US2631564A - Machine for treating box toe blanks and counter stiffeners with a conditioning liquid - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1953 c. M. STAUFFER EI'AL ,6 1,564

MACHINE FOR TREATING BOX TOE BLANKS AND COUNTER STIFFENERS WITH A counrnomwc LIQUID I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed April f5, 1949 v gvwwvto'b CHRISTIAN MUSSER STAUFFER.

' GEORGE E. EHLE attoww March 17, 1953 c. M. SII'AUFFER EF'AL 2,631,564

MACHINE FOR TREATING BOX TOE BLANKS AND COUNTER STIF'F'ENERS WITH A CONDITIONING LIQUID Filed April 6, 1949' '2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE MAGHINE FOR TREATING BOX TOE BLANKS AND COUNTER STIFFENERS WITH A CON- DITIONING LIQUID Application April 6, 1949, Serial No. 85,784

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to conditioning machines and more particularly to box toe and counter stiffener conditioning machines customarily used in shoe factories. The machine is particularly useful in conditioning box toes and the like by application to the blank of a conditioning solution which may be in the nature of an activator for the impregnant of the blank and a softening solvent, as in the case of blanks containing a water soluble urea type saturant, or a solvent alone, as in the case of blanks containing a. cellulose type s-aturant.

The conditioning machines are generally provided adjacent other shoe manufacturing equipment such as a pull-over machine, and the conditioning machine for box toe treatment should be capable of conveniently and quickly receiving a blank and delivering the treated blank in a sof tened or mulled condition ready for insertion into the shoe at the pulling-over station, for; example. One conditioning machine will normally be re.- quired for each pull-over machine operator; and it should, therefore, be low in cost but eilicient in operation. In most factories, the pull-over machine will not be operated continuously day in and day out but will be down for considerable periods, overnight frequently, and over. weekends; and it is desirable, therefore, to providepa machine which may be readily taken down for cleaning by the operator to remove the treating solution and clean out accumulations of lint and the like from the toe blanks or other articles which have been conditioned.

The objects of the invention are to provide a conditioning unit which may be economically produced, which is preferably of portable design, which will rapidly and efliciently perform the conditioning operation, which will receive and deliver the blanks at the front of the machine for the convenience of the operator, and which may be readily dismantled for cleaning. Other objects will be obvious from a consideration of the complete description which follows.

Generally stated the conditioning machine of this invention includes a tank for the reception of the conditioning solution. Preferably there is provided an arrangement for supplying the conditioning solution to the tank from a bulk supply and for maintaining the solution at a desired level in the tank. A barometric feeding device will serve admirably for this purpose. Means are provided for directing a blank to be treated into the solution in the tank and for extracting excess solution from the blank substantially instantaneously with removal of the (Cl. 118-2 i6) blank from the treating solution. This arrangement preferably includes a dip roll which is positioned on the tank in such manner that the dip roll surface is brought into the solution in the tank as the roll is rotated. In other words the roll has a portion of its surface normally belov, the level of the treating solution, but the wholeroll is not immersed. A squeeze roll 15 mounted above the dip roll and is preferably weighted so as to apply pressure to the treated blank as it moves between the rolls to express excess treating solution. The dip roll thus serves a dual purpose: first moving the blank for contact with the conditioner solution and then for the expression of excess solution. The dip roll is preferably motor-driven and the squeeze roll idles, being rotated by frictional engagement with the dip roll or the blank carried by the dip roll.

In order to deliver the blank into the solution and then to the nip between the squeeze roll and dip roll, a guide is provided which extends partially around the dip roll and is flared at the entrance end to receive a blank and direct it into engagement with the rotating dip roll. The guide is provided with openings which permit the treating solution to flow into the space between the roll and guide. The guide yieldingly presses the blank into engagement with the dip roll and causes the same to assume the contour of the roll. The guide is arranged to direct the blank into'the nip between the dip and squeeze rolls; and the blank in softened condition is delivered at the front of themachine to the operator, ready for assembly with other shoe parts.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View. partially broken away, of a conditioning machine embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the conditioner includes a tank 2, a dip roli 3, and a squeeze roll 4. The tankz is mounted upon a frame 5 and, is readily demountable therefrom. A supply reservoir 6 is provided for the tank 2 and includes a bottle I with a barometric feed arrangement 8, as shown in Figure 2. This is effective for continuously maintaining a desired level of conditioning liquid in the tank 2. The reservoir 6 is connected to the tank 2 by a passageway 9, The level of liquid will normally lie slightly below the axis of the dip roll 3 as indicated in Figure 2.

Mounted upon the tank 2 is a stub shaft is upon which there is supported for rotation a pulley ll. Fixed to the pulley ii and rotatable about the shaft 3 :3 is a spur gear 92 which meshes with a gear 53 attached to a spindle I i forming part of the dip roll 3. The spindle 2- 5- is journalled in slideable bearing members which fit into guideways provided in the sides of the tank 2. Thus the roll 3 may be readily removed from the tank. A motor it is also mounted on the frame 5, and it drives the pulley ii through a belt ll entrained about a pulley I8 afiixed to the motor shaft.

The squeeze roll i is provided with a spindle I 9 which is journalled in bearings 29 and 2! which are pivoted to the tank 2 at 22 so that the squeeze roll d may be moved out of position to permit the roll 3 to be removed and to facilitate cleaning of the roll d as well. The roll t is preferably weighted so as to apply a squeezing force to the treated article, as will be more fully discussed later. This weighting may be accomplished by springs 23 which are tensioned between pins 2 1 and 25 on the tank 2 and on the pivoted bearings 28 and 2 l. Roll is not motor-driven but rotates by contact with driven dip roll 3 or the article under treatment which embraces the dip roll 3.

In order to direct an article 23 into the treating solution in the tank 2 and to cause the article to follow the roll 3, a perforated dip roll guide 2? is provided which is disposed about the periphery of the roll 3 but is spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit the article or blank 25 which is to be treated to move therebetween. With box toe blanks, the blank will normally be relatively stiff until wetted with the treating solution; and, therefore, the guide will be flared outwardl at its entrance end as indicated at 28 in Figure 2. It will be observed that the dip roll guide 27 extends above the axis of the roll 3 at the exit end 23 of the dip roll guide 21 and thus directs the blank inwardly toward the hip 30 between the rolls 3 and When the article 2% reaches this position, it is in a softened condition but contains an excess of treating solution. As the blank is delivered through the nip between the rolls 3 and 4 excess solution is removed from the blank and is returned to the tank 2. The degree of removal can be adjusted by varying the Weighting on the roll l, as by changing the tension applied by the springs 23.

A table 3! is provided over the tank 2 and extends forwardly of the dip roll guide 21. The treated blank 25 is delivered from the rolls 3 and i onto this table 3!. A plurality of upstanding supporting fingers 32 are provided on the table adjacent the dip roll guide 2'! to facilitate the movement of the treated blank, which is in a soft, flaccid condition, from the rolls 3 and 4 without substantial wrinkling and also to provide open spaces below the blank for the fingers of the operator to make removal of the treated blank from the table more convenient. An inclined plate may be used or spaced rods could be substi tuted.-

If desired, a feeding guide 33 may be provided into which the articles to be treated may be disposed, one at a time. In the embodiment illustrated, the feeding guide 353 is provided with two feeding pockets 3% and 35 into which the blanks to be treated may be slipped and will then be guided into the flared end 28 of the dip roll guide 2?. A single pocket may be provided, or more than two pockets may be employed as required by the particular manufacturing operations involved. It will be observed that this feeding ,flared mouth 23 of the dip roll guide 27.

guide arrangement will support a stifi blank in a substantially vertical position where it will be free to fall by gravity into the flared open end 28 of the dip r011 guide 21.

A table 36 may be provided on the reservoir 6, and blanks 37 to be treated may be stacked on this table. The table 36, the guides 2'! and 33, and the reservoir 6 may be fabricated from sheet stainless steel. The clip roll 3 is preferably made of stainless steel, with a synthetic rubber outer face secured thereto. The squeeze roll 4 may also be of stainless steel and is preferably uncovered. The tank 2 and frame 5 may be of cast aluminum.

,The motor It and the pulley and gearing arrangement are such that the dip roll is driven at about revolutions per minute. This speed is not critical.

In operation of the device, a blank to be treated is disposed within one of the pockets 35 or 35 of the feed guide 33 and falls by gravity into the The frictional surface of the dip roll draws the blank downwardly and into the treating solution. The dip roll guide causes the blank to assume a position in contact with the guide roll 3 and directs the treated blank into the nip 35 between the rolls 3 and t. This removes excess treating solution from the blank which is then moved over the supporting fingers 32 of the table 3| where it may be conveniently grasped by the operator and lasted in a shoe or otherwise manipulated.

In cleaning the device, the feeding guide is removed; and the springs 23 are removed from the pins 25. The squeeze roll 4 i then rotated about the pivots 22. The clip roll 3 is then removed; and the dip roll guide 2?, which is preferably attached to or integral with the table 3i is removed, exposing the tank 2 for cleaning.

The device of the present invention is thus simple in construction, sufficiently light in weight to be convenientl transportable, easily demountable for cleaning, positive in operation, and requires a minimum of essential parts for performing the conditioning operation.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

We claim: 7

1. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle for conditioning solution, a dip roll the peripheral face of which is bathed in said solution, a squeeze roll disposed above said dip roll to form a nip with said dip roll, a guide partially enclosing said dip roll for directing an article disposed between said guide and dip roll to cause the same to follow said dip roll into said receptacle tobe immersed in the conditioning solution therein and then into the nip between the dip roll and squeeze roll to remove excess conditioning solution from the article, and a chute disposed above said clip roll, forwardly of said squeeze roll, and spaced from and above said guide for directing the article to be treated into a position between said dip roll and guide, the space between said chute and guide providing for the delivery of the treated article in a substantially horizontal position by said clip and squeeze rolls at the front of the machine.

2. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 1, the combination includin means for maintaining a constant level of conditioning solution in said receptacle, said means including a reservoir and means for delivering liquid from said reservoir to said receptacle.

3. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 1 the combination "including a reservoir for conditioning solution and a barometric feeder for delivering liquid from said reservoir to said receptacle, whereby a substantially constant level of conditioning solution is maintained in said receptacle.

4. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 1, the combination including a resilient working surface on the dip roll.

5. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle for conditioning solution, a dip roll the peripheral face of which is bathed in said solution, a squeeze roll disposed to form a nip with said dip roll, a guide spaced from and partially enclosing said dip roll for directin an article to be conditioned to follow said clip roll into said receptacle to be immersed in conditioning solution therein and then into the nip between the dip roll and squeeze roll to remove excess conditioning solution from the article, a substantially vertical chute disposed above said dip r011, forwardly of said squeeze roll, and spaced from and above said guide for directing the article into the space between said dip roll and guide, the space between said chute and guide providing for the delivery of the treated article in a substantially horizontal position by said dip and squeeze rolls at the front of the machine, and a discharge table disposed forwardly of said rolls for the reception of an article passing from the nip between said dip roll and squeeze roll.

6. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 5, the combination including a plurality of upstanding projections on the table for the support of said article in an elevated position at a plu rality of spaced points for convenient grasp by an operator.

7. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle for conditionin solution, a dip roll dipping into said solution, slideable bearing members for said clip roll, guideways in which said bearing members are positioned on said receptacle for sliding movement, a squeeze roll disposed to form a hip with said clip roll, bearings for said squeeze roll, a pivot for each of said squeeze roll bearings disposed laterally of the axis of said dip roll and about which said squeeze roll and its bearings may be pivoted from an operative position with said squeeze roll in engagement with said dip roll to an inoperative position laterally of said dip roll, means attached to said squeeze roll bearings and said receptacle for yieldingly urging said squeeze roll toward said dip roll, and a yieldable guide enclosing the major portion of said dip roll and extending from a line above the axis thereof in a curved path downwardly around said dip roll and upwardly in a curved path directed toward said hip to a line above the axis of said dip roll for directing an article to be conditioned to follow said dip roll into said receptacle to be immersed in conditioning solution therein and then into the nip between the dip roll and squeeze roll to remove excess conditioning solution from the article, means for feeding the article downwardly between the guide and dip roll and means to rotate the rolls whereby the article passes around the dip roll and through the nip between the rolls and toward said feeding means.

8. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle for conditioning solution, a dip roll, slideable bearing members for said dip roll, guideways in which said bearing members are positiened on said receptacle for slidin movement, said dip roll having a peripheral surface which is yieldable and which is bathed in said solution, a squeeze roll disposed above said dip roll and forming a hip with said dip roll, bearings for said squeeze roll, a pivot for each of said squeeze roll bearings disposed laterally of the axis of said clip roll and about which said squeeze roll and its bearings may be pivoted from an operative position with said squeeze roll in engagement with said dip roll to an inoperative position laterally of said clip roll, mean yieldingly urging said squeeze roll toward said dip roll, a dip roll guide enclosing the major portion of said dip roll and extending from a line above the axis thereof in a curved path downwardly around said dip roll and upwardly in a curved path directed toward said hip to a line above the axis of said clip roll, said guide being formed of yieldable sheet metal and being disposed so as to yieldingly bring an article to be treated into engagement with said dip roll as the article moves with said clip roll into said solution in said receptacle and for directing said article into the nip between said dip roll and squeeze roll for the removal of excess conditioning solution from the article, a table extendin forwardly of the dip and squeeze rolls for the reception of the v article after passing through the nip between said rolls, a feed chute disposed above said dip roll and dip roll guide for directing an article to be treated between the guide and said clip roll, and

means to rotate said rolls whereby the article passes around the dip roll and through the nip between the rolls and toward said feed chute.

CHRISTIAN MUSSER STAUFFER. GEORGE E. EHLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 920,529 Bradley May 4, 1909 1,115,341 Schutz Oct. 27, 1914 1,846,201 Hoffmeister Feb. 23, 1932 1,866,003 Ashworth July 5, 1932 1,867,594 Rowe July 19, 1932 1,927,954 Schoenky Sept. 26', 1933 2,237,429 Harrington Apr 8, 1941

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