US3070820A - Auxiliary holddown for machine for operating on shoe parts - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1, 1963 R. c. QUARMBY 3,070,820

AUXILIARY HOLDDOWN FOR MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Faberz C Quarmby v M Jan. 1, 1963 R. c. QUARMBY 3,070,320

AUXILIARY HOLDDOWN FOR MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 1, 1963 R. c. QUARMBY 3,070,820

AUXILIARY HOLDDOWN FOR MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. I, 1963 R. c. QUARMBY 3,070,820

AUXILIARY HOLDDOWN FOR MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fl m (I; r, L I /f /A x W E PARTS Jan. 1, 1963 R. c. QUARMBY AUXILIARY HOLDDOWN FOR MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHO 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 1, 1961 I I A This invention relates to improvements in a shoe machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,958,879, granted November 8, 1960, on an application filed in the names of C. H. James and R. C. Quarmby, and an application for Uni-ted States Letters Patent Serial No. 66,560, filed November 1, 1960, in my name.

The James et a1. patent discloses a rotary cutter and a movable work support having a matrix located therein which facilitates the proper positioning of a shoe part for presentation to the cutter, said cutter having a presser member integral therewith adapted to retain the shoe part firmly positioned within the matrix while the cutter is operating on the shoe part. The above-mentioned application provides means whereby the feeding movement of the said work support is varied during the operation cycle and the cutter is rendered movable between an operative and an inoperative position in such manner that the shoe part is exposed to the cutter only during the operation portion of the work cycle.

As a result of attempted utilization of the machine in the form delineated above, it has been found that as the support means progressively introduces the shoe part to the cutterhead and the presser means attached thereto, there is a tendency for the trailing end of the shoe part which is not subject to the action or" the prcsser means to buckle or distort relative to the matrix, thereby subjecting the trailin end of the shoe part to the possibility of damage by the cutter.

An object of the present invention is toprovide a holddown means which ensures the proper alignment and positioning of the shoe part within the matrix prior to and during the initial stages of the cutting operation. The purpose of the novel holddown member is to retain the trailing end of the shoe part firmly within said matrix until it is engaged by the pressing means attached to the cutterhead.

To this end and in accordance with a feature of the invention, there is provided a holddown member having mounting means and drive means which facilitate lateral movement from an inoperative position to and from a position above the shoe part and vertical or heightwise movement into and out of engagement with the shoe part, thereby permitting the holddown member to retain the shoe part within the matrix .during operation of the cutter.

The above and other features of the invention, including novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be described in the following specification and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an illustrative machine having the present invention provided thereon;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the illustrative machine showing the holddown member in detail;

FIG. 3 is a right-hand side elevation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the work support and bed along which the support is movable to present a work piece thereon to the cutterhead;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of the drive control means as viewed from the right; and

FIGS. 69, inclusive, illustrate parts of the fluid sys- Edi/h8 6 Patented Jan. 1, 1963 tem of the machine, FIG. 6 being a sectional front elevation of a valve and mechanism for lowering the cutterhead, FIG. 7 being a sectional front elevation of a valve and mechanism for controlling the movement of the work support, FIG. 8 being a front elevation of the structure of FIGS. 6 and 7, and FIG. 9 being a diagrammatical showing of the entire fluid system.

The illustrated machine has a base it (FIG. 1) upon which are mounted four posts 12 for supporting a bed 14 which extends laterally of the machine. The bed has ways 16 thereon along which slides a work support 18 carrying, in a recess in its upper surface, a matrix 19 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3). The work support 18 is driven through a feeding movement to the left, from its position as illustrated in FIG. 1, and an opposite return movement by a fluid motor comprising a cylinder 26 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9) Which is fixed at each end thereof upon the bed 14 and a piston 22 (FIGS. 4 and 9). A holddown member 32 located on a holddown means 30 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) is driven laterally from an inoperative position through a horizontal are described by an arm 34- and a leaf spring 36 to a position above the matrix 19, said matrix having simultaneously moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to a position immediately adjacent the area of actual cutter operation by means of the above described fluid motor. The drive mechanism imparting said lateral movement to the holddown member 32 consists of a fluid motor having a double acting hydraulic piston 46 (FIGS. 2 and 9) movable in a cylinder 41, there being connections to be described between the piston and the holddown member 32 and hydraulic circuitry which facilitates the concurrent movement of the support 18 and the holddown member 32. The return stroke of the holddown member 32 also occurs simultaneously with the return of the support member from a position adjacent to said operating area. The interrelation is described in detail hereinafter.

A cutterhead 59 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is mounted for vertical movement between an operative position, wherein a cutter 51 is at a level immediately above the matrix 19, and a retracted position at a distance above its operative position. For this purpose, the cutterhead is mounted upon the upper end of a hollow column 52 (FIG. 1), the lower portion of which is clamped in a post 53 mounted to slide vertically in a cylinder 54 which is fixed upon the base it). The post 53 is operated to lower and raise the cutterhead Si by a fluid motor which comprises a cylinder 55 (FIGS. 1 and 9) integral with the cylinder 54, and a piston 56 which runs in the cylinder 55. The details of the movement of the cutterhead and the means for moving it are as delineated in the above-mentioned application, Serial No. 66,560. The holddown member 32 is movable vertically in synchronism with the movement of said cutterhead by mean-s to be hereinafter described.

The holddown means 3%) (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) includes two double acting pistons which cooperate to impart both vertical and lateral movements to the holddown member or plate 32 which is placed in contact with a shoe part and removed therefrom by the operation of said pistons. The plate 32 is carried on the leaf spring 35 which is afixed to the arm 34 lying in a plane generally parallel to that of the plate which has a configuration corresponding generally to the portion of the shoe part to be held thereby. The arm 34 is secured to a vertically extending shaft 60 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 9) to which is secured a piston 61 (FIGS. 3 and 9) slidable within a vertically disposed cylinder 62 concentric with said shaft 60. The ends of the cylinder are closed by caps 63 and 64 having aligned apertures therein to permit the passage of the upper and lower portions 65, 66, respectively, of the shaft 69, the lower end having secured thereto a gear 7 which, by its engagement with the cap 64, limits the upward movement of the shaft 60 and thus determines the upper, inoperative position of the holddown member. The shaft, with the parts carried by it, is counterbalanced by a spring 67 which surrounds the shaft 60 within the cylinder 62 and is interposed between the piston 61 and the lower end cap 64. Thus, the spring retains the plate 32 in its vertically inoperative position whenever the machine is at rest and the hydraulic fluid is not under pressure. The cylinder has connections 68 and 69 in the upper and lower portions thereof, which permit the introduction of fluid into the cylinder for the purpose of controlling the movement of the piston 61 and, consequently, the holddown plate 32 itself. Application of pressure fluid to the upper surface of the piston 61 by means of the connection 68 forces the piston and the plate down into operative position against the force of the spring 67.

The second double acting hydraulic piston 49 (FIGS. 2 and 9) is slidably housed within a hydraulic cylinder 41 which is disposed transversely to the cylinder 62 and lies in a contiguous position relative to the gear 70 mounted on the shaft 60, the cylinder having a laterally extending surface cavity in the area of continguity which exposes a longitudinal portion of said piston 40 and facilitates contact and cooperation between the exposed portion of said piston 40 and said gear 70. The piston 40 has rack teeth 42 formed thereon which function in cooperation with the teeth of the gear 70. The gear 70 is of sufiicient length to ensure continued engagement with the piston 40 during the vertical cycle of movement imposed upon the gear 70 by the action of the piston 61. The hydraulic cylinder 41 is closed at its ends by end caps 43 and 44. The cylinder has connections 45 and 46 located at apposite ends of the cylinder which permit fluid to be supplied to the respective ends of said cylinder in order to control the movement of the piston. The application of hydraulic pressure to either end of said cylinder results in longitudinal movement of the piston 40 which is translated into a rotational movement imparted to the gear 70 and, consequently, to the shaft 60, arm 34 and plate 32, thereby permitting the plate 32 to swing laterally between an operative and an inoperative position, the direction of movement being determined by the direction in which the piston is driven. The amount of longitudinal movement of the piston 40 is regulated by the adjustment of stop screws 47 and 48; thus, determining the operative lateral position and out-of-the-way or inoperative lateral pisition. The holddown means is secured to the machine frame by a bracket 49.

The above-mentioned fluid motors for moving the work support 18, cutterhead 50 and the holddown means 30 are parts of a fluid system for which pressure fluid is supplied by a pump P (FIG. 1), driven by a motor M. The output of the pump is delivered via a pressure regulator 78 and a filter 80 through a duct 82 (FIG. 9) to a four way, self-centering valve 84. This valve is normally in its centered position wherein fluid drawn by the pump from a reservoir R is returned thereto.

With the work support 18 in its loading position at the right-hand end of the bed 14 (FIG. 1), the holddown means in its out-of-the-way or inoperative position (FIG. 2, broken lines) and the cutterhead 50 raised in to its normal retracted position, a cycle of operation of the machine is initiated by closing a switch 86 which energizes a solenoid S1, at the left-hand end of the valve 84, to move the valve to the position illustrated in FIG. 9, wherein pressure fluid is delivered to the right-hand end of cylinders 20 and 41 through the piping 88 and 46 to cause a feed movement of the work support 18 to the lift and concurrent lateral movement of the holddown plate 32 through a horizontal are such that the holddown plate will be immediately above the matrix in the support member on completion of the initial phase of the movement cycle. Exhaust fluid is ejected from the left-hand end of cylinders 20 and 41 through pipes 99 and 45 to a valve body 92 (FIG. 7) having therein a duct 94 which leads to one side of a normally open choke valve 96 and to a check valve 98. The discharge fluid from the choke valve 96 is carried to the reservoir R via a bore 190 in the valve body, radial openings in a check valve 192, another check valve 104, a duct 106 in the valve body and piping 108 which leads to the valve 84.

The spindle of the choke valve 96 is rotatably mounted in the valve body 92 and is provided with a narrow segmental slot 110 which is perpendicular to the axis of the choke valve and provides a passage for the flow of fluid from the duct 94 into the bore 100. Upon the forward end of the choke valve there is fixed an arm 112 (FIG. 8) carrying a hook between which and another hook at the upper end of a bar 114 fixed upon the body 92 there is stretched a spring 116. This spring biases the choke valve 96 toward its fully open position, as illustrated in FIG. 8, which is determined by the engagement of the arm 112 with a stop screw 118 which is threaded into the body 92. With the fluid passing freely through the choke valve which is in its open position, the work support 18 and the hold down member 32 advance toward the cutter as described hereinabove until the matrix reaches a position immediately adjacent the area of cutter operaton such that a presser means attached to the cutterhead will contact the forwardmost portion of the shoe part, when said cutterhead is subsequently placed in operative location. At this time, the movement of the work support 18 and the lateral movement of the holddown member 32 is gradually reduced and then interrupted because of the closure of the valve 96, as will next be described.

Upon the forward side of the work support 18 (FIGS. 1 and 5) there is mounted a long slotted cam plate 120 having at its left-hand end a sloping shoulder 122 the lower end of which is disposed below a level cam surface 124 on the cam plate. Soon after the initial movements of the work support and holddown member 32 from the inoperative positions begin, the shoulder 122 on the cam plate 120 engages a roll on an arm 132 which is fixed upon the forward end of a shaft 134. This shaft is mounted for rotative and axial movements in the bed 14 (FIG. 5) and is biased rearwardly by a spring 136 which is compressed between a bracket 135, which supports the shaft, and a shoulder on the shaft. Upon the rear end of the shaft 134 there is fixed an arm 138 to the end of which there is pivoted a link 140 (FIGS. 1 and 8), the lower end of which has a block 141 having an L-shaped slot 142 therein. This slot receives a pin 144 which is carried by a bifurcated arm 146 fixed upon the rear end of the choke valve 96; and a spring 147, stretched between the link 140 and a bracket 75, causes the pin 144 normally to be seated in the right-hand end of the slot 142.

During the initial feeding movement of the work support and the simultaneous lateral movement of the holddown member, the arm 132 is held in an outer position, wherein the roll 130 is in alignment with the cam plate 120, by a bar 148 (FIG. 5), which is fixed to the work support 18 and is adapted to engage the rearward side of a lug 150 on the arm 132. It will now be evident that when the shoulder 122 on the cam plate 120 is presented to the roll 130, the arms 132 and 138 will be swung counterclockwise, the link 140 will be lifted and the choke valve 96 will be closed, this event occurring when the lower end of the shoulder 122 lies directly over the roll 130. At this time also, the shoe part within the matrix will have been moved to a position immediately adjacent the area of cutter operation such that it will be subject to the presser member attached to the cutterhead when said cutterhead is subsequently lowered into position. The piston 40 will have moved the plate 32 to a position above the matrix and the piston will have contacted the stop screw 47.

Just before the choke valve 96 is closed, a valve 152 (FIGS. 1, 6, 8, and 9) to which fluid is supplied by the piping 88 is opened to deliver fluid through the piping 154 and 68 to the upper end of the cylinders 55 and 62, whereby the cutter head and the holddown'plate 32 are concurrently lowered into operative positions. The valve 152 has a bore 156 containing a piston 158 which is biased to the left by a spring 160 but is normally held in its closed position by a latch 162. The latch is fixed upon a shaft 164 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 8) upon the forward end of which there is fixed an arm 166; and a spring 168, stretched between hooks on this arm and the base 10 yieldingly holds the latch in a recess 170 in the piston. A pin 172, carried by the arm 166, is received in a slot 174 formed in the lower end of a link 176, the upper end of which is pivoted to the above mentioned arm 138. It will now be evident that, because of the slot 174 in the link 176, the latch 162 will not be operated to release the piston 158 and open the valve 152 until just before the lower end of the shoulder 122 on the cam plate 120 is presented to the roll 130. Displacement of the piston 158 to the left causes a port 178 (FIG. 6) in the valve 152 to be opened whereby fluid is permitted to pass through the piping 154 and 68 (FIG. 9) into the upper end of the cylinders 55 and 62. Thus, lowering movement of the cutterhead 50 into its operative position is begin and such movement continues until it is arrested by stop means provided on a bearing member 1'79 fixed to the bed 14, as described in the above referenced application Serial No. 66,560. v

The terminal movement of the cutterhead into its operative position is utilized to reset the choke valve 96 to facilitate the subsequent movement of the support 18. Before the cutterhead reaches its operative position, a finger 189 (FIG. 1) on the post 53 swings an arm of a bell crank 182 (FIGS. 1 and 7) counterclockwise so as to cause a screw 184, threaded in the lower end of the bell crank, to contact the block 141 and thereby shift the link 146 to the right, whereby the pin 14-4 is permitted to fall into the lower portion of the slot 142 under the impulse of the spring 116. Thus, the choke valve is automatically opened and movement introduced to the support 18.

The operation portion of cycle is then completed in accordance with the above-referenced application Serial No. 66,560. Upon completion of the operation on the shoe part and the feeding movement to the left, a microswitch 208 (FiG. l) which is fixed upon the bed 14 is actuated by means located on the support 18 and causes a solenoid S2 at the right-hand end of the valve 84 to be energized. The valve is thus shifted to the left to a position wherein fiuid pressure is directed to the piping 1th; and 69 (FIG. 9) and discharge of fiuid from the piping 88 and 46 in to the reservoir is permitted.

The first response to this shift of the valve 84 is the beginning of a rising movement of the cutterhead 5t? and the holddown plate 32 because fluid pressure is immediately delivered through the piping 168 and 69 to the bottom of cylinders 55 and 62.. Fluid is discharged from the upper end of the cylinders 55 and 62 through piping 63 and 15:1 and a duct 210 which leads, around the valve 152, to the piping 88. A check valve 212 in the duct 21 permits the free flow of fluid in the direction indicated, but prevents the delivery of fluid pressure through the duct toward the cylinders 55 and 62. Upon arrival of the cutterhead to its normal retracted position and in response to an increase of pressure in the fluid system caused by the stopping of the pistons 56 and 61, the valve 102 (FIGS. 7 and 9) is opened. The delayed opening of the valve 162 is accomplished by providing a spring in said valve which has a spring rate of sufficicnt magnitude to insure that the motion of the pistons 56 and 61 is arrested prior to the opening of the valve 192. Fluid discharged from the valve 102 is delivered, via the bore 100, the check valve 98, the bore 94, and the piping 9t)- and 45, to the left-hand end of the cylinders and 4-1, whereby a rapid return stroke is imparted to the work support 18 and the holddown member 32 because the choke valve 6 is now by-passed by the fluid connections including the check valve 98 which permits the free flow of fluid to the said cylinders 20 and 41. The cam surfaces attached to the work support will be presented to the roll on the arm 132 during the return stroke in the reverse order that presentation during the work occurred. Thus, the arms 132 and 138 are permitted to swing clockwise into their original positions, whereby the choke valve 96 is returned to its fully open position and the latch 162 is released and biased against the piston 158 in the valve 152. The valve 152 is now latched in its closed state because the piston 158 will have been returned to the closed position by fluid applied to its left-hand end (FIG. 6) through the piping 108 when the valve 84 was shifted to the left.

At the end of the return stroke of the work support 13, a cam located on the work support operates a microswitch and, as a result, the solenoid S2 is deenergized and the valve 84 returns to its centered position. Thus, there is completed a normal cycle of operation of the machine.

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 operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, and drive means for imparting to said support a cycle of opposite feeding and return strokes; a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said hold-down member for movement horizontally into and away from a position above the shoe part and vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said hold-down member horizontally into and away from said position above the shoe part simultaneously with the feeding movement of the support.

2. In a machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, said cutter being mounted for movement toward and away from said work support, drive means for imparting said movements to the cutter and support, and means for controlling said movements such that said support and cutter do not move concurrently: a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said hold-down member for movement vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said hold-down member into and out of engagement with the shoe part simultaneously w th the movement of the cutter into and out of its operative position.

3. In a machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, said cutter being mounted for movement toward and away from said work support, drive means for imparting said movements to the cutter and support, and means for controlling said movements such that said support and cutter do not move concurrently; a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said holddown member for movement horizontally into and away from a position above the shoe part and vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said hold-down member vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part simultaneously with the movement of the cutter into and out of its operative position.

4. In a machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, said cutter being mounted for movement toward and away from said work support, drive means for imparting said movements to the cutter and support, and means for controlling said movements such that said support and cutter do not move ocncurrently; a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said hold-down member for movement horizontally into and away from a position above the shoe part and vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said hold-down member horizontally into and away from said position and vertically into and out of engagement simultaneously with the movement of the support and cutter, respectively.

5. In a machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, and drive means for imparting to said support a cycle of opposite feeding and return strokes; a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said hold-down member for movement horizontally into and away from a position above the shoe part and vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said hold-down member horizontally into and away from a position above the shoe part simultaneously with the feeding movement of the support, said hold-down drive means comprising a shaft to one end of which the hold-down member is afiixed, a double acting piston having rack teeth thereon, a cylinder housing said piston having a longitudinally extending surface cavity exposing said rack teeth, and a gear carried by said shaft in engagement with said rack teeth whereby rectilinear movement of said piston causes rotational movement of said shaft and horizontal movement of said hold-down member.

6. In a machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, said cut-ter being mounted for movement toward and away from said work support, drive means for imparting said movements to the cutter and support, and means for controlling said movements such that said support and cutter do not move concurrently; a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said hold-down member for movement vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said hold-down member into and out of engagement with the shoe part simultaneously with the movement of the cutter into and out of an operative position, said hold-down drive means comprising a shaft to one end of which the hold-down member is affixed, a double acting piston connected to said shaft for imparting axial movement thereto, and a cylinder housing said piston.

7. In a machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, said cutter being mounted for movement toward and away from said work support, drive means for imparting said movements to the cutter and support, and means for controlling said movements such that said support and cutter do not move concurrently; a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said hold-down member for movement horizontally into and away from a position above the shoe part and vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said hold-down member vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part simultaneously with the movement of the cutter into and out of an operative position, said hold-down drive means comprising a shaft to one end of which the holddown member is afiixed, a double acting piston connected to said shaft for imparting axial movement thereto, and a cylinder housing said piston.

8. In a machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a rotary cutter, a work support having a matrix for holding a shoe part to be operated upon and movable to present the shoe part to said cutter, said cutter being mounted for movement toward and away from said Work support, drive means for imparting said movements to the cutter and support, and means for controlling said movements such that said support and cutter do not move concurrently; a holddown member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix on said support prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to the cutter, means mounting said holddown member for movement horizontally into and away from a position above the shoe part and vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for moving said holddown member horizontally into and away from said position and vertically into and out of engagement with the shoe part simultaneously with the movement of the support and cutter, respectively, said holddown drive means comprising a shaft to one end of which the holddown member is affixed, a double acting piston connected to said shaft for imparting axial movement thereto, a cylinder housing said piston, a second double acting piston having rack teeth thereon, a second cylinder housing said second piston having a longitudinally extending surface cavity exposing said rack teeth, and a gear carried by said shaft in engagement with said rack teeth whereby rectilinear movement of said piston causes rotational movement of said shaft and horizontal movement of said holddown member.

9. A machine for operating upon shoe parts, said machine having a matrix to hold a shoe part, a cutter, a movable support adapted to carry the matrix and the shoe part therein into and out of an operative position relative to said cutter, said cutter being movable transversely relative to said support for engagement with the shoe part presented thereby, a hold-down member adapted to retain the shoe part within the matrix prior to and during the presentation of the shoe part to said cutter, said hold-down member having mounting means which facilitate horizontal movement from an inoperative position to and from a position above the shoe part and vertical movement into and out of engagement with the shoe part, and drive means for imparting said horizontal movement to the holddown in synchronism with the movement of said support to and from a position juxtaposed to the area of cutter operation and said vertical movement to the hold-down member in synchronism with the movement of said cutter into and out of engagement with the shoe part, the said movements of the hold-down member occurring in sequence.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. IN A MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHOE PARTS, SAID MACHINE HAVING A ROTARY CUTTER, A WORK SUPPORT HAVING A MATRIX FOR HOLDING A SHOE PART TO BE OPERATED UPON AND MOVABLE TO PRESENT THE SHOE PART TO SAID CUTTER, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR IMPARTING TO SAID SUPPORT A CYCLE OF OPPOSITE FEEDING AND RETURN STROKES; A HOLD-DOWN MEMBER ADAPTED TO RETAIN THE SHOE PART WITHIN THE MATRIX ON SAID SUPPORT PRIOR TO AND DURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE SHOE PART TO THE CUTTER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID HOLD-DOWN MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT HORIZONTALLY INTO AND AWAY FROM A POSITION ABOVE THE SHOE PART AND VERTICALLY INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOE PART, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID HOLD-DOWN MEMBER HORIZONTALLY INTO AND AWAY FROM SAID POSITION ABOVE THE SHOE PART SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE FEEDING MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORT.

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