Foxing And Toe Cap Press

Abstract

Apparatus for applying foxing and a toe cap to footwear comprising elastically resilient pads contoured to the shape of the ends and sides of the bottom and the top surface of the upper at the toe. The pads at the ends are arranged to be moved into compressive engagement with the foxing at the ends and thereafter the pads at the sides and the pad at the top are arranged to be moved simultaneously into engagement with the foxing at the sides and the toe cap at the top. Pressure-operable motors provide for effecting movement of the pads and a control circuit provides for controlling the sequence of operations of the motors.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,281 to Schmming, there is shown an apparatus for attaching wrappers to shoe bottoms. This apparatus is provided with a support upon which the shoe to be operated upon is adapted to be placed, toe and heel posts mounted above the support which are adapted to be moved downwardly into engagement with a shoe to clamp it against the support and pads at the ends and sides of the support which are movable simultaneously into engagement with the lower part of the shoe to conform the wrapper to the peripheral edge of the sole. The successful operation of this machine depends upon clamping the last supported upper against the bottom support with clamping pressure and of then applying pressure to the ends and sides simultaneously and the machine is so constructed as to carry out the attaching operation as related. The Schmming apparatus cannot be employed to apply foxing because the sole must not be subjected to squeezing pressure during the attaching operation and because the foxing must be applied to the ends prior to attaching it to the sides. Moreover, the Schmming apparatus has no provision for applying a toe cap. It is accordingly the purpose of this invention to construct an apparatus for attaching foxing and a toe cap without subjecting the sole to pressure perpendicular to the bottom and to enable applying pressure to the ends prior to applying pressure to the sides. Further objects are to provide for adjusting the shoe relative to the pads, to provide for a relatively broad range of sizes and to provide for semi-automation.

SUMMARY

Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear on the support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the bottom support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portion of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, and means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends of the bottom prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides of the bottom. The end and side members are comprised of resiliently elastic material, the end members having flexible parts which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and the side members having portions overlapping the flexible portions of the end members. The end members comprise pads containing concave openings corresponding substantially in contour to the ends of the bottom which are of appreciably larger size than the ends so that a clearance exists between the sides of the openings and the ends prior to compressive engagement of the pads with the ends. A top member is situated above the support at the end comprising the forepart portion of the article of footwear and there is means for moving the top member into engagement with the forepart portion simultaneously with the movement of the side members into engagement with the sides. The bottom support is mounted for angular movement about a horizontal axis substantially midway between the end members and transversely thereof and there is means for fixing the bottom support in a predetermined position of angularity about said axis. Rods supported for movement in horizontal planes relative to the bottom support at the four sides thereof with their axes perpendicular to the sides support the end and side members and there are power-operable means for effecting reciprocable movement of the rods to move the members into engagement with the bottom and to retract them therefrom. A rod supported for movement perpendicular to the bottom support supports the top member and there is power-operable means for effecting its reciprocable movement. Each of the end members and side members are demountably attached to rigid plates fixed to the ends of the rods. Each end member comprises a core piece containing at one side a concave opening and a face sheet coextensive with the surface of the opening. The core piece may comprise a plurality of superposed layers of foam material attached to each other or a solid block of foam and the face sheet is comprised of a material which is wear-resistant and will not stick to uncured rubber, for example vinyl.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus diagrammatically showing a two-station machine with a shoe supported at the left side in position for application of pressure thereto and with the end and side pressure-applying members engaged with the bottom;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one station to much larger scale showing the shoe supported on the bottom support in position for application of pressure with the pressure-applying members retracted;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the end applying members engaged with the ends of the bottom;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the end and side applying members engaged with the bottom;

FIG. 5 is an elevation partly in section showing the top member engaged with the toe portion of the shoe upper;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the component parts of the pressure-applying member for applying pressure to the heel end of the bottom;

FIG. 7 shows the parts illustrated in FIG. 6 combined to form a pad;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the pressure control for effecting operation of the pressure-applying members;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the electric control circuit;

FIG. 10 is an elevation of an alternative form of the pressure-applying member for the toe; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 there is shown a box-like frame 10 supported on four legs 12 comprising end portions 14--14 and an intermediate portion 16. In each end portion there is mounted an operating station 18 and in the intermediate portion 16 there is mounted the control means for effecting operation of the stations comprising pneumatic and electrical circuitry.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 the frame 10 has a top plate 20 containing rectangular openings 22--22 and within said openings vertically disposed end and side walls 24--24 and 26--26. Since each operating station 18 is substantially the same except that one is employed for left-hand shoes and the other for right-hand shoes the detail description of the stations will be confined to a description of one station as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

At the bottom 28 of each opening 22 there is mounted substantially centrally of the opening a U-shaped bracket member 30 having a horizontal portion 32 parallel to the bottom and spaced parallel, vertically disposed legs 34--34 which extend downwardly through openings 36--36 in the bottom through collars 38--38 welded to the lower side of the bottom. A pin 40 is rotatably mounted transversely of the horizontal portion 32 in a bearing member 42 with its ends extending from opposite sides on which there are rotatably mounted a pair of collars 44--44 welded in spaced parallel relation to a flat plate 46. Angular movement of the plate 46 about the pin 40 can be fixed by a set screw 48. The plate 46 has mounted on it a soft pad 50 of yieldable material, for example neoprene foam or its equivalent. The plate and the pad thereon are shorter in length and breadth than the bottom of the shoe which is to be supported thereby so that when the shoe is placed on the bottom support the bottom part will project beyond the support all the way around, leaving the edges of the sole free to be operated upon without restraint.

Also within the opening there are mounted end members 52 and 54 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5), side members 56 and 58 and above the opening a top member 60. The end members 52 is for applying conforming pressure to the toe of the bottom and comprises a rigid block 62 to which there is detachably mounted an elastically resilient pad 64. The block is mounted within the opening on the inner end of a piston rod 66 which extends outwardly through the wall 24 at that end into a motor cylinder 68. The end member 54 is to apply pressure to the heel end of the shoe and comprises a rigid block 70 to which is detachably connected an elastically resilient pad 72. The block 70 is mounted on the inner end of a piston rod 74 which extends outwardly through the wall 24 at that end into a motor cylinder 76. The side member 56 comprises a rigid block 78 to which is detachably connected an elastically resilient pad 80. The block 78 is connected to the inner end of a piston rod 82 which extends outwardly through the wall 26 at that side and is connected to a motor cylinder 84. The side member 58 comprises a rigid block 86 to which is detachably connected an elastically resilient pad 88 and the block 86 is mounted on the inner end of a piston rod 90 which extends outwardly through the wall 26 at that side into a motor cylinder 92.

The end member 52 (FIG. 2) contains a concave recess 67 which is somewhat larger than the end of the bottom so that when unconformed to the end of the bottom the walls of the recess 67 diverge appreciably with respect to the sides of the bottom at the toe. Correspondingly the end member 54 contains a concave recess 73 which is somewhat larger than the heel end of the bottom so that the sides diverge from the side of the shoe at the heel end. The side member 56 has a somewhat convex surface 81 contoured for the outer side of the bottom and the side member 58 has a somewhat convex surface 89 contoured for the inner side of the bottom.

As clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 the end member 52 has flexible tapering portions 67.1--67.1 which extend rearwardly along the opposite sides of the bottom at the toe toward the ball line of the forepart and the end member 54 has forwardly extending flexible tapering portions 73.1--73.1 which extend forwardly toward the breast line of the heel of the shoe. The portions 67.1--67.1 and 73.1--73.1 when the pads are retracted stand away from the sides at the ends of the shoe. The side part 56 has a medial portion 81a which engages the outer side of the shoe between the end members and end portions 81b--81b which overlap the end members. Correspondingly the side part 58 has an intermediate portion 89a which engages the inner side of the shoe between the end members and end portions 89b--89b which overlap the end members.

The top member 60 comprises an elastically resilient block 98 having a concave surface 100 corresponding in contour to the surface portion of the upper at the forepart adjacent the toe and is detachably fastened to a rigid block 102 secured to the lower end of a piston rod 104 extending downwardly from the lower end of a cylinder 106. The cylinder 106 is secured to a bracket plate 108 mounted on a post 110, the lower end of which is rotatably set into an opening 112 in the rigid block 62. A set screw 114 provides for fixing the position of the post. To prevent the block 102 from pivoting on the piston rod a guide spindle 116 is fixed at its lower end to the block 102 and extends upwardly through an opening 118 in the bracket plate 108.

The end and side members are constructed so as to be resiliently elastic. As illustrated, the end members are comprised of four layers 120 (FIG. 6) of foam material laid up one upon another and secured to each other, a face layer of foam material 122 fastened to one side of the members 120, a face sheet 124 of a wear-resistant material which will not stick to uncured rubber attached to the face layer 122 and a rigid plate 126 fastened to the rear side of the member 120. The members 120 for the part 52 at the toe end are shortened from top to bottom to provide a sloping surface as shown in FIG. 5 while those for the member 54 at the heel end are of uniform length. The members 56 and 58 at the sides are similarly composed of a plurality of superposed foam layers, a facing layer, a facing sheet and a rigid back plate, -- the parts being suitably shaped to provide the contour shown in plan in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 the blocks 62, 70, 78 and 86 have spaced parallel grooves for removably receiving the edges of the rigid plates 126 to which the pads are secured.

Optionally a solid core piece of foam may be substituted for the laid up layers in the end and side members. The face sheet is comprised of a wear-resistant material which will not stick to uncured rubber; for example, vinyl, silicon, polyurethane, certain paints, urethane cement and adhesive, etc.

A modified end member for use at the toe is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 comprising a frame embodying a rigid plate 126.1 which fits into the groove in the block 62, rods 130 fixed at one end to the upper and lower ends of the plate 126.1, C-shaped clamping bands 132--132 secured to the distal ends of the rods and a sheet 133 of wear-resistant material such as vinyl or an equivalent which will not stick to uncured rubber secured at its upper and lower edges between the clamping bands 132--132 by bolts 134. The sheet material forms a wrap-around sling around the toe area of the shoe. The edges of the sheet material extend rearwardly like the tapering portions 67.1--67.1 so as to be overlapped by the side members.

The apparatus herein illustrated is used to apply foxing to the marginal edge of an outsole and to apply toe cap pieces to the forepart of the upper at the toe.

In accordance with this invention the upper with the bottom attached thereto and with the foxing strip and toe cap temporarily tacked in place is placed on the bottom support 46 between the end and side members and below the top member whereupon the end members 52 and 54 are first brought into engagement with the ends of the bottom. The pressure generated by pushing the end members against the ends of the bottom operate through the elastically resilient material of the end member to draw the tapered end portions 67--67 and 73--73 into engagement with the sides of the bottom at the ends. The end members function as clamps at the ends of the bottom which hold the shoe on the bottom support without applying pressure perpendicular to the surfaces of the bottom and so without squeezing or distorting the bottom in its heightwise thickness. Also because of the contour of the end members any lateral distortion of the bottom which at this time may be unvulcanized is prevented. The side members and top member 56, 58 and 60 are moved into engagement with the sides of the bottom and the top of the upper at the forepart of the shoe simultaneously and because the bottom is already engaged at its ends and cannot distort laterally or longitudinally nor in thickness the pressure can be applied to the top and sides without changing the shape or thickness of the bottom and without causing displacement of the foxing and wrinkling of the latter.

Pressure is applied to the parts 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 by means of air cylinders connected to the respective members as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8. Pressure is supplied to the outer ends of the cylinders 68 and 76 through line C1, a valve V1 and a pressure regulator R at 30 to 40 psi and to the inner ends through line C3 and a valve V2 at 60 to 70 psi. Pressure is supplied to the cylinders 84, 92 and 106 by a valve V3 through conductors C2, C5, C7 and C4, C6 and C8 at 60 to 70 psi. The valves V1, V2, V3 are all connected to a common source of pressure of 60 to 70 psi. The pressure regulator R is interposed between the valve V1 and the common source to enable lowering the pressure from 60 to 70 to 30 to 40 psi. The pressures employed will vary with different shoes and so the pressure mentioned is not to be considered limiting.

Each station of the machine is provided with a pressure circuit such as just described.

The circuitry for controlling operation of the valve is shown in FIG. 9 and comprises a starting button B, a relay R-1, a 0 to 6 second timer T1, a 0 to 15 second timer T2, a three-way solenoid S1 and a four-way solenoid S2. The three-way solenoid S1 controls the valves for the toe and heel cylinders and the four-way solenoid S2 controls the side and toe cap cylinders. The circuit has an "off" and "on" switch SM and an indicator light L. With the "off" and "on" switch in the "on" position so as to electrify the circuit depression of the starting button B will cause the three-way solenoid valve S1 to actuate the valves V1, V2 to supply pressure to the cylinders 68 and 76 and at the same time energize the 0 to 6 second timer T1. At the end of operation of the timer which will be set for the particular condition encountered the four-way solenoid S2 will be actuated to supply pressure to the valve V3 and simultaneously the 0 to 15 second timer will be started and this will hold the circuit until the selected time transpires. At the end of the time the solenoid will be de-energized and the valves reversed to supply pressure to the opposite ends of the cylinders to retract the same, first the side cylinders and then the end cylinders. Optionally a vibrator V (on and off switch) may be inserted in the line from the timer T2 to the solenoid S2 for vibrating the application of pressure by the side members 56, 58 and in certain instances it is also desirable to to insert a vibrator on the line from the timer T1 to the solenoid S1 to also effect vibration of the end members 52 and 54. Such vibration is beneficial in that it shortens the time required to effect attaching of the foxing.

Since there are two stations it is easy for an operator to alternately perform an operation on first one station and then the other within the time period required for effecting a cycle of operation. The portion 16 between stations provides suitable space for the pneumatic and electrical controls and conveniently a cover may be hinged to the top of this section to provide for easy access thereto either for adjustment of the time period required for the particular operation being performed or to aid in making repairs.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at oposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, a top member situated above the support at the end comprising the forepart portion of the upper said top member being contoured to embrace the forepart of the upper at the toe, means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends of the bottom prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides of the bottom and means for moving said top member into engagement with the forepart portion of the upper simultaneously with the movement of the side members into engagement with the sides of the bottom.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a rod supported for movement perpendicular to the bottom support to the lower end of which is fixed said member contoured to embrace the forepart of the upper at the toe, and power-operable means for effecting reciprocal movement of said rod.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a rigid receptacle having spaced parallel side and end walls, a bottom wall and an open top, said bottom support being mounted within the receptacle above the bottom, rods slidingly mounted in the end and side walls for movement in a horizontal plane above the bottom support toward the ends and sides of the bottom support, a rigid plate fastened to the inner end of each rod perpendicular to its axis, means on each rigid plate for detachably mounting a pad thereon, a cylinder mounted to each of the end and side walls for effecting reciprocation of the rods and control means for supplying pressure to the cylinders at the ends before supplying it to the cylinders at the sides to engage the end pads with the ends of the bottom prior to engagement of the side pads with the sides.

4. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, means mounting the bottom support for angular movement about a horizontal axis substantially midway between the end members and transversely thereof, means for fixing the bottom support in a predetermined position of angularity about said axis with respect to the horizontal plane and means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends of the bottom prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides of the bottom.

5. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottompart of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, rods supported for movement in a horizontal plane relative to the bottom support at the four sides thereof with their axes perpendicular to said sides to which the end and side members are fixed and power operable means for effecting reciprocal movement of the rods for moving the end members into engagement with the ends of the bottom prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides of the bottom and for retracting the side members from engagement with the sides before retracting the end members.

6. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, rods supported for movement in a horizontal plane relative to the support at the four sides thereof with their axes perpendicular to said sides, a rigid plate fixed to each rigid rod perpendicular to the support, means detachably mounting the end members and side members to said rods and means for effecting the reciprocal movement of the rods for moving the end members into engagement with the end of the bottom prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides of the bottom and for retracting the side members for engagement with the sides before rotating the end members.

7. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, said end members comprising pads containing concave openings corresponding substantially in contour to the ends of the bottoms, said openings being appreciably larger than said ends such that a clearance exists between the sides of the openings and the ends prior to compressive engagement of the pads with the ends and each pad comprising a core piece containing at one side said concave opening and a face sheet coextensive with the surface of the opening and means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends of the bottom prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a rigid plate to which the core piece is attached.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the core piece is comprised of a plurality of superposed layers of foam attached to each other.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the core piece is a solid block of vinyl foam.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the face sheet is vinyl.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the face sheet is comprised of a wear-resistant material which will not stick to unvulcanized rubber.

13. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each side member comprises a neoprene foam core piece attached to a rigid plate, a neoprene cushion layer attached to the core piece and a vinyl face sheet attached to the cushion sheet.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the core piece comprises a plurality of superposed layers of foam adhered to each other.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the core piece is a solid block of foam material.

16. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, each end member contaning concave openings corresponding substantially in contour to the end of the bottom said openings being appreciably larger than the ends of the bottom such that a clearance exists between the sides of the openings and the ends prior to compressive engagement of the pads with the ends, said end member at the toe comprising a frame embodying upper and lower C-shaped clamps constructed of flexible resilient material supported with their concave sides confronting the toe of the shoe and a sheet of flexible material fixed at its upper and lower ends to said C-shaped clamps and means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides.

17. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, means for effecting vibration of the side members while in engagement with the sides and means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides.

18. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottoms and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, means for effecting vibration of the end members while in engagement with the ends, and means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides.

19. Apparatus for applying foxing to the bottom part of footwear comprising a bottom support of smaller area than the bottom part so that the bottom part of an article of footwear placed on the bottom support projects beyond the support all around, longitudinally spaced end members situated at opposite ends of the support, transversely spaced side members situated at opposite sides of the support, said end members being constructed to embrace the ends of the bottom and having portions which extend from the ends toward the ball and breast lines of the bottom and said side members being constructed to engage the sides of the bottom intermediate the ball and breast lines and having portions extending toward the toe and heel which overlap the portions of the end members extending toward the ball and breast lines, means for effecting vibration of the side members and end members while in engagement with the sides and ends and means for moving the end members into engagement with the ends prior to moving the side members into engagement with the sides.