US2198140A - Method of and means for folding shoe uppers - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1940. G. vAcHoN Er AL METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FOLDING SHOE UPPERS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v J30 6'6 66 m 5 INVENTORS ATTORN EYS April 23, 1940. VACHQN ET AL 2,198,140 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FOLDING SHOE UPPERS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ulmml ////0('/*( A. Var/20 INVEN S 60- ATTORNEYS April 23, 1940. VACHQN r AL 2,198,140

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FOLDING SHOE UPPERS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 III/I04 YII/I/Ill w ,216 20a 1a. 57

Afronuevs tour,

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FOLDING snoE UPPERS Lionel G. Vachon and Hubert A. Vachon, Haverhill, Mass, assignors System, Inc., Haverhill, Mass;

of Massachusetts to Stampress Folding a corporation Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,598

17 Claims.

Our invention relates to the art of manufacturing shoes and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved method of and means for folding shoe uppers and the like.

In the manufacture of shoe uppers having a finished edge in the nature of a sinuous conconsiderable difficulty has been experienced in folding the material of the upper back upon itself to provide a sinusoidalconfiguration. Heretofore the folding of the material to provide such a configuration has been performed by hand, and no satisfactory machine has been devised to per form such work. Accordingly, an object of our invention is to provide a novel method of and means for folding a considerable margin of the shoe upper and the like along a sinusoidal line, wherein such work may be performed in an efficient manner through mechanical means so designed as to execute a well performed and neat appearing job.

In our invention, the shoe upper blank is cut to provide an edge in the shape of a sinusoidal line. The margin along thisedge is skived, and the margin is bent back upon itself along a sinusoidal line, with the overlapping parts ad hesively secured into a unitary structure. The margin folded back upon the upper proper is snipped at suitable intervals at substantially right angles to the concavities of the sinusoidal edge prior to folding thereof, while the convexities along the edge are crimped during the folding operation. The crimping is performed by novel mechanical means, while the margin is simultaneously folded along a sinusoidal line throughout its entire length, after which the overlapping parts are pressed into adhesive relation.

A further object is to provide a novel top folding plate operatively related to a base folding plate for pressing purposes, wherein'a novel free member folding plate is peculiarly related to the top folding plate for folding the margin along aslnuscidal line. The top folding plate is characterized by a grooved formation which cooperates in a novel manner withthe free member folding plate for crimping the margin bent back; upon the piece proper along the convexities of the margin, so that a neatly formed bend maybe made.

A further object is to provide a folding machine of the type described in which novel folding mechanism is incorporated and in which novel pressing means are embodied.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a topplan view of a machine embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional of Figure 1;

t Figure 3 is a plan view ofthe free member 5 folding plate;

Figure 4 is an end view of the structureof Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the top folding plate;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-43 of Figure 5;

' Figure '1 is a sectional view along the line 1-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the base folding plateand the top folding plate illustrating a 'shoe upper placed in position preparatory to folding the same;

Figure 9 is a similar View illustrating the free member folding plate applied to the upper;

Figure 10 is a similar view illustrating one step in the folding operation;

Figure 11 is a similar view illustrating a second step in the folding operation;

Figure 12 is a similar View pressing operation;

Figure 13 is a View of a shoe upper folded in accordance with our invention; I

Figure 14 is a sectional View along the line I' l-44 of Figure 13; 3

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1, but with other folding mechanism associated therewith for executing differently shaped folds;

Figure 16 is a sectional View along the line 5-16 of Figure 15; i

Figure 17 is a view similar toFigure 16 illustrating one step in-the folding operation;

Figure 18 is -a sectional view along the line "l8-l8'o-f Figure 15; 4

Figure 19 is a view illustrating a second step in the folding operation;

Figure 20 is a View illustrating a third step-in the folding operation; and l 1 Figure 2'1 is a-plan view of a toe blank which may be folded in accordance with our invention.

Referring to Figures land 2, the machine3ll includes a bed 32 which maybe mounted on legs or other suitable structure (not shown). Upon the bed 32 we mount a base folding plate 34, '50 which plate is restrained from'lateral shifting-on the bed 32 by reasonof pins 36 which are anchored to the bed andextend through openings 38 in the plate, one of which openings is illustrated in Figure 1. A top folding plate 40 is view along the line 2-2 illustrating the fold positioned above the base folding plate 34 and includes openings 42 for slidably receiving the pins 36. One of the openings 42 is illustrated in Figure 1. metallic plate 44 and a. body plate 46 which are connected as a unit through the medium of rivets 48.

Top folding plate is: provided with a bore for the reception of a shank 52 formed on the shaft 54 slidable in the guide 56 formed integrally with the bed 32. Shaft 54 includes a collar 58 constituting a bed for the plate 40, while the shank 52 is threaded for the reception of a nut 66 which clamps the plate to the collar 58 for connecting the plate and the shaft as a unit. We provide the base folding plate 34 with a bore 62 of suflicient diameter to freely receive the collar 58. Plate 40 is movable toward and away from the base plate 34 and is restrained from relative rotary motion because of the guide pins 36.

To the lower end of the shaft 54 we pivot one end of a link 64, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 66 with a foot pedal 68. Pedal 68 is pivotally connected at 10 with a bracket 12 anchored to the floor 14. Shaft 54 may be reciprocated through the medium of the foot pedal 68 for raising and lowering the top folding plate 40 with respect to the base folding plate 34. Upon the shaft 54' we mount a collar 16 which may be adjusted therealong and secured in fixed relation thereto by a set screw 18. Collar 16 is arranged in the path of the guide 56 for abutting the same to limit the rise of the top folding plate 40.

To the lower face of the top folding plate 40 We connect a limit gauge and former 80 which is in the nature of a right-angular flange having a sinusoidal configuration, as illustrated in Figure 1. The configuration of the limit gauge and former 80 will, of course, depend upon the configuration of the line of fold to be formed on the shoe upper. Base folding plate 34 is provided with a slot 82 for acconnnodatmg the limit gauge nected shoe uppers. The wall 88 defining one side of the opening is beveled, as illustrated in Figure 1. Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the front edge 90 of the body plate 46 includes a configuration contour of the limit gauge and former 80. Metallic plate 44 is extendedbeyond the edge 90, as at 92, and the edge 94 is of the same contour as the edge 90. In Figure 5, we illustrate the extension 92 as being grooved at 96 inwardly of the edge 94. The grooves 96 are localized in groups limited to the concaved runs 98, I00, I02 and I04 of the edge 94, and the grooves are arranged substantially at right angles to these runs. I I2 and H4 are beveled to a knife edge, as at II6. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the free member folding plate or hold-down I I8. This hold-down includes an edge I20 of the same configuration as the limit gauge and former 80, and is beveled to a knife edge, as indicated at I22. The sweeps I24 and I26 along the edge I20 are provided with I28. Hold-down I I8 is notched at I30 for the reception of alignment projections I 32 formed on the top folding plate 40. Two finger Top folding plate 40 comprises a The convexed runs I06, I08, H0,

holes I34 are formed in the hold-down H8, and a handle I36 is attached to the hold-down.

Figure 13 illustrates a shoe upper at I38. Upper I38 includes an edge I40 of sinusoidal configuration, which edge constitutes the bight of the fold. The margin folded backupon the upper proper is illustrated at I42, which margin is adhesively secured to the upper. The margin I42, before being bent back upon the upper, is illustrated in dotted lines at I44. In blanking the upper I38 we snip the margin in the zones of the concavities I46 as indicated at I46. Figure 14 illustrates the upper I38 as being skived at I59 throughout the area of the overlap I52.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of our invention, the operation thereof will be readily understood. The upper blank I38 is laid on the base plate 34, With the margin I42 lying upon the extension 92 of the top folding plate 40 (see Fig. 8). The edge of the margin lies in abutting relation with the edge 96 of the body plate 46. At this time the metallic plate 44 rests on the base plate 40. The hold-down H8 is then laid upon the upper blank I38, as in Figure 9. Alignment projections I 32 will then lie in the notches I30 for properly aligning the edge I 20 of the hold-down I I8 with respect to the edge 94 of the extension 92.

Hold-down H8 is held down manually against the upper blank I 38, and the top folding plate 40 is elevated through the medium of the pedal 68 to the position of Figure 10. Such elevation of the top folding plate 40 bends the margin I42 upwardly into a position substantially at right angles to the upper proper along the edge i20- of the hold-down H8. At theisame time, elevation of the top folding plate 40 brings the alignment extensions I32 above the hold-down II8 so as to permit forward shifting of the same upon the base folding plate 34. With the parts positioned according to Figure 10, the hold-down I I8 is advanced forwardly for bending the margin I42 back'upon the hold-down and underneath the extension 92, as illustrated in Figure 11. The hold-down H8 is advanced sufiiciently far to bring the bight I54 of the fold into pressure relation with the limit gauge and former 80. Saw teeth I28 grips the leather so as to positively shift the same.

,After pushing the shoe upper blank I38 home to the positionlof Figure 11, the hold-down H8 is withdrawn and the top folding plate 40 is lowered for pressing the margin I42 against the blank proper, as illustrated in Figure 12. Pedal 68 is pivoted intermediate its ends so as to be susceptible of foot manipulation for raising and lowering purposes. The concaved runs 98, I00, I02 and I04 are flat, as at I56 in Figure 7. As the margin I42 is being bent in the stages of Figures 11 and 12, particularly Figure 12, the the margin will buckle into the grooves 96, which causes the convexities of the margin to be crimped, as illustrated at I60, thus taking up slack in the margin in such manner as to permit an effective adhesive connection between the margin and the blank proper. The snipped runs of the margin permit effective bending about the concavities of the bight, while the crimping action on the margin tends to contract the margin as it is being crowded into a more limited space.

After the margin I 42 has been pressed home, according to Figure 12, the margin is additionally pressed and secured through the medium of a pressure frame I62. Frame I62 parallels the bed 32 and is swingably connected therewith through the medium of parallel arms I64. Two arms IE4 arepivotally connected at I66 with each end of the frame I62 and at I68 with the flange no depending from the bed 32. Frame l62 includes a recess H2 of sufficient accommodate the nut 60 as the pressure body IN is brought into pressure relation with the top folding plate iii. A handle H6 is connected with the frame it?! to facilitate shifting of the frame from the full to the dotted line positions of Figure 2. Frame 162 maintains parallel relation with the bed 32 in all positions of the former so as to have uniform pressure on plate 40. When the frame I62 is swung upwardly and backwardly, the frame .moves sufficiently far to pivot the arms 15! beyond the vertical so that the frame will rest against the bracket H8 to be supported in the clear of the folding facilities of the machine.

Obviously, the folding mechanism so far described may be made up in units for folding material along lines of different configuration than that illustrated. The sinusoidal line. of bend may include more or less alternately related convexities and concavities. The. adhesive employed for securing the margin M2 to the upper proper is well known in the art and need not, therefore, be described.

In Figures 15 to .ZLinclusiVe, we illustrateothe manner in which a differently shaped shoe part may be folded in accordance with the invention. Upon the base foldingplate 34 we mount a top folding plate not having openings is? for the reception of the pins Plate lat is clamped to the shaft M in the same manner as the top folding plate til. Plate B36 includes a metallic plate 18 i riveted to the body plate We provide the top folding plate I89 with a U-ohaped slot lilli which flares outwardly, as indicated at Mill in Figure 15. Plate use is provided with a U -shapsd slot 132 which is slightly smaller than the slot to provide a ledge i9 1 extending into the slot Folding blocks 5% are slidably keyed at sea within recesses fill) in the top folding plate 5%. Blocks I86 carry flanges 2B2 which represent continuations of the ledge We. The eight 2M of the ledge te l is grooved at 2% in the same'inanner as the concaved runs of the extension Q2 of Figure .5.

l igure 23'. illustrates a toe piece 2% which is to be folded back upon itself along the line are. Toe piece shaped to lie upon the ledge ltd. The margin to be folded back upon the piece 268 is substantially coextensive in area and contour with the ledge ltd. In folding, the piece toil-is placed upon the ledge iiifi after which a free member folding piece 2%. Plate Zldis provided with aligning e" Eli? having guiding relation with the walls 226 of the plate 534 centering the extension 222 of the plate 256 centrally of of the toe piece 2%. Plate 2% also has abutting relation at 2253 with the plate ltd for limiting in ward movement of the plate one while the plate Hit lies on the base folding plate 34. Figure 16 illustrates the piece 238 positioned on the ledge and the free member folding plate 2E6 placed imposition.

ln l igure 17, we illustrate the top folding plate its elevated for bending the margin 228 up weirdly. With the plate l8!) positioned according to Figure 17, the plate 266 is in the clear of the plate and may be advanced forwardly. As the plate illii is advanced, margin 228 is folded back upon the piece 288 along the concavities folded back upon the piece.

folding proportions to the top folding plate 2 it is placed upon the toe the extension 22 3 2l2, while the margin along the run 230 is also At this time the blocks 1% are moved toward each other, as illustrated in runs of the margin 228 back upon piece 288;

lowered in the same manner as the plate M3 for pressing the margin against the piece 268 proper. The grooved curvature 264 performs a crimping action on the run 235] of the margin in the same manner as the grooved concavities of the extension 92.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same foruse under various conditions of service.

We claim:

i. A machine of the type described, comprise ing: means for supporting a shoe part having a margin of straight and curved configuration to be folded back upon the part proper; means for partly folding the curved margin back upon the part proper; and means for folding the straight margin back upon the part proper.

2. A machine of. the type described, comprismargin of straight and curved configuration to be folded back upon the part proper; means for partly folding the curved margin back upon the Fig. 20, for bending the straight The plate BIS is now withdrawn and the plate l to .ing: means for supporting a shoe part having, a

part proper; means for folding the straight margin back upon the part proper; and means for crimping the margin bent back upon the shoe part along convex lines.

3. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated hold.- down for holding the work against the support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away from the work support; said work folding means cooperating with said hold down for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support; and crimping formations on said work folding means for crimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the hold-down. l

l. A machine of the type described, comprising: awork support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away fromthe work support; said work folding means cooperating with said hold down for bending amargin of the work across adapted to advance thework on the work support for crowdingthe margin between the hold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined. distance from the work said bend forming edges; said hold-down being" support; and a crimping formation on said work folding means for crimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the holddown; slotte'drun underneath said work folding means.

said crimping formation comprising a" 5. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the Work against the support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away from the work support; said work folding means down for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the Work support for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support; and crimping formations on said work folding means forcrimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the holddown; said crimping formations comprising a group of grooves underneath said work folding means.

6. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away from the work support; said work folding means cooperating with said holddown for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced at predetermined distance from the work support; and crimping formations on said work folding means for crimping the margin bent about convex lines on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the holddown; said crimping formations comprising a series of groups of grooves underneath said work folding means.

7. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the work support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away from the work support said hold-down and said work folding means being provided with cooperating aligning means for precisely positioning the hold-down relatively to the work folding means; said work folding means cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support for bringing said cooperating aligning means out of engagement; and a crimping formation on said work folding means for crimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said crimping formation comprising grooves underneath the work folding means and intersecting the bend forming edge thereof; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the hold-down.

8. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the work support and having a bend forming edge; a work cooperating with said holdagainst the work vbent about a convex line on folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away from the'work support;

said hold-down and saidwork folding means being provided with cooperating aligning means for precisely positioning the hold-down relatively to the work folding means; said work folding means cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to adbringing said cooperating aligning means'out of i' engagement; and crimping formations on said work folding means for crimping themargin bent about convex lines on the work; said crimping formations comprising a series of grooves underneath the work folding means and intersecting the bend forming edge thereof; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin after withdrawal of the holddown.

9. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding the work across hold-down being 10. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding to advance the work on the support for crowding the hold-down and said work the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support; crimping formations on said work folding means for crimping the margin the work; said work folding means being arranged gin against the work after withdrawal of the hold-down; said crimping formations comprising a group of grooves underneath said work folding Work margin between the means; and manually actuated auxiliary presmoved down on said.

sure means arranged to be work folding means for additionally pressing the margin against the work.

11. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support the work support '1 folding means when to press the marfolding means having ing edge and means for moving the work folding ranged to be moved bending a margin of means when the latter is spaced a predetermined and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away from the said work folding means cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support; a crimping formation on said work folding means for crimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the hold-down; a manually actuated pressure frame; and a parallelogram linkage swingably connecting the pressure frame with said work support, to bring the pressure frame down on said work folding means for additionally pressing the margin against the work.

12. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the work support and having a bend forming edge; a work a companion bend formmeans toward and away from the work support; said hold-down and said work folding means being provided with cooperating aligning means for precisely positioning the hold-down relatively to the work folding means; said work folding means cooperating with said hold-down for the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support for bringing said cooperating aligning means out of engagement; a crimping formation on said i work folding means for crimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said crimping formation comprising grooves underneath the Work folding means and intersecting the bend forming edge thereof; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of thehold-down; and manually actuated auxiliary pressure means ardown on said work folding means for additionally pressing the margin to the work.

13. A machine for folding shoe uppers and the like along a sinusoidal line, comprising: a work support, a manually actuated hold-down for holding the work on the support and having a bend forming edge; work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means-for moving the work folding means relatively to the work support; said work folding means cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding work support;

distance from the work support; and means asso ciated with said work folding means for providing a predetermined crimp in the margin folded about a convex line on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the holddown.

14. A machine for folding shoe uppers and the like along a sinusoidal line; comprising: a work support, a manually actuated hold-down for holding the work on the support and having a bend forming edge; work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means relatively to the work support; said work folding means cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support; and means associated with the work folding means for providing a predetermined crimp in the margin bent about convex lines on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the holddown. i

15. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support and having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and away from the work support; said work folding means cooperating with said holddown for bending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support for crowding the margin between the holddownand said work folding means when the lat ter is spaced a predetermined distance from the work support; gauge means on said work folding means for engaging the bight of the bend, to limit the inward thrust of said hold-down; and means associated. with the work foldingmeans for providing predetermined crimps in the margin bent about convex lines on the work; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the hold-down.

16'. The herein describedv method; of folding margins on shoe uppers or the like along a sinusoidal line, which consists in simultaneously folding the margin throughout its entire length, and providing a predetermined crimp in the margin bent about a convex line on the work.

17. The herein described method of folding margins on shoe uppers or the like along a sinusoidal line, which consists in simultaneously folding the margin throughout its entire length,

and producing predetermined crimps in the mar gin bent about convex lines on the work.

HUBERT A. VACI-ION. LIONEL G. VACHON.

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