are thus discharged from the delivery ends of the presses, they are delivered to the unloading device 28 whereby Vthe variously positioned Yheels are restored to uniform or similar positions and delivered to the platform' 32, rlhe unloading `device 28 is provided With four heel clamps which are of the improved construction hereinbefore described in connection with the loading` device 26. VWiith the exception of these heel clamps, the un-i loading device 28 is substantially the same in construction and mode of operation as the corresponding mechanism disclosed in applicants application, Serial No. 314,219, and therefore need not be herein described in detail. Briefly, however, the unloading mechanism 2,8 comprisesacarrier disk 262 (Figs, 1 and 7). which is similar to the carrier disk/180 of the loading mechanism26 and is secured to a-sleeve 264 that is rotat- .p The unloading .-.arrier 'disk 262 is provided with four heel clamps 266 which are thesame in constructionas those already described in connection with the loading mechanism 26. By thev rotation Lof theA carrier dislij 26d, the clamps vare successively brought into position to receive the dissimilarly positioned heels aslthey emerge from the heelpresses, and. are actuated to restore, these variously positioned heels `to uniform or similar positions, and to bring them to rest at a point opposite the-transfer station 3d. The heels are discharged from the clamps 266 of the carrier disk 262 ofthe unloading device and delivered upon the platform 32 by means of a horizontally reciprocating plunger 268, which operates in unison WithV the loading plunger 190 in the same manner as in applicants co-pending application already referred to. y

As explained in applicants hereinbefore mentioned co-pending application,V the length of the column of heels'in a press tube may vary, from timeto time, on account-of the fact that diiferences in the character of the continually changing individual heels in the column may cause some heels to compress into smaller space than others, under the repeated pressureJ impulses of the load-r ing` plunger. As a result, it is possible that the heel at the forward end of the column may not be advanced clear of the delivery end of the press tube each time a fresh heel is loaded into the receiving end of the tube.

ln such a case, While the rear portion of the.

end heel still remains Within the press tube,

the forward portion of said heel will project disconnected from the shaft 182 upon which y it is mounted and is arranged to be connected therewith by meansv of a clutch 2U), (Fig. 1) 'the operationr of which is controlled `by the feeding` movements of the heel at the delivery end of the heelV press. This is accomplished by the employment of mechanism which is substantially the same as that employed for the same purpose? in the ma chine of applicants above mentioned` application. This mechanism, therefore, Will not be described in detail herein, inasmuch Vas reference may be had to said applicationk for complete description. ifd'esired.v y llriefly, however, 'in .common with the machine of the application justreferred to, the sleeve 261i- (lfiggsfl and 7) upon which the unloading): carrier 262 is'mounted, is journaled in hearing` slecyes l242 and 274, on opposite sides of the carrier, -the sleeves 272 and 271ibeinp; splincd in tguideways formed respectivey in the etant arde 44e and 46. This construction permitslateral slidinginovements of the carrer-262 toward and from the heel press. "Ehe unloadingcarrier 262 is moved bodily avvay from the press by the advance of each heel as it is fed between the jawsy of the respective heel clamp on said carrier, and into engagement with an abutment 276 7) which is mounted. to slide With said carrier. The sliding' movement of the carrier `262 operates the clutch 270 to connect the unload- Y ing` carrier with the shaft 182 so that said carrier Will be rotated in unison Withl the loading carrier 180 when the next movement of the latter occurs; At the start of from the tube each time'a fresh heel-is llt) ico V no l' the' rotation of the unloading carrier, 262, 'i

ywhich it was laterallymoved by the last feed movement of the-heels in the heel 1 press, by means of `mechanism controlled I oit' the several press tubes 22.

bya cani 278, Vall asset A:torthin applicantsv co-pending application.

As vfurther set'forth insaid application, the-lieels'in the' press are liable to adhere to each other moreor less on. account of the accidental lpresence.. of paste on 'the tread or base `faces of theheels or'on the sides of the'press. Accordingly order to insure that the heel which is 'delivered to the unloading carrier shall be readily separated irom'the column of heels 'in the presstube, without the possibility of laterally displacing the adjacent heel, the following improved `means, particularly adapted for the .multifpress structure of the present I na-V chine, is provided Jfor laterally supporting` the projecting portion of the heel neXt behind the end heel in the stack in each press tube, after the end heel has kbeen pushed beyondthe end of the press tu-be.l

This improyedrme'ans comprises a plurality of pairs' of at plates 282 `(Figs. 7,V

adapted to slide in guideways 302 which flangedv ends 804 of the lll and 12) which are associated with the delivery ends of the side walls58 and 60 These platesA 282 are vsimilar in their general mode of operation tothe corresponding plates of aps plican'ts hereinbeforev mentioned applica- `tionA` but' are modified in the present .con' struction as found necessary to adapt them for use in a multiple tube heel press. As shown, the plates 282 are carried by and are movable with therotatable support for the. heelpress and serve to extend the side walls each press tube toward the unloadingf 4 carrier as soon as the end heel engages the abutment 276 and begins to move the 'carrier'` laterally away from the heel press. Each pair' o1- plates 282 is arranged with its individual members extending in Vparallel relation on 4opposite sides of the side wall 64 of the. respective press tube, each plate pro `jecting` outwardly from one of a series of supports 284 which are arranged equidistant from each other and from the shaft 50 and are'slid'ably mounted upon aV carrier 286 which isf secured to said shaft. The sidewalls and 60ct the press tubes are cnt away at the delivery endof the press to permit the plates 282 to be arranged with their opposed faces-Hush with the in-v ner faces of said Walls. l*

To permit the plates 282 to move later`l ally toward and-from each other aslthe side walls of the heel( guide aremoved inwardly or outwardly, these 'plates' are mountedto i slide upon the oppositeVv ends of a pairof i parallel guide rods 294 which vextend ina direction normal to 'the klength .of heel l guides, and the central portions of'which .are

support :284. In order that the lopposed membersof each! pair of plates282shall .secured to an ear` 296 projecting romthe 'iof' 4'be constrained to move'laterally withfthe side walls 58 and 60, each plate-282 is profA Vvided with yan outwardly turned earY 288 i cent'sidev wall and carries va projecting lwhicheXtends across the.v endv of the 'adja-f Y,

290 wliichis Vslidablyy received in 'a socket- 292 that is bored. longitudinally into. said sidewall'from the end .thereofff'lhisY con-- i struction also permits the Iplates 282 to move ports 284'are causedto slidelongitudinally with respect to the carlrier`286- lTojper'- mit such sliding movement,each support 284 j is provided with a pair ofend lugs 298;

through which extend a pairfof parallelr horizontal rods 800` which are` rigidly yse-, cured thereto.. Adjacent their vopposite ends, the rods 800 extend through and are l are `formed in the carrier 286.

Normallyv each pair o ffplates282 isheld vretracted, in the positions infwhich they f appear in Figure 11,'by means of apair of? coiled springs 306 which severally surround",V

the rods 300, the` springs being interposed i between the inner face o f-oneof'the flanged ends 304 of the carrier 286, and a shoulder ies 308 onV the Support 284'. The supports 284 :are caused to slide relatively to the carrier 286 to advance Vthe plates 282 edgewise toward the unloading carrier for'the purpose of lextending the side walls of therpressV "i Vtubes by vmeans of an'actuatorcsleeve 31D".

whichfis adapted torslide on the shaft 50, f

adjacent one. end ofthe carrier 286. The

actuator sleeve 310 is provided with an up-l wardly projecting lug 812 that is adapted to engage Vdepending lugsf3l4 on the several Vsupports 284, as therespective heel guide's'aref@ 1 f' brought into position forl the delivery offa means of a rod 816,y Voneend of whichi's heel to the unloadingV carrier 262. Move ment of the actuatorsleeve 810 is effected by f rigidly secured to a lug 318jproject'ing latferffV ally from the acutator sleeve 810 and which Y connects said sleeve, with a movable bracketing sleeve 274 of the unloading carrier 2621n tubes lis'br'ought to rest infinosition to receive f 320. This bracket 320 is secured to the bear-I i Y and moves laterallyv toward and from the heel press` thei'ewith.V y The 'operation of themechanisin justA dej, Vv scribed is as follows: jWhen oneofgthe press- I yedgewise' in the direction of the 'length oi L50" afresh heel and discharge a dried heel,.the

" support 284, carrying the plates 282 which,

310 VWill'be actuated through the connections* are associated with `said pressgtube guide',

Will be positioned with lits lug 314 opposite n the lug 312011 the actuator sleeve 310, as

shown in Fig. 7. When the end heel Y forced out of the heel guide into engagement Y with the abutment 27 6V and the unloading carrier 262 begins to be movedl laterally away from the heel press, the actuator sleeve abovev describedfto slide the support 284 which is associated With the uppermost heel' guide toward the delivery end thereof. Thus, the plates 282 carried thereby are actuatedto extend the sidewalls 58 and 60 of said press tube. fn this Way, if theheel next behind the end heel of the stack is projectedbeyond Y Y y the end of the heel guide, the projecting porbe moved edgevvise by the rotation of thev carrier and consequently the heel which has just been delivered to the carrier Will beY Y g position to be engaged by the tread face of the heel as the heelleaves the clamp in said -carrier disk. As shown in Fig.l 8, the presser readily separated from the stack.

As the unloading carrier 262 approaches the completion of its quarter revolution, the mechanism Which is controlled by .the cam 278 operates in the manner set forth' in applicants co-pending appli'- cation, to restore theY abutment 276 to its normal position and operate the clutch 270 to disconnect the unloading carrier.`

The carrier is then free to slide laterally toward the heel` press. In the present conf struction, the unloading carrier 262 is moved laterally tovvard the press by means of a spring 322 (Figs. l and 7) 'the lower end of which is secured to the base 40 and the upper ,end of Which is connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 324 Which is pivoted at 326 upon the standard 46, the other 4arm'of. the

lever being connected by a link 328 to the movable bracket 320.'

- 1 VIn common With the corresponding'mechaheels to the uniformV positions in Which they,

Were initially presented` to theV loading mechanism 26. YThis position of the heels is indicated by dotted linesv in Fig. 7. As therein shown, the heel isv positioned with `,its breast edge upon the platform32 andl With its base face directed toward the un loading plunger 268. Y d

After the unloading carrier 262 has been returned to its normal lateral position, the

. unloading kplunger *268 is actuated, "as ex-v plained in applicants abovermentioned co4 variously positioned heels lewe pending application, to .eject the heel from" the uppermost heel clamp in the carrier and `deliver vit to the platform'32. v'Asjalso' set forth insaid application, the platform 32 isV secured to a member 330 'Whichis, inV turn,

secured to the bearingssle'eve 274, 1so that rthe` platform vvill move With the lcarrier 262 Vas Ythe latter' is shifted laterally. To Vinsure that the heel vvill be depositedupon .thev platform 32 in exactly the position in Which it is held by the heel clamp immediately before it is ejected from theunloading carrier V262, vmeans is provided, in accordance.ivitlrthe present invention,for maintaining control of the heel during lits transfer from the' unloading carrier to the platform 32. j n

lnthe present construction, the means for thus controlling they movement ofthe heel, from the unloading carrier 26.2 to the platform 32,3 comprises a vertically ydisposed presser plate 336 that is arranged to engage the top-lift face of the' heel and to cooperate with the unloading plunger 268 to laterally support the heel as` the plunger feeds it across the platform 32. The presser plate 336 is disposed in parallel relation tothe carrier disk 262 and vis normally located in plate 336 is laterally offset from a horizontal tube 338, to one end vof which the platevis rigidly secured. A deep notch 337 (Fig. `8) Y Thehorizontal'tube 338 is urged toward the left (Fig. 7) by means of a coiled spring 342 Which is confined Within the tube-338 and bearing sleeve 340, the opposite ends of the. spring engaging the closed ends of the tube and bearing sleeve. The normal position of the presser plate 336 is determined by an adjustable bolt 344 Which extends :through a lug dependingdfr'om aportion of the presser plate. The bolt 344 iis adapted to engagea" 1 stop lug 346 on the platform 32, thelug limiting the movement of the presser plate under the influence ofthe spring342. By means of. this yconstruction the heels are firmly heldbetween the unloading plunger 268 and thev presser plate 336 during their transfer from the unloading carrier tothe' platform 32, sothat there Will be no tendency for the heels to be displacedfrom the posi! tions they occupiedVv when brought opposite the unloadingplunger by thel carrier 262.V

, `After the heels are delivered to the-plate'V form 32 in the manner described, thel present inventionmales provision for themtoV be transferred to aheel compressor by means srsv 11ovr of the conveyor 38 Which travels towardthe pbserver when viewing Fig. 7 In order that posited upon the conveyor, it' is desirable that the heels should: rest upon their base lifts upon the conveyor. lt is further desirable that the heels should be arranged l upon the conveyor vvitli their breast edges earmost, in order that they may be in proper position to be fed to the heel compressor, the latter .being preferably'of the type disclosed in United StatesfLetters Patent No. l 1,213,052, granted January 16, 1917, to Winll'ey, and assigned to the United 'Shoe Machinery Corporation. ,Y v i Accordingly 'one of lthe features of lthe l present invention jresides inthe transfer mechanism 36 by means "of Whichrthe' heels are removed'from theplatform 32 and deposited upon the conveyor 38 in the requisite positions just described. The transfer mech'- anism V36 (Figs. 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10) 4comprises a rotary transfer carrier 350 upon Which are mounted threefsets of heel gripping devices 352.'A The heel gripping devices 352 are mounted upon threeangularly Vdisposed arms 353 which areequi-distant from each other and which are inclined at angle of 45o-With respect vto the axis of rotation of the transfer carrier. fer carrier 350 is maintained'stationary With one of its three heel gripping devices located immediately abovev the platform 3 2 in readiness to receive a heel,'vvhile another of said gripping devices is located immediately above the conveyor 38, having depositedfits heel uponthe conveyor. operation of the machine,.the transfer carrier 350is rotated step-loyestep in time vvith the rotary movements Vof the loading and unloading carriers 180V and 262, the transfer Y carrier making one-third of a revolution fork 445V each one-quarter Vrevolution of the other carriers. Each heel gripping device 3 52 of the transfer mechanism 36'comp'rises a pair of articulated gripper javvs 354 Which are spring-actuated to grip. the heels andare 'positively actuated toA release them. Concurrently with each partial rotation of the loading and unloading carriers 'the transfer.- carrier 350 is rotated through 120to bring Y' one setv of heel gripping-devices 352 into position to grip a heel on` the platform and `[then into position to deposit itsr'heel in the requisite position uponl the conveyor 38. The transfer carrier 350is secured tothe lower end of an inclined shaft 356 which is hub of which, by engagement With the upper end of the bearing 358, sustains the Weight of the transfercarrier v350 and retains the Normally, the trans-V Throughout the journaled in ahearing`358 vat the upper end shaft 356 in itsfbearing. The shaft '356 isKV inclined upwardly at an angle of 45o-with i clined, transversely of the machine, vat-*an angle of 45 With respect 'to a vertical plane extending through the a-Xisof the shaft 50. Y i The three heel gripping devices 352 Y'are identical, and consequently it Will be l'neces- The gripper javvsf354 are best shown inrespect to the platform 32, and it is also insary to describe't'ut one of them in detail. v

Figsf8 to 10, and are provided 'with sharply pointed ends for Vengaging the opposite; lateral edges of the heels.

j aWS being journaled in bearings 366 carried and to each projecting endis securedv agear coiled spring 372, the opposite ends offivhich Each' gripper jaw 354 is secured .to-one end of-fa shaft- Y. '364, the shafts 364 for each pair'ofv gripper 801V `by Webs 368 which project from opposite:v sides of the inclined arms 353 of the trans-1JV `fer carrier'350v. The opposite ends ofthe). shafts 364 project l.beyond the bearings 366 are secured to a pair of arms 374 which pvroject substantially at right angles to the seg-5l ments 370 so that each segment 370, together `vvith its projecting arm 374, constitutes-a bell-crank lever.,` `Each pair of heel gripper jaws 354is normally held in open'or heel-V receiving position by means `of' a latch 376 Y Whichris pivoted at 37 8 upon the respective transfer carrierarm 353,V the free end of the latch bein@ notched to provide a pair of 382 for engaging a stud 384 projecting upf 10o f Y' perpendiciilarly .disposed shoulders 380 and Y .l i

Wardl from one of the ad'acent gear se ments 370. ,A spring 386, one end of which is secured to the latch'37 6 and the opposite vjaws 354 to uniformly holdv the heels in the.

f Vend to a pin 387 on the adjacent gripper V. device, tends to hold the latch in operative? positionwith ythe shoulder 380 engaging the stud 384 Vin orderV to hold-the gripper jaws 1 position inv'vhi'ch Vthey.are,presented tothe? transfer mechanismis a positioning finger` 388 (Figs-1.7, 8 and'lO) Whicli'isa-ilapted to" engage the tread face of the heel: to prevent the heel from turning o'utoffthe positiony in `which lit is' held by the grippermjavvs as the :transfer carrier 350 `is 'rotatedg ylhe notch. V337 Whichis provided in thepresser plate -Y 336, as hereinbefore. described, lpermitsfthe" finger` 388 to come into contact with the heel asthe latter ispushed'across the i platformv 32. Each positioning `nger 388 depends from one end of ahollow cylindri the transfer carrier.

pressed'outwardly in'theirsoclretsj'tomainTk e i 'tain the positioning' fingers 388 `in position' l to be engaged a heel which isfadvancing between the gripperjaws, by meansfof a` spring 394 within the hollow stem 390, one end or" .the spring hearing against'the base of the recess in the stein and the opposite end of the spring engaging the base of` @the socket 392. To prevent the stem 396 j the wall of the socket 392.

Vadapted to engage oneend wall of the slot to limit the movement of the positioning finger Y under the inuence oit the spring.

from turning in its socket, and thus to delir` nitely locate the positioning finger with respect to the transfer carrier, a pm 396 projects from Vthe side ofthe stom 390 into a longitudinal slot 398 which is formed in rihe pin 396 is To eect the transfer of the heels vtrom the Y 'platform 32 to the conveyor' 38,V the transl fer carrier 350 isV driven trom the shaft 182.

o l vre c it 356. upon which the T this nl the sha i transfer carrier is mounted,- is connected with an intermediate horizontal shaft 402i by means of intermeshing bevel gearing comprising a gear 404 'which is secured to `vone end of the shaft 402* and ythe gear360 which is secured to the upper end oi the transfer carrier shaft 356.' Ther interinediatek shaft 402 is journaled in a hear the upper end of the standard 46 and'is con* nected with the shait 182 hy means ot a sprocket chain 408 (Figs. `1 and 8) which passesover a sprocket wheel 41.0 on the shaft 402 and over a sprocket wheel at the end of the shaft 182. These sprocket wheels are so proportioned that each'quarter r turn of the shaft 182 will cause the transi'er carrier 350 to be rotated through onet iird of la revolution.

The arrangement or" the heel gripping devices 352 upon the transfer carrier 350 is such that when the transfer carrier comes to rest, one of the gripping devices will be posi- A tioned to receive a heel from the unloading carrier-262 while another ofthe gripping devices is positioned to deposit a heel upon the conveyor 38. VWhen a heel has been advanced, Vby means of the unloading plunger 268, upon theplatforin 32 into position to be engaged-.by the first-menticnedk gripping device, thel jaws of said gripping device are released toperinit them to grip the heel. At the saine time the jaws ofthe grippingdevice lwhich is holding a heel above they conveyor 38, are forced-'apart to The means; `for thus actuating the-two pairs or' gripper release the heel held thereby.

jaws operates in unison with the unloading plunger 268 vand comprises a horizontal slide rod 414 .(Fig. 7) which is mounted in bear- Vings 416 at the upper ends the standards 44 and 46. VThe slide rod 414 is connected with the unloading plunger 268 by means oit an arm 418 (Figs. land 7), the upper end of which isV securedfto the slide `.rod while the lowerV end thereof -issecured to a pin420'- which projects laterally from the unloading plunger and whichris engaged by the inem` berthat actuates the plunger.

To release the jaws of the heel gripping Vdevice which is ready t0 receive a. heel at the transfer station 34 so that'said jaws may seize the heel, a pin 422l depends from aY collar 424 which is adjustably secured to the slide rod 414 between the bearings 416. The pin 422 is adapted to engage tail 426 V(Fig. 9) extending Y perpendicularly from the pivoted end ofl the latchi376 to swing .theY

(F ig. 7) which is confined in afsoclietvin j the upper portion or" thestandard One end ofi" the plunger 430 is adapted to engage a series of projections 432, one otwhich is formed upon one of the individual inem-V loers of each pair of gear segments 370.Y

The plunger 430 is so arranged thatwhen one of the gripper devices islocated in position to 'discharge aheel upon theoonveyor 38, the respective gear segment projection 432 will he located opposite one end 'of the plunger. The plunger 430 is normally held out of engagement with the projection 432 `by means of its spring which is indicated at 434,1*1 ig. 'Z'. To actuate theplungen430, a bell-crank lever 436 is pivoted at 438 to the upper portionot the standard 46, the lowermost end ot' said leverengaging the end` of the plunger 430 which is remote from the transfer carrier, While the upper end of the bell-crank lever engages an inclined `cam face 440 at the reareXtremit-y of the Siideroa 414. n Y

When the unloading plunger 268 is actuated tov eject the heel from. the heel clamp in the unloading carrier 262,'the tread 'face Vof the heel,jwhich is directed Vtov-yard the transfer mechanism 36, is bronglitinto engagement with` the *presserV plate 336. As' the heel is held between the unloadingplunger and the presser plate 336, it continues to advance -across thenlati'orm 32-and the tread facer thereof finally engages` the posif tioning finger 388 whichyields sniiicielntly4V vto permit a heel to be advancedv to a deiinite position between the opened jaws.V ci the f associated gripper device. pi`n`422 on the slide rod 414 engages the tail 426 on the respective latch 376, tripping the latch and releasing the gripper jaws so that they are closed by; the force4 of `the spring 372 upon the opposite lateral edges ofthe'heel.

Thereupon, the

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