US1876055A - Shoe heater - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 5, 1932. M. 0. JENNINGS ET AL 1,876,055

SHOE HEATER F iled Aug. 30, 1929 r I j W/ZMkZ flffemzaggs, I [may Z 'flZZQy.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 MELVIN 0. JENNINGS, OF LEXINGTON, AND LYMAN E. ALLEY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSA- GHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T HARRY H. BECKWI'IH, 0F BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS i SHOE HEATER Application filed August 30, 1929. Serial No. 389,379.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe heaters. The manufacture of large numbers of shoes includes the use of box toe stiffeners which are capable of being softened under the influence of heat. These stiifeners are customarily supplied in the form of blanks which are warmed to make them flexible prior to the pulling-over operation, and the turned-under margins are warmed again for the subsequent lasting operation. Moist heat is in general preferable to dry heat for this purpose, the moisture facilitating the softening of the stiflener and also acting to protect the leather from burning or deterioration by excessive heat. A certain amount of moisture is also necessary to prevent drawing of the thermoplastic binder from the stiflener. The amount of moisture supplied must be carefully regulated as an excess is liable to stain and otherwise injure the leather. For best results, different degrees of moisture must be used with different leathers. Prior to the pulling-over operation, the stilfener blank is substantially flat, while after the operation it is bent to shape around the toe of the last. Heaters for the two steps are therefore of different form, the heater for the pulling-over operation being generally a flat, foraminous surface on which the flat toe portions of the uppers are laid, and through which the moist heat rises. The heater for the lasting operation generally includes a hood with lateral openings through which the toe portions of the lasts and uppers thereon are inserted. According to the present invention, a heater is provided which has alower portion for producing heat of the desired kind, an upper portion for supporting the toe stiffener in its flat condition, and another upper portion for supporting the toe stiffener for heating prior to the lasting operation, these upper portions being interchangeable on the lower portion. The invention also includes certain improvementsin an upper portion of the hood type for heating toe stiffeners which have been pulled over the last.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the de- Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a shield for use with the apparatus shown; in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an end elevation, partly bro-- ken away, ofa heater having an upper portion differing from that shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the heater shown'in Figure 1 comprises a lower portion which includes a suitable housing 10 within which may be mounted a container 11 for water to be heated. Secured to the rear wall of the housing 10, we provide a receptacle 12 for water, this being connected to the container 11 as by a suitable aperture 13. In order to maintain asupply of water in the container 11 at a substantially constant level, we may mount a can or flask 1 1 on a suitable standard 15, as shown in Figure 2, the flask being inverted so that its mouth opens downwardly near the bottom of the receptacle 12. This maintains the water in the receptacle 12 at a depth suificient to cover the mouth of the flask, the water having the same level in the container 11. Any suitable or convenient means for heating the water in the container 11 may be provided, such means including steam heat, a flame, or an electric heating unit. On the drawing, a pair of electric units 16 are illustrated, these units preferablyhaving an elongated shape, as shown in Figure 3, so as to be readily clamped against the bottom of the container 11. If desired, suitable metallic strips 17 may be employed with clamping screws 18 to insure a good mechanical contactbetween the heating units 16 and the bottom of the container 11. The units 16, being preferably constructed of such a size as to heat the water within the container 11 so as to cause it to give ed the proper amount of moisture required for the conditioning of the toe portions of the shoe uppers treated by the apparatus. in by a simple pair of clamps or equivalent devices, it is an easy matter to replace either or both units in case of failure or for the purpose of changing the size of the units used in the machine. V

Mounted on the 'top of the casing 10 is a suitable hood 21 having an open bottom fitting over the open, top oft-he casing 10 so that'the casing and hood together form a continuous housing. The hood 21 is provided with a suitable baffle plate 22 having therein suitable perforations 23 as shown in Figures 1 and 5, to direct the rising heat and moisture against ,the under-turned edge portions of the shoe toes inserted in the heater. As shown, these perforations 23 may be arranged inan arcuate seriesfollowing the contour of the toe portion of the last so that the moisture and heat passing through the perforations is properly directed against the portions to be softened. This arrangement of perforations 23 makes possible the proper treatment of shoes with the least possible supply of heat and moisture so that the apparatus maybe economically operated. In the front wall of the hood 21 are one or more apertures 24 of suitable size and shape to receive the toe portion of a last with a shoe upper secured thereon. A suitable rack 25 is mounted to extend in front of the apertures 24'to support the heel portions of the lasts when the toes are inserted through the apertures. The apertures 24 are preferably made of such a size as to receive theaverage mens shoe last with relatively little clearance, this being for the purpose of avoiding too great an ingress of cool air or egress of heat and moisture through the aperture 24 when a last is in place. Inorder to adapt the apparatus readily for use in treating womens shoes, a suitable plate or shield 26 may be provided, this shield having re cesses 27 corresponding in shape to the apertures 24 but of a smaller size to receive womens shoes without excessive clearance. plate may be provided with suitable lugs 28 to project downwardly within the apertures 24 to hold the shield in place, the upper edge 3 of the shield being retained by suitable catches 29. 7

Within the upper portion of the hood 21,

above the baffle plate 22, a number of inner V 1 under the inner hoods. Since the unlts 16 are each held This hoods 30 may be provided, these inner hoods extending transversely with respect to the hood 21 and being preferably arched so as to conform roughly to the rounded upper surface of the toe of the last. Each hood 30 thus forms a separate compartment opposite one of the apertures 24. The inner hoods 30 extend rearwardly, as shown in Figure 2, to or nearly to the rear wall of the hood 21. The upper rear portion of each hood 30is cut away as at 31 to provide egress of air and moisture upwardly from the compartments In order to regulate the draft of air and vapor upwardly through the hood 21, we may employ a suitable damper 32 which may be entirely closed as shown in Figure 1, or may be raised by a suitable handle 33, as shown in Figure 2. .A ratchet member 34 may be provided to hold the damper 32 at any desired angle of opening. For the further regulation and control of the air and moisture passingupwardly through the aperture, a damper 35 may be mounted bet-ween the forward lip of the container 11 and the front wall of the casing 10. This damper may be openedor closed as by a suitable handle 36. When open,=the damper 35 permits a regulated flow of air inwardly through suitable apertures 37 and the lower wall of the casing 10 and upwardly between the front wall of the casing 10 and the container 11. This air mixes with the vapor arising from the container 11, the mixed air and vapor thereupon flowing upwardly through the apertures 23, passing around the toes of the shoe uppers on the last and escaping through the top of the hood 21 when the damper 32 is raised. If the damper 32 is sufficiently raised, a certain amount of cool air may be drawn through the apertures 24 to mingle with the rising column of air and moisture from below. If the damper 32 is entirely closed, the air and moisture "from below is forced to escape outwardly through the apertures 24. The dampers 32 and 35 may thus be operated to regulate the character of the air-and moisture mixture arising from below,'and the flow of such air and moisture after it arrives within the. hoods 30. The setting of these dampers will depend upon the type of leather or'other material used in the shoe uppers which are treated in the apparatus. In the case of ordinary mens shoes, for example, having uppers of comparatively heavy leather not easily injured by moisture, a maximum quantity of moisture will be used to temper the uppers so as to stretch them properly in the bed-lasting operation which follows the heating treatment. Where more delicate leathers, however, aroused in the uppers, it may be preferred to permit cool air to flow in through the apertures 24 in suflicient quantity to prevent excessive heating or molst-ening of the uppers and to confine the heating and moistening substantially to the under-turned edge portions against the bottom of the last.

Figure 7 illustrates a different type of apparatus adapted to be mounted on a casing 10 and to be interchangeable with the hood 2-1. This form of apparatus comprises a horizontal foraminous member 38 which may comprise a foraminous plate, a wire screen, or both plate and screen in superposed position. If desired, the member 38 may also be covered with a layer of canvas or the like, but this covering is not essential. The foraminous member 38 is supported by a suitable frame 39 which fits on the top of the casing 11 in the same manner as does the hood 21, so that the casing 10 may be used in conjunction with the member 21 or with the modified heater illustrated in Figure 7. The latter is particularly suited for conditioning box toe blanks prior to the pulling over operation. These blanks may be laid fiat on the member 38, and are warmed and softened by the moist heat arising from the container 11. The moisture prevents excessive heating of the box toe blanks and also prevents spewing, that is, the exuding of the thermoplastic binder from the interior of the blank. For conditioning box toe blanks, no hood is required over the member 38. If, however, a suitable hood 40 be provided, as illustrated in Figure 7, the apparatus is capable of successful use in conditioning the toes of shoe uppers which have been pulled over the last. This form of apparatus is thus usable for both heating steps of the box toe, that is, the heating prior to the pulling-over operation, and that prior to the bed-lasting operation.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising an open-top casing member, an open steam-supply receptacle occupying a portion of the space in said casing and forming with a portion of said casing an air chamher, a hood fitted over said casing member and provided with a series of lateral openings to receive shoe toes, a damper adjacent to said receptacle adjustable to admit air from said chamber into the lower portion of the hood, a damper at the top of said hood to regulate the flow of steam and air through said hood, a transverse perforated partition below said openings, and arched members for said openings forming with said partition a series of chambers for the reception of shoe toes.

2. Apparatus of the class described, com prising an open-top casing member, an open water container within said casing, an electric heating unit secured in contact with the outer surface of said container, an open-bottom shoe-supporting member removably fitted upon said casing to receive steam from said container, and means adjacent to said container for admitting and regulating a.

flow of air through the bottom of said sup porting member to mix with steam from said container.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising an open-top casing member, an open water container within said casing forming with a portion of said casing an air chamber, means for maintaining a supply of water in said container, a heater secured against the outer bottom surface of said container, an open-bottom hood fitted on said casing to re ceive steam directly from said container and air from said chamber, said hood having lateral openings to receive shoe toes, a damper adjacent to said container for regulating afiow of air into the lower portion of said hood to mix withsaid steam, a transverse perforated partition across said hood below said openings, a series of arched members forming with said partition chambers for receiving shoe toes inserted through said openings, said arched members being vented adjacent to their rear ends to permit the escape of steam from said chambers, and means at the top of the hood for regulating the draft therethrough.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

MELVIN 0. JENNINGS. LYMAN E. ALLEY.

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