US2528492A - Shoemaking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1950 R. w. BRADLEY ETAL suommxmc APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventors Robert WBradZey Gar! Juhola Nov. 7,.1950 R. w. BRADLEY ETAL 2,523,492

suommxmc APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TI f K 444 -1 172 1/ Inventors Roberz WBradley Carl Ju/zolcz Nov. 7, 1950 R. w. BRADLEY Erin.

SHOEIAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11, 1948 Inventors Robert WBradZey Carl Juhola 1950 R. w. BRADLEY EI'AL 2,528,492

SHOEMAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F l 155 V l Inventors Robert WBraa'fey Carl Juhola Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOEMAKING APPARATUS tion of New'Jersey Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,858

.22 Claims.

.1 This invention'relates to apparatus for making shoes and more particularly to apparatus foractivating stifiener material incorporated into an upper at the heel-end of a lasted shoe.

. In the manufacture of shoes it is found 'desirable tostifien particular portions of the :heel end .of the shoe. Such stiffening has been :provided byincorporating into the upper, prior to.lasting, so-called counters which are sometimes made of fiber board, celluloid, or the like. proved shoe process, however, suchstiffening has been provided by incorporating into the upper in the selected portion a material which is initially limp but which may be caused to become stiffened by the application of heat. Since this material is disposed in the lasted shoe beneath a layer of leather, ordinary means for heating the stiffener material, such as by baking or by radiating heat toward and through the upper layer of leather, must necessarily be either slow or result in damage to the leather. Accordingly, it has been found advantageous to activate the stiffenermaterial by means of the heat produced therein by a high-frequency electric field.

In order that the material may be uniformly stiffened, it is necessary to provide an electric field having a suitably distributed intensity throughout the space occupied by the stiffening material. Further, because such activating apparatus is tobe used in factory production, means should advantageously be provided whereby the shoe may be rapidly and efficiently positioned in the apparatus and subsequently withdrawn therefrom after treatment. Advantageously also, the machine should be efficient and safe.

'Accordingly, it is an. object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for activating stillener material incorporated into the upper of the heel end of a lasted shoe, which apparatus shall provide for rapidity of operation, uniformity of activation, and economy and safety of aoper- 'ation.

In accordance with the foregoing object, invention is to be found in the provision of improved apparatus for the dielectric heat activation of .stifiener material in the heel end of a lasted shoe,

said apparatus having an oscillator, electrodes adapted to=conform to various sizes and shapesof heel ends, and means for quickly and easily mounting shoes in the machine and for positioning them in operative position.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a pair of U-shaped electrodes for bracketing the heel end portion of a shoe, which electrodes are supported only at spaced points, and

In an im- I .2 may expand or contract widthwise to accommodate various sizes and contours of lasts. In the illustrated machine, one electrode is disposed ad- .jacent to the heel seat and the other electrode is disposed between the heel seat and the free edge of the upper at the :foot opening and nearer the latter. :Each said-electrode comprises a pair of conductive electrode members disposed to extend substantially from the tip of the heel end of the shoe partly around opposite sides thereof. The members of each electrode are supported by a yoke-comprising inwardly urged, supporting members to which said electrode members are pivoted at a point between their ends. The housin to which the supporting members are attached is fabricated of conductive material to contain and. shield a spring urging the supporting members together. By another feature of the invention spring means are additionally provided by which the electrode members .are yieldingly urged to open forwardly to receive a shoe inserted lengthwise.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a conductive .member forming an inward flange-like projection from each electrode, which projections, together with extensions at the ends'of the lower electrode projecting toward the other electrode, adapt the electrodes to the generation of a suitable electric field throughout a contoured counter of stiffener material.

A shoe-supporting mechanism is provided upon which an inverted shoe may be mounted on a spring-loaded extensible jack-pin and moved lengthwise of theshoe upon a track for operative positioning between the electrodes. A cover is also provided for shielding the electrodes, and by another feature of the invention, movement of the cover into shielding relation with the electrodes operates a shoe-bottom gage to position the inverted shoe heightwise of the electrodes. If desired, the shoe may be positioned by manual operation of the bottom gage.

These and other features and advantages of the invention to be defined in the claimsare described in detail in the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an angular view of an apparatus embodying the features of the invention showing a cabinet having a tiltable cover thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with a side of the cabinet cut away, omitting various electrical components and wiring;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the elecbrackets 26 secured to the chassis. .yieldingly supplied to the rod It by a spring 22 trodes and shoe-supporting mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of a shoe-endbracketing electrode shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the electrodes showing a modified form of an auxiliary electrode; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VIIVII of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises generally a lower section or cabinet I I containing a power supply and an upper section or chassis I2 on and within which are mounted the components of a high-frequencyoscillator and on which are mounted the counter-activating electrodes E and the shoe-supporting mechanism P. To provide safety forthesoperator and to prevent radiation from the electrical system, a housing is provided for,.enclosing the top of the chassis, said housing comprising a stationary 'hood I3 and a tiltable cover I4 having a handle [6. The cover 56, shown open in Fig. 1 and closed in Fig. 2, is mounted on the chassis I2 by a rod I8 rigidly attached to the cover and journaled in Torque is so that the cover is normally held open against a buiier spring 22. Leaf spring contacts 26 (Fig. l)

of conductive material such as beryllium copper are disposed around the inside of the bottom edge of the cover to engage the upper edge of the chassis I2 when the coveris closed in order to prevent radiation through the slot between the cover and the chassis. Similar springs 2'I are disposed at the upper edge of hood I3 to engage the cover (Fig. 2). When the cover is closed, an arm .28 on the rod i8 contacts and closes a normally open switch 39 which, when open, prevents, in a .manner to be later explained, the application of vpower to the primary-circuit of the high voltage transformer of the oscillatorpower supply (Fig.

The cover is held closed is shielding relation to the electrodes, during operation, by cover latches 32 which engage lips 33 on the cover. These latches are mounted on the ends of a rod 34 journaled in bearings fixed to the chassis I2 and are yieldingly urged out of engagement of the cover It by a spring 36 (indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6). A solenoid 38 is mounted to pull on an arm 6 in opposition to thespring. The solenoid is arranged to be energized during operagtion from the, power lineby means not shown.

The positioning of shoe S in the electrodes E is aided by a track 52 (Figs. 1 to 3) mounted on the top of the chassis i2: "ilnthis track ashoe-supporting mechanism including a, carriage i iiis movable on wheels 46 toward and away-from the .electrodes which are disposed rearwardly of the chassis. From this carriage, a post 48 supports an extensible jack pin comprising a rod 56 over "which telescopes a sleeve 52 having a closed end and being adapted to enter and engage the socket of a last L in the shoe. The sleeve is upwardly urged by a loading spring 54, apin 56 in the rod engaging a slot 58 in the sleeve to limit its heightwise telescoping movement. The rod 56is constructed of insulating material to float the metallic last socket and sleeve in the electric field to minimize disturbance of the electric field due to the presence of the metal. A heel-end-engaging insulating member 60 is mounted at the rear of the electrodes to limit the rearward movement of the shoe in the'correct lengthwise position relative to the electrodes, 'It will be seen that 4 the lasted shoe may be held in inverted position upon the jack pin, positioned heightwise by pressure upon the shoe bottom, and positioned lengthwise by movement of the carriage M in its track.

When the cover is closed, the shoe, mounted on-the jack pin; is automatically correctly positioned heightwise to meet the electrodes by a bottom gage 62 attached to a transverse member 64 which is supported at each end by rods 66 connected thereto by brackets 68, plates 16 and screws H. The rods 66 are slidable in apertures at the'ends' of brackets I2 affixed to the sides of the cabinet l2, said rods being yieldably urged upwardlybysprings I3. Stubs T l attached on each inner side of the cover It are adapted to engage the shoulder portions 16 of blocks 78 attached to each rod 66 to move the bottom gage 62 "downwardly to a predetermined position when the cover M is in its closed position.

The two electrodes and 82'whichare adapted for generating a high-frequency electric field through the counter portion C (Fig. 3) of a shoe S, as operatively positioned by the previously-described mechanism,are substantially U -sha'ped and are disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the shoe bottom for bracketing the heel end, one at the heel seat and the other atr-a location somewhat more than half-way toward the foot. opening. The electrodes are adapted, when energized from an oscillator, to set *up-a high-frequency electric field extending heightwise of the shoe and adjacent to electrodes Each electrode is supported at'spaced points (Fig. 4) and is arranged to accommodate differentsizes and shapes of shoes and also to adapt itself to possible misalinement of the shoe. Thus electrode 86 comprises a pair of curved elongated electrode members 84 (Fig. 4) having appreciable width heightwise'of the shoe and disposed toextend substantially from the tip of the heel end of a shoe along opposite sides thereof. Each member 841has a boss 86 between its ends by which it is pivoted to a supporting member or arm 88. An end of each arm 88 is pivotally attached'in a housing!!!) by a bolt 92. The two arms are urged toward eachv other by a spring 94 disposed in a groove 96 (Fig. 3) in the housing, which'di'spositionserves to shield the spring from picking-up radios-frequency energy. The inward movement of-each' arm is limited by a stop 98 integral therewith which bears against a set screw Hill in the back-of the. housing. The two arms together form an electrode-supporting yoke whose rest position may be adjusted by screws I90.

The. housing is supported by attachment to an end of a conductive tubular mernber- "12 which, together with a similar tubular member Hi l,v comprise the conductors of the filament tank circuit of. the oscillator, saidattachment being made by a curved bar I 06 and clamp I08. At'-' tached to each electrode member 84 is a leaf spring H0 whichbears against the arm 88 to urge. thepair of electrode members to pivotto .open forwardly for the ready lengthwise misertion of the end of a shoe. Insulating spacers 1H2 attachedto the forward ends of the menibers and spacers H4 attached theretolnear the rear ends are adapted to engage the surface of the shoe at spaced locations to aline the" @156 trode members with the side of a shoe'and maintain a predetermined spacing of the electrode members-from the shoe. The electrode 8!] has conductive members H6 forming inwardly pro: Jecting portions of the electrode membersB i',

equivalent electrically to a flange on each, to overlie the overlasted margin of the upper at the heel seat for producing a suitable field in this region. These conductive members II6 attached to electrode 88 are characterized by having a portion II8 near the heel breast line which por tion extends inwardly a greater distance than the rest of the member.

The other electrode 82, for association with the heel end of a shoe at a level between the heel seat and the foot opening, is similar in construction and mounting to electrode 80, as is indicated by the use of prime reference numerals. However, conductive members I I6 (Fig. 1) project inwardly a uniform distance throughout their length while the electrode members 84 are characterized by having conductive extensions I 28 (Fig. 3) at their heel breast ends. These extensions are inclined outwardly from the shoe (Fig. 7) and project toward the heel seat electrode 88. The projecting portions H6 and I28 adapt the electrodes to the generation of an electric field through the contoured counter of stiffener material.

To provide an electric field at the back seam line where there may be a gap between electrode members 84, an auxiliary electrode I22 is attached to the housing 90 by screw 92 for presenting a conductive surface adjacent to the heel seat portion of the back seam substantially coplanar with the members. Because of standing waves, the high-frequency voltage at any given point on the electrodes increases with the electrical distance of said point from the housing 98 along the conducting path. Advantageously, the high-frequency voltage appearing upon the said surface of the auxiliary electrode should be substantially the same as or greater than that appearing at the rear ends of the electrode members 84 at the back seam gap. Because of the length of the electrical path from housing 98 along the arms 88 and back to said ends, the high-frequency voltage at said ends is higher than that which would appear upon the said surface of the auxiliary electrode were this electrode connected to the housing by a straight conductor. Accordingly, this connection is made by a conductive loop I24 effectively to increase the electrical length from the housing to the said surface beyond that afforded by a straight to the housing 78 through a plurality of loops formed by a coiled conductive member I26 (Fig. '5). A second supplemental electrode I28 is connected to the housing 98 byanother looped conductor for presenting a surface adjacent to another portion of the back seam.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the oscillator comprises triodes I38, I32 connected in a push-pull, grounded anode, oscillator circuit. The triodes are mounted on the top of chassis I2 so that the anode connections I 3|, I33 of the triodes are directly connected to the chassis. The connections I3I, I33 are formed with cooling fins which are supplied with a current of air by a motor driven blower I35connected to an air duct I31. The grid connections I36 (Fig. 2) extend into a shielded cubicle I38 containing a resonant line grid tank circuit I40. The cold end of the grid tank is formed by a shorting plate I42 into which the .ends of the tank lines I48 F .-.2)

run. For grounding the cold end of the tank for radio-frequency currents, the plate I42 is supported in closely spaced relation to the bottom of the cubicle I38 by attachment to an insulating support I44 mounted upon spacers I46 footed on the bottom plate I48 of the cubicle. Leads from the filaments of the triodes emerge through the tops of the glass envelopes, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Outside leads I58 are connected within the envelopes to the ends of the filaments and through these leads there is supplied the heating current. A center lead I52 of each triode is connected to the midpoint of the filament. As illustrated, the center leads are connected, by leads I58, I68 (Fig. 1), respectively, to the clamps I88, I88 at the ends of the tubular members I82 and I84 of the filament tank circuit. This tank circuit has an adjustable shorting bar I 6i and extends rearwardly and down into another cubicle I62 (Fig. 2), where it is grounded for radio-frequency currents by a plate I64 mounted in closely spaced relation to the bottom plate I86 of the cubicle I62. The hot end of the filament tank is supported by an insulating block I68 (shown partly broken away in Fig. 1) through which the tubular members I02, I84 pass. The block is attached to "the chassis I2 by a metallic bracing member I18. By this means, the filament lines and electrodes are rigidly supported with a minimum amount of supporting structure whereby dielectric losses and the possibility of electrical breakdown are minimized. Leads for supplying filament current to the triodes are run from supply circuits omitted for clarity through the respective filament tank lines from the cold end. Upon emerging from the upper ends of the lines, the leads are connected to the respective outside triode filament leads I58. Connection of the gridreturn lead of the oscillator to the cold end of the grid tank is provided by means of a dissipative choke (or inductive resistor) I72 mounted in vertical position through central holes in plates I42 and I 48, the upper end of the resistor being connected to the upper surface of shorting plate I 42 near its midpoint. In operation, a lasted shoe is inverted and positioned on the jack pin sleeve- 52 and the carriage 44 is then slid rearwardly until the heel of the shoe engages the insulating member 88. The shoe is thus correctly positioned lengthwise of the electrodes but slightly above its operating position. The shielding cover I4 is then closed whereupon the gage member 62 descends to position the shoe heightwise of the electrodes. A timer (not shown) may be adjusted to the desired treating period and the cover is then depressed slightly below its operating position whereby a cover-over-travel switch 248 (Fig. 1) is closed and the cover I4 is then held in operating position by the latches 32 until the, timer has run its course. Thereafter the coveropens for the removal of the shoe.

While the invention has been described by relation to the specific embodiment herein illus-- trated, alternative arrangements within the.

scope of the invention :will occur to those skilled" in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be not limited to such a specific em-..

laws for activating stiffener material incorporated into the heel end of a lasted upper, a pair of substantially U-shaped electrodes disposed substantially parallel to each other for bracketing the heel end of a shoe, said electrodes being supported only at spaced points and being adapted for connection to a source of high-frequency electric energy for establishing a highfrequency electric field zone in portions of the upper adjacent to the electrodes to activate counter material in such portions.

2. In high-frequency dielectric heating apparatus for activating stiffener material incorporated into the heel end of a lasted upper, activating electrodes adapted for connection to a source of high-frequency electric energy comprising a first substantially U-shaped electrode for bracketing the heel end of a shoe adjacent to the heel seat andparallel to the shoe bottom, and a second substantially U-shaped electrode disposed substantially parallel to said first elec trode for bracketing the heel end of the shoe at another location, each electrode being supported only at spaced points.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said first electrode has a conductive member forming an inwardly projecting portion to overlie the overlasted margin of the upper at the heel seat.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which each electrode has appreciable width heightwise of the shoe and has a conductive member forming an inwardly projecting portion from each electrode and in which said second electrode additionally has at its forward ends conductive extensions projecting toward said first electrode.

- 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said inwardly projecting portion of said first electrode extends inwardly a greater distance near the heel breast line ends thereof than otherwise, and wherein said extensions of said second electrode incline outwardly from the shoe and toward said first electrode.

6. An expansible electrode for bracketing the end portion of a shoe comprising a pair of conductive electrode members adapted to extend along the sides of the end portion of a shoe, and inwardly urged supporting members to which said electrode members are pivoted at a point between their ends.

'7. In high-frequency dielectric heating apparatus for activating stiffener material incorporated in the end portion of a lasted shoe upper, an expansible electrode for bracketing said portion comprising a pair of curved elongated electrode members adapted to extend along the sides of the 'end portion of a shoe, and a pair of inwardly urged supporting members'to which said electrode members are attached respectively at a point between their ends for pivoting in the plane of the shoe bottom whereby, upon insertion of a shoe therebetween, said electrode members may pivot in the said plane to aline themselves with the sides of the shoe.

8. An expansible electrode as in claim '7, and additionally comprising spring means urging said pair of electrode members to pivot to open forwardly for the ready lengthwise insertion therebetween of the end of a shoe.

w 9. Apparatus as in claim '7, wherein additionally, said electrode members have inwardly extending insulating spacers attached thereto at spaced locations to engage the surface of a shoe to aline the members with the side of a shoe and maintain a predetermined spacing between said members and said shoe.

lOLIn high-frequency dielectric heating afiparatus for'activating counter stiffener material incorporated in the heel portion of a lasted shoe upper, an electrode extending substantially around said heel portion adjacent to the shoe bottom and a cooperative electrode extending around said heel portion at a location nearer the foot opening of the shoe, each of said electrodes comprising a pair of curved elongated electrode members, supporting means for each electrode permitting relative separation of the members of a pair, and connecting means between said members and said supporting means permitting pivoting of said members in the respective planev of said electrodes.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said supporting means individually comprise a yoke having a pair of arms pivoted at one end for relative movement toward and away from each other, and spring means connected between said arms to urge them toward each other.

12. Apparatus as in claim 10 and additionally comprising means for positioning a shoe heightwise in said electrodes by reference to the plane of the shoe bottom.

, 13. In apparatus of the class described, means for positioning the heel end of a lasted shoe in operative position relative to electrodes foractivating a counter stifiener piece incorporated in such a shoe, comprising a shoe-supporting mechanism for supporting the shoe on a last in inverted position and in operative position laterally relative to said electrodes, said mechanismineluding spring means tending to maintain said shoe higher in position than that to beassumed when in operative position, .a shielding cover mounted for movement into and out of shielding relation to the electrodes, and heightwise positioning means operable by movement of said cover into shielding relation to said electrodes for depressing the shoe into operative position heighte wise relative to the electrodes.-

14. Apparatus as in claim 13, additionally com-v prising a track over which said mechanism is adapted to move in bringing a shoe lengthwise into engagement with the electrodes, and a heelend-engaging insulating member positioned to stop such movement when said shoe is in proper position lengthwise of the electrodes.

'15. Apparatus as in claim 13, in which said mechanism includes a vertical post of insulating material, and supported in telescoping relation thereon, a spring-loaded sleeve adapted for engaging a last socket.

16. In high-frequency dielectric heating apparatus, an expansible electrode for treating the end portions of shoes of various sizes comprising a pair of curved elongated electrode members adapted to extend along the sides of a shoe substantially from the tip of said end portion, means for pivotally supporting said members in bracketing relation to a shoe end, and an auxiliary'electrode member comprising a conductive member mounted adjacent to the rear ends of said pivoted electrode members and substantially coplanar therewith to present a conductive surface adjacent to said tip.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16 and includin means for connecting said auxiliary electrode member to the same side of a source of highfrequency electric energy as said pair of electrode members.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said connecting means includes a conductive loop-to 9 increase the electrical length of said means beyond that provided by a straight conductor.

19. In apparatus of the class described, expansible electrode means comprising two relatively separable electrode members, a conductive housing provided with a recess, supporting members connected respectively to said electrode members and pivotally connected to said housin for lateral separating movement, said housing having spring means contained within said recess and connecting said supporting members for urging the same toward each other, said con struction effectively shielding said spring from the high-frequency electric field of said electrode members.

20. In shoe heating apparatus, an expansible electrode comprising two electrode members adapted to extend along opposite sides of the end portion of a shoe, and relatively movable supporting members to which the electrode members are pivoted.

21. In shoe heating apparatus, an expansible electrode for bracketing an end portion of a shoe comprising two electrode members adapted to extend along opposite sides of the end portion REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent! UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,325,179 Doering July 27, 1943 2,333,412 Crandell Nov. 2, 1943 2,342,846 Crandell Feb. 29, 1944 2,391,086 Crandell Dec. 18, 1945 2,396,004 Gilbert Mar. 5, 1946 2,451,953 Ingram Oct. 19, 1948

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