US3705434A - Stitchdown counter molding, flanging and wrapping machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for molding the back part of a shoe upper into stitchdown configuration. The lower edge of the back part which preferably includes a thermoplastic counter is turned outwardly in two stages; the first stage occurring when a resilient molded liner of a female mold is clamped about the male mold to cause the counter to adhere to the back part over their engaging surfaces. Simultaneously, a partially formed flange is created by the interaction of a flanging plate on the bottom of the male mold and creasing blades on the bottom of the molded liner. In the second stage, an adjustable gauging plate initially used to locate the back part in proper vertical position with respect to the mold moves upward past the flanging plate to engage the partially formed flange, to press it against the underside of the creasing blades and to hold it there for a sufficient time to allow the counter to set in the finished stitchdown configuration. The invention also includes the method performed by the machine. In a modification, the outer periphery of the flange is turned inward to provide a groove to receive the outer edge of a midsole.

Description

United States Patent Knight et a1.

[s4] STITCHDOWN COUNTER MOLDING,

FLANGING AND WRAPPING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Chesterton S. Knight, Brockton; Randolph H. Baker, Foxboro, both of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Geo. Knight 81 Co., Inc., Brockton,

Mass.

[22] Filed: June 7, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 150,451

52] us. Cl. l2/l46 r ),'1 2/s3.5

51 Int. Cl. ..A43d 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..12/l46 R, 146 D. 53.5,:543.

[56] References Cited.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,541,815 6/1925 Holmgren ..l2/l46 D 2,582,298 1/1952 Ushakoff ..l2/l46 D 3,007,182 11/1961 Lauvetti ..12/53.5

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Att0meyChittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier [451 Dec. 12, 1972 [57] 1 ABSTRACT A machine for molding the back part of a shoe upper into stitchdown configuration. The lower edge of the back part which preferably includes a thermoplastic counter is turned outwardly in two stages; the first stage occurring when a resilient molded liner of a female mold is clamped about the male mold to cause the counter to adhere to the back part over their engaging surfaces. Simultaneously, a partially formed flange is created by the interaction of a flanging plate on the bottom of the male mold and creasing blades on the bottom of the molded liner. In the second stage, anadjustable gauging plate initially used to locate the back part in proper vertical position with respect to the mold lmoves upward'past the flanging plate to engage the partially formed flange, to press it against the underside of the creasing blades and to hold it there for a sufficient time to allow the counter to set in the finished stitchdown configuration. The invention also includes the method performed by the machine. In a modification, the outer periphery of the flange is turned inward to provide a groove to receive the outer edge of a midsole.

13 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In the manufacture of shoes, one of the important steps is the proper shaping of the heel portion of the upper. In order to maintain the heel portion or back part of the upper in its proper configuration in the finished shoe, it has been customary to incorporate as an element of the back part a so-called counter. The counter is a piece of stiffening material located between the outer leather of the back part and an inner counter pocket. The counter pocket is made by stitching a thin piece of leather or other suitable material-tothe inside of the back part. The counter is placed in and concealed in this pocket. Counters are made conventionally of leather, fiberboard, leatherboard, or other similar material. Optionally, athermopla stic counter, faced with a suede-like finish, is stitched directly to the inside of the back part of the upper, making a counter pocket and separate counter unnecessary. In the socalled stitchdown method of shocmaking, the outturned flange of the upper is sewed directly to the underlying midsole after which the outsole may be attached by cementing or stitching. In the case of a shoe made without a midsole, the 'outtumed flange may be attached directly to the outsole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a machine for outflanging the back part of the shoe upper. Hereinafter, in the specification, the description of the back part will include a counter which is at present the preferred construction, but it is to be understood that the machine is capable of forming a stit'chdown flange regardless of the material of the back part.

In the preferred back part construction, the counter is made of a sheet of thermoplastic material preferably flocked on its exposed surface and prestitched to the back part when both are in flat condition. Prior to being molded, the counter and back part are subjected to a heating operation which raises them to a temperature at which the counter becomes softened and tacky on the face against the back part so that when pressure is applied by the mold, the counter will become permanently secured to the back part while it is simultaneously being shaped to the correct last form. During this forming operation, there is cooperative action between creasing blades on the bottom of the resilient liner of the female mold and a flanging plate on the bottom of the male mold so that the lower edge of the upper and counter are outflanged through a substantial but not complete angle. Then, through upward movement of a gauging plate used initially to determine the vertical position of the back part with respect to the male mold, the partially formed outflange is turned through a further angle to rest flat against the underside of the creasing blades and held in this position long enough to become permanently set as the thermoplastic counter is quickly cooled by the water cooled male mold.

The above referred to flanging plate which is attached to the bottom of the male mold has its edge extending laterally beyond the mold at the sides and rear.

The upper surfaces of the edges of the flanging plate remote fromzthe back of themold slope downwardly to correspond to the configuration of the creasing blades at this position, thereby to create anoutflange which will properly follow-the bottom of the last which turns down at this location. In order to finish press the outflange of the back part at this areaproperly against the downward sloping, parts of the creasing blades, the

gauging plate is likewise sloped on its upper surface at the corresponding positions. Thus, when the gauging .plate moves upwardly to press the partially formed out- .placed on the last.

The machine of the present invention is also capable of shaping the lower edge of a back part and counter in a modified form. In this modification, the lower edge is turned outward, downward and inward around the I periphery of the flanging plate. The back part and counter in this modification form an inward facing groove adapted to receivethe edge of a midsole. The machine in producing this latter construction utilizes a second set of creasing blades parallel to but vertically separated from the main creasing blades by spacers.

' The two sets of creasing blades are affixed to the bottom of the resilient liner and straddle the edge of the flanging plate. The gauging plate in this construction is used in the same manner for determining the proper vertical position of the back part and counter, but it is not used .to press the inturned bottom edge into final position as that is accomplished by the lower creasing blades.

In summary, the machine is capable of shaping the back part of a shoe upper with or without its associated counter of thermoplastic material in a manner that eliminates the necessity of using a counter pocket and puts the back part of the upper in proper shape for subsequent positioning on the last..The lower edge of the back part and counter are flanged outwardly in correct stitchdown configuration, or alternatively, the lower edge may be turned outwardly, downwardly and then inwardly to provide a continuous interior groove about the back part adapted to receive the corresponding edge of a midsole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF The DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the major elements of the machine with the male and female molds in separated position. The initial location of the back part is suggested by the heavy dotted line about the male m ld- FIG. 2 is a section taken approximately on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 after the back part has been placed in initial position but before the side jaws have been closed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the initial outward bending of the bottom edge of the back part and counter as the sides carrying the resilient liner are closed about the male mold. I

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 and is illustrative of the final molding step in which the gauging plate has moved upwardly to press the flange into finished position against the underside of the creasing blades.

FIG. 4a is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 4.

FIG. shows a stage in the molding operation generally similar to FIG. 2. This is a longitudinal section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 with the back part resting on the gauging plate just prior to closing of the mold.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 3 and shows the mold of FIG. 5 closed and the initial bending of the lower edge of the back part.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 4 and shows the gauging plate of FIGS. 5 and 6 raised to press the flange into final horizontal position against the creasing blades.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the mold open, the flanging plate at the bottom of the male mold and the gauging plate therebelow.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the manner in which the bottom of the male mold can be modified to change its relative tilted position with respect to the flanging plate and the location of the crease can thereby be controlled.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing two creasing blades separated by a spacer.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration assumed by the back part and counter when the mold shown open in FIG. 10 is closed.

FIG. 12 illustrates the original flat condition of the back part of the upper with the thermoplastic counter stitched thereto.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the molded back part including the counter and stitchdown flange.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The machine disclosed herein constitutes an improvement over molding mechanisms of the general type disclosed, for example, in the U.S. Pat. to Forma No. 3,328,815. In the present construction, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a male mold 2 and a female mold 4. The back part of the shoe upper and the associated counter secured thereto are placed about the male mold 2 as suggested by the dotted line 3 in FIG. 1 after which the female mold 4 is closed there-about and the correct forming of the back part is accomplished. Thereafter, when the mold is opened, the now molded back part 3 is ready to be applied to the last for the further construction of the shoe.

The male mold 2 is customarily made of bronze and has an outer configuration which will produce a molded back part applicable to a wide range of lasts. The mold 2 is preferably cored as suggested by the dotted lines 5 whereby cooling water can be fed to it through openings in the bottom. The cooled mold shortens the setting period of the thermoplastic counter. The mold 2 is supported in conventional manner on a fixed part of the machine indicated at 6 in FIG. 2.

On the bottom of male mold 2 is a flanging plate 8 removably attached by screws (not shown). Water passages 5 extend through the plate. Flanging plate 8, it will be noted in FIG. 8, is wider and longer than the bottom of the mold thereby to provide a laterally extending edge portion about the sides and rear of mold 2. It will also be noted in FIGS. 5 to 9 that the upper surfaces of the side edges of flanging plate 8 at its forward portion are cutaway to slope downwardly as illustrated at 10. The purpose of this sloping part is to provide an outturned flange of the back part which at this section will conform more exactly. with the requirements of the last to which the back part is to be applied.

Normally located below flanging plate 8 is a gauging plate 12, shown in many of the figures. This plate 12 is supported by a channel shaped member 14 carried at its center on a shaft 16 which is' the piston of an air actuated cylinder 18. At the bottom of cylinder 18 is a manually operable adjustment 19 which limits the descent of piston 16 and the related gauging plate 12. By varying the adjustment, the normal vertical position of gauging plate 12 with respect to flanging plate 8 can be controlled. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, the position of the gauging plate 12 with respect to flanging plate 8 determines the final dimension of the outturned flange of the back part which the molding operation creates.

As can best be seen in FIG. 8, the gauging plate 12 is generally U-shaped and its interior wall 20 is designed to pass closely adjacent the outer wall 22 of flanging plate 8 when the gauging plate 12 is moved upward by operation of air cylinder 18. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4a, the forward ends of plate 12 slope downwardly as at 23, matching the slope of area 10 of flanging plate 8.

The female part of the mold 4 is moved toward and away from male mold 2 by an air cylinder 24 (see FIG. 1) having a piston 26 to which is attached a vertical backplate 28 which carries the mold 4. The mold 4 comprises a center element 30 which is supported on the back plate 28 by a pair of headed bolts 32 and 34. These bolts are threaded into center element 30 but are slidable through holes in plate 28. A spring 36 normally holds center element 30 away from the front face of plate 28 to the extent permitted by bolts 32 and 34.

The female mold 4 includes two side elements or jaws 38 and 40 which are pivoted to center element 30 at 42 and 44, respectively. Springs 46 and 48 seated on center element 30 press against side elements 38 and 40 to hold them in maximum separated position.

The female mold 4 includes a molded liner 50 shaped to the configuration of male mold 2. The liner 50 is attached to and extends about the interior walls of side element 38, center element 30 and side element 40. The normal distended spacing of side elements 38 and 40 is great enough so that when the center section 30 is advanced by the air cylinder 24 to make initial engagement with the rear of mold 2, the sides of the molded liner 50 carried by side elements 38 and 40 will still be clear of engagement with the sides of mold 2. The molded liner 50 is flexible and resilient and preferably made of synthetic rubber, but other equivalent materials could be substituted.

The mode of operation of the parts 2 and 4 is as follows. When the unit is ready for operation with the back part 3 of the upper in position about mold 2, the air cylinder 24 is operated. This causes the advance of backplate 28 and the associated side and center sections 38, 30 and 40. When center section 30 engages the rear of mold 2, its forward advance is stopped, but backplate 28 can continue to advance as spring 36 is compressed and the bolts 32 and 34 slide to the rear through the holes in plate 28. As this is occurring, the ends of two adjustable screws 52 and 54 mounted in corresponding threaded holes in backplate 28 and moving forward with backplate 28 to the extent permitted by the clearance 56 between the now stationary center section 30 and backplate 28, engage sidesections 38 and and causethem to swing toward the sides of male mold 2, turning about pivots 42 and 44. The extent of the inward swinging of the side elements is controlled-by the adjusted position of screws 52 and 54 and the clearance 56. By proper adjustment, the desired pressure of the molded liner 50supported by the side elements 38 and 40 can be brought to bear against the sides of mold 2. After the molding operation has been completed, the air cylinder 24is reversed and the molds 2 and 4 areseparated thereby permitting removal of the now molded back part 3 and related counter. of the shoe. upper.

Reference now will be made to other features which also constitute improvements over the prior art. First, attention is called to FIG. 2, which, is a section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, when the mold has been closed to bring the section 30 against male mold 2 but before the side sections 38 and 40 have closed on the mold 2. This view should also .be considered along with FIG. 5 taken on line 5-5 ofFIG. 1 which shows the 'rnold 4 moving toward closed position. a

The 'back part of the fitted upper which comprises the outer leather part 58 and the attached counter 60 shown in the flat in FIG. '12 have been previously placed temporarily in any suitable heating device to raise the temperature of the counter sufficiently to produce a softened condition in which the face of the counter 60 against the back part 58 of the upper is tacky and subject to adhesionwhen placed under pressure. The back part and counter of the fitted upper are then removed from the heating device and placed in position around mold 2. The lower edges of back part 58 and counter 60 rest directly on the top surface of gauging plate 12 as can beseen in FIGS. 2 and 5. As previously pointed out, the vertical position of gauging plate 12 with respect to flanging plate 8 determines the width of the resulting flange in the molded unit. With the back part of the upper now surrounding male mold 2 and with its bottom edge on gauging plate 12 while being held firmly against the rear of mold 2 by the operator, the operator, through the use of a foot pedal (not shown), actuates air cylinder 24 to drive the female mold 4 forward against the rear of male mold 2. Such action causes inward movement of side sections 38 and 40 substantially simultaneously with the cessation of forward movement of center section and the corresponding application of pressure by liner 50 against all of the back part and counter supported by mold 2.

It will now be observed in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 6, 7 and 8 that there are affixed to the bottom of molded liner 50 and the side sections 38 and 40, horizontally disposed creasing blades 62 and 64 as well a third creasing blade 66 which is affixed to the underside of that part of the molded liner 50 that is supported by the center section 30. Blades 62 and 64 are shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4a, while blade 66 is shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The edges of blades 62 and 64 are separated sufficiently from the edges of blade 66 so as not to interfere with the turning action of sides 38 and 40 with respect to center section 30. The inner edges of these three blades 62, 64 and 66 extend a small distance beyond the inner lower edge of. the molded liner 50. The forward areas of blades 62 and 64 slope downwardly as at 67, matching the slope of area 10 of flanging plate 8 and area 23 of gauging plate 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 4a). Upon operation-of the mold with the back part and associated counter in place, the female mold 4 moves to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, pressing the back part 58 and counter 60 tightly together against mold 2.-At the same time, the cooperating action of the laterally extending edge of flanging plate 8 and the inner edges of creasing blades 62, 64 and 66 turns the lower edge of the upper into an initial outturned position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. It will be remembered that at this time the counter 60 is still so hot from the preheating operation that it and the back part (usually leather or equivalent) may be bent readily without damage to the positions of FIGS.- 3 and 6. At the same time, the pressure of molded liner 50 against the moldv 2 with the back part and counter therebetween causes them to adhere.

As soon as the mold has been closed and the initial flange 68 created, as shown in. FIGS. 3 and 6, air cylinder l8is automatically operated driving piston 16 upward thereby to move gauging plate 12 upward past flanging plate 8, engaging outturned flange 68 and forcing it upward to final position against the creasing blades 62, 64 and 66, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 4a and 7. While these molding operations are taking place, cooling of the counter 60 has begun because of its direct engageme nt with water cooled mold 2. After a short time (about 8.seconds more or less) in the final molded position of FIGS. 4, 4a and 7, the counter will have cooled sufficiently to have become set, whereupon femalemold 4 is withdrawn from mold 2 to its original position as shown in FIG. 1 and the operator then removes the molded back part from its position about male mold 2.

The approximate final configuration of the molded back part and counter on removal from the mold is indicated in FIG. 13. Here it will be noted that the outwardly turned flange 68, optionally prenotched as at 70 in FIG. 12, is maintained in this position by the setting of the thermoplastic counter 60. The flange is more or less at right angles to the molded back part. The flange in this position, when the upper has been applied to the last, is then ready for direct stitchdown attachment to the midsole or outsole as the case may be. The finished flange 68 has a part which slopes downwardly as at 72 (see FIGS. 4a and 13) following the shape of sloping surfaces 10 of flanging plate 8 and the co-operating related sloping surfaces 67 of creasing blades 62 and 64 and sloping surfaces 23 of gauging plate 12. This sloping configuration 72 of the flange 68 thus makes a proper meeting with the midsole when the upper has been applied to the last.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 shows the molds in substantially the same position as shown in FIG. 5 in which the back part 58 and counter 60, previously heated, have been positioned on gauging .plate 12 while surrounding male mold 2. The difference, however, is that instead of having a single set of creasing blades 62, 64 and 66, there is added a second set of similarly shaped creasing blades (of which one is shown at 66' parallel to blades 62, 64 and 66 and separated therefrom by appropriate spacers 74.

The effect of this construction when the mold is closed is shown in FIG. 11. Instead of having a single outwardly extending flange 68 as illustrated in FIG. 4, 7 and 13, the outer periphery of the flange is in effect wrapped around the edge of flanging plate 8 producing an outwardly extending portion 76, a vertical portion 78, and an inwardly extending terminal edge 80. In this construction, it is not possible to utilize upward movement of the gauging plate 12 because, as can be seen in FIG. 11, upward movement of gauging plate 12 would only cause direct engagement with the underside of creasing blade 66' which would have no effect on the terminal edge 80. However, creasing blades 66 and 66 at the center section and the corresponding additional blades spaced below blades 62 and 64 on the bottom of side sections 38 and 40 will result in an accurately formed internally grooved section whose configuration is as illustrated in FIG. 11 and which is adapted to receive the edge of a midsole when the upper is placed on the last.

The construction heretofore referred to in which the flanging plate 8 is detachably secured to the bottom of male mold 2 provides means whereby the angularity of the mold to the flanging plate may be readily changed. Such change may be required when molding some upper for different sizes or styles of lasts to insure that flange 68 will be formed with a substantially constant width.

FIG. 9 illustrates how the change may be made. The flanging plate 8 is unscrewed from the bottom of mold 2. The bottom of mold 2 is then ground away to form, for example, a new flat bottom indicated by the line 82. The flanging plate 8 is then reattached to the new bottom 82 of mold 2. The dotted lines 84, 86 and 88 indicate the new positions of the rear, top and front of mold 2 with respect to flanging plate 8. The position of liner 50 with respect to section 30 is modified slightly to agree with the new position 84 of the rear of mold 2 by inserting a wedge 90. The upper, when placed on gauging plate 12, will now fit the mold properly so that the flange 68 created by the closing of mold 4 will be of uniform width. When the term back part? is used in the claims as the part of the shoe upper that is acted on by the molding machine, it is to be understood that the back part may or may not have attached thereto a counter of thermoplastic material. In cases where the counter is omitted, the leather of the heel portion will be molded the same as it would be molded if the counter were present. While it is not at present being done, applicants contemplate that the leather might be treated with heat activated material which would permit the forming of a stitchdown flange capable of maintaining its shape after molding without the presence of a thermoplastic counter.

Modifications and further applications of the invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In a machine for shaping the back part of shoe uppers prior to lasting, a male mold shaped in the configuration of the rear part of a shoe last, a female mold carrier at the rear of said male mold comprising a plurality of relatively movable elements, a resilient molded liner carried by said elements, a flanging plate on the bottom of said male mold, the edge of said flanging plate extending laterally beyond said male mold at the rear and sides thereof, a set of creasing blades at the bottom of said liner and located above and generally parallel to the upper surface of said flanging plate edge when said male and female molds are in closed molding position, a gauging plate and means for moving said gauging plate up and down, said gauging plate normally below said flanging plate and shaped interiorly to clear said flanging plate when moved upward, said gauging plate when in down position acting as means for positioning the back part of a shoe upper in proper vertical position with respect to said flanging plate and said creasing blades for subsequent creation of an outturned flange of selected dimension, means for moving said elements and molded liner and creasing blades against the rear and sides of said back part after the back part has been positioned on said gauging plate and around the rear of said male mold to mold said back part for subsequent application to a last and to produce outward bending of the lower edge of said back part to create an outturned flange.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1, said gauging plate when moved upward acting to press said flange upward against the underside of said creasing blades thereby to extend the bending of said flange to stitchdown configuration.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1, said flanging plate being removable from the bottom of said male mold.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1, said male mold having passages therein whereby cooling water may be passed therethrough.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1, said flanging plate and gauging plate having upper surfaces at the forward ends thereof sloping downwardly and said creasing blades sloping downwardly at those areas which overlie said upper surfaces when said elements and liner are closed about said male mold.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1, the engaging surfaces of said male mold and said flanging plate being flat.

7. The construction set forth in claim 1 and an adjustable stop for controlling the down position of said gauging plate whereby the width of the flange of said back part may be controlled.

8. The construction set forth in claim 1, said movable elements comprising a center section and two side sections pivoted with respect to said center section, said molded liner extending about the interior surfaces of all said sections and means for spreading the two pivoted side sections when said carrier is separated from said male mold.

9. The construction set forth in claim 1, and a second set of creasing blades parallel to said first set of creasing blades and separated therefrom by spacers, said second set of creasing blades being located below said flanging plate and above said gauging plate, said first and second sets of creasing blades acting in cooperation with said flanging plate when said movable elements are closed about said male mold to wrap the lower edge of said back part around the endge of said flanging plate thereby forming a bottom flange having an interior groove adapted to receive therein the rear periphery of a midsole.

10. The construction set forth in claim 1, the means formoving said elements and molded liner and creasing blades comprising an air cylinder and piston aligned with said male mold, a back plate on said piston, one of said plurality of elements carried by said back plate and held spaced therefrom by resilient means, said one element being between said piston and male mold, two other elements each pivotally mounted on said one element and normally spaced apart far enough to straddle without touching said male mold when said female mold is moved toward said male mold, spaced means on said back plate positioned to engage and rotate said two elements toward each other about said pivots simultaneously and after said one element has engaged said malemold and has stopped its forward movement while said back platecontinues its forward movement toward said stopped one element; the extent of the rotation of said two elements toward each other after said one element has engaged said male mold, being sufficient to clamp said male mold and interposed back parts tightly therebetween.

11. The method of simultaneously shaping the back and counter while still hot around a male mold, bringing pressure to bear against said back part and superimposed counter around the rear and along the sides of said male mold, simultaneously bending the overlying lower edges of said back part and counter outwardly to form a flange, said bending of the lower edges being accomplished through the operation of opposed nonaligned but adjacent parallel forces acting toward each other on opposite sides of said lower edges from an initially spaced position with 1 said lower edges unbent therebetween to an overlapping position with said lower edges bent therebetween to form said flange, allowing said back part and counter to remain in the said bent position long enough for said counter to cool below the setting temperature of said thermoplastic counter whereby said flange will maintain its position after the pressure has been removed.

part of a shoe upper and superimposed thermoplastic counter, comprising the steps of heating the back part and counter to a temperature to render the counter moldable and the surface of the counter capable of bonding itself to the back part, placing said back part 12. The method set forth in claim 11, said flange being additionally bent in the same direction by the application of another force acting substantially at right angles to said parallel forces.

13. The method set forth in claim 11, the outer periphery of said flange beyond the parts engaged by said parallel forces being simultaneously bent downward and inward to form an interior groove.

Claims (13)

1. In a machine for shaping the back part of shoe uppers prior to lasting, a male mold shaped in the configuration of the rear part of a shoe last, a female mold carrier at the rear of said male mold comprising a plurality of relatively movable elements, a resilient molded liner carried by said elements, a flanging plate on the bottom of said male mold, the edge of said flanging plate extending laterally beyond said male mold at the rear and sides thereof, a set of creasing blades at the bottom of said liner and located above and generally parallel to the upper surface of said flanging plate edge when said male and female molds are in closed molding position, a gauging plate and means for moving said gauging plate up and down, said gauging plate normally below said flanging plate and shaped interiorly to clear said flanging plate when moved upward, said gauging plate when in down position acting as means for positioning the back part of a shoe upper in proper vertical position with respect to said flanging plate and said creasing blades for subsequent creation of an outturned flange of selected dimension, means for moving said elements and molded liner and creasing blades against the rear and sides of said back part after the back part has been positioned on said gauging plate and around the rear of said male mold to mold said back part for subsequent application to a last and to produce outward bending of the lower edge of said back part to create an outturned flange.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1, said gauging plate when moved upward acting to press said flange upward against the underside of said creasing blades thereby to extend the bending of said flange to stitchdown configuration.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1, said flanging plate being removable from the bottom of said male mold.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1, said male mold having passages therein whereby cooling water may be passed therethrough.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1, said flanging plate and gauging plate having upper surfaces at the forward ends thereof sloping downwardly and said creasing blades sloping downwardly at those areas which overlie said upper surfaces when said elements and liner are closed about said male mold.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1, the engaging surfaces of said male mold and said flanging plate being flat.

7. The construction set forth in claim 1 and an adjustable stop for controlling the down position of said gauging plate whereby the width of the flange of said back part may be controlled.

8. The construction set forth in claim 1, said movable elements comprising a center section and two side sections pivoted with respect to said center section, said molded liner extending about the interior surfaces of all said sections and means for spreading the two pivoted side sections when said carrier is separated from said male mold.

9. The construction set forth in claim 1, and a second set of creasing blades parallel to said first set of creasing blades and separated therefrom by spacers, said second set of creasing blades being located below said flanging plate and above said gauging plate, said first and second sets of creasing blades acting in cooperation with said flanging plate when said moVable elements are closed about said male mold to wrap the lower edge of said back part around the endge of said flanging plate thereby forming a bottom flange having an interior groove adapted to receive therein the rear periphery of a midsole.

10. The construction set forth in claim 1, the means for moving said elements and molded liner and creasing blades comprising an air cylinder and piston aligned with said male mold, a back plate on said piston, one of said plurality of elements carried by said back plate and held spaced therefrom by resilient means, said one element being between said piston and male mold, two other elements each pivotally mounted on said one element and normally spaced apart far enough to straddle without touching said male mold when said female mold is moved toward said male mold, spaced means on said back plate positioned to engage and rotate said two elements toward each other about said pivots simultaneously and after said one element has engaged said male mold and has stopped its forward movement while said back plate continues its forward movement toward said stopped one element; the extent of the rotation of said two elements toward each other after said one element has engaged said male mold, being sufficient to clamp said male mold and interposed back parts tightly therebetween.

11. The method of simultaneously shaping the back part of a shoe upper and superimposed thermoplastic counter, comprising the steps of heating the back part and counter to a temperature to render the counter moldable and the surface of the counter capable of bonding itself to the back part, placing said back part and counter while still hot around a male mold, bringing pressure to bear against said back part and superimposed counter around the rear and along the sides of said male mold, simultaneously bending the overlying lower edges of said back part and counter outwardly to form a flange, said bending of the lower edges being accomplished through the operation of opposed non-aligned but adjacent parallel forces acting toward each other on opposite sides of said lower edges from an initially spaced position with said lower edges unbent therebetween to an overlapping position with said lower edges bent therebetween to form said flange, allowing said back part and counter to remain in the said bent position long enough for said counter to cool below the setting temperature of said thermoplastic counter whereby said flange will maintain its position after the pressure has been removed.

12. The method set forth in claim 11, said flange being additionally bent in the same direction by the application of another force acting substantially at right angles to said parallel forces.

13. The method set forth in claim 11, the outer periphery of said flange beyond the parts engaged by said parallel forces being simultaneously bent downward and inward to form an interior groove.

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