US3528870A - Machine for applying thermoplastic material - Google Patents

Description

Filed Nov. 10, 1966 Sept. 15, 1970 I H. c. PAULSEN 3,528,870

MACHINE FOR APPLYING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL F12 1 A heen fnvenior Hans C. Paulsen By his Azzforney Sept. 15, 1970' H. c. PAULSEN 3,523,370

MACHINE FOR APPLYING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Nov. 10, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet :1

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Sept 15, 1970 H. c. PAULS EN 3,528,370

MACHINE FOR APPLYING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 10, 1966 wwx Sept. 15, 1970 H. c. PAULSEN 3,

MACHINE FOR APPLYING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Nov. 10, 1966 5 Sheets-:Sheet -1.

Sept. 15, 1970 H. c. PAULSEN 3,528,870

MACHINE FOR APPLYING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Nov. 10, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Office 3,528,870 Patented Sept. 15, 1970 3,528,870 MACHINE FOR APPLYING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Hans C. Paulsen, Lexington, Mass., assignor to USM Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 593,492 Int. Cl. A43d /00 U.S. Cl. 156-295 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for applying molten thermoplastic to a se lected area of one side of the vamp portion of a shoe upper, and for progressively applying pressure to a portion of a lining which is laid against the molten thermoplastic material as the material is being applied to the vamp portion. The adhesive acts as a stilfener for the shoe upper.

It will be apparent from a reading of the above identified patent that the machine therein disclosed is adapted for use in applying molten thermoplastic box toe material as a layer adherent to a selected area of one side of the vamp portion of a shoe upper. When such molten box toe material is thus applied to one side of the vamp portion of an upper which includes a loose lining, it is a common practice for the operator of the machine to hold the lining away from the vamp portion during the operation of the machine while the molten thermoplastic box toe material is being applied, and then immediately upon removal of the upper and lining from the machine, at the conclusiion of the operating cycle, to lay the lining back onto the vamp portion and to press the lining by hand against the molten box toe material thus to combine the lining and vamp portion. It is a principal object of this invention to facilitate this operation and to assure the application of a uniform combining and smoothing pressure on the lining over the entire area to which the molten box toe material has previously been applied.

With the foregoing object in view, the herein illustrated machine is like the machine of the above identified patent which has a carriage supporting a work table on which the vamp portion of the upper is clamped and an applicator device arranged to apply molten thermoplastic box toe material to a selected area of the vamp during relative movement between the carriage and the applicator device in one direction. The illustrative machine in accordance with features of this invention is provided with means for progressvely applying pressure to the portion of the lining laid against the molten thermoplastic material as the material is being applied to the vamp portion of the upper by the applicator device. More particularly, this means for applying pressure to the lining comprises a pressing member, preferably in the form of a roller, mounted for movement from an inoperative position, away from the carriage and work table, to an operative position adjacent to the applying device and in pressing engagement with a portion of the lining of the u per.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a machine of the type disclosed in the above-identified U.S. patent which has been modified to embody the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 with operating elements occupying positions assumed at the beginning of an operating cycle;

FIG. 3 is a view of the machine similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the operating elements in different positions assumed at an intermediate stage of the operating cycle;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but with parts omitted and others shown in vertical section;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 with some parts omitted and others shown in vertical section;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing the operating elements in the positions assumed at a point in the operating cycle later than that illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in section substantially on line VII- VII of FIG. 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a vamp and lining combined therewith.

Referring to these drawings and especially FIG. 1, the machine which is therein illustrated is essentially the same as the machine disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,867, issued Oct. 11, 1966 in the names of Charles 0. Kilham and Roscoe L. Hill, referred to above, but modified for the purposes of this invention in a manner now to be described. Thus, this machine comprises an applicator device which is indicated generally by the reference character 20 and which has an applying roll 22, FIGS. 4-6, for applying a layer of molten thermoplastic material M on one side of a shoe upper component, such as a vamp V, in response to relative movement between the vamp and the applying roll. During such operation, th vamp is clamped by means of a clamp member 24 against a pad, or matrix 26 on a carriage 28 which is mounted for reciprocating movements on guide rods 30, 30 associated with a frame construction indicated gen erally by the reference character 32, FIGS. 13.

As is explained in detail in the above-mentioned application, in response to the depression of a treadle, not shown, a vamp V placed on a matrix 26 is first clamped and then an automatic operating cycle is initiated. During this operating cycle, the carriage 28 is moved inwardly to carry the vamp V beneath the applying roll 22 of the applicator device as is diagrammatically illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 4 of the drawings, to a predetermined stop position. The applicator device is then moved downwardly to bring its applying roll 22 into operative position on the upper surface of the vamp as is illustrated in FIG. 5. Next, the carriage is returned to its original position, by movement in the direction of the arrow, FIG. 6, and during this return movement, a. layer of molten thermoplastic material M is applied to the upper surface of the vamp by the applying roll. Finally, the clamp member is elevated to release the vamp for removal by the operator. As is also explained in the mentioned application, the layer of molten material is applied to a selected area only of a vamp and, when it cools, provides a stiffening element adhered to the vamp and functions in the same manner as a box toe.

When applying this sort of a stiffening element to a loose lined upper, the operator folds back the lining from the toe end of the vamp as the vamp is placed on the matrix 26 and he holds the lining in this retracted position during the operating cycle of the machine. However, immediately after the layer of molten material has been applied and the vamp removed from the machine, the operator folds the lining back over the toe end of the vamp and smoothes and presses it down against the layer of thermoplastic material which, if the operator works quickly enough, is still warm enough to be tacky so as to bond the lining to the vamp.

In order to facilitate this operation and to assure an even and a firm ironing of the lining against the applied layer of molten material before this layer has had time to cool down enough to lose its tackiness, this invention provides the following novel arrangement. Mounted on bearing blocks 100, 100 which are secured to portions 102, 102 of the frame construction 32 is a rock shaft 1-04, FIG. 1, to which there are keyed two relatively long arms 106, 106 which extend upwardly one on each side of the table 28. Also keyed to this shaft are two shorter arms 108, 108 and connected to each of these arms is one end of a coil spring 110. The opposite ends of these two springs are secured to a part of the frame construction 32.

Pivotally mounted on the upper ends of the arms 106, 106, by means of trunnion shafts 120, 120, is a U-shaped member 124 having rearwardly extending arm portions 126, 126. The arm portion 126 which is associated with the arm 106 on the right hand side of the table 28 has an extension 128 shaped to provide a hook 130, FIG. 2, which, when the carriage is in its outermost position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is behind the hook portion 132 of a pawl 134. This pawl is pivotally mounted, by means of a stud screw 135, FIG. 1, on the upstanding portion 136 of an L-shaped bracket member 138, adjustably secured to one side of the table 28 by means of screws 140, 140. A pin 142 on the bracket member 138 extends through a slot 144 in the pawl and serves to limit swinging movement of the latter. The pawl 134 carries a pin 146, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Journaled on a shaft 150, which extends between the outer ends of the arm pawls 126, 126 of the U-shaped member 124 is a pressing roller 152. Secured to each of the trunnion shafts 120 is a double arm lever 154 carrying two adjustable stop screws 156, 158, adapted to engage opposite sides of the arms 106, 106 and thus limit pivotal movement of the U-shaped member 124 and the pressing roller 152 carried thereby. Adjustably mounted on a downward extending portion 160 of the carriage 28, by means of screws 1'62, 162, is an abutment member 164 having a downwardly extending, outwardly facing abutment surface 166 As is shown in FIG. 2, when the r In using the machine made in accordance with this invention, the operator places a vamp V, to which a lining L is loosely attached in a location heelwardly of the toe portion thereof, on the matrix 26 and folds the loose toe end of the lining back over the roller 152, holding it loosely in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, with the thumb and forefinger of one hand. The U-shaped member 124 and pressure roller 152 are now prevented from swinging in a clockwise direction in response to the downward pressure exerted on the roller 152 by the tension applied to the lining L, by the engagement of the adjustable stop screws 156, 156 with the arms 106, 106.

The operator next depresses the treadle, not shown, thereby causing the vamp V to be clamped against the matrix 26 by the clamp member 24, see FIG. 4, and initiating an automatic operating cycle of the machine. During the first stages of this operating cycle, as the carriage 28 begins to move inwardly, i.e., to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, the abutment surface 166 moves to the right and away from the roll 168 thus permitting the springs 110, to swing the arms 106, 106 in a counterclockwise direction. Because of the differences in lengths, the upper portions of the arms 106 tend to move to the right at a faster rate than does the roll 168 on the arm 108. However, the hook portion 132 of the pawl 134 soon engages the hook on the extension 128 of arm 126 thereby temporarily restraining movement of the arms 106, 106 and the U-shaped member 124 which is carried thereby. As the inward movement of the carriage 28 continues, the operator follows such movement with the hand which is holding the lining L just keeping a slight tension on the lining.

Soon, and just before the carriage completes its inward movement, the pin 146 rides up the inclined cam surface 176 thereby lifting the pawl 134 and releasing the arms 1%, 106 to the action of the springs 110, 110. These springs quickly swing the mentioned arms in a clockwise direction to 'the extent permitted by the engagement of the pressing roller 152 with the lining L which is now laid down against the upper surface of the vamp V, arms 126, 126 swinging in a counterclockwise direction to the extent determined by engagement of the stop screws 158, 158 with arms 106, 106, FIGS. 3 and 5. Just as the pawl releases the arms 106, 106 the operator lets go of the lining and the parts assume the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 with the applicator device lowered to bring its applying roll 22 into operative position in engagement with the upper surface of the vamp V.

Now, as the carriage 38 reverses its movement and returns to its starting position, FIG. 1, the roller 22 applies a layer of molten thermoplastic material M over a selected area of the toe portion of the vamp, in a manner explained in detail in the above-mentioned patent. At the same time, the pressing roller 152, held yieldingly in engagement with the lining L by the action of the springs 110, 110, rolls and irons the lining smoothly and firmly against the layer M while it is still at least semi-molten and tacky, as shown in FIG. 6, thus nicely combining the lining L with the vamp V in the area covered by the layer M. Eventually, as the carriage 28 approaches its outermost position, the pin 146 rides down the inclined cam surface 176 so that the hooked end 132 of pawl 134 catches the hook 130 and the arms 106, 106 and U-shaped member 124 are swung in the counterclockwise direction and returned to the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first by the pull exerted by the pawl 146 and finally by the action of the abutment surface 166 on the roll 168. The clamp member 24 is now elevated to release the combined vamp and lining, FIGS. 7 and 8, for removal from the carriage, thus completing the operation.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by US. Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine having an applicator device for applying molten thermoplastic stiffening material as an adherent layer on a selected area of a portion of a loose line shoe upper, a work supporting carriage and means for effecting relative movement of said applicator device and carriage to cause the device to apply molten thermoplastic material to said selected area of a shoe upper on the carriage, the combination of means for pressing a portion of the lining against the material comprising a presser member mounted for movement to and from an inoperative position remote from the applicator device and above the carriage and an operative position adjacent to the applicator device and in pressing engagement with the lining, and means for effecting such move ment of the presser member in predetermined timed relation to the relative movement of said applicator device and carriage comprising a U-shaped member, said presser member being mounted in said U-shaped member, means for pivoting said U-shaped member relative to said carriage to translate said presser member between said operative and inoperative positions, and means for eontrolling the pivotal movement of said pivoting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,922 2/1936 Heckel et a1 156-295 X 2,339,485 1/ 1944 Johns. 2,672,632 3/ 1954 Herlihy.

6 3,054,713 9/1962 Walter 156- 295 X 3,277,867 10/1966 Kilham et a1 118-204 FOREIGN PATENTS 460,003 9/ 1949 Canada.

ROBERT F. STAHL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 12146

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