Abstract: A heel nailing machine having a holddown for the heel which clamps the heel against movement during attachment. The holddown is then moved upwards to lift the heel and attached shoe off the stand. The holddown then swings to one side and the shoe is released. The shoe is thus automatically ejected from the machine.

Abstract: A machine for sequentially manufacturing a plurality of reinforced substrates such as shoe uppers, comprising a powder deposition station wherein a stencil assembly applies powder onto an annular receiving belt, the powder being applied in a three-dimensional configuration because of peripheral spacer means arranged on the cut-out between the stencil and the receiving surface. The annular receiving surface is empowered to rotate to an arcuate heating station where the powder is fused by heating elements arranged thereabove and therebelow. The fused powder is then moved to a join and cool station where a substrate is pressed against the fused powder by a transfer means causing it to press against a chill plate therebeneath.

Abstract: A powder deposition apparatus comprising a stencil means having an upper non-permeable surface, with a cut-out therethrough is adapted on top of a screen, and a lowermost foil surface with a similar aligned cut-out therethrough which apparatus is articulatable over a receiving surface. The apparatus also comprises a gasket which is secured to the lowermost foil side of the screen, around at least a portion of the cut-out. The gasket may be of uniform thickness along its entire length or of tapering thickness at its end portions.

Abstract: A swing beam press in which the beam is supported on a column which stands up from the machine frame. The column contains a piston-cylinder unit for raising and lowering the beam. The cylinder is formed in the column and a piston rod of the piston projects upwardly out of the column and supports the beam. The beam has a downwards projection which embraces the column to guide the movement of the beam. This construction reduces the friction involved in beam movement and reduces costs.

Abstract: Shoe upper conforming machine for use in side lasting shoe uppers using lasting rollers which operate progressively along opposite side portions of the shoe has a facility for varying the speed of relative movement between the shoe support and the side lasting instrumentalities. To this end two preset speeds ("slow" and "fast") are available and either the operator can select which speed, using a manually operable switch, or, by selecting an automatic cycle, the speed can be automatically switched during the machine cycle. In particular, it has been found desirable that, with certain styles of shoe the speed of traverse is reduced in the joint region of the shoe bottom. Where adhesive applying nozzles are also provided, if desired the rate of flow of adhesive can be similarly controlled (viz. by selecting from two pre-settings).

Abstract: In a rod cement feeding apparatus, the rod passes between two plates, pivoted to one another, each plate having a semi-cylindrical groove, so that the two grooves for a substantially cylindrical passageway for the rod. The surfaces of the plates in which the grooves are provided are, over most of their length, spaced apart by projections, so that opposed slots are formed which extend into the passageway for the rod. Projecting into one such slot is a spring-urged jaw which co-operates with a fixed jaw which projects into the other slot, the jaws being moved lengthwise of the passageway by a pneumatic cylinder arrangement. As the jaws are moved in one direction, the spring-urged jaw tends to bite into the rod so that the rod is fed with the jaws during their advancing movement, while when the jaws are moved in the opposite direction the rotatable jaw releases its grip so that there is no tendency for the rod to be fed in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Side lasting machine has a last support and two side lasting assemblies each comprising a plurality of lasting fingers, a plurality of clamp pads arranged beneath the fingers, one associated with each pair of fingers, and, depending from each finger and interposed between the pads and the upper, a plurality of lasting bands. Each band extends over the width of not less than two fingers; preferably in the region of the two most heelwardly disposed pairs, a single band is provided. Each pad is mounted for independent pivotal movement about a vertical axis, to enable it to conform more readily to the last contour. The pads hold the bands against the upper under a pressure sufficient to allow slipping therebetween, the band thus applying an updrafting force to the upper as the fingers move inwardly.

Abstract: A computer-controlled machine for progressively roughing marginal portions of shoe bottoms comprises a tool carrier on which two rotary roughing brushes (168) are carried side-by-side, and a shoe support (18) between which and the tool carrier relative movement takes place lengthwise, widthwise and heightwise of the shoe bottom. Each tool (168) is mounted so as to "float" heightwise in relation to the tool carrier, resilient means (175) being provided for urging each tool independently downwardly towards the shoe support (18). In this way the pressure applied by each tool to the shoe bottom in the operation of the machine can be controlled and/or regulated. For effecting relative movement between tool carrier and shoe support, numerically controlled motors are provided, operating in response to a programmed instruction. Such instruction can be made using the machine in a path-determining mode.

Abstract: A multiple needle sewing machine having a shiftable needle mechanism wherein threaded needles may be shuttled from an active to an inactive position and vice versa. A thread wiping mechanism, comprising an arrangement of articulated fingers is disposed adjacent the needles' inactive positions. Upon a proper signal, the fingers extend to a position to await the inactive needle, whereupon, the fingers will be retracted, catching only the thread of the inactive needle holding it out of the way of the needle in the active position. The thread wiping mechanism may be actuated by reciprocable means attached to the fingers, which actuation occurs upon receipt of a proper signal during operation of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A ball bearing separator assembly comprising an annular ball separator having partitions extending axially from one side thereof, which partitions are abuttable with an annular retention ring, thus forming a circumferential array of ball pockets for bearings.The retention ring may have an axial array of fingers which snap into channels or voids in the partitions to lock them together. The ball separator in another embodiment may have pins which extend from the distal end of the molded separator partitions, which pins may mate with corresponding orifii in the retention ring. The pins may be distorted after mating with their respective orifii to secure the retention ring to the distal ends of the partitions on the ball separator.The annular body portions of the separator and its associated retention ring may be of reduced radial dimension adjacent the ball pockets thereof, to permit flexure of the separator assembly during rotation with a bearing about non-circular harmonic drive-type wave generator mechanisms.

Abstract: A fabric tensioning mechanism for pulling taut a flexible material arranged in a support frame, which frame is controllably movable in X-Y directions in a sewing machine setup. The fabric tensioning device is particularly useful to tension flimsy materials. A tensioning mechanism comprises several pivotable clamps arranged opposed one another across the support frame. The clamps are pivotable on the frame, and at least one clamp is movable with respect to the frame toward and away from its opposing clamp a regulatable distance to effect regulatable tension within any material pulled therebetween.

Abstract: A sewing machine having two needles supported in a needle holder, which needle holder is horizontally displacable, to present one needle to an active workstation in a prethreaded manner and simultaneously shift the other needle which has a different thread therein, into an adjacent inactive position. As the needles are being shifted, the needle moving to inactive status has its thread clamped against the needle holder by a wheel, to secure the thread from being pulled therefrom or straying. A vacuum tube arranged at each respective inactive position or station sucks the tail of the thread therein. A pair of thread guides, one for each thread, are arranged for vertical movement, to pullback on the dangling thread of the inactive needle, to prevent the thread from whipping during its inactive status. Each thread passes around a thread engaging wheel comprising a dual bobbin monitor arranged on a single axis.

Abstract: In a machine for cement lasting side portions and the heel seat of shoes, the side portions are lasted by lasting rolls and the heel seat by wiper plates. For applying adhesive, each lasting roll has an associated nozzle which applies adhesive progressively in advance of its associated lasting roll. Furthermore, when the lasting rolls reach the point of termination of side lasting, they remain in pressing engagement with the shoe bottom, but their rotation is terminated, and in this condition the nozzles continue to apply adhesive in the heel seat region. This may be achieved by merely discharging adhesive from the stationary nozzles and allowing it to run into the heel seat, or alternatively the nozzles may track bodily into the heel seat. Thereafter, the lasting rolls and nozzles are retracted and heel seat wiping can take place. The invention may also be incorporated in a machine in which the whole of the shoe bottom is lasted.

Abstract: A method of articulating a work support surface in a machine by attaching the work support surface to a support arm; journalling the support arm through a first axis which is arranged in a pair of parallel slots in a pair of frame members secured to the machine and then arranging a toggle linkage between the first axis and a second fixed axis secured to the frames, whereby reciprocation of an elongated member attached to said first axis causes said support surface to move rearwardly as said support arm thereattached is supportively moved between said frame members.

Abstract: For applying adhesive, for lasting shoes from the toe end at least over ball region of the shoe, an imprinter plate and nozzles are used, the region in which adhesive is applied by the imprinter plate extending from the toe end of the shoe and lying within, but being substantially smaller than, the region inwiped by the toe wiper plates. The nozzles, which can be guided by computer control means according to the particular style and size of shoe, are thus also used to apply adhesive to the heelward part of the region inwiped by the wiper plates as well as beyond such region. The invention is thus applicable to both combined toe and side lasting operations as well to extended forepart lasting over the ball region of the shoe.

Abstract: Provision is made for enabling the support for the lasting rolls and/or adhesive applying nozzles to be moved initially either into a position in which the instrumentalities are aligned with the longitudinal center line of the machine or alternatively are offset therefrom, selectively according to the contour of the shoe bottom. Further, the support is moved from its initially selected position to the other position during the machine cycle, thereby, in the case of the lasting rolls, varying their position during the machine cycle according to the shoe bottom shape. In the case of the nozzles, on the other hand, once they have engaged the shoe bottom, they are released from any constraint of their widthwise movement and are thus free to follow the shoe bottom edge contour, regardless of the position of the support.

Abstract: A cementing press for cement attaching outsoles to lasted footwear has a counter support receiving the outsole. Two presser members are provided, one acting on a heel portion and the other acting on the toe portion of a last. A free swinging rocker assembly serves as a counter support, and includes locking means actuated before the application of full pressure, for locking the assembly in the position which the rocker assembly has assumed upon the shoe bottom being laid thereagainst.

Abstract: A shoe support for supporting a shoe to have a heel attached thereto comprises a generally planar support surface against the heel seat region of the shoe and the heel are located. The support has at least one nail guide formed therein which is inclined to the normal to the support surface and contains a pusher member movable normally to the support surface. A driver rests on the pusher member and is movable, by movement of the pusher member, along the guide to drive a nail therefrom into the heel seat region and the heel. As the pusher member moves sliding movement takes place, normally to the direction of movement of the pusher member, between the pusher member and the driver.

Abstract: The heat setting machine comprises a channel along which a lasted shoe upper is conveyed to be subjected to heat. The apparatus comprises a resiliently deformable member extending along and secured to one side of the channel. The resiliently deformable member, which may be in the form of an inflated bag, is arranged to extend across the channel to engage a cooperating member secured to the other side of the channel and thereby close the top of the channel. By deformation of the resiliently deformable member, the leg portion of the lasted upper of high-legged boot can be inserted between the members to be supported thereby as it is conveyed along the channel.

Abstract: A portable page-turning device having a plurality of rotatable drums, each drum having a filament wound therearound, each filament being attachable to a successive page to be turned, for turning, upon a proper signal, successive pages. The rotatable drums are biased and hold the filaments in tension up to a notch in a face plate. The filaments are loosely disposed from the faceplate to the pages to be turned to which they are attached. In the preferred embodiments a movable disengagement lever may trace out an angular path to allow the filaments to be serially released from the notches and provide a tension on the entire filament, turning any page thereattached.