US3058130A - Machines for adhesively attaching strips to work pieces - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1962 s. P. LOTARSK] 3,058,130

MACHINES FOR ADHESIVELY ATTACHING STRIPS TO WORK PIECES Filed April 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 o [nvenfor Stephen P Lozars 10' h By his A ilforney Oct. 16, 1962 s. P. LOTARSKI 3,058,130

MACHINES FOR ADHESIVELY ATTACHING STRIPS TO WORK PIECES Filed April 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 16, 1962 s. P. LOTARSKI 3,058,130

MACHINES FOR ADHESIVELY ATTACHING STRIPS TO WORK PIECES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 14, 1961 Oct. 16, 1962 s. P. LOTARSKI 3,953,130

MACHINES FOR ADHESIVELY ATTACHING STRIPS TO WORK PIECES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 14, 1961 Oct. 16, 1962 s. P. LOTARSKI 3,05

MACHINES FOR ADHESIVELY ATTACHING STRIPS TO WORK PIECES Filed April 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3,058,130 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 See 3,058,130 MAHINES FOR ADHESIVELY ATTACHING STRIPS T WQRK PIECES Stephen P. Lotarski, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 103,084 7 Claims. (Cl. 12-20) This invention relates to adhesive attachment of strip material to work pieces, and is more particularly concerned with the attachment to an insole of a strip having a rib portion to which an upper is lasted and a welt sewn in the construction of a Goodyear welt shoe, and flange portions extending oppositely from the base of the rib and by which the strip is secured to the margin of the insole. The invention is herein described as embodied in a rib strip attaching machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,933,744, dated April 26, 1960, but it will be understood that it is not limited in respect of its applicability to machines of that particular type.

Strip material of the type referred to is supplied to shoe manufacturers in coils or spools, each containing several hundred yards of the material, and is attached to insoles in machines usually having a guide through which the material is advanced toward an insole supported on a table, and means operated to press the flange portions of the strip against the insole and to feed the work. In currently available commercial rib strip material the flange portions are usually coated during manufacture of the strip with a pressure-sensitive adhesive whereby, in response to the pressure of the previously mentioned pressing and feeding means, the strip is firmly secured to the margin of an insole, which is usually coated with a compatible adhesive. While insoles are usually prepared in the shoe factory for receiving the strip a short time before use, a substantially longer period normally intervenes between the manufacture of the strip material and its use in the shoe factory, during which interval the adhesive coating on the attaching flanges is apt to lose its tackiness. This is particularly the case during the winter months, when the adhesive is affected by both cold and heat which cause it to become dry and the stripping to become stiff.

For restoring the flexibility of the stripping and activating the adhesive on its attaching flanges, various expedients have been proposed, involving either subjecting the material to radiant heat, or heating it by contact with a flat heated surface, or projecting upon it a jet of hot air from a source located close to the point of operation of the pressing means. In the adhesive attachment of rib strips to insoles none of these expedients has proved completely satisfactory. The distance traveled by the strip from its source of supply to the point of application is relatively short; moreover, the strip is fed through the machine at a fairly rapid rate, which may be between 30 and 35 feet per minute. To treat the strip adequately under these conditions requires heating it either at temperatures above those considered safe for the material, as well as for the operator, or heating it for a longer period, with consequent slowing down of the rate of feed.

It has been found that rib strips may be satisfactorily conditioned and the adhesive coating on its attaching flanges activated before the strip is moved through the guide into position to be pressed against an insole by causing the strip drawn from the source of supply to pass around the periphery of a rotatable drum or like member heated to a thermostatically controlled temperature adequate to render the strip flexible and to activate the adhesive, Without risk of burning or otherwise damaging the material regardless of the length of time it is in contact with the heated surface.

An object of the invention is, accordingly, to provide in a machine of the type above referred to improved means for heating a rib strip during its travel from the source of supply to the guide by direct contact with a heated surface. In the preferred embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the heating means comprises, in accordance with a feature of the invention, an electrically heated drum or wheel rotatably mounted on the machine between the source of supply of the strip material and the entrance side of the strip guide, the strip material drawn from the coil in which it is supplied passing completely around the peripheral surfaces of the drum before it reaches the guide, thereby insuring that an adequate length of strip material will at all times be heated by direct contact with the heated surface as it travels over it during a cycle of operations of the machine, as well as during intervals between operating cycles.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided, between the drum and the reel or coil of strip material, a friction device or guide through which the strip is passed before it is wrapped around the drum, and which controls the feed of the strip so as to prevent slackness or overtravel.

In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, there is provided a strip separator which engages the strip coming off the spool or reel and guides it so as to insure its contact with the heated peripheral surface of the drum without sliding over the lengthof strip firs wound around the drum.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in left side elevation of a rib strip attaching machine in which the invention is embodied, this view showing a strip heating device wtih its cover closed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 with the cover of the strip heating device open;

FIG. 3 is a view of the strip heating device in vertical cross section, looking from the right of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the heating device;

FIG. 5 is a front View, partly broken away, of the heating device;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the heating device taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the heating device.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the machine in which the invention is illustrated as embodied comprises a frame 10, on which is mounted a table 12 for supporting a work piece, such as an insole 14, to which a strip 16 is to be secured. The machine is also provided with a foot 18 which, through power means not shown, is operated with an elliptical motion to press the adhesive coated flange portions of the strip against the margin of the insole and to feed the insole and strip progressively.

The strip to be attached to the machine is drawn from a spool or reel 20 (FIG. 2) suitably supported on the machine frame and carried toward the point of application to the insole 14, first through a tensioning device or guide, generally identified by the reference character 22 (see also FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) and comprising a frame 24 supported by a holder 26 connected to a wall 28 of a casing which houses a heating device shortly to be described, the casing being mounted on a bracket 30 secured to the machine frame (FIGS. 4 and 7). The

strip tensioning device also comprises a pair of spaced and adapted, by their frictional engagement with the.

M strip, to control the feed of the strip so as to prevent slackness or overtravel.

After passing through the tensioning device or guide 22 the strip is next wound, as shown in FIG. 2, around the peripheral surface of a heating device generally identified by the reference numeral 40, from which the leading or free portion of the strip passesthrough a guide 42 (see also FIG. 1) located slightly above the Work supporting surface of the table 12. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the strip 16 is a laminated or composite strip comprising an outer layer 16, which may be of a fibrous material, and an inner, wider layer 16" of a textile fabric, such as canvas, the two layers being adhesively united throughout the major part of their respective Widths to form a two-ply rib portion. As herein used, the terms inner and outer have reference to the location of the layers with relation to the edge of an insole to which the strip is attached. At the entrance side of the guide 42 an upwardly tapering member 44 (FIG. 1) engages in the space between the unbonded portions of the two layers and causes them to spread outward in opposite directions to assume substantially horizontal positions relative to the upstanding rib portion, to form flanges which are pressed against the insole by the foot 18 which is located close to the exit side of the guide 42.

The strip heating device comprises a drum 46 (FIGS. 2-6) housed in the casing formed by the previously mentioned wall 28, a side wall or plate 48 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and a cover 52 mounted on hinges 54, 56 to permit swinging it open for winding a length of strip around the drum when a new coil of strip material is placed in the machine, the cover 52 being normally locked in closed position by means of a screw 58 extending through the plate 48 and engaging in a socket provided in a member 60 attached to the cover 52 (FIGS. 2 and 4).

The drum 46 rotates on carbon bearings 62, 64 (FIG. 3) about a shaft 66 extending through a bushing 68 mounted in the hub 70 of the drum and fixed thereto by a setscrew 72. The drum is heated by a heating unit 74 comprising an outer coil 75, of 160 watts, and an inner coil 76, of 120 watts. The two coils are connected by leads 77, 78 to a brush ring assembly comprising an outer ring 80 (FIG. 3), an inner ring 82, and a ring insulator 84. The rings 80, 82 contact a pair of carbon brushes 86, 88 mounted in holders including insulator bushings 90, 92 mounted in a terminal box 93 and extending through the housing plate 48, a plate 94 fixed by a setscrew 96 to the shaft 66, and a heat reflector plate 98 secured in spaced relation to the plate 94 by studs 100. Current is supplied to the brushes 86, 88 from a suitable source through leads 102 (FIG. 4) connected to terminals on the brush holders.

The coils 75, 76 are also connected by leads 106 (FIGS. 3 and 5) to a thermoswitch 108 set to control the heating of the inner coil 76 in such manner that, when a main switch (not shown) is closed to supply current to the heating device, the coils 75, 76 are heated until the temperature of the strip contacting surface of the drum reaches approximately 280 F., whereupon the thermoswitch cuts out the inner coil 76 until the effective temperature at the outer peripheral surface of the drum drops to about 265 F., when the thermoswitch again renders the inner coil effective to supply the needed additional heat. It should be noted that the heating unit 74 is mounted at the side of the drum first engaged by the strip, thus affording the strip the opportunity to become thoroughly heated before it is advanced through the guide 42 to the point of application to the insole.

A heat reflector plate 110 similar to the plate 98 is provided on the side of the drum 46 opposite that on which said plate 98 is mounted, the plate 110 being connected in spaced relation to the drum by means of studs 112. A third heat reflector plate 114 (FIG. 2) is secured to the inner side of the cover 52 in spaced relation thereto by means of studs 116. Each of the three reflector plates has a highly polished surface facing in the direction of the drum, to cause the heat to be concentrated in the area of maximum usefulness, while at the Same time deflecting heat away from the outer surface of the housing to maintain it cool. The spaces between the plates and the respective adjacent plates provide for desirable circulation of air.

Extending through the wall 28 of the drum casing is a strip guiding finger 118 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) the tip of which engages in a groove 120 formed around the peripheral surface of the drum and which acts to separate the two turns of the strip wrapped around the drum so as to prevent one of them from running over the other and to insure that each will be in direct and intimate contact with the heating surface of the drum.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the strip 16 is carried around the drum for one complete turn and once again for substantially an additional half turn. The drum preferably has an outer diameter such that the total length of strip in contact with the heated peripheral surface of the drum is substantially twice the length required for attachment to an insole of mean size. By this arrangement an adequate supply of preheated strip is always available, without necessitating the employment of heat at high temperatures. Since, as above noted, the effective temperature at the strip contacting surface is controlled so as not to exceed substantially 280 F., the strip may be left in contact with the drum for indefinite periods without danger of being scorched or its adhesively united layers becoming delaminated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for attaching to a work piece an adhesive coated strip drawn from a source of supply, said machine having a work support, a member operated to press successive portions of the strip against a work piece on the work support and to feed the strip and work piece progressively, and a guide located adjacent the work support and through which the strip is advanced toward the point of operation of said member, a rotatable heating device interposed between said guide and the source of strip supply and having a surface around which the strip drawn from said source of supply is wrapped to condition the strip for attachment to the work piece before it is advanced through said guide.

2. In a machine for attaching to a work piece an adhesive coated strip drawn from a source of supply, said machine having a work support, a member operated to press successive portions of the strip against a work piece on the work support and to feed the strip and work piece progressively, and a guide located adjacent the Work support and through which the strip is advanced toward the point of operation of said member, a rotatable heating device interposed between said guide and the source of strip supply and having a surface around which the strip drawn from said source of supply is wrapped completely for at least one turn, to condition the adhesive on the strip for attachment of the strip to the work piece before it is advanced through said guide.

3. In a machine for attaching to a work piece an adhesive coated strip .drawn from a source of supply, said machine having a work support, a member operated to press successive portions of the strip against a work piece on the Work support and to feed the strip and work piece progressively, and a guide located adjacent the work support and through which the strip is advanced toward the point of operation of said member, a rotatable drum interposed between said guide and the source of strip supply and having a peripheral surface around which the strip is carried for one complete turn and again for substantially an additional half turn, electrical heating means within the drum to heat said peripheral surface so as to activate the adhesive on the strip before the strip is advanced through said guide, and a thermoswitch within the drum to control the heating means so as to maintain said surface heated at a selected temperature.

4. In a machine for attaching to a work piece an adhesive coated strip drawn from a source of supply, said machine having a work support, a member operated to press successive portions of the strip against a work piece on the work support and to feed the strip and work piece progressively, and a guide located adjacent the work support and through which the strip is advanced toward the point of operation of said member, a freely rotatable heating device interposed between said guide and the source of strip supply and having a surface around which the strip drawn from said source of supply is wrapped to condition the adhesive on the strip for attachment of the strip to the work piece before it is advanced through said guide, and strip tensioning means between the source of supply and said heating device to guide the strip so as to insure intimate contact thereof with said surface of the heating device and to control the feed of the strip.

5. In a machine for attaching to a work piece an adhesive coated strip drawn from a source of supply, said machine having a work support, a member operated to press successive portions of the strip against a Work piece on the work support and to feed the strip and work piece progressively, and a guide located adjacent the work support and through which the strip is advanced toward the point of operation of said member, a freely rotatable heating device interposed between said guide and the source of strip supply and having a surface around which the strip drawn from said source of supply is wrapped to condition the adhesive on the strip for attachment of the strip to the work piece before it is advanced through said guide, and strip tensioning means between the source of supply and the heating device comprising a frame, guide rolls rotatably mounted in the frame, and resilient members afiixed to the frame and arranged for frictional engagement with the strip to guide it into intimate contact with said surface of the heating device and to control the feed of the strip.

6. In a machine for attaching to a work piece an adhesive coated strip drawn from a source of supply, said machine having a work support, a member operated to press successive portions of the strip against a work piece on the work support and to feed the strip and work piece progressively, and a guide located adjacent the work support and through which the strip is advanced toward the point of operation of said member, a freely rotatable electrically heated drum interposed between said guide and the source of strip supply and having a peripheral surface around which the strip drawn from said source of supply is wound for one complete turn and again for substantially an additional half turn to condition the adhesive on the strip for attachment of the strip to the work piece before it is advanced through said guide, and a strip separating member adjacent the strip contacting surface of the drum to guide the strip as it is wound around said contacting surface so as to maintain the adjacent turns of strip in spaced relation.

7. In a machine for attaching to a work piece an adhesive coated strip drawn from. the source of supply, said machine having a work support, a member operated to press successive portions of the strip against a Work piece on the support and to feed the strip and work piece progressively, and a guide located adjacent the work support and through which the strip is advanced toward the point of operation of said member, a freely rotatable electrically heated drum interposed between said guide and the source of strip supply and having a peripheral surface around which the strip drawn from said source of supply is wound for a first complete turn and a second time for substantially an additional half turn to condition the adhesive on the strip for attachment of the strip to the work piece before it is advanced through said guide, and a. member engaging in a groove formed in said peripheral surface of the drum to cause the strip as it is wound a second time around the drum to be spaced from the first turn.

Griswold et a1 Sept. 29, 1942 Mariner Nov. 30, 1943

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