US3193860A

US3193860A - Temperature gradient mulling

Info

Publication number: US3193860A
Application number: US339212A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bradshaw Arthur; Graham J Mansfield
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1963-02-19
Filing date: 1964-01-21
Publication date: 1965-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-13
Also published as: GB1082681A; DE1510029A1; CH440038A

Description

July 13, 1965 A. BRADsHAw ETAL 3,193,860

TEMPERATURE GRADIENT MULLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1964 luv.

July 13, 1965 A. BRADsHAw ErAl.- 3,193,860

TEMPERATURE GRADIENT MULLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1964 United States Patent O 3,193,869 TEP/EPERATURE GRADHENT lw/ULLENG Arthur Bradshaw and Graham Si. Mansfield, Leicester,

Engiand, assignors to United Shoe Machinery orporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of New .'iiersey Filed lian.. 2l, 1964-, Ser. No. 339,22 A Ciaims priority, appiication (Great Britain, heh. 19, 3563, 6,548/63 9 Ciairns. (Ci. 12-59.7)

This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning leather and, more particularly, to machines for tempering shoe uppers to distribute moisture through selected portions thereof.

A number of operations performed in normal shoe manufacturing processes require that certain portions of the shoe be conditioned to increase the workability of the leather. For example, the flexibility and stretchabil-ity of upper leather must be increased by conditioning to prepare it for the lasting operations. This is usually in addition to the normal mulling of the uppers prior to their assembly. The upper, or select portions, must be wetted to enhance that workability resulting from the initial mull. The need for such conditioning is even greater where no prior mulling has taken place. As noted above, one operation where such conditioning or tempering of shoe uppers is necessary is in the lasting of the shoe. The workability of the upper must be increased to facilitate the lasting operations which involve the stretching, flexing and compressing of the leather fibrils. Further, the grain area must be conditioned to avoid its cracking.

Heretofore, the normal procedure for conditioning an upper has been to place it in a container of Water for extended intervals or in variously designed steam chambers. These methods were time consuming and relatively ineffectual. A recent revelation in the art of distributing moisture throughout leather has led the way to development of the novel apparatus disclosed hereinafter. The technical phenomenon which facilitates the implementation of the subject invention is that moisture applied to one surface of a permeable article of manufacture can be rapidly and uniformly distributed within the article by the establishment of an appropriate temperature gradient thereacross. The rapidity with which the moisture is dispersed is dependent upon the temperature differential constituting the gradient, the inherent character of the article, and the condition thereof prior to the operation. The moisture on the high temperature side of the article would have a higher vapor pressure than that on the loW temperature side and, thus, a pressure gradient is produced as a result of the temperature gradient. This pressure differential or gradient drives the moisture into and through the article. Thus, the establishment of hot and cold reservoirs on opposite sides of a piece of leather or similar article of manufacture can be utilized to distribute water or other conditioning solutions applied to the surface subjected to the hot reservoir. The distribution of moisture is additionally effected by a wicking action or capillary action initially occurring at the eX- posed surface.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a conditioning machine in which leather is tempered.

. A further object of this invention is to provide a machine to accomplish the aforementioned object in a short interval of time.

A correlative object of the two above stated objects is to attain said objectives while accomplishing complete and improved tempering of the leather.

To this end and in accordance with a feature of the present invention, there is provided a machine for conditioning leather comprising a first contact means having means for dispersing a conditioning solution to an article to be conditioned, means for heating said rst Contact means, and a second contact means having a lower operative temperature than said rst contact means.

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular machine embodying the invention is shown by Way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments Without departing from the scope of the invention.

in the rawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus illustrating the subject invention, certain portions thereof being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus illustrated in PEG. l; and

HG. 3 is a sectional view showing the shoe, upper pad portion of the machine of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FlGS. l and 2, the operative instrumentalities of the machine, as hereinafter described, are housed in a chamber formed by sheet metal aflixed to a framework liti. Accessibility to the operative instrumentalities is provided through an arcuate opening in the front of the machine, said opening not being shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as the sheet metal is removed to disclose the operative instrumentalities.

The instrumentalities utilized to effectuate the conditioning or tempering of a shoe upper essentially comprise moistening and heating contact means and cooperative contact means employed as a low temperature reservoir, said Contact means being generally indicated by the

reference characters

12 and 14, respectively in FIG. 2. The contact means 12 comprises `a lower arcuate plate 16 secured to a bracket 13 which is integral with the framework it). The plate 16 has secured thereto an arcuate plate Zt) extending in spaced concentricity therewith over the upper arc thereof and along its length thereby dening an annular cavity 22. A plurality of arcuate heating elements 2li are mounted in the annular cavity 22 in spaced alinement along the length thereof. The heating elements are controlled by a thermostat 26 located on a control panel 28 of the machine. As best delineated in FG. 2, the contact means 12 also comprises a curved resilient plate 30 located immediately above the plate 20 and generally concentric therewith. The plate 30 is mounted on the bracket 18 for yielding movement relative to the plate 20 by a plurality of

wires

32 and 34 secured to the corners of the plate 30 and extending and a ixed to outwardly projecting members 36 mounted on the bracket i8; only the

forward-most wires

32, 34 being shown in PEG. 2. in the normal inoperative position of the machine, the plate 30 is displaced from the plate 20. A pad 3e of porous material is located on the upper surface of the plate 3i).

The pad 3S functions to transmit conditioning solution to a shoe upper and preferably comprises a lower layer 4t) (FIG. 3) of knitted glass, an intermediate layer 41 of polyurethane foam, and an upper layer 42 of cotton cloth. The conditioning solution is introduced to the pad 38 through an ellipsoidal pipe 43 interposed between the layers 42 and 4l having a plurality of perforations 44 in the upper surface thereof through which the solution passes, said pipe 43 extending from the rear of the pad 3S. The pipe i3 is maintained in position by packing 39. in the operation of the machine, a conditioning solution such as water is supplied through the pipe 43 to the upperlayer 42.V of the pad 38 and passes therethrough 'Y to 'be dispersed through an article tol be conditioned.

The conditioning solution is supplied to the pipe 43A from a containerV 45 (FIG. l) supported by the framework 10. A pipe 46 leads from a ilter'4'7 in the container/35 to a reciprocating pump 48. A one-way valve 49 is provided Yin the pipe 46 to allow the conditioning solution to pass fromV the container l to the pump but not in the reverse direction. Piping 50 joins the pump 4S to the pipe 43. A one-way valve 51 is provided in the piping t) to permit llow from the pump 48 tothe pipe 43.V The pump 48 is operated by a drive cylinder 52 having a piston (notrshown) operatively linked to said pump.

' yoke till. Thestuds 84, d4' engage the plate 53 whereby the downward' movement of the piston rod '78 is imparted to the member 14.

The contact member14 is maintained in alined position relativeV to the contact member 12, removed from the operative position, and normally maintained in the upper position Vby the cooperativeV action of rods 96), 90,

l a cross-piece 92, and

rods

94, 94. The rods 99,91) are I Y 14 relative to the member. 12 isf prevented. The cross- The operation of the piston in the cylinder 52 is'controlled4 by means hereinafter to be described in theV def scriptionof the functioning of the Contact means 14.

The contact means 14 is located above the contact movement eifected by means-to be hereinafter described. A sV illustrated in FIG. 2, the contact'means 14 comprises an arcuate resilientk plate 58 generally concentric with the ln'the operation of the operativeinstrumentalities de-Vv scribed above, a portion ol an upper S (FlG. l) to oe tempered is placed on top of the porous pad 38u/ith its -ilesh side in Vcontact with the pad 3%, tempering solution Vis supplied to the pad 33, the heating elements Z4 are activated, and the Contact means 14 is lowered'into pres l sure exerting Contact with the upper. The pressure exerted bythe contact means 14 forces thev resilient plate into contact with the plate Ztl thereby facilitating the transfer ofheat from the heating elements 24 through the plate Sil to the pad 35. The pad 3S thus supplies the conditioning solution and acts vas a high temperature reservoir whiletheV layer oil constitutes a low temperature reservoir thereby establishing a temperature gradient to distribute the conditioning'solution through the exposed portion of the upper.V The distribution ot conditioningk soluymeans 12 foremovement theretoward and therefrom, said slidable.

mounted for sliding movement in the plate 72 on opposite sides of the cylinder 70,'the axis of said rods preferably lying ina plane coincidentV with that of the axis of the 'cylinder whereby rotative movement of the member piece 92 is secured to the lower end portions of the rods 9i), El@ below the plate 72 and has a centrally located aperture thereinjthrough which the piston rod 73 is freely The rods 94; 94, opposite ends of which are secured to the plate 72 and platev 58 establish a rigid Y linkage-between the cross-piece92 and the Contact mem- .er solenoid operatedV valve.

tion tothe upper S is additionally Veffected by'a wicking action resulting from Contact of the upper S withthe porous pad 38. j i Y Y f VAs stated above, the contact means 14 is movable toward and away from the contact means 12 between an upper inoperative position (FIG. 2) and a lower operative position (FIG. l). A iluid operated system'is employed to effectuate the movement of the contact means 14 and comprises a drive cylinder 7@ having a piston (not shown) slidableV therein, said cylinder 70V being mounted on a plate 72 secured to the framework lll and supported by brackets 74 by securing means 76. A piston rod 73 bcr`14,.the

rods

94,34 being vdisposed on opposite sides of the piston rod 73 ina plane common to the axis of the piston rod 7S and normal to theplane invwhich the axis of the rods 99, 99, lie. When the piston rod 78 is moved upwardly from the operative position, the collar 83 engages the crossV piece 92 whereby the upward movementV Vof, the piston rod 7S is translated'to the member 14 through the

rods

94, 94 thereby to remove the member 14 to the upper, inoperative position.

Y Pressure iluid is supplied tothe upper end of the cylin- -der 7 vthrough the piping 160. Any convenient means (not illustrated) may be employed to establish iluid pressure in the' piping 160, and, consequently, the upper chamber of the cylinder 7). In the preferred embodiment of the subjecty invention, Va rst solenoid operated valve Y (not shown) is utilized to control the introduction of pressure uid to the cylinder 7l). A llow control valve 102 is positioned 'in' the line 100. Piping 104 connects the lower chamber of the cylinder '70 to a second solenoid VVoperated valve (notvshown) and a pressure supplying source. A ow control valve 106 is positioned in the line 194. A pipe 103 leads from the upper chamber of the cylinder 52 tothe second solenoid operated valve and a pipe 11G from the lower chamber thereof` to the vfirst The ,introduction and exhaust of pressure iluid isthus coordinated in the

cylinders

70 and 52. Thus, when pressure liuid is supplied to the lower chamber of 'the' `cylinder 70 to retract the contact means 14, pressure fluid is admitted to the upper chamber of the cylinder 52, the .piston in the cylinder 52 is moved downwardly, and conditioning solution is drawn into the pump 4S from the container 45. Converselyfwhen pressure luid is -supplied to the upper chamber of the is affixed at oppositeV ends thereof to the piston (not Y shown) within the cylinder 70 and a Vyoke 80. The yoke 80 comprises Van essentially U-shaped member 82 secured at its central portion to the piston vrod 78 and extending circurnferentially about the arcuate plate 58.'

Studs 84, 84 (FIG. 2) arecentrally affixed to the opposite terminal portions of the member S2 and extend per- Y pendicularly thereto transversely of and in contact with 73 and rests on top of. the U-shaped member 8?..V TheV contact member 14 is moved into yielding Contact with an upper S located on thepad 38 when the piston rod 78 is moved downwardly, the movement of the piston rodA 78 being translated through the yoke 80 which is secured to the piston rod 78 by the

studs

34, 34 mounted on the' cylinder 70 to'progress the contact ymeans 14 into operative position, pressure fluid Yis admitted to the lower chamber ofthe cylinder 52, the piston' in the cylinder 52 is moved upwardly, and conditioning solutionl is delivered from the pump 48 to the pipe 43. The solenoid operated valves are connected to an adjustable time switch (not, shown) which is controlled by a push button 112. Power for operation of the above is controlled by the switch 114. z Inthe operation of the fluid pressure system delineated above, admission of pressure fluid tothe upper portion of the cylinder 70 causes the piston rod 78 and, therefore,

the yokeStlto move toward the contact means 12. The yokeV Stlprogresses the contact means 14 downwardly into contact with a portion of an upper S located on the pad 33. When contact has been Yestablished between tov press against the resilient plate'SS'thereby to urge the layer 69' firmly against the Vupper Sand said upper S against the, porous material 42. The pressure exerted by Ythe contact means 14 also results in the plate 30 contacting the plate 20, as described above. Thus, both the contact means 14 and 12 are brought into complete surface engagement with the upper S.

Upon completion of the conditioning operation, pressure fluid is introduced to the lower chamber of the cylinder '70 and the yoke 80 is moved upwardly to permit the contact means 14 to be removed from contact with the upper S. The collar 88 then engages the cross-piece 92 thereby to retract the contact member 14.

A shoe to be conditioned is supported in position with its toe portion beneath the arcuate plate 16 by a platform plate 120 mounted on the bracket 18 and an adjustable support, generally indicated by the reference character 122. The support 122 maintains the heel of the shoe in position and comprisesl a horizontal rod 124 (FIG. 2) which extends across the front of the opening which provides access to the operative instrumentalities of the machine, said rod 124 being rotatively mounted in

brackets

126, 126 secured to the framework 10, a sleeve 128 extending between the

brackets

126, 126 concentric with the rod 124, and

brackets

130, 130 freely mounted on opposite end portions of the rod 124 outwardly of the

brackets

126, 126 in abutting relation therewith. The rod 124 is retained in position by a head portion 132 and an adjustable handle member 134 mounted on opposite end portions thereof. The handle member 134 is threaded on the rod for rotation whereby it can be employed to lock the

brackets

136, 130 against the

brackets

126, 126 in a desired angular position. The heel of a shoe to be conditioned rests upon a U-shaped tubular member 136 opposite sides of which are slidingly accommodated in bores in the

brackets

130, 130. The extended position of the member 136 can be determined by adjustment of the location thereof in the brackets 130, 130.V The member 136 is secured in the desired position in the

brackets

130, 130 by wing screws 13S, 138. Thus, the angular position of the member 136 may be adjusted by loosening the handle member 134 and rotating the brackets 139, 130 and the extended position adjusted by loosening the wing screws 138, 138 and sliding the member 136 in the bores of the

brackets

130, 130.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a heater 142 (FlG. l) is provided to heat the waist of an upper to activate thermoplastic adhesive previously applied thereto. The heater 142 is secured to the bracket 18 and extends horizontally therefrom under the support 122. The heater 142 comprises a frame 144 having a plurality of openings 146 in its upper surface and a heating element 148. The heating element 148 is controlled by an adjusting knob 150.

A cycle of operation of the above described machine is initiated after rst activating the heating elements 24 and 138, the contact means 14 being in the upper inoperative position and the solenoid operated valves de-energized. A last L mounting a partially fabricated shoe is placed in position by the operator with the forepart of the upper S on the contact means 12. The solenoid operated valves (not shown) are then energized by depression of the button 112 thereby causing pressure fluid to be introduced to the upper chamber of the cylinder 70 and the lower chamber of the cylinder 52 through the iirst solenoid operated valve, opposite chambers of the

cylinders

52 and 70 being vented to the atmosphere through the second solenoid operated valve. The contact means 14 is thus moved into operative position and conditioning solution is delivered to the pipe 43. After a pre-determined time interval registered on the timer (not shown), the solenoid operated valves are de-energized and pressure fluid admitted to the lower chamber of the cylinder 70 and upper chamber of the cylinder 52 through the second solenoid valve, opposite chambers of said

cylinders

70 and 52 being vented to the atmosphere through the first solenoid operated valve. Thus, the contact means is returned to its inoperative position and conditioning solution drawn into the pump 48 in preparation for a subsequent usage.

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

1. A machine for conditioning leather comprising a first contact means engageable with an article to be conditioned, said first contact means having means for dispersing a conditioning solution to a surface of an article to be conditioned, means for heating said first contact means, a second contact means engageable with an opposite surface of the article and having a lower operative temperature than said first contact means, and means facilitating the relative positioning `of said contact means whereby a temperature gradient is established across an article to be conditioned during the conditioning portion of the operative cycle of the machine.

2. A machine for conditioning leather comprising a first contact means engageable with an article to be conditioned, said first contact means comprising means for dispersing a conditioning solution to one surface of an article to be conditioned and means mounting said dispersing means for transmitting heat thereto during the conditioning portion of the operative cycle ofthe machine, means for heating said mounting means, and a second contact means engageable with an opposite surface of the article and having .a lower operative temperature than said first contact means.

3. A machine for conditioning leather comprising heating means and contact means having means for dispersing a conditioning solution to a surface of an article to be conditioned, heat transfer means mounting said heating means, and means mounting said dispersing means movable into contact with said heat transfer means whereby heat is transferred to said dispersing means during the conditioning portion of the operative cycle of the machine.

4. A machine for conditioning leather comprising heating means, a irst contact means having means for contacting an article to be conditioned and dispersing conditioning 'solution thereto, heat transfer means mounting said heating means, and means mounting said dispersing means movable into contact with said heat transfer means whereby heat is transferred to said dispersing means during the conditioning portion of the operative cycle of the machine, means for supplying conditioning solution to said dispersing means, and a second contact means having a lower operative temperature than said first contact means, said second contact means being positioned to contact a surface of an article to be conditioned other than that contacted by said rst contact means.

5. A machine for conditioning leather comprising a first contact means, said first contact means comprising means for dispersing a conditioning solution to a surface of an article to be conditioned and means mounting said dispersing means for transmitting heat thereto during the conditioning portion of the operative cycle of the machine, means for heating said mounting means, and a second contact means having a lower operative temperature than said first contact means, said second contact means being movable between an inoperative position displaced from said first contact means and an operative, article engaging position wherein said first and second contact means are in opposed contact with an article to be conditioned.

6. A machine for conditioning leather comprising heating means, a first contact means having means for contacting an article to be conditioned and dispersing conditioning solution thereto, heat transfer means mounting said heating means, and means mounting said dispersing means movable into contact with said heat transfer means whereby heat is transferred to said dispersing means during the conditioning portion of the operative cycle of the machine, means for supplying conditioningl solution to said dispersing means, and a second contact means having a lower operative temperature than said first contact means, said second contact means being movable between an operative position displaced from said rst Y7 Y e contact means and an operative positionin contact with asurface of an article Y to beA Conditioned other than that Y contacted'by said iirst contact means.'

'7.,A machine vfor conditioning leather comprising a first contact means; said rst contact means comprising means for dispersing a conditioning solutionV to an article to be conditioned and means mounting Vsaid dispersing means for transmitting heat thereto during the conditioning portion of the operative cycle of the machine, means for heating said mounting means, and a second contactV means having a lower operative temperature-than 'said iirst contact means comprising a resilient contact member and mean-s mounting said resilient contact member for movement between an inoperative position displaced from said first contact means and an operative position in pressurrface of an article toghe conditioned other than that contacted by said first contact means wherebysaid means mounting. saidtrdispersingV meansis urged into contact with said heattransfer means.

9,. A rnachinerfor conditioning VVleather comprising heating means, Va first contact'mea'nsV having means for contacting an ,articleto belco'n-ditioned and dispersing vconditioning soiutiontthereto, heattra'nsfer means mounting said heating means, land means mounting said dispersing means movable into `contact with said heat transferl means whereby heat is transferred'to said dispersing meansduring the conditioning portion of the operative cycle of the machine, means for supplying conditioning solution to said vdrspersing means, and a second contact means having sure exerting contact with a surface of an article to be conditioned other than that contacted by said r'st contact means whereby said resilient member is urged Vinto Y contact with the said surface. Y v

8. A machine for conditioning leather comprising heat'- tacting an article to be conditioned and dispersing conditioning solution thereto, heat transfer means mounting said heating means, and means mounting said dispersing means movableV into contact with said heat transfer means whereby heat is transferred to Vsaid dispersing means during the conditioning portion of vthe operative cycle of the machine,means for supplying conditioning 4solution to said, dispersing means, and a second contact'meanshaving av lower operative temperature than said rst contact means, said second contact means being movable between an inoperative position displaced frorn said contact means and an operative position inrpressure exerting contact with a 20 ingrmeans, a first contact means having means for con- Y al vlower operative temperature than Vsaid iirst Vcontact means comprising a resilient Contact member and means Y mounting said resilient contact member for movement between an inoperative position displaced from said iirst contact means and an operative position in pressure exerting contact with a surface of an article to be conditioned Vother than thatk contacted by said iirst contact means y1,923,167 8/33 Schoenky 12-597 "37,094,726 Y 6/63 Kamborian l2-59.7 X

Y JORDANFRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING LEATHER COMPRISING A FIRST CONTACT MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH AN ARTICLE TO BE CONDITIONED, SAID FIRST CONTACT MEANS HAVING MEANS FOR DISPERSING A CONDITIONING SOLUTION TO A SURFACE OF AN ARTICLE TO BE CONDITIONED, MEANS FOR HEATING SAID FIRST CONTACT MEANS, A SECOND CONTACT MEANS ENGAGEABLE WIT H AN OPPOSITE SURFACE OF THE ARTICLE AND HAVING A LOWER OPERATIVE TEMPERATURE THAN SAID FIRST CONTACT MEANS, AND MEANS FACILITATING THE RELATIVE POSITIONING OF SAID CONTACT MEANS WHEREBY A TEMPERATURE GRADIENT IS ESTABLISHED ACROSS AN ARTICLE TO BE CONDITIONED DURING THE CONDITIONING PORTION OF THE OPERATIVE CYCLE OF THE MACHINE.