Abstract: A machine for lasting the toe and side and heel of an upper to an insole mounted to a last includes a toe and ball wiper assembly and a heel and shank wiper assembly in combination with a pincer assembly mechanism for stretching the upper tightly about the last and a toe clamping mechanism for clamping the stretched upper against the last. Following stretching and clamping, the toe wipers are actuated to press the upper margins against the insole bottom against the counter force of an overhead toe hold-down acting against the top of the upper. A brake mechanism fixes the overhead hold-down to maintain the toe wiping plane in a constant position. The heel wiper assembly is elevated within the machine to locate the heel wiper plane at a proper height relative to the insole bottom, the proper height being determined with a sensor mounted for movement with the heel wiper assembly. A heel clamping pad assembly connected to the heel wiper assembly then clamps the heel prior to stretching of the upper.

Abstract: A composite band for use in a lasting machine to wipe a portion of the margin of a footwear assembly onto the insole of the assembly that typically includes a last, a shoe upper on the last and an insole at the last bottom. The band includes an elastic (e.g., Teflon) footwear assembly engaging strip member to engage the upper of the footwear assembly during lasting to press the upper onto the last during lasting, the elastic footwear assembly engaging member having a T-slot extending longitudinally the length of the elastic footwear assembly engaging member and including a transverse slot member and a radial slot member. A metal strip disposed within the T-slot is dimensioned to fit snugly within the transverse slot member of the T-slot such that the metal strip can slide longitudinally within the transverse slot member of the T-slot of the elastic footwear assembly engaging member but is substantially unable to move either transversely or radially relative to the elastic shoe engaging member.

Abstract: A machine for lasting the toe and side and heel of an upper to an insole mounted to a last includes a toe and ball wiper assembly and a heel and shank wiper assembly in combination with a pincer assembly mechanism for stretching the upper tightly about the last and a toe clamping mechanism for clamping the stretched upper against the last. Following stretching and clamping, the toe wipers are actuated to press the upper margins against the insole bottom against the counter force of an overhead toe hold-down acting against the top of the upper. A brake mechanism fixes the overhead hold-down to maintain the toe wiping plane in a constant position. The heel wiper assembly is elevated within the machine to locate the heel wiper plane at a proper height relative to the insole bottom, the proper height being determined with a sensor mounted for movement with the heel wiper assembly. A heel clamping pad assembly connected to the heel wiper assembly then clamps the heel prior to stretching of the upper.

Abstract: A heel laster to receive a footwear upper assembly and constructed to press, form and last the heel part of the footwear upper assembly. A structure is provided to secure the assembly to the laster; princers stretch the heel part of the upper about the heel region of the last; and a heel pad presses the upper against the last. Then a nozzle is moved and positioned by a mechanical structure along an appropriate adhesive path. The mechanical structure includes a tracer mechanism the includes an adjustable U-shaped cam track and a linkage connected to the nozzle at one end and to a cam follower at the other end thereof such that the cam follower is positioned within the cam track; a driver mechanism is connected to propel the cam follower along the track in the X-Y directions (the nozzle can move in the Z-direction as well to follow contours of the footwear). The heel pad is preferably an inflatable pad. The mechanical tracer mechanism, as a unit, has a predetermined and fixed position relative to the heel pad.

Abstract: A heel molder to form the heel part of a footwear upper assembly. The heel part includes a thermally-activated material that is deformable when heated above a threshold temperature; it is non-deformable below that threshold temperature; it is non-deformable at room temperature. The material preferentially includes a thermally-activated adhesive, that is, an adhesive that becomes tacky or sticky at or about the temperature at which the material becomes deformable. The heel molder receives the upper assembly, forms the same at the heel region while the material is above the threshold temperature, cools the material whereby the thermally-activated material--and the upper itself and liner--takes a permanent preformed set as a laminate for later operations. According to the present teaching, the thermally-activated material or counter, the upper and the lining of the upper typically form, when cooled, a laminate that retains its geometry for subsequent operations thereon.

Abstract: A machine to mold and flange the heel region of an upper whose heel region has been heated to soften the same. The heel region includes a thermal plastic material which softens when heated and is fairly rigid at and below room temperature. The machine includes a mold to receive the heated upper, the mold being cooled to reduce the temperature of the upper during the molding or forming operation. The machine further includes pincers to draw or stretch the upper about the mold, the direction of stretch being variable, a pad to wrap about the heel region of the upper and wipers. An equalizer mechanism centers the pad with respect to the mold to equalize pressure and the pad has a quick change mechanism associated therewith, as do the wipers. A height gage is provided to assure proper heightwise positioning of the upper on the mold.

Abstract: A steam press for steaming the toe region of a footwear upper, that includes a contoured activator to receive the toe portion of the upper and operable to heat and apply steam to moisturize the toe portion. The contoured activator includes a contoured silicone cushion and a felt-covered contoured steam pad to engage the top part of the upper and a lower heated activator housing contoured to the contour of the contoured steam pad and positioned to mate with the contoured steam pad and press the upper therebetween. The contoured steam pad is mechanically interconnected to move away from and toward the heated activator pad respectively to receive the upper and then press the upper between the contoured steam pad and the heated activator housing. A steam generator is connected to receive water in the liquid state and is operable to convert the water to steam.

Abstract: A pulling over arrangement on a pulling over and lasting machine. The pulling over arrangement comprises a pincers that is operable to grip the margin of an upper and is movable downwardly under the yieldable force of an air operated motor. A locking mechanism is provided that locks the pincers against upward movement after the pincers have been moved downwardly and a release means is provided to release the locking mechanism.