US3775797A

US3775797A - Method and machine for lasting

Info

Publication number: US3775797A
Application number: US00227376A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Couris; M Becka; J Kamborian; L Godley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-18
Filing date: 1972-02-18
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04
Also published as: GB1378632A; DE2307934A1; CA977108A; DE2307934B2; IT979076B; DE2354412A1; BR7301019D0; GB1378631A; JPS4955454A; DE2354411A1; DE2354412B2; FR2174570A5

Abstract

A lasting machine for stretching the sides of an upper about a last and wiping the margin of the upper against an insole located on the bottom of the last. The stretching and wiping is performed by a plurality of lasting straps. Mechanism is provided that causes bottom segments of the lasting straps to clamp the top line of the upper against the last, then causes middle segments of the lasting straps to press the portion of the upper between the top line and the insole against the last with a pressure that commences proximate to the top line and works its way toward the insole, then causes top segments of the lasting straps to be folded inwardly under relatively low pressure part way towards the insole to act as a back-up while cement is applied along the insole periphery, and then concomitantly causes the middle segments to be stretched upwardly while the clamping and pressing are maintained to stretch the upper about the last and the top segments to be folded against the insole under relatively high pressure to wipe the upper against the insole and cementatiously attach the upper to the insole.

Description

United States atent [191 Kamborian, deceased et al.

[ 11 3,775,797 [451 Dec. 4, 1973 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR LASTING [75] Inventors: Jacob S. Kamborian, deceased, late of Newton, Mass.; by Lisbeth N. Godley, Washington, DC; by Michael M. Becka, Watertown, Mass; by Jacob S. Kamborian, Jr., Lincoln, Mass. executors; Costa Couris, East Walpole, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Jacob S. executor of Kamborian Kamborian, Jr., Lincoln, Mass.

[22] Filed: Feb. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,376

Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney-Albert Gordon et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A lasting machine for stretching the sides of an upper about a last and wiping the margin of the upper against an insole located on the bottom of the last. The stretching and wiping is performed by a plurality of lasting straps. Mechanism is provided that causes bottom segments of the lasting straps to clamp the top line of the upper against the last, then causes middle segments of the lasting straps to press the portion of the upper between the top line and the insole against the last with a pressure that commences proximate to the top line and works its way toward the insole, then causes top segments of the lasting straps to be folded inwardly under relatively low pressure part way towards the insole to act as a back-up while cement is applied along the insole periphery, and then concomitantly causes the middle segments to be stretched upwardly while the clamping and pressing are maintained to stretch the upper about the last and the top segments to be folded against the insole under relatively high pressure to wipe the upper against the insole and cementatiously attach the upper to the insole.

58 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Dec. 4, 1973 United States Patent Kamborian, deceased et al.

PAIENTEDDEB 4197s 3775797 sum 10F s O ww v 66, In

1| I o QO W o QO PATENTEU DH. 4 I975 SHEET 6 OF 8 BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of this invention is concerned with an improved method and machine for stretching an upper tightly about a last, on which the upper is mounted, and wiping the margin of the upper against an insolelocated on the bottom "of the last in such a manner as to produce a lasted shoe wherein the upper is stretched about and in tight conformance wth the last. While the prior art, as exemplified by US. Pats. Nos. 302,885; 465,073; and 1,843,232 discloses attempts'to achieve this result, the present invention achieves this resultin a manner not contemplated by the prior art to obtain the desired product. This is accomplished by clamping a part of the upper, preferably the top line, that is spaced from the insole, rigidly against the last, thenv pressing the portion of the upper that is between the clamped part and the insole against the last, andv then, concomitantly, while the "clamping and pressing are maintained, stretching the portion of the upper that extends between the clamped part and theupper margin about the last and wiping the margin against the insole.

A second aspect of this invention is concerned with a method and machine for enabling cement to be applied along the insole periphery prior to the wiping of the upper margin against the insole so that the cement may attach the wiped upper margin to the insole. In order to 'accomplishthis effectively, a lasting tool is caused to apply a relatively light back-up force again'st the exterior surface of the upper margin to fold the margin part way. towards the insole. The back-up force limits the extent of outward movement of a cement apg 2 with respect to the base so that the lasting instrumentality can perform its operations onthe shoe assembly.

A fourth apsect of the invention is concerned with a mechanism for moving the carrier inwardly and for locking it in place in its inner position. The mechanism includes a bar on which the carrier is mounted for inward-outward'movement. Outer and inner stops are located in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine outer and inner positions for the carrier. A pawl is mounted to the carrier for movement between positions of engagement and disengagement with ratchet teeth on the bar. A connection between a drive plying nozzle that is caused to travel along the insole A third aspect of the invention is concerned with an improved lasting machine having at least one lasting instrumentality that, when moved inwardly from an outer position towards a shoe assembly, formed of the last having the upper mounted thereonand the insole located on its bottom, performs operations that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the upper margin against the insole-It is desirable, in this type of ma- .chine, that the lasting instrumentality be .relatively remote from the support before the shoe assembly is placed on the support so as to provide clearance for the placement of the shoe assembly on the support. In order to provide for this advantage, the lasting instrumentality is mounted to a base for inward-outward movement and the base is'mounted to a carrier that is also mounted for inward-outward'movement. Initially, the carrier is in an outer position with-respect to the support and the lasting instrumentality is in its outer position with respect to the base. Aftr the shoe assemblyhas been placed on the support, mechanism in the machine causes the carrier to move inwardly to an inner position wherein the lasting instrumentality is close to, but not in engagement with, the shoe assem-. bly. This is followed by mechanism in the machine causing the lasting instrumentality to move inwardly the insole.

member, that is moved inwardly and outwardly to effect corresponding movement of the carrier, and the pawl operates to place the pawl in its position of disengagement when an outwardly directed force is applied to the drive member and to place the pawl in its position of engagement when an inwardly directed force is applied to the drive member. Therefore, when the drive member moves the carrier inwardly against the inner stop, the pawl is in its position of engagement to lock the carrier against outward movement.

A fifth aspect of the invention is concerned with the construction of a lasting unit that incorporates a lasting instrumentality that, when moved inwardly from an outer position against the shoe assembly, performs operations that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the upper margin against the insole. The construction includes a base on which thelasting instrumentality is mounted for inward-outward movement, a bracket mounted to the base outwardly of the lasting instrumentality, and a drive mechanism interposed between the bracket and the lasting instrumentality for effecting inward movement of the lasting instrumentality withrespect to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine; v

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the machine taken along theline 22 of FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the machine taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1; g

1 FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of a lasting instrumentality;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a part of the machine control circuit;

FIG. 7 is a representation of the shoe assembly in the machine at the beginning of an operating cycle of the machine;

FIG. 7A is a view taken on the line 7A-7A of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a representation of the shoe assembly in the machine after the upper has been clamped to and pressed against the last;

FIG. 8A is a view taken on the line 8A-8A of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a representation of the shoe assembly in the machine after the upper margin has'been folded part 'way towards the insole and while cement nozzles are moving along the insole periphery; and

FIG. 10 is a representation of the shoe assembly in the machine after the upper has been stretched about the last and the upper margin has-been wiped against DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The operator is intended to stand to the right of the machine as seen in FIG. 1 and directions extending toward the operator will be designated as forward while directions extending away from the operator will be designated as rearward. The front of the machine is closest to the operator and the back of the machine is furthermost from the operator.

The machine includes two

fixed blocks

10 and 12 located on one side of the machine and two

fixed blocks

14 and 16 located on the other side of the machine. A front guide bar 18 is secured to and extends between the

blocks

10 and 14 and a back guide bar 20 is secured to and extends between the

blocks

12 and 16. A shoe support 22, that includes a toe rest 24 and a last pin 26,

is mounted to the

bars

18, 20 centrally of the machine.

A carrier 28 is located on each side of the shoe support 22, each carrier straddling the

bars

18, 20 and being guided on the bars for inward-outward movement. The extent of outward movement of the carriers 28 on the

bars

18, 20 is limited by stop collars 30 that are secured to the

bars

18, 20 outwardly of the carrier in intersecting relation with the carriers so as to be engaged by the carriers when the carriers are moved outwardly. Collars 32, secured to the bar 18 inwardly of each of the carriers 28, have stop bolts 34 threaded therein. The heads 36 of the bolts 34 extend outwardly of their respective collars 32 in intersecting relation with the carriers 28 so as to be engaged by the carriers when the carriers are moved inwardly to thus adjustably limit the extent of inward movement of the carriers.

Referring to FIG. 4, the carriers 28 are moved inwardly and outwardly by an air operated motor 38 having a cylinder 40 and a piston rod 42, the motor 38 being located below the guide bar 20. The cylinder 40 and the piston rod 42 are relatively movable towards and away from each other in response to the admission of pressurized air to one end or the other of the cylinder. A set of ratchet teeth 44 are located on the bottom of thebar'20 on each side of the shoe support 22 in wardly of each collar 303A pawl 46 is pivoted to each carrier 28 on a pin 48 for swinging movement towards and away from its associated set of ratchet teeth 44. The pawls 46 are yieldably urged against the ratchet teeth 44 by compression spring 50 that are interposed between each pawl and a flange 52 that is secured to each carrier 28. Cams 54, pivoted to the flanges 52 on pins 56, have cam surfaces 58 that are adapted to engage depending legs 60 of the pawls 46 so as to swing the pawls about the axes of the pins 48 in directions to disengage the pawls from the ratchet teeth 44. The piston rod 42 is pivoted to one of the cams 54 by a pin 62 and a shaft 64 secured to the cylinder 40 is secured to the other cam 54-by a pin 66.

A plurality of bases 68 mounted side by side in forward-rearward directions on each side of the shoe support 22. An inner link 70 and an outer link 72 is pivoted to the bottom of each base 68 so as to extend downwardly and outwardly thereof. The bottoms of the

links

70 and 72 are respectively pivoted to

pins

74 and 76 that are secured to the carriers 28. A screw 78, threaded into a flange 80 that is secured to each carrier 28, is adapted to bear against a portion of the outer end of each link 72 that extends above its associated pin 76.

Screws 82, threaded into the flanges below the screws 78, are adapted to bear against portions of the outer ends ,of the links 72 that extend downwardly of the pins 76. I

A flange 84, secured to and extending upwardly of each base 68, threadedly receives a bolt 86. Each bolt 86 extends through an outer slide bracket 88 that is slidably mounted to a base 68 for inward-outward movement. Each bracket 88 forms a part of a lasting unit 90, described below. The lasting units 90 include inner slide brackets 92 that are also mounted to the bases 68 for inward-outward movement. A knob 94 is pinned to the outer end 96 of each bolt 86, the outer ends 96 being of smaller diameter than the threaded portions of the bolts 86. The brackets 88 are located between the shoulderslocated at the juncture of the larger and. smaller diametered portions of the bolts 86 and shoulders formed at the inner ends of the knobs 94. Due to the connection between the outer brackets 88 and the inner brackets 92, described below, rotation of the knobs 94 in one direction or the other will cause inward or outward movement of the

brackets

88, 92 along the bases 68 and thus cause inward or outward movement of the lasting units 90,

An air operated motor 98 is pivoted to each outer bracket 88 and extends inwardly thereof. The piston rod 100 of each motor 98 is pivoted by a pin 101 (FIG. 5).to the middle of a lever 102. Each lever 102 has an upper limb 104 and a lower limb 106, the limbs extending inwardly of the pins 101. Each limb 106 is pivoted by. a pin 108 to a lever 110. The bottom of each lever 110 is pivoted by a pin 112 to a block segment 114 for inward-outward movement about the axis of the pin 1 12. The block segments 1 14 are mounted on the inner brackets 92 for heightwise movement by means of prongs 116 that are secured to the inner brackets 92 and extend upwardly thereof into bores 118 in the block segments 114. Pins 120, projecting radially from the prongs 116, are slidably received in slots 122 (FIG. 2) that are formed in the block segments 114.

A lasting instrumentality 124 is anchored to each block segment 114 by being secured by bolts 126 to a block segment 128 that is attached to each block 114. The

block segments

114 and 128 constitute a block. Each lasting instrumentality 124 is fonned of three plies, the outer ply being an outer presser strap 130, the middle ply being an inner presser strap 132, and the inner ply being a lasting strap 134. The

straps

130, 132 and 134 are made of an elastic, flexible and deformable material such as urethane. The

straps

130, 132 and 134 respectively have

bottom segments

130a, 132a and 134a that are rigid by virtue of being secured to the block segment 128 by the bolts 126. The top of each lasting strap 134 is formed into a thickened relatively rigid top segment 1341:. The middle segment 134a of the lasting strap 134, between the bottom segment 134a and the top segment 134b, is flexible, deformable and stretchable.

The top of each inner presser strap 132 is formed into a. thickened relatively rigid top segment 132b that is located below its associatedlasting strap top segment 134b. The middle segment 1320 of theinner presser strap 132, betweenthe bottom segment 132a and the top segment 132b, is flexible, deformable and stretchable.

The top of each outer presser strap 130 is formed .into a thickened relatively rigid top segment 130b that is located below its associated inner presser strap top segment l32b; The middle segment 1300 of the outer presser strap 130, between the bottom segment 130a and the top segment 130b, is flexible, deformable and stretchable. I

A lug 135, embedded in the outer pressure strap top segment 1305, has a pin 136 mounted thereto that is slidably received in a slot 138 formed at the top of each lever 110. Y I

A lug 139, embedded in the inner presser strap top segment 132b, is pivoted by a pin 140 for swinging movement about an upright axis to a clevis 142. Each clevis 142 is pivoted by a pin 144 to a link 146, and each link 146 is pivoted by" a pin 148 to the top of its associated limb 104.

An air operated motor 150 is associated with each lasting instrumentality 124. Each motor 150 is pivoted to a bracket 152 that is secured to thetop of each outer bracket 88. The motors 150 extend iwnardly of the brackets 152. A socket 154 is embedded in each lasting strap top segement 134b. Each socket 154 rotatably receives a ball 156 that is mounted to the inner end of the piston rod 158 of its associated motor 150 to thereby provide a flexible connection between the piston rods 158 and the lasting strap top segments 134b.

In the idle position of the machine: pressurized air is entering the motor 38 so as to impart outward movements to the piston rod 42 and the shaft 64 thus forcing the carriers 28 to their outer positions in abutment with the collars 30 with the pawls46 disengaged from the ratchet teeth 44 and positioning the lasting units 90 in outer positions where they do not interfere with the placement of a shoe assembly on the shoe support 22 as described below; and the piston rods 100 are retracted into the motors 98 and the piston rods 158 are retracted into the motors 150 thus placing thel'asting instrumentalities 124 in outer positions on the bases 68.

A shoe assembly 160 (FIGS. 7 and 7A) comprising a last 162 having'an insole 164 located on its bottom and an upper 166 mounted thereon, is placed bottomdown on the shoe support 22 with the vamp of the shoe assembly resting on thetoe rest 24 and with the last pin 26 inserted into the thimble in the back portion of the last. Prior to placement in the machine, the shoeassembly 160 had been toe lasted and heel seat lasted. In addition, prior to placement of the shoe assembly 160 on the shoe support 22, the toe test 24 and the last pin 26 had been adjusted, by means not shown, to accommodate themselves to-the size and style of the shoe assembly. Also, in order to accommodate the sizeand style of the shoe assembly, the following adjustments were made:

a. The positions of the bolts 34 in the collars 32 were adjusted to adjust the inner positions of the carriers 28 after they are moved inwardly, as described below. 1

b. The

screws

78 and 82 were adjusted in the flange 80 to cause the

links

70 and 72 to adjust the heightwise positions of the lasting units 90.

c. The knobs 94 were manipulated to adjust the inward-outward positions'of the lasting units 90 with respect to the bases 68.

The motor 38 is-now actuated so as to move the piston rod 42 and the shaft 64 inwardly towards each other until the carriers 28 engage the bolt heads 36 to this position the lasting instrumentalities 124 close to but not in engagement with the shoe assembly. The inward movements of the piston rod 42 and the shaft 64 will cause the cams 54 to swing about the pins 56 away from the lugs 60, thus enabling the pawls 46to be urged against the ratchet teeth 44 by the springs 50. The pawls 46 will slide along the ratchet teeth 44 until the carriers 28 reach their inner positions as determined by the engagement of the carriers with the bolt heads 36, after which the engagement of the pawls with the ratchet teeth lock the carriers against'outward movement. The ratchet teeth 44 are so constructed as to permit inward movement of the pawls 46 therealong but to preclude outward movement of the pawls along the ratchetteeth when the springs 50 are urging the pawls against the ratchet teeth.

Referring to the circuit diagram in FIG. 6, each of the motors 98 and is maintained in its idle position by pressurized air passing from a source 168 through a line 170, a valve 172 and a line 174 to the rod ends of these motors. At this time, the operator manually and momentarily shifts a valve 176 to cause pressurized air to pass from the source 168 through a line 178, the valve 176, and a pilot line 180 to the left side of the valve 172 to shift this valve. The shifting of the valve 172 cuts off the flow of pressurized air to the rod ends of the

motors

98 and 150 through the line 174 and enables the air in the line 174 to be vented to atmosphere through the valve 172. The shifting of the valve 172 also enables pressurized air to pass from the valve 172 through a line 181 to the blind end of each motor 98. After a time delay caused by a flow control valve 182, the pressurized air passes from the line 181 through a line 184, the flow control valve 182, a pressure regulator 186 set at a relatively low pressure, a line 188, a shuttle valve190 and. a line 192 to the blind end of each motor 150.

The admission of pressurized air to the blindends of the motors 98 enables each piston rod 100 to cause a lasting instrumentality 124 to move inwardly with respect to its base 68 with its inner bracket 92 sliding on the base until the lasting strap bottom segment 134a engages and meets resistance from the shoe assembly 160. At this time, since there is no pressurized air in the motors 150, the piston rods 158 are dragged inwardly of the motors 150 during the inward movements of the lasting instrumentalities 124. The lasting strap bottom segments 134a engage the side portions of the shoe assembly 160, between its previously lasted toe and heel portions, wherein the margin 194 of the upper 166 extends away from the insole as shown in FIG. 8. The rigid bottom segment 134a straddles the top line 195 of the upper so as to clamp the top line against the last 162. Upon engagement ofa bottom segment 134a with the shoe assembly 160, the continued force applied by the piston rod 100, through the lever limb 106, causes the lever 110 to swing inwardly about its pivot pin 112. The inward swinging of the lever 110, through the pin and

slot connection

136, 138, causes the outer presser strap top segment 130b to be forced inwardly thus flexing inwardly the outer presser strap middle segment 130c. This is followed by an inward swinging of the lever 102 about its pivot pin 108 which, through the lever limb 104 and the link 146, causes the inner presser strap top segment 132b to be forced inwardly thus flexing inwardly the inner presser strap middle segment 1320. e

It is desired, during the lasting of the shoe, that the top line 195 of the upper 166 be clamped against the last 162 and remain stationary on the last while the portions of the upper extending'from the upper towards the last bottom and the insole 164 have any slack and wrinkles taken out and then be pressed tightly against the last. This is accomplishedby virtue of the fact that the bottom segment 134a first rigidly clamps the top line 195 to the last after which the outer presser strap top segment 130b is moved against the shoe assembly followed by a movement of the inner presser strap top segment 132b against the shoe assembly. The movement of the presser straps against the shoe assembly causes the lasting strap middle segment 134C to flex and press the upper between the top line and the insole bottom against the last while conforming to the shape of the last. Since the outer presser strap top segment 13017 is lower than the inner presser strap top segment 132b, the pressure applied by the lasting strap middle segment 1340 against the upper commences at its bot tom proximate to its rigid bottom segment 134a and works its 'way upwardly. Therefore, the upper is progressively urged upwardly of the top line as it is pressed against the last thus pressing the upper against the last in a wrinkle free manner. Atthe completion of the pressing of the upper against the last by the lasting strap middle segment 1340, the lasting strap top segment l34b extends upwardly of the insole 164 and outwardly of the upper margin194 as indicated in FIG. 8. The lugs 139 may swing about the axis of the pins 140 during the inward movement of the inner presser straps l32thereby enabling the inner presser straps 132 and the portions of the lasting straps 134 engaged thereby to twist about the axes of the pins 140 so as to conform to the lengthwise or heel to toe curvature of the side of the shoe assembly as indicated in FIG. 8A.

After the outer presser straps 130 and the inner presser straps 132 have been flexed inwardly to cause the upper 166 to conform snugly to the shape of the last 162 and to press the upper against the last, the flow control valve 182 enables each motor 150 to force its associated lasting strap top segment 134b inwardly under the relatively low pressure of the pressure regulator 186 to provide'an inwardly directed back-up force that folds the rigid lasting strap top' segment 134b downwardly about its juncture with the lasting strap middle segment 1340 so thatthe top segment 134b forms an acute angle with respect to the insole 194, this being permitted by the flexible connection provided by the ball and

socket connections

156, 154. This causes the upper margin to be folded downwardly about the periphery of the insole, part way towards the insole, as indicated in FIG. 9, to form an acute angle with the insole.

Now a pair of nozzles 196 (FIG. 9) are caused to travel along the insole periphery lengthwise of the shoe assembly while being urged outwardly against the upper margin. Thermoplastic cement is extruded from the nozzles 196 during their travel along the insole periphery, the cement being inserted into the angle between the upper margin 194 and the insole 164. The relatively low back-up force exerted against the upper margin 194 by the lasting strap top segment l34b forces the upper margin 194 against the periphery of the insole 164 to create a barrier between the upper margin and the insole that inhibits the creeping of the cement between the upper margin and the insole and then between the upper 166 and the sides of the last 162. In addition, the forcing of the upper margin 194 under the relatively low pressure by the top lasting strap top segment 1341; into the FIG. 9 position enables the lasting strap top segments to serve as back-up members to limit the extent of outward movement of the nozzles 196 during their travel along the insole periphery.

After the cement has been applied into the angle between the upper margin 194 and the insole 164 by the nozzles 196, a manually operable valve 198 is momentarily shifted to cause a pulse of air to pass from the source 168 through a line 200, the valve 198 and a pilot line 202 to the left side of a valve 204 to shift the valve 204. The shifting of the valve 204 enables pressurized air to pass from the source 168 through a line 206, the valve 204, a line 207, a line 208, a pressure regulator 210 set at higher pressure than the pressure regulator 186, the shuttle valve 190 and the line 192 to the blind end of each motor 150 to cause each motor 150 to force its piston rod 158 inwardly under relativelyhigh pressure and thereby force the lasting strap top segment 134k inwardly over the insole periphery under relatively high pressure. This has the effect of forcing each lasting strap top segment 134b inwardly and downwardly to press the upper margin 194 against the insole 164 as indicated in FIG. 10. At this time, the rigid lasting strap bottom segments l34a are still clamping the top line 195 to the last, and the inward and downward force imparted to the lasting strap top segments 134b causes the lasting strap middle segments 134C to stretch, while the inner and outer presser straps 132 and maintain their pressure against the shoe assembly 160, to thus force the portion of the upper 166 extending above the top line 195 inwardly and stretch the upper upwardly and tightly about the last while it is conforming to the shape of the last. The pressure applied by the presser straps 130 and. 132 is light enough to allow this stretching of the lasting strap middle segments 1340 to take place. The forcing down of each lasting strap top segment 134b against the insole causes the lasting strap top segment 134b to wipe or fold the upper margin 194 against the insole 164 and bond the upper margin to the insole by means of the previously applied thermoplastic cement. The downward pressure exerted by each lasting strap top segment ,134b has the effect of ironing or pressing the upper margin 194 flat against the insole 164. The wiping and ironing effect of the lasting strap top segments is enhanced by their relatively rigid constructions.

The shifting of the valve 204 also enables pressurized air to pass from the line 207 through a pilot line 214 to a timer 216 which is set to pass air therethrough after the lapse of a predetermined time interval. After the lapse of this time interval, pressurized air passes from the timer 216 through

pilot lines

218 and 220 to the right sides of the

valves

172 and 204 to shift these valves. The shifting of the valve 172 shuts off the flow of pressurized air to the blind end of the motor 98 through the line 181 and shuts 011' the flow of pressurized air to the blind end of the motor through the low pressure regulator 186. The shifting of the valve 204 shuts off the flow of pressurized air to the blind end of the motor 150 through the high pressure regulator 210. The shifting of the valve 172 also enables pressurized air to pass to the rod end of each

motor

98 and 150 through the line 174 to return these motors to their idle positions. The shifting of the valve 204 also cuts off the flow of pressurized air to the right sides of the

valves

172 and 204 through the

pilot lines

218 and 220.

Now the motor 38 is actuated to move the piston rod 42 and the shaft 64 outwardly of each other to move the carriers 28 to their outer positions abutting the collars 30 to thus move the lasting units 90 outwardly so that the lasted shoe assembly 160 may be removed from the machines. At the beginning of the outward movement of the piston rod 42 and the shaft 64, the cams 54 are swung about the axes of the pins56 so as to engage the legs 60 swing the pawls 46 about the axes of the pins 48 in directions to disengage the pawls from the ratchet teeth 44. i

Theabove described cycle of operationswas predicated on the inwardly and downwardly extending axes of the piston rods 158 intersecting the insole 164inwardly of the insole periphery during the application of the relatively lowback-up forces to bring the parts to the FIG. 9 position and during the application of the relatively high wiping forces to bring the parts to the FIG. position. If due to an error made in adjusting the heightwise position of a lasting unit 90 the axis of causes the lasting instrumentality 124 to rise upwardly of its bracket 92 with the bore 118 rising upwardly of the prong 116 until the axis of the piston rod 158 intersects the bottom of the insole 164 inwardly of the insole periphery, after which the lasting strap top segment 134b is forced inwardly in the manner describedabove.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the from motor 150 on each side of the machine is inclined inwardly and rearwardly and the back motor 150 on each side of the machine is inclined inwardly and forwardly. This inclination enables the endmost lasting strap 134 to be twisted towards the reentrant portions 220 and 222 (FIG. 7A) of the periphery of the bottom of the last 162 as they are flexed inwardly by their motors 150. While in the above described operation of the machine, the lasting strap bottom segments 134aare described as clamping the .top line of the upper to the last, if the shoe being lasted does not have a top line in position to be engaged by the bottom segments 134a, these segments will clamp parts of the upper that are spaced from the insole against the last and apply the pressing and stretching forces to the part of the upper that extends between the clamped part and the insole to thereby cause the upper to conform to the shaft of the last and be stretched about the last during the wiping operation.

WE CLAIM: v

1. A method of lasting, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom,ifor stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; clamping a part of said upper portion that is spacedly located below the insole rigidly against the last; thereafter applying a pressure to said portion of the upper against the last in a location that is between said clamped part and the insole while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into about the last and wiping the margin against the insole;

2. The methodof claim 1 further comprising: applying said pressure in such a manner that thepressure, commences proximate to said clamped part and pro-. gressively works its way upwardly towards the insole. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: enabling the locations of said clamping and pressing of the upper against the last to move upwardly of the last during said stretching of said upper portion and said wiping of the margin.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said clamped-part of the upper is the top line of the upper. I

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said clamped part of the upper is the top line of the upper.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said margin is wiped against the insole by the application of a relatively heavy wiping force by a lasting tool that is applied inwardly againstthe exterior of the margin; and further comprising performing the following steps subsequent to said application of pressure to the upper and prior to said concomitant stretching of said upper portion and said wiping of the margin: causing the lasting tool to apply a relatively light back-up force inwardly against the exterior of the-margin to fold said margin part way towards the insole; moving a nozzle alongthe insole periphery and outwardly thereof to the extent permitted by said back-up force; and extruding cement from the nozzle into the angle between the insole periphery and the margin during said movement of the nozzle. I

7. A method of lasting, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole and cementatiously attaching the wiper upper margin to the insole comprising: supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; folding said margin part way towards the insole by causing a lasting tool to apply a relatively light back-up force inwardly against the exterior surface of the margin; thereafter moving a nozzle along the insole periphery and outwardly thereof to the extent permitted by said back-up force; extruding cement from the nozzle into the angle between the insole periphery and the margin during said movement of thenozzle; and thereafter folding said margin against the insole by causing the lasting tool to apply a relatively heavy wiping force inwardly against the exterior surface of the margin to thereby wipe said margin against the insole and attach it to the insole by way of said cement.

8. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; means for clamping a part of said upper portion that is spaced from the insole rigidly against the last; means for thereafter applying a pressure to said portion of the upper against the last in a location that is between said clamped part and said insole while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into conformance with the last; and means for thereafter concomitantly, while said clamp- 1 1 ing and pressing are maintained, stretching said upper portion extending between said clamped part and the margin upwardly about the last and wiping the margin against the insole.

9. The lasting machine of claim 8 wherein said means for applying said pressure is so constructed as to commence to apply said pressure proximate to said clamped part and progressively work its way upwardly towards the insole.

10. The lasting machine of claim 8 further comprising: means enabling the locations of said clamping and pressing of the upper against the last to move upwardly of the last during said stretching of said upper portion and said wiping of the margin. I

11. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for wiping the margin of a selected portion of the upper against the corresponding portion of the insole and cementatiously attaching the wiped upper margin to the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottomup with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a lasting tool located outwardly of the support and mounted for movement between a first position wherein it extends upwardly of the insole periphery and outwardly of the margin and a second position wherein I it extends downwardly and inwardly of the first position so as to wipe the upper margin against the insole; means for initially locating the lasting tool in said first position; means for thereafter moving the lasting tool from said first position to an intermediate position between said first and second positions by applying a relatively light inwardly directed back-up force to the lasting tool so as to foldsaid margin part way toward the insole to provide a back-up during the movement of a cement extruding nozzle along the insole periphery and outwardly thereof to the extent permitted by said backup force; and means for thereafter, after a time interval, moving the lasting tool from said intermediate position to said second position by applying a relatively heavy inwardly directed wiping force to the lasting tool so as'to wipe the margin to the insole and attach it to the insole by way of the cement.

12. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support fdr supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a block mounted for inward-outward movement with respect to the support; a lasting strap having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible, deformable and stretchable; a presser means, located outwardly of said middle segment, mounted for movement in unison with the block and for inward-outward movement with respect to the block; means so constructing the presser means that it is actuable to move inwardly of the block and apply an inward pressure to said middle segment; means for initially maintaining the block in an outer position with said lasting strap disengaged from the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the presser means in an unactuated outer position with respect to the block; a first, yieldable, drive means operatively connected to the block and to the presser means actuable to force the block inwardly until the lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly to clamp a part of said upper portion that is spaced from the insole rigidly against the last and to thereafter actuate the presser means so that it moves inwardly of the block and applies pressure against said lasting strap middle segment that causes it to flex inwardly in such a manner that pressure is applied by the upper against the last while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into conformance with the last with said lasting strap top segment located upwardly of the insole and outwardly of said margin; and a second drive means connected to said lasting strap top segment actuable, after the actuation of said first drive means, to apply an inward wiping force to said lasting strap top segment while said clamping and pressing are maintained, to thereby concomitantly cause said lasting strap middle segment to stretch upwardly to stretch said upper portion extending between said clamped part and the margin upwardly about the last and cause said lasting strap top segment to move inwardly about its juncture with the lasting strap middle segment and wipe the margin against the insole.

13. The lasting machine of claim 12 wherein said presser means is so constructed as to commence to apply said pressure proximate to said clamped part and progressively work its way upwardly towards the insole.

14. The lasting machine of claim 12 further comprising: means mounting the-block for heightwise movement whereby the block and the lasting strap may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second drive means if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of its top segment to the second drive means will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

15. The lasting machine of claim 13 wherein said presser means comprises: an inner presser strap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured tothe block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and defonnable and said top segment being located below said lasting strap top segment; an outer presser strap, located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner presser strap top segment; and wherein said first drive means is so connected to the presser straps that, upon actuation, it first forces the outer strap top segment inwardly and then forces the inner strap top segment inwardly.

16. The lasting machine of claim 15 wherein said first drive means comprises: a drive rod located outwardly of the block mounted for inward-outward movement; and a linkage connecting the drive rod, the block, the inner presser strap top segment and the outer presser strap topsegment so constructed and arranged as to first force the outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force the inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of the drive rod.

17. The lasting machine of claim 16 further comprising: a base; a bracket mounted to the base for inward- 13 outward movement; means mounting the block to the bracket to effect said mounting of the block for inwardoutward movement; and wherein said linkage comprises: a first lever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said drive rod; said first lever having a lower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a second lever, that is pivoted to the block for inward-outward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second lever to said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movementof said second lever; a link pivoted to said upper limb and extend-. ing inwardly of said upper limb; end means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link.

18. The lasting machine of claim 17 further comprising: means mountingthe block to the bracket for heightwise movement whereby the block, together with the lasting strap and the presser straps may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second drive means if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of the lasting strap top segment to the second drive means will'not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

19. The lasting machine of claim 17 wherein said means connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment comprises: means enabling said inner presser strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

20. The lasting machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said second drive means comprises: a drive rod, located outwardly of said lasting strap top segment mounted for inward-outward movement; and a flexible connection between said drive ma and said lasting strap top segment.

21. The lasting machine of claim 12 further comprising: means so constructing said second drive means as to cause it, prior to applying said wiping force and subsequent to the actuation of said first drive means, to apply an inward back-up force to said strap top segment of a lower magnitude than said wiping force to fold said strap top segment downwardly and inwardly with respect to said strap middle segment part way towards the insole and thus fold said margin part way towards the insole to provide a back-up during the movement of a cement applying nozzle along the insole periphery.

22. The lasting machine of claim 21 wherein said presser means is so constructed as to commence to apply said pressure proximate to said clamped part and progressively work its way upwardly towards the insole.

23. The lasting machine of claim 21 further comprising: means mounting the block for heightwise movement whereby the block and the lasting strap may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second drive means if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of its top segment to the second drive means will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

24. The lasting machine of claim 22 wherein said presser means comprises: an inner presser strap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment beinglocated below said lasting strap top segment; an outer presser strap located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner pressure strap top segment; and wherein said first drive means is so connected to the presser straps that, upon actuation, it first forces the outer strap top segmentinwardly and then forces the inner strap top segment inwardly. 4

v 25. The lasting machine of claim 24 wherein said first drive means comprises: a drive rod located outwardly of the block mounted for inward-outward movement; and a linkage connecting the drive rod, the block, the inner presser strap top segment and the outer presser strap top segment so constructed and arranged as to first force the outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force the inner presser strap top segment inwardlyin response to inward movement of the drive rod.

26. The lasting machine of claim 25 further comprising: a base; a bracket mounted to the base for inwardoutward movement; means mounting the block to the bracket to effect said mounting of the block for inwardoutward movement; and wherein said linkage comprises: a first lever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said drive rod; said first lever having alower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a secondlever, that is pivoted to the block for inward-outward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second leverto said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said second lever; a link pivoted to said upper limb and extendinginwardly of said upper limb; and means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link.

27. The lasting machine of claim 26 further comprising: means mounting the block to the bracket for heightwise movement whereby the block, together with the lasting strap and the presser straps may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second drive means if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of the lasting strap top segment to the second drive means will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

28. The lasting machine of claim 26 wherein said means connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment comprises: means enabling said inner presser strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

29. The lasting machine as defined in claim 21 wherein said second drive means comprises: a drive rod, located outwardly of said lasting strap top segment, mounted for inward-outward movement; and a flexible connection between said drive rod and said lasting strap top segment.

30. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: asupport for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a base located outwardly of the support; a bracket mounted to the base for inward-outward movement; a block mounted to the bracket; a lasting strap having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible, deformable and stretchable; a presser means, located o'utwardly of said middle segment, mounted for movement in unison with the block and for inward-outward movement with respect to the block; a first, yieldable, motor mounted to said base having a first drive rod, located outwardly of the block, that is mounted for inward-outward movement between an inner position and an outer position; linkage operatively connecting said first drive rod to the presser means and to the base so as to maintain the bracket in an outer position on the base and the presser means in an outer position on the block when said first drive means is in said outer position and, in response to movement of said first drive rod from its outer position towards its inner position, to force the bracket, together with the block, inwardly until the lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly to clamp a part of said upper portion that is spaced from the insole rigidly against the last and to thereafter force the presser means inwardly with respect to the block so that it applies pressure against said lasting strap middle segment that causes it to flex inwardly in such a manner that pressure is applied by the upper against the last while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into conformance with the last with said lasting strap top segment located upwardly of the insole and outwardly of said margin; a second motor mounted to said base having a second drive rod, located outwardly of said lasting strap top segment, that is mounted for inward-outward movement between an outer position and an inner position; a flexible connection between said second drive rod and said lasting strap top segment; means for initially causing said motors to maintain said drive rods in their outer positions wherein the lasting strap is disengaged from the shoe assembly; means for therafter actuating the first motor to move the first drive rod from its outer position towards its inner position with said second drive rod being-dragged inwardly of its outer position during the inward movement of said lasting strap top segment; and means for thereafter actuating said second motor to move said second drive rod further inwardly under a wiping force to concomitantly cause said lasting strap middle segment to stretch upwardly to stretch said upper portion extending between said clamped part and the margin upwardly about the last and cause said lasting strap top segment to move inwardly about its juncture with the lasting strap middle segment and wipe the margin against the insole.

31. The lasting machine of claim 30 wherein said presser means is so constructed as to commence to apply said pressure proximate to said clamped part and progressively work its way upwardly towards the insole.

32. The lasting machine of claim 30 further comprising: means mounting the block for heightwise movement with respect to the bracket whereby the block and the lasting strap may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second motor if the lasting strap is initially set as a level such that the connection of the lasting strap top segment to the second drive rod will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

3-3. The lasting machine of claim 31 whereinsaid presser means comprises: an inner presserstrap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said lasting strap top segment; an outer presser strap, located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner presser strap top segment; and wherein said linkage is so operatively connected to said presser strap top segments as to, after said lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly in response to said movement of the first drive rod towards its inner position, first force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly. v

34. Thelasting machine of claim 33 wherein said linkage comprises: a link mounted for inward-outward movement and operative to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link; and means enabling said inner presser strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

35. The lasting machine of claim 33 wherein said linkage comprises: a firstlever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said first drive rod; saidfirst lever having a lower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a second lever, thatis pivoted to the block for inwardoutward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second lever to said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said second lever; a link pivoted to said upper limb and extending inwardly of said upper limb; and means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link.

36. The lasting machine of claim 35 wherein said means connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment comprises: means enabling said inner pressure strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

37. The lasting machine of claim 30 further comprising: means for causing said second motor, prior to its actuation to apply said wiping force and subsequent to said actuation of said first motor, to move said second drive rod further inwardly under a back-up force that is of a lower magnitude than said wiping force to fold said lasting strap top segment downwardly and inwardly with respect to said lasting strap middle segment part way towards the insole and thus fold said margin part way towards the insole to provide a back-up during the movement of a cement applying nozzle along the insole periphery.

38. The lasting machine of claim 37 wherein said presser means is so constructed as to commence to apply said pressure proximate to said clamped part and progressively work its way upwardly towards the insole.

39. The lasting machine of claim 37 further comprising: means mounting the block for heightwise movement with respect to the bracket whereby the block and the lasting strap may'move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuationof the second motor if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of the lasting strap top segment to the second drive rod will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place. I I

40. The lasting machine of claim 38 wherein said presser means comprises: an inner presser strap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deforr'nable and said top segment being located below said lasting strap top segment; anouter presser strap, located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner presser strap top segment; and wherein said linkage is so operatively connected to said presser strap top segments as to, after said lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly in response to said movement of the first drive rod towards its inner position, first force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly.

41. The lasting machine of claim 40 wherein said linkage comprises: a link mounted for inward-outward movement and operative to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link; and means enabling said inner presser strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

42. The lasting machine of claim 40 wherein said linkage comprises: a first lever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said first drive rod; said first lever having a lower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a second lever, that is pivoted to the block for inwardoutward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second lever to said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said second lever; a link pivoted to said upper limb and extending inwardly of said upper limb; and means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward'movement of said link.

43. The lasting machine of claim 42 wherein said meansconnecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment comprises: means enabling said inner presser strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

44. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for wiping a selected portion of the margin of the upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin portion extending upwardly of the insole; a heightwise extending lasting strap located outwardly of the support; means for causing the lasting strap to engage the shoe assembly with a top segment of the lasting ing said drive rod inwardly under a relatively low pres-- strap extending upwardly of the insole and outwardly of said margin portion; means for thereafter folding said lasting strap top segment downwardly and inwardly part way towards the insole by applying aninward back-up force to said lasting strap top segment to thus fold said margin portion downwardly and inwardly part way towards the insole to provide a back-up during the movement of a cement applying nozzle along the insole periphery; and means for thereafter, after a time interval, folding said lasting strap top segment further downwardly and inwardly against the insole by applying an inward wiping force of a greater magnitude than said back-upforce to said lasting strap top segment to thus wipe said upper margin portion against the insole.

45. A lasting machine according to claim 44 wherein said means for applying said wiping force comprises: a drive rod, located outwardly of said top segment, mounted for inward-outward movement; a flexible connection between said rod and said top segment; and means for effecting inward movement of said drive rod.

46. A lasting machine according to claim 44 further comprising: means mounting the lasting strap for in ward-outward movement; means for initially maintaining the lasting strap in an outer position disengaged from the shoe assembly; means for thereafter moving the lasting strap inwardly to effect said engagement of the lasting strap with the shoe assembly; and means for thereafter applying said inward backup force to said lasting strap top segment.

47. A lasting machine according to claim 46 wherein said means for applying said back-up force and said wiping force comprises: a drive rod, located outwardly of said top segment, mounted for inward-outward movement; a flexible connection between said drive rod and said top segment; means for initially maintaining said drive rod in an outer position; means for movsure tothereby effect said back-up force; and means for moving said .drive rod further inwardly under a relatively high pressure to thereby effect said wiping force.

48. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for performing operations on the shoe assembly that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a carrier, mounted for inwardoutward movement, located outwardly of said support; a base mounted to said carrier for movement therewith; a lasting instrumentality mounted tosaid base for inward-outward movement; means so constructing the lasting instrumentality as to enable it, when it is moved inwardly of an outer position on the base, to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; a bracket rigidly mounted to said base outwardly of said lasting instru- 'mentality; a drive means interposed between said bracket and said lasting instrumentality for effecting said movement of the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base; means for initially maintaining the carrier in an outer position with respect to the support; means for initially causing the drive means to maintain the lasting instrumentality in its outer position with respect to the base so that the shoe assembly may be placed on the support; means for thereafter moving the carrier inwardly to an inner position wherein the lasting instrumentality is close to but not in engagement with the shoe assembly; and means for thereafter causing the drive means to move the lasting instrumentality inwardly of its outer position with respect to the base to cause it to perform said operations on the shoe assembly.

49. The lasting machine of claim 48 further comprising: means for locking the carrier against movement in said inner position.

50. The lasting machine according to claim 48 further comprising: means mounting the bracket for inward-outward adjustment with respect to the base; and means for adjusting the inward-outward position of the bracket with respect to the base to thereby adjust the inward-outward position of the drive means and the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base to thus adjust said outer position of the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base.

51. A carrier moving and locking mechanism comprising: a bar on which the carrier is mounted for inward-outward movement between an outer position and an inner position; outer stop means located outwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine said outer position of the carrier; inner stop means located inwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine said inner position of the carrier; ratchet teeth on the bar; a pawl mounted to the carrier for movement between a position of engagement with the ratchet teeth and a position of disengagement with the ratchet teeth; a drive member mounted for inward-outward. movement; and .a connection. between said drive member and said pawl so constructed as to place said pawl in said position of disengagement in response to the application of an outwardly directed force to said drive member and to place said pawl in said position of engagement in response to the application of an inwardly directed force to said drive member.

52. T he mechanism according to claim 51 wherein said pawl is pivotally mounted to said carrier and spring means are interposed between the carrier and the pawl that yieldably urges the pawl towards said position of engagement and wherein said connection between the drive member and the pawl comprises: a cam pivoted .to the carrier and to the drive member and so located as to engage the pawl and move it to said position of disengagement against the force of said spring means in response to the application of said outwardly directed force to said drive member.

53. A lasting unit, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for performing operations on the shoe assembly that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a base; a lasting instrumentality mounted to said base for inward-outward movement; means so constructing the lasting instrumentality as to enable it, when it is moved inwardly of an outer position on the base, to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; a bracket rigidly mounted to said base outwardly of said lasting instrumentality; and drive means interposed between said bracket and said lasting instrumentality for effecting said movement of the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base.

54. The lasting machine according to claim 53 further comprising: means mounting the bracket for inward-outward adjustment with respect to the base; and means for adjusting the inward-outward position of the bracket with respect to the base to thereby adjust the inward-outward position of the drive means and the lasting instrumentality with respect'to the base to thus adjust said outer position of the'lasting instrumentality with respect to the base.

55. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for performing operations on the shoe assembly that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a bar; a carrier, mounted on the bar for inward-outward movement, located outwardly of the support; a base mounted to said carrier for movement therewith; a lasting instrumentality mounted to said base for inward-outward movement; means so constructing the lasting instrumentality as to enable it, when it is moved inwardly of an outer position on the base, to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; outer stop means located outwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine an outer carrier position; inner stop means located inwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine an inner carrier position; ratchet teeth on said bar; a pawl mounted to said carrier for movement between a position of engagement with said ratchet teeth and a position of disengagement with said ratchet teeth; a drive member mounted for inward-outward movement; a connection between said drive member and said pawl so constructed as to place said pawl in said position of disengagement in response to the application of an outwardly directed force to said drive member and to place said pawl in said position of engagement in response to the'application of an inwardly directed force to said drive member; means for initially applying an outwardly directed force to said drive member to maintain the carrier in said outer carrier position with the pawl in said position of disengagement and for initially maintaining the lasting instrumentality in its outer position with respect to the base so that the shoe assembly may be placed on the support; means for thereafter applying an inwardly directed force to said drive member to move the carrier to said inner carrier position with the pawl in said position of engagement to lock the carrier against movement in said inner carrier position wherein the lasting instrumentality is close to but not in engagement with the shoe assembly; and means for thereafter moving the lasting instrumentality inwardly of its outer position with respect to the base to cause it to perform said operations on the shoe assembly.

56. The lasting machine according to claim 55 wherein said pawl is pivotally mounted to said carrier and spring means are interposed between the carrier and the pawl that yieldably urges the pawl towards said position of engagement and wherein said connection between the drive member and the pawl comprises: a cam pivoted to the carrier and to the drive member and so located as to engage the pawl and move it to said position of disengagement against the force of said spring means in response to the application of said outwardly directed force to said drive member.

Claims

1. A method of lasting, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; clamping a part of said upper portion that is spacedly located below the insole rigidly against the last; thereafter applying a pressure to said portion of the upper against the last in a location that is between said clamped part and the insole while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into conformance with the last; and thereafter, concomitantly, while said clamping and pressing are maintained, stretching said upper portion extending between said clamped part and the margin upwardly about the last and wiping the margin against the insole.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: applying said pressure in such a manner that the pressure commences proximate to said clamped part and progressively works its way upwardly towards the insole.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: enabling the locations of said clamping and pressing of the upper against the last to move upwardly of the last during said stretching of said upper portion and said wiping of the margin.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said clamped part of the upper is the top line of the upper.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said margin is wiped against the insole by the application of a relatively heavy wiping force by a lasting tool that is applied inwardly against the exterior of the margin; and further comprising performing the following steps subsequent to said application of pressure to the upper and prior to said concomitant stretching of said upper portion and said wiping of the margin: causing the lasting tool to apply a relatively light back-up force inwardly against the exterior of the margin to fold said margin part way towards the insole; moving a nozzle along the insole periphery and outwardly thereof to the extent permitted by said back-up force; and extruding cement from the nozzle into the angle between the insole periphery and the margin during said movement of the nozzle.

7. A method of lasting, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole and cementatiously attaching the wiper upper margin to the insole comprising: supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; folding said margin part way towards the insole by causing a lasting tool to apply a relatively light back-up force inwardly against the exterior surface of the margin; thereafter moving a nozzle along the insole periphery and outwardly thereof to the extent permitted by said back-up force; extruding cement from the nozzle into the angle between the insole periphery and the margin during said movement of the nozzle; and thereafter folding said margin against the insole by causing the lasting tool to apply a relatively heavy wiping force inwardly against the exterior surface of the margin to thereby wipe said margin against the insole and attach it to the insole by way of said cement.

8. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up wiTh said margin extending upwardly of the insole; means for clamping a part of said upper portion that is spaced from the insole rigidly against the last; means for thereafter applying a pressure to said portion of the upper against the last in a location that is between said clamped part and said insole while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into conformance with the last; and means for thereafter concomitantly, while said clamping and pressing are maintained, stretching said upper portion extending between said clamped part and the margin upwardly about the last and wiping the margin against the insole.

10. The lasting machine of claim 8 further comprising: means enabling the locations of said clamping and pressing of the upper against the last to move upwardly of the last during said stretching of said upper portion and said wiping of the margin.

11. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for wiping the margin of a selected portion of the upper against the corresponding portion of the insole and cementatiously attaching the wiped upper margin to the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a lasting tool located outwardly of the support and mounted for movement between a first position wherein it extends upwardly of the insole periphery and outwardly of the margin and a second position wherein it extends downwardly and inwardly of the first position so as to wipe the upper margin against the insole; means for initially locating the lasting tool in said first position; means for thereafter moving the lasting tool from said first position to an intermediate position between said first and second positions by applying a relatively light inwardly directed back-up force to the lasting tool so as to fold said margin part way toward the insole to provide a back-up during the movement of a cement extruding nozzle along the insole periphery and outwardly thereof to the extent permitted by said back-up force; and means for thereafter, after a time interval, moving the lasting tool from said intermediate position to said second position by applying a relatively heavy inwardly directed wiping force to the lasting tool so as to wipe the margin to the insole and attach it to the insole by way of the cement.

12. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a block mounted for inward-outward movement with respect to the support; a lasting strap having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible, deformable and stretchable; a presser means, located outwardly of said middle segment, mounted for movement in unison with the block and for inward-outward movement with respect to the block; means so constructing the presser means that it is actuable to move inwardly of the block and apply an inward pressure to said middle segment; means for initially maintaining the block in an outer position with said lasting strap disengaged from the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the presser means in an unactuated outer position with respect to the block; a first, yieldable, drive means operatively connected to the block and to the presser means actuable to foRce the block inwardly until the lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly to clamp a part of said upper portion that is spaced from the insole rigidly against the last and to thereafter actuate the presser means so that it moves inwardly of the block and applies pressure against said lasting strap middle segment that causes it to flex inwardly in such a manner that pressure is applied by the upper against the last while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into conformance with the last with said lasting strap top segment located upwardly of the insole and outwardly of said margin; and a second drive means connected to said lasting strap top segment actuable, after the actuation of said first drive means, to apply an inward wiping force to said lasting strap top segment while said clamping and pressing are maintained, to thereby concomitantly cause said lasting strap middle segment to stretch upwardly to stretch said upper portion extending between said clamped part and the margin upwardly about the last and cause said lasting strap top segment to move inwardly about its juncture with the lasting strap middle segment and wipe the margin against the insole.

14. The lasting machine of claim 12 further comprising: means mounting the block for heightwise movement whereby the block and the lasting strap may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second drive means if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of its top segment to the second drive means will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

15. The lasting machine of claim 13 wherein said presser means comprises: an inner presser strap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said lasting strap top segment; an outer presser strap, located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner presser strap top segment; and wherein said first drive means is so connected to the presser straps that, upon actuation, it first forces the outer strap top segment inwardly and then forces the inner strap top segment inwardly.

16. The lasting machine of claim 15 wherein said first drive means comprises: a drive rod located outwardly of the block mounted for inward-outward movement; and a linkage connecting the drive rod, the block, the inner presser strap top segment and the outer presser strap top segment so constructed and arranged as to first force the outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force the inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of the drive rod.

17. The lasting machine of claim 16 further comprising: a base; a bracket mounted to the base for inward-outward movement; means mounting the block to the bracket to effect said mounting of the block for inward-outward movement; and wherein said linkage comprises: a first lever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said drive rod; said first lever having a lower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a second lever, that is pivoted to the block for inward-outward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second lever to said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said second lever; a lInk pivoted to said upper limb and extending inwardly of said upper limb; end means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link.

18. The lasting machine of claim 17 further comprising: means mounting the block to the bracket for heightwise movement whereby the block, together with the lasting strap and the presser straps may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second drive means if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of the lasting strap top segment to the second drive means will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

20. The lasting machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said second drive means comprises: a drive rod, located outwardly of said lasting strap top segment, mounted for inward-outward movement; and a flexible connection between said drive rod and said lasting strap top segment.

24. The lasting machine of claim 22 wherein said presser means comprises: an inner presser strap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said lasting strap top segment; an outer presser strap located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner pressure strap top segment; and wherein said first drive means is so connected to the presser straps that, upon actuation, it first forces the outer strap top segment inwardly and then forces the inner strap top segment inwardly.

25. The lasting machine of claim 24 wherein said first drive means comprises: a drive rod located outwardly of the block mounted for inward-outward movement; and a linkage connecting the drive rod, the block, the inner presser strap top segment and the outer presser strap top segment so constructed and arranged as to first force the outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force the inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of the drive rod.

26. The lasting machine of claim 25 further comprising: a base; a bracket mounted to the base for inward-outward movement; means mounting the block to the bracket to effect sAid mounting of the block for inward-outward movement; and wherein said linkage comprises: a first lever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said drive rod; said first lever having a lower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a second lever, that is pivoted to the block for inward-outward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second lever to said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said second lever; a link pivoted to said upper limb and extending inwardly of said upper limb; and means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link.

30. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for stretching a selected portion of the upper about the last and wiping the margin of said upper portion against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a base located outwardly of the support; a bracket mounted to the base for inward-outward movement; a block mounted to the bracket; a lasting strap having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible, deformable and stretchable; a presser means, located outwardly of said middle segment, mounted for movement in unison with the block and for inward-outward movement with respect to the block; a first, yieldable, motor mounted to said base having a first drive rod, located outwardly of the block, that is mounted for inward-outward movement between an inner position and an outer position; linkage operatively connecting said first drive rod to the presser means and to the base so as to maintain the bracket in an outer position on the base and the presser means in an outer position on the block when said first drive means is in said outer position and, in response to movement of said first drive rod from its outer position towards its inner position, to force the bracket, together with the block, inwardly until the lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly to clamp a part of said upper portion that is spaced from the insole rigidly against the last and to thereafter force the presser means inwardly with respect to the block so that it applies pressure against said lasting strap middle segment that causes it to flex inwardly in such a manner that pressure is applied by the upper against the last while said clamping is maintained to thereby press said upper portion between the clamped part and the insole into conformance with the last with said lasting strap top segment located upwardly of the insole and outwardly of said margin; a second motor mounted to said base having a seCond drive rod, located outwardly of said lasting strap top segment, that is mounted for inward-outward movement between an outer position and an inner position; a flexible connection between said second drive rod and said lasting strap top segment; means for initially causing said motors to maintain said drive rods in their outer positions wherein the lasting strap is disengaged from the shoe assembly; means for therafter actuating the first motor to move the first drive rod from its outer position towards its inner position with said second drive rod being dragged inwardly of its outer position during the inward movement of said lasting strap top segment; and means for thereafter actuating said second motor to move said second drive rod further inwardly under a wiping force to concomitantly cause said lasting strap middle segment to stretch upwardly to stretch said upper portion extending between said clamped part and the margin upwardly about the last and cause said lasting strap top segment to move inwardly about its juncture with the lasting strap middle segment and wipe the margin against the insole.

33. The lasting machine of claim 31 wherein said presser means comprises: an inner presser strap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said lasting strap top segment; an outer presser strap, located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner presser strap top segment; and wherein said linkage is so operatively connected to said presser strap top segments as to, after said lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly in response to said movement of the first drive rod towards its inner position, first force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly.

34. The lasting machine of claim 33 wherein said linkage comprises: a link mounted for inward-outward movement and operative to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link; and means enabling said inner presser strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

35. The lasting machine of claim 33 wherein said linkage comprises: a first lever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said first drive rod; said first lever having a lower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a second lever, that is pivoted to the block for inward-outward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second lever to said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said second lever; a link pivoted to said upper limb and extending inwardly of said upper limb; and means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link.

39. The lasting machine of claim 37 further comprising: means mounting the block for heightwise movement with respect to the bracket whereby the block and the lasting strap may move upwardly of the last pursuant to the actuation of the second motor if the lasting strap is initially set at a level such that the connection of the lasting strap top segment to the second drive rod will not enable said stretching and wiping to take place.

40. The lasting machine of claim 38 wherein said presser means comprises: an inner presser strap, located outwardly of the lasting strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said lasting strap top segment; an outer presser strap, located outwardly of the inner presser strap, having a rigid bottom segment that is secured to the block and middle and top segments that extend upwardly of the bottom segment, said middle segment being flexible and deformable and said top segment being located below said inner presser strap top segment; and wherein said linkage is so operatively connected to said presser strap top segments as to, after said lasting strap bottom segment engages the shoe assembly in response to said movement of the first drive rod towards its inner position, first force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly and then force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly.

42. The lasting machine of claim 40 wherein said linkage comprises: a first lever pivoted at an axis intermediate its ends to said first drive rod; said first lever having a lower limb extending downwardly of said axis and an upper limb extending upwardly of said axis; a second lever, that is pivoted to the block for inward-outward movement, pivoted to said lower limb; means so connecting said second lever to said outer presser strap top segment as to force said outer presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said second lever; a link pivoted to said upper limb and extending inwardly of said upper limb; and means so connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment as to force said inner presser strap top segment inwardly in response to inward movement of said link.

43. The lasting machine of claim 42 wherein said means connecting said link to said inner presser strap top segment comprises: means enabling said inner presser strap top segment to swing with respect to said link about an upright axis.

44. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper Mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for wiping a selected portion of the margin of the upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin portion extending upwardly of the insole; a heightwise extending lasting strap located outwardly of the support; means for causing the lasting strap to engage the shoe assembly with a top segment of the lasting strap extending upwardly of the insole and outwardly of said margin portion; means for thereafter folding said lasting strap top segment downwardly and inwardly part way towards the insole by applying an inward back-up force to said lasting strap top segment to thus fold said margin portion downwardly and inwardly part way towards the insole to provide a back-up during the movement of a cement applying nozzle along the insole periphery; and means for thereafter, after a time interval, folding said lasting strap top segment further downwardly and inwardly against the insole by applying an inward wiping force of a greater magnitude than said back-up force to said lasting strap top segment to thus wipe said upper margin portion against the insole.

46. A lasting machine according to claim 44 further comprising: means mounting the lasting strap for inward-outward movement; means for initially maintaining the lasting strap in an outer position disengaged from the shoe assembly; means for thereafter moving the lasting strap inwardly to effect said engagement of the lasting strap with the shoe assembly; and means for thereafter applying said inward backup force to said lasting strap top segment.

47. A lasting machine according to claim 46 wherein said means for applying said back-up force and said wiping force comprises: a drive rod, located outwardly of said top segment, mounted for inward-outward movement; a flexible connection between said drive rod and said top segment; means for initially maintaining said drive rod in an outer position; means for moving said drive rod inwardly under a relatively low pressure to thereby effect said back-up force; and means for moving said drive rod further inwardly under a relatively high pressure to thereby effect said wiping force.

48. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for performing operations on the shoe assembly that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a carrier, mounted for inward-outward movement, located outwardly of said support; a base mounted to said carrier for movement therewith; a lasting instrumentality mounted to said base for inward-outward movement; means so constructing the lasting instrumentality as to enable it, when it is moved inwardly of an outer position on the base, to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; a bracket rigidly mounted to said base outwardly of said lasting instrumentality; a drive means interposed between said bracket and said lasting instrumentality for effecting said movement of the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base; means for initially maintaining the carrier in an outer position with respect to the support; means for initially causing the drive means to maintain the lasting instrumentality in its outer position with respect to the base so that the shoe assembly may be placed on the support; means for thereafter moving the carrier inwardly to an inner position wherein the lasting instrumentality is close to but not in Engagement with the shoe assembly; and means for thereafter causing the drive means to move the lasting instrumentality inwardly of its outer position with respect to the base to cause it to perform said operations on the shoe assembly.

51. A carrier moving and locking mechanism comprising: a bar on which the carrier is mounted for inward-outward movement between an outer position and an inner position; outer stop means located outwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine said outer position of the carrier; inner stop means located inwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine said inner position of the carrier; ratchet teeth on the bar; a pawl mounted to the carrier for movement between a position of engagement with the ratchet teeth and a position of disengagement with the ratchet teeth; a drive member mounted for inward-outward movement; and a connection between said drive member and said pawl so constructed as to place said pawl in said position of disengagement in response to the application of an outwardly directed force to said drive member and to place said pawl in said position of engagement in response to the application of an inwardly directed force to said drive member.

52. The mechanism according to claim 51 wherein said pawl is pivotally mounted to said carrier and spring means are interposed between the carrier and the pawl that yieldably urges the pawl towards said position of engagement and wherein said connection between the drive member and the pawl comprises: a cam pivoted to the carrier and to the drive member and so located as to engage the pawl and move it to said position of disengagement against the force of said spring means in response to the application of said outwardly directed force to said drive member.

54. The lasting machine according to claim 53 further comprising: means mounting the bracket for inward-outward adjustment with respect to the base; and means for adjusting the inward-outward position of the bracket with respect to the base to thereby adjust the inward-outward position of the drive means and the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base to thus adjust said outer position of the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base.

55. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for performing operations on the shoe assembly that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a bar; a carrier, mounted on the bar for inward-outward movement, located outwardly of the support; a base mounted to said carrier for movement therewith; a lasting instrumentality mounted to said base for inward-outward movement; means so constructing the lasting instrumentality as to enable it, when it is moved inwardly of an outer position on the base, to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; outer stop means located outwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine an outer carrier position; inner stop means located inwardly of the carrier in intersecting relationship with the carrier to determine an inner carrier position; ratchet teeth on said bar; a pawl mounted to said carrier for movement between a position of engagement with said ratchet teeth and a position of disengagement with said ratchet teeth; a drive member mounted for inward-outward movement; a connection between said drive member and said pawl so constructed as to place said pawl in said position of disengagement in response to the application of an outwardly directed force to said drive member and to place said pawl in said position of engagement in response to the application of an inwardly directed force to said drive member; means for initially applying an outwardly directed force to said drive member to maintain the carrier in said outer carrier position with the pawl in said position of disengagement and for initially maintaining the lasting instrumentality in its outer position with respect to the base so that the shoe assembly may be placed on the support; means for thereafter applying an inwardly directed force to said drive member to move the carrier to said inner carrier position with the pawl in said position of engagement to lock the carrier against movement in said inner carrier position wherein the lasting instrumentality is close to but not in engagement with the shoe assembly; and means for thereafter moving the lasting instrumentality inwardly of its outer position with respect to the base to cause it to perform said operations on the shoe assembly.

57. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for performing operations on the shoe assembly that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a carrier, mounted for inward-outward movement, located outwardly of said support; a base mounted to said carrier for movement therewith; a lasting instrumentality mounted to said base for inward-outward movement; means so constructing the lasting instrumentality as to enable it, when it is moved inwardly of an outer position on the base, to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the carrier in an outer position with respect to the support and for initially maintaining the lasting instrumentality in its outer position with respect to the base so that the shoe assembly may be placed on the support; means for thereafter moving the carrier inwardly to an inner position wherein the lasting instrumentality is close to bUt not in engagement with the shoe assembly; means for thereafter moving the lasting instrumentality inwardly of its outer position with respect to the base to cause it to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; and means for adjusting the heightwise position of the base with respect to the carrier to thereby adjust the heightwise position of the lasting instrumentality.

58. A lasting machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, for performing operations on the shoe assembly that include engaging the shoe assembly and wiping the margin of a selected portion of said upper against the corresponding portion of the insole comprising: a support for supporting the shoe assembly bottom-up with said margin extending upwardly of the insole; a carrier, mounted for inward-outward movement, located outwardly of said support; a base mounted to said carrier for movement therewith; a lasting instrumentality mounted to said base for inward-outward movement; means so constructing the lasting instrumentality as to enable it, when it is moved inwardly of an outer position on the base, to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the carrier in an outer position with respect to the support and for initially maintaining the lasting instrumentality in its outer position with respect to the base so that the shoe assembly may be placed on the support; means for thereafter moving the carrier inwardly to an inner position wherein the lasting instrumentality is close to but not in engagement with the shoe assembly; means for thereafter moving the lasting instrumentality inwardly of its outer position with respect to the base to cause it to perform said operations on the shoe assembly; and means for adjusting said outer position of the lasting instrumentality with respect to the base.