US3783464A

US3783464A - Machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms

Info

Publication number: US3783464A
Application number: US00294110A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Stanton
Original assignee: AMERICAN SHOE MACH CORP
Current assignee: AMERICAN SHOE MACH CORP; AMERICAN SHOE MACHINERY CORP US
Priority date: 1972-10-02
Filing date: 1972-10-02
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08

Abstract

The spacing between the heel and toe abutting members in a sole pressing machine is adjustable automatically to enable proper spacing of the abutting members lengthwise of shoe assemblies of varying sizes. The machine includes a pad box which supports the shoe, bottom down, below the abutting members. The pad box is movable upwardly to urge the shoe against the abutting members and to apply pressure to the bottom of the shoe. Means are provided for moving the heel and toe abutting members inwardly toward each other in response to and as the pad box moves upwardly. The inward motion of the abutting members terminates when the upwardly moving shoe engages one or both of them. This locates the abutting members in proper longitudinal spacing on the shoe so that they may properly brace the shoe against the further application of increased force against the shoe bottom. The machine also includes means for disabling the automatic adjustment for spacing the abutting members to enable the spacing to be adjusted manually.

Description

United States Patent [191 Stanton MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: American Shoe Machinery Corp.,

Wakefield, Mass.

221 Filed: Oct.2, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 294,110

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Att0rneyWolf, Greenfield, Hieken & Sacks Leo F. Stanton, Newburyport, Mass.

[ l Jan. 8, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT The spacing between the heel and toe abutting members in a sole pressing machine is adjustable automatically to enable proper spacing of the abutting members lengthwise of shoe assemblies of varying sizes. The machine includes a pad box which supports the shoe, bottom down, below the abutting members The pad box is movable upwardly to urge the shoe against the abutting members and to apply pressure to the bottom of the shoe. Means are provided for moving the heel and toe abutting members inwardly toward each other in response to and as the pad box moves upwardly. The inward motion of the abutting members terminates when the upwardly moving shoe engages one or both of them. This locates the abutting members in proper longitudinal spacing on the shoe so that they may properly brace the shoe against the further application of increased force against the shoe bottom. The machine also includes means for disabling the automatic adjustment for spacing the abutting members to enable the spacing to be adjusted manually.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in machines for applying pressure to shoe bottoms as when adhesively attaching an outsole to a shoe. For example, the invention may be employed in a machine of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,052,901 to Gulbrandsen et al. That machine typically includes a pad on which the shoe assembly is placed, bottom down, and a pair of abutting members disposed above the pad and against which the shoe is urged to apply the desired pressure to the shoe bottom. Proper location and spacing of the abutting members longitudinally of the shoe assembly is important, first, to insure the proper distribution of pressure along the shoe bottom and, second, so as not to damage the last which may result by imposing excessive stress on the last hinge as the result of improper spacing of the abutting members. While prior machines in which the spacing of the abutting members was adjusted manually, do enable a particular adjustment to be operable with a limited range of shoe sizes and styles, the range is relatively narrow. This results from the fact that absolute precision in the location of the abutting members against the shoe is not required and there is a limited range of locations on the shoe assembly where the abutting members may engage it properly. It is not uncommon, however, for operators of such machines to neglect to make the required manual adjustment when operating outside of the range for which the abutments were originally set. It is among the primary objects of the invention to provide an improved means for automatically adjusting the spacing of the abutments so that a substantially increased range of shoesizes and styles may be operated on without requiring manual adjustment by the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The heel and toe abutments are mounted to the machine above the pad box by slides which, when the machine is operating in its automatic mode, enable the abutments to move longitudinally of the shoe assembly and toward and away from each other in order to vary the spacing as desired. The heel and toe abutments are connected by a linkage which causes them to move simultaneously toward and away from each other. When the machine is in an idle position, with the pad box lowered and ready to receive a shoe assembly, the abutting members are disposed at their maximum spacing. After the shoe assembly has been placed in a predetermined position on the pad and the pad is advanced upwardly toward the abutments, means responsive to the upward motion of the pad causes the abutments to move toward each other to progressively reduce their spacing. The simultaneous upward motion of the pad and inward motion of the abutments continues until the shoe assembly engages one or both of the abutments under a force sufficient to preclude further inward movement. The linkage between the abutments is arranged to cause simultaneous termination of the movement of the abutments. Final longitudinal spacing of the abutments in relation to the last is dependent on the size. For larger shoes, which have larger heightwise measurements, the abutments will be engaged earlier than would be with smaller shoes which results in less inward travel of the abutments and. the desired greater spacing to accommodate the larger shoe. After the abutments have thus been located longitudinally of the shoe, the pad box is urged upwardly under further force to effect the desired sole bottom pressure.

The invention includes means for disabling the automatic adjustment mechanism and to restore the mode of operation to the manual which, with some special types of shoe assemblies is preferable.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved device for automatically adjusting the spacing between the heel and toe abutment members against which the pressure on the bottom of a shoe may be exerted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for adjusting the spacing between heel and toe members automatically in response to the size of the shoe assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an approved arrangement for locating the heel and toe abutment members of a shoe machine which enables a wider range of shoe sizes and styles to be operated upon. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood more fully from the following detailed description thereof, with a reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device in an idle position with a shoe assembly placed on the pad box;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine as viewed from the opposite side thereof from that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the heel and toe abuttment device as seen along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the device as seen from the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the machine just as the last engages the heel abutment to terminate inward movement of the abutments;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the machine with the abutments leveled and in a working position; and

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the latch mechanism for disabling the automatic adjustment device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1-4 show the illustrative embodiment of the machine in an idle position with a shoe assembly in the machine in readiness to be subjected to the sole pressing operation. The machine includes a sole pressure pad assembly 10 which may take the form of any of a number of such arrangements employed in the prior art such as those shown in the above Gulbrandsen patent. In general, the pressure pad assembly 10 is designed to support and provide uniform firm pressure against the sole of the shoe assembly. The machine is capable of receiving other pad assemblies for different types of shoe styles. In order to achieve uniform pressure distribution the heel and

toe abutments

12, 14 which are spaced from and face the pad 10, are adjustable in unison toward and away from each other, longitudinally of the shoe assembly, so that they may be variably positioned to accomodate shoes of different sizes. As shown in H0. 6, it is preferred that the

abutments

12, 14 engage the shoe assembly squarely in the region of the back cone 16 of the last and on the vamp of the last just in front of the vamp point 18. While such location of the abutments l2, 14 is ideal, substantially satisfactory results still are obtained where the

abutments

12, 14 vary slightly from the ideal shoe engaging position. For example, the heel abutment 12 could engage the back cone 16 of the last slightly more forwardly or rearwardly than the ideal location shown and the same is true of the toe abutment. For example, the toe abutment 12 could engage the shoe assembly at the vamp point 18 and, in some instances, could even be effective where engagement is slightly heelward of the vamp point. Similarly, there is a narrow range of latitude toewardly of the vamp point 18. Proper location of

abutments

12, 14 with the shoe assembly also minimizes the stress imposed on the hinge 20 of the last which tends to increase the useful life of the last.

The heel and

toe abutments

12, 14 are mounted for slidable movement toward and away from each other longitudinally of the shoe assembly by means of

guide blocks

22, 24 which are fastened to the lower end of

plungers

26, 28 respectively. Slots 30 are formed in the sides of

guide blocks

22, 24 to receive and guide

slides

32, 34 which support the abutments 12, 14 (see FIG. 4). The heel and

toe abutments

12, 14 also are movable vertically in opposite directions with respect to each other to enable them to self-adjust to the differences in elevations between those portions of the shoe which are engaged by the

abutments

12, 14. For this purpose, the machine includes a walking beam 36 which is pivoted on a shaft 38 to a head 40 of the machine. The ends of the beam 36 bear against the upper ends of the

plunger

26, 28 which are maintained in contact with the beam by

springs

42,44 which are connected between the head 40 and the guide blocks 22, 24. The heel abutment 12 is self-seating to the top plane 17 of the back cone 16 of the last by pivoting the bearing plate 46 to the slide 32 at 48. The toe abutment 14 may be initially adjusted, if desired, by the thread arrangement 50 which secures the toe pad 52 to the slide 34.

Movement of the heel and toe abutments l2, 14 is controlled by a camming and linkage arrangement which, in turn, is controlled by the height-wise movement of the pad box assembly 10. The camming arrangement shown in FIGS. l-3, 5 and 6 includes a cam 60 which is secured to the upper end of a rod 62 which, in turn, is secured to the support 64 for the pressure pad assembly 10. The cam 60 is guided for vertical movement by guide roller 61 mounted to the frame of the machine and roller 72. The cam moves vertically in unison with the pad assembly 10. It has a camming surface 66, the first part of which is vertical and a second, lower part which is inclined to the vertical as indicated in 66. The cam is followed by a cam follower arrangement including an arm 68 which is pivoted to the frame at 70 and which has a follower wheel 72 rotatably mounted between its ends. Follower wheel 72 bears against the camming surface 66, 66' of the cam 60 and is biased against that surface by a tension spring 74 which extends between a bracket 76 on the frame and one end of a bellcrank 77.

The bellcrank 77 is pivoted at 79 to a forwardly extending finger 81 of the head 40. The ends of the bellcrank 77 extend generally toward opposite sides of the machine. The end of the bellcrank 77, which is connected to the spring 74, also is connected at 83 by a rod 78 to the lower end of the arm 68 at the pivot 80. The spring 74 thus tends to bias the bellcrank 77 clockwise as seen in FIG. 3 which biases the toe abutment 14 heelwardly and maintains the cam follower arrangement in engagement with the cam 60. When the cam 60 moves upwardly, the arm 68 will pivot about under the influence of the spring 74 with the bellcrank simultaneously pivoting in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3. The toe abutment moves in response to this action through a toe link 82 which extends between the other end of the bellcrank 77 and the toe abutment 14 and which is pivoted thereto at 84, 86. The heel abutment 12 is movable by means of a rod or heel link 88 which extends from the heel abutment 12 to the pivot on the lower end of the arm 68. When the arm 68 pivots about 70 in response to movement of the cam, the heel and

toe abutments

12, 14 will move inwardly toward each other to the extent and at a rate which is controlled by the camming surface 66, 66'.

The operation of the device, in its automatic mode, is illustrated diagramatically in FIGS. 5 and 6. With the machine in an idle position, the shoe assembly is placed on the pad assembly 10. The operator then actuates the machine to initiate raising of the pad assembly 10 upwardly toward the

heel andtoe abutments

12, 14. During the initial portion of the elevating motion, the linkage arrangement remains stationary as the vertical portion of the camming surface 66 moves upwardly past the follower wheel 72. The cam 60 is located heightwise along its supporting rod 62 so that before the shoe assembly has been raised into engagement with the

abutments

12, 14, the follower wheel 72 will begin to track along the inclined portion of the camming surface 66'. During this portion of the upward movement of the shoe assembly and cam 60, the arm 68 swings rearwardly (counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1) under the influence of the spring 74 through the bellcrank 77 and rod 78. This draws the heel and

toe abutments

12, 14 inwardly toward each other.

The inward movement of the heel and

toe abutments

12, 14 terminates when one or both of them have engaged and gripped the shoe assembly under a sufficient force or in a manner which fully resists substantially predetermined force of the spring 74. This may occur in a number of ways which may depend on the frictional engagement between either of the

abutments

12, 14 with the last or shoe upper. For example, if the shoe assembly engages the heel and

toe abutments

12, 14 simultaneously, their inward motion will terminate as soon as the shoe is pressed upwardly against the abutments under a sufficient force to resist the effect of the spring 74. There may be a brief interval between the time that the last and upper respectively touch the heel and toe abutments and the time when sufficient frictional force is developed to resist the spring 74. During this brief interval there may be a slight further inward sliding motion of the abutments along the shoe assembly. In other instances the character of the upper material and/or the surface 17 of the last may develop sufficient frictional resistance to preclude any further inward movement of the abutments after initial engagement with the shoe assembly. It should be noted, however, that the spring 74 is selected so that even in the event of sliding motion of the toe abutment along the upper, the force of the toe pad 52 against the upper will be relatively light and will not damage or mar the upper. In any event, longitudinal movement of the abutments will terminate when the additive effect of the forces developed by the abutments against the shoe assembly equals the force applied by the spring.

In other instances, the shoe assembly may engage one of the abutments before the other. For example, if the heel abutment 12 is engaged first (FIG. 5) continued upward movement of the shoe assembly raises the heel abutment and lowers the toe abutment through the action of the walking beam 36. The toe abutment and vamp portion of the shoe assembly thus are brought together quickly after the back cone of the last engages the heel abutment 12. In the event that the frictional forces between the

back cone

16, 17 of thelast and the heel abutment 12 are insufficient to resist fully the influence of the spring 74, there will be some further minor inward movement of the heel and toe abutments l2, 14. Once the toe pad 52 has been urged against the shoe assembly sufficient frictional force is developed to resist the spring 74. It may be noted that in some instances the mere engagement of the top cone of the last 17 with the heel abutment 12 is alone sufficient to fully resistthe effect of the spring 74. Lasts, which are ordinarily subjected to rough treatment, sometimes be come roughened at the top plane 17 of the back cone. Where the undersurface of the heel pad 46 is serrated, itmay be effective to combine with a roughened last surface 17 to preclude further inward motion of the abutments.

In the event that the shoe assembly engages the toe abutment 14 first, the operation of the parts is similar to that when the heel abutment 12 was first engaged. As the vamp of the shoe assembly engages the toe pad 52 further upward movement of the shoe assembly causes the heel abutment 12 to move downwardly toward the upwardly moving last. If the frictional forces between the toe pad 19 and the vamp of the shoe upper are insufficient to resist fully the influence of the spring 74, the toe pad will slide slightly over the vamp of the shoe upper until the heel abutment 12 hasbeen engaged and the shoe is urged against both abutments to develop sufficient frictional force. Because the spring 74 is selected to exert a relatively light force, such slight sliding motion, if any, will not damage the upper. It should be noted that even in instances where the heel abutment has not yet engaged the last and where the toe pad 52 has moved inwardly to the vamp point 18, the inward motion of the

abutments

12, 14 will then terminate. This occurs because of the sharp upward rise of the front cone of the last just heelwardly of the vamp point 18. Engagement of the toe pad 52 with the front cone provides sufficient resistance to overcome the effect of spring 74.

The foregoing arrangement enables the machine to be used with a considerably wider range of shoe sizes and styles than is normally achieved. However, in those instances where a run of shoes includes those which are extremely small or large it may be desirable to change the closing rates of the abutments in the idle position. For this purpose, the bellcrank 77 may include a plurality of holes 90 to enable the pivot points 79, 84, 83, and 86 to be adjusted (see FIG. 3). Similarly, the connection between the rod 88 and the heel abutment may be adjusted to vary the effective length of the rod 88 and the initial longitudinal location of the heel abutment 12. This arrangement includes a slot 92 formed along the rod 88 and a pivoted bolt 94 mounted to the heel abutment which extends through the slot 92 and which is secured to the rod 88 by a wing nut 96. Further, the heightwise position of the cam 60 along the rod 62 may be adjusted to control the time at which the

abutments

12, 14 begin to move inwardly toward each other. For this purpose, the cam 60 may be secured to the rod 62 by a retaining bracket 98 and bolts 100 which extend through the rod 62, through a slot 102 in the cam 60 and into the retaining bracket 98.

It should be recognized that with some shoe styles, it is preferable not to employ the automatic adjustment feature described above. The automatic adjustment mechanism can be disabled by means of a latch 104 which is pivoted at 106 to the extreme lower end of the bracket 76. When operating in the automatic mode the latch simply is disposed in the disengaged configuraton shown in FIG. 1. When it is desired to disable the automatic adjustment mechanism, the latch 104 is swung upwardly (see FIG. 7) so that its outwardly extending finger 108 may be received in a receptive hole 110 in a lug 112 secured to the rod 78. Such engagement prevents movement of the arm 68 and locks the linkage. When in the disabled mode the longitudinal location of the heel abutment 12 can be adjusted by loosening the wing nut 96 and sliding the slide 32 along guides 30. Additionally, the toe abutment 14 can be adjusted relative to the heel abutment 12 by unlocking the head 40 from the frame of the machine and sliding the head 40 along gibs 114 formed in the frame for this purpose to move the head 40 and toe abutment 14 in relation to the fixed heel abutment 12. The linkage also enables operation in which the heel abutment 12 remains fixed while enabling automatic adjustment of the toe abutment 14. This can be accomplished by detaching the end of the rod 88 from the pivot 80 on the arm 86 and reattaching that end of the rod 88 to the fixed pin 106. Detachment may be facilitated by retaining the end of the rod 88 by an easily removed connector such as a hair pin clip 116.In this manner, the arm 68 is still free to pivot and automatically control the location of the toe abutment in the manner described above while maintaining the heel abutment in a fixed position. This mode of partially automatic operation may be desirable where the shoe assembly is of the breast flap type with the heel already secured to the shoe before attachment of the outsole.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the invention is intended merely to be illustrative thereof and that other embodiments and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described the invention what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A shoe machine comprising:

a frame;

shoe assembly supporting means mounted to said frame for supporting a shoe assembly in a predetermined position, such shoe assembly including a last;

abutment means mounted to said frame in spaced re lation from and facing said shoe assembly supporting means, said abutment means being adapted to bear against said supported shoe assembly;

means mounting said abutment means for movement longitudinally of said predetermined position of said shoe assembly between an idle position remote from a selected part of said shoe assembly and a working position in substantial registry with said selected region of said shoe assembly;

means mounting said shoe supporting means and said abutment means for relative movement toward and away from each other thereby to enable said shoe assembly to be gripped therebetween;

means responsive to relative movement of said shoe assembly supporting means and said abutment means toward each other for moving said abutment means from said idle to said working position; and means responsive to engagement of said shoe assembly with said abutment means under a predetermined force for terminating said movement of said abutment means, said location of engagement of said abutment means with said shoe assembly comprising said selected portion of said shoe assembly.

2. A shoe machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said abutment means longitudinally further comprises:

means urging said abutment means from said idle to said working position under a force of predetermined magnitude whereby said termination of longitudinal motion of said abutment means will occur when said shoe is gripped by said abutment means undera force sufiicient to resist said force of predeterminedvmagnitude.

3. A shoe machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said abutment means comprises a plurality of abutment members adapted to engage said shoe assembly at different locations thereon, said machine further comprising:

said means for terminating movement of said abutment means being so constructed and arranged as to effect said termination when the additive effect of the forces developed between said abutment members is substantially equal to said force of predetermined magnitude.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoe machine comprises a machine adapted to apply pressure to shoe bottoms, said machine further comprising:

said abutment means including a heel abutment member and a toe abutment member;

each of said heel and toe abutment members being movable in unison toward and away from each other between said working and idle positions respectively;

cam means mounted to said shoe assembly supporting means for movement in unison therewith;

a cam follower;

linkage means connecting said cam follower to said heel and toe abutment members;

means for biasing said heel and toe abutment members toward each other longitudinally of said supported shoe assembly and toward said working positions of said members;

said cam being so constructed and arranged as to release said linkage at a predetermined rate to enable said biasing means to draw said heel and toe abutment members progressively toward said working positions thereof.

5. A shoe machine as defined in claim 4 further comprises:

means for disabling said linkage means to preclude said longitudinal movement of said heel and toe abutting members in response to said movement of said shoe assembly supporting means.

6. A shoe machine as defined in claim 4 further comprising:

means for disabling a portion of said linkage means which controls said movement of said heel abutment member to maintain said heel abutment member in a fixed position longitudinally of the shoe assembly supporting means; said linkage being so constructed and arranged as to 5 permit longitudinal movement of said toe abutment member in relation to said supported shoe assembly and said fixed heel abutment member.

7. A shoe machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said linkage means comprises:

a bellcrank mounted to said frame and having its free ends extending transversely of and on opposite sides of said heel and toe abutment members; rod connecting one end of said bellcrank to said cam follower means; toe link connected between the other end of said bellcrank and said toe abutment member; heel link connected between said heel abutment member and said cam follower means, said heel and toe links being constructed and arranged to effect said movement of said heel and toe abutment members toward and away from each other in unison in response to movement of said cam follower.

8. A shoe machine as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

means for disabling said linkage means to preclude movement thereof.

9. A shoe machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said disabling means comprises:

a lug mounted to an element of said linkage means for movement in unison with said elements;

a latch movably mounted to the frame of said machine and being adapted to selectively engage said lug to preclude movement of said linkage or be disengaged from the lug to enable said movement of said linkage.

10. A shoe machine as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

said linkage including means enabling said heel abutment member to be locked in a predetermined longitudinal position for precluding movement of said heel abutment member in response to movement of said cam follower.

11. A shoe machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said means comprises:

said heel link being detachably connected to said cam follower;

means on said frame for receiving and retaining said heel link after said heel link is detached from said cam follower.

12. A shoe machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said cam is so constructed and arranged that said movement of said abutments is not initiated until after said shoe assembly supporting means and abutment means have been moved at least partially toward each other.

13. A method for supporting a shoe assembly in readiness for a shoe manufacturing operation:

supporting said shoe assembly on a first supporting means and in a predetermined position; providing shoe assembly abutment means in spaced relation to said shoe assembly supporting means;

locating said abutment means in an initial position which is out of alignment with a selected portion of said supported shoe assembly;

moving said shoe assembly support and shoe assembly thereon toward said abutment means while simultaneously moving said abutment means toward a working position in alignment with said selected portion of said shoe assembly and under a force of under a force sufficient to resist said predeterpredetermined magnitude;

continuing said movement of said supported shoe assembly toward said abutment means at least'until said shoe assembly engages said abutment means 5 mined force to preclude further movement of said abutment means relative to said shoe assembly.

Patent No. 6,783 ,464 Dated January 8, 1974 Inventqr(g) I Leo F. Stanton It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said- Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

-Column 1, line 20, insert a comma after "machines".

Column l, line 63, the last occurrence of the word "the" should be changed to "its- -improved-.

Column 2, line 33, "abuttment" should be changed to I -abutment- Column 3-, line 41, height-wise" should be changed to -heightwise- Column 6, line 54, "such" should be changed to -said Column 6,]line 63, "part" should be changed to portion.

the word means-.

Signed and ,sealed this 11th day of June 19714..

(SEAL) Attest:

d EDWARD ummrcrmmm; I c. MARSHALL mm:

- Attesting Officer Commissioner of "Patents Column 2,' lines 18 and 19, "approved" shouldbe changed to' Column 7, line 53 after the word "cam" should be inserted I FORM P0405) (169) v uscoMM-oc wave-Poo U.. GOVEINMINT 'IIIITIING OFFICE Z I." O-SIJL

Claims

1. A shoe machine comprising: a frame; shoe assembly supporting means mounted to said frame for supporting a shoe assembly in a predetermined position, such shoe assembly including a last; abutment means mounted to said frame in spaced relation from and facing said shoe assembly supporting means, said abutment means being adapted to bear against said supported shoe assembly; means mounting said abutment means for movement longitudinally of said predetermined position of said shoe assembly between an idle position remote from a selected part of said shoe assembly and a working position in substantial registry with said selected region of said shoe assembly; means mounting said shoe supporting means and said abutment means for relative movement toward and away from each other thereby to enable said shoe assembly to be gripped therebetween; means responsive to relative movement of said shoe assembly supporting means and said abutment means toward each other for moving said abutment means from said idle to said working position; and means responsive to engagement of said shoe assembly with said abutment means under a predetermined force for terminating said movement of said abutment means, said location of engagement of said abutment means with said shoe assembly comprising said selected portion of said shoe assembly.

2. A shoe machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said abutment means longitudinally further comprises: means urging said abutment means from said idle to said working position under a force of predetermined magnitude whereby said termination of longitudinal motion of said abutment means will occur when said shoe is gripped by said abutment means under a force sufficient to resist said force of predetermined magnitude.

3. A shoe machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said abutment means comprises a plurality of abutment members adapted to engage said shoe assembly at different locations thereon, said machine further comprising: said means for terminating movement of said abutment means being so constructed and arranged as to effect said termination when the additive effect of the forces developed between said abutment members is substantially equal to said force of predetermined magnitude.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoe machine comprises a machine adapted to apply pressure to shoe bottoms, said machine further comprising: said abutment means including a heel abutment member and a toe abutment member; each of said heel and toe abutment members being movable in unison toward and away from each other between said working and idle positions respectively; cam means mounted to said shoe assembly supporting means for movement in unison therewith; a cam follower; linkage means connecting said cam follower to said heel and toe abutment members; means for biasing said heel and toe abutment members toward each other longitudinally of said supported shoe assembly and toward said working positions of said members; said cam being so constructed and arranged as to release said linkage at a predetermined rate to enable said biasing means to draw said heel and toe abutment members progressively toward said working positions thereof.

5. A shoe machine as defined in claim 4 further comprises: means for disabling said linkage means to preclude said longitudinal movement of said heel and toe abutting members in response to said movement of said shoe assembly supporting means.

6. A shoe machine as defined in claim 4 further comprising: means for disabling a portion of said linkage means which controls said movement of said heel abutment member to maintain said heel abutment member in a fixed position longitudinally of the shoe assembly supporting means; said linkage being so constructed and arranged as to permit longitudinal movement of said toe abutment member in relation to said supported shoe assembly and said fixed heel abutment member.

7. A shoe machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said linkage means comprises: a bellcrank mounted to said frame and having its free ends extending transversely of and on opposite sides of said heel and toe abutment members; a rod connecting one end of said bellcrank to said cam follower means; a toe link connected between the other end of said bellcrank and said toe abutment member; a heel link connected between said heel abutment member and said cam follower means, said heel and toe links being constructed and arranged to effect said movement of said heel and toe abutment members toward and away from each other in unison in response to movement of said cam follower.

8. A shoe machine as defined in claim 7 further comprising: means for disabling said linkage means to preclude movement thereof.

9. A shoe machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said disabling means comprises: a lug mounted to an element of said linkage means for movement in unison with said elements; a latch movably mounted to the frame of said machine and being adapted to selectively engage said lug to preclude movement of said linkage or be disengaged from the lug to enable said movement of said linkage.

10. A shoe machine as defined in claim 7 further comprising: said linkage including means enabling said heel abutment member to be locked in a predetermined longitudinal position for precluding movement of said heel abutment member in response to movement of said cam follower.

11. A shoe machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said means comprises: said heel link being detachably connected to said cam follower; means on said frame for receiving and retaining said heel link after said heel link is detached from said cam follower.

13. A method for supporting a shoe assembly in readiness for a shoe manufacturing operation: supporting said shoe assembly on a first supporting means and in a predetermined position; providing shoe assembly abutment means in spaced relation to said shoe assembly supporting means; locating said abutment means in an initial position which is out of alignment with a selected portion of said supported shoe assembly; moving said shoe assembly support and shoe assembly thereon toward said abutment means while simultaneously moving said abutment means toward a working position in alignment with said selected portion of said shoe assembly and unDer a force of predetermined magnitude; continuing said movement of said supported shoe assembly toward said abutment means at least until said shoe assembly engages said abutment means under a force sufficient to resist said predetermined force to preclude further movement of said abutment means relative to said shoe assembly.