Abstract: A press comprising a flexible pocket or elastic membrane, that is adjustable in height and serves as a means for exerting a uniform enveloping pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, between the glued insole and the mounted upper of an article of footwear, which is held between locking elements during the exertion of pressure by the pocket. The locking elements consist of a single shaper closely contacting the contours of the footwear and remaining fixed on the press frame, during operation of said pocket, and a toe support that is placed against the base of the upper at the level of the instep. Thus, any creasing of the upper portion of the footwear is avoided by securely holding the footwear immobile during the pressure operation.

Abstract: A press for gluing footwear elements to each other comprising a tank and means for supporting an article of footwear in the tank. A flexible pocket or elastic membrane is positioned in the tank and is adapted to envelope at least the portion of the article of footwear which includes the footwear elements which are to be glued to each other. The press includes a jack having a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, the piston being adapted to be moved by the application of a pressurized pneumatic fluid to one surface of the piston. The opposite surface of the piston communicates with a liquid supply in the tank, whereby movement of the piston is operable to force the liquid under pressure against the flexible pocket or elastic membrane to cause the flexible pocket to conform to the contour of the footwear elements whereby to cause the elements to become glued to each other. Means is provided for moving the piston to a retracted position when the pneumatic pressure is released.

Abstract: A machine for making very long counters shaped in a single pass, comprising a first double shaper/punch station for performing hot reactivation of the counter and a second shaper/punch station for effecting bending and stabilization of the back elements of the footwear. The machine includes very long punches, bent to the exact shape of the counter and at the second station, comprises shapers the last edge of which exhibits a hardness notably greater than that of the upper part of the shaper. The machine is particularly adapted for making women's high heel shoes.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping the counters of shoe uppers is of the type which includes, on higher portions of the same frame or framework, two heating stations for heating portions of the upper, reactivating glue for assembly of the shoe uppers. In lower portions of the apparatus, two shaping stations for shaping the counters, which are made of a preform, comprise a last and shaper able to engage with one another to clamp the shoe upper tightly. The apparatus is provided with instrumentalities allowing each shaping station to operate in three stages; namely, (a) holding of the shoe piece on the last and fitting it to the height of the shoe upper, (b) positioning of the piece by holding of the preform shaper on the shoe upper at slight pressure, and then (c) properly shaping by clamping of the shoe upper between the shaper and last under a rather high pressure of 5 to 6 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling the cavities of a mold with powdered plastic material and for preliminary gelation of the material is used primarily for making synthetic shoe uppers. A carriage carries a mold beneath a distributor for depositing powdered material in the mold. A leveling means then levels the material at the top of the mold and the excess powder is returned to the distributor. The filled and leveled mold is then passed beneath a heat generator for effecting preliminary gelation of the powdered material.