Abstract: A shoe toe shaping clamping device has a mold base and multiple clamping units. The mold base has a mold body. Each clamping unit has a clamping base, a bottom clamping unit, a top clamping unit, a clamping space, and a depth adjusting unit. The bottom clamping unit is mounted on the clamping base, is adjacent to the mold body, and has a bottom clamping surface. The top clamping unit is mounted on the clamping base and has a top clamping surface. The clamping space is formed between the top clamping surface and the bottom clamping surface. The depth adjusting unit is mounted on the bottom clamping unit and shelters two sides of the clamping space. The shoe toe shaping clamping device is applied for clamping a vamp to form a shoe toe.

Abstract: There is provided a circuit for managing a multi-level power supply. The circuit includes a comparator that compares a voltage level (Vs1) of a lower voltage supply bus to a voltage level (Vs2) of a higher voltage supply bus, and a switch that routes current from the lower voltage supply bus to the higher voltage supply bus if Vs2<Vs1. The comparator is powered by the lower voltage supply bus, the lower and higher voltage supply busses provide power to an apparatus that includes a plurality of p-type metal oxide semiconductor devices in a common well, and the common well is electrically connected to the higher voltage supply bus.

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: The machine comprises a shoe support (20) for e.g. a heel seat and side lasting machine has a last pin (24) on which a shoe may be positioned, bottom up, having a shoe heel end positioning mechanism (86) including a heel height gauge device (110) for locating the heel end of the shoe to lengthwise and heightwise datums, and a toe support (30), including an abutment (54) for setting a toe height datum (54a), each of said datums being adjustable according to the style of shoe being operated upon. The machine also includes a heel band mechanism (150), the arrangement being that the shoe heel end positioning mechanism (86) is moved to an out-of-the-way position after the shoe has been positioned, thus allowing the heel band mechanism (150) to move into shoe engagement. The shoe is held by auxiliary clamp means (184) during this changeover.

Abstract: The machine comprises a shoe support (20), two side lasting assemblies (230) and a heel seat wiper mechansim (170), the shoe support comprising a last pin (24), a toe support (30) and a heel band mechanism (150). The heel band mechanism is mounted for rotation about an axis (158) whereby a shoe clamped thereby, after a lasting operation has been completed, can be removed from the operating locality of the machine onto a shoe-receiving platform (330) on to which the heel band mechanism then releases the shoe. The shoe support 30) also includes a shoe heel end positioning mechanism (86) by which a next shoe to be operated upon can be located at the operating locality of the machine during the removal of the shoe which has been lasted.

Abstract: For accurately positioning a shoe upper on its last preliminarily to a pulling over and toe lasting operation, the machine comprises an optical scanning system (20) by which, in cooperation with a central processor unit (22), coordinate axis values can be determined for selected portions of the topline region of the shoe upper (the "actual" values) and be compared with a set of taught data relevant to the shoe style, such taught data representing the positions in which the selected portions of the topline region of the shoe upper are to be located (the "should be" values), the central processor unit (22) comparing the actual and "should be" values and supplying correction signals to motors (16) associated one with each of the pincers (10, 12) whereby the shoe upper is selectively tensioned in order to achieve the desired location of the topline region of the shoe upper on its last.

Abstract: A wiper assembly (120, 220) for a pulling over and toe lasting machine provides for variation of the configuration of the continuous wiping surface (146, 246) and of the leading edge (144, 244) of the wiper assembly. This is achieved by each wiper plate arrangement comprising two wiper plates (132, 152; 232, 252) pivotally connected to one another whereby their angular relationship can be varied. In one embodiment the wiper plate configuration is varied while the machine is in the rest position, and the wiper plates are then clamped in such position; in another embodiment the individual wiper plates (232, 252) are driven independently of one another whereby the configuration can be varied not only at the start of the lasting operation but during the course of the lasting operation; furthermore, by this independent means, the configuration can be varied differently for left and right shoes.

Abstract: The device has a continuous adhesive-applying surface which is made up from a plurality of elements, articulated so as to enable the configuration of the surface to be varied by varying the relationship between the elements. More particularly, the elements comprise two base elements pivotally connected to one another and forming the base of the U, and two leg elements one pivotally connected to each of the base elements, forming the legs of the U. For adjusting the configuration of the surface, the distance between the pivotal connections of the leg elements with the base elements and also the distance between the remote ends of the leg elements are adjustable. For use in a pulling over and toe lasting machine, the central pivot between the two base elements is fixed in the machine so as to maintain the toe end of the applicator device in the correct relationship with other operating instrumentalities of the machine.

Abstract: The supports (9; 35) by which adhesive-applying nozzles (6) are supported in a shoe machine, e.g. a cement lasting machine, for tracking movement along opposite portions of a shoe bottom (5), are provided with mountings (34) by each of which either such a nozzle (6) or a sensing head (20) can be supported. In the latter case, as the sensing heads (20) are moved in the X-direction under the control of a stepping motor (18), the heads sense the edge of the insole (which may be provided with a black line (23, 24) and by feedback signals are caused to follow it, thereby determining the Y-axis movement corresponding to the X-axis movement necessary to guide the nozzle in the subsequent adhesive-applying operation. The Y-axis movement is stored at memory locations for which the X-direction movement values constitute the address.

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: The apparatus comprises a pulling over and toe lasting machine and a side and heel seat lasting machine. The pulling over and toe lasting machine comprises two linear potentiometers (102, 104) for monitoring the movement of the heel rest (26) both lengthwise and heightwise of a shoe, a left/right sensor (PrS2) and a proximity switch (PrS1) which senses when the wiper plates (20) reach a predetermined position in their inwiping movement and causes output value information from the potentiometers (102, 104) and left/right sensor (PrS2) to be "read". The side and heel seat lasting machine comprises two side lasting assemblies (36) tiltable in a direction lengthwise of the shoe, to accommodate to the spring of the last, and two adhesive-applying nozzles (40) arranged to track along opposite portions of the shoe. A further linear potentiometer (146) monitors the nozzle movement, and stepping motors (66) are provided for effecting tilting movement of the assemblies (36).

Abstract: The machine comprises a shoe support (10) and two side lasting instrumentalities (20), each of which comprises a fluid bag assembly (40) which, in a tilted position (determined by an abutment 44), is moved into engagement with a shoe, whereafter, by continued inward movement, the bag assemblies (40) are caused to pivot (or roll) upwardly and over the shoe bottom edge, thus to urge the shoe upper around the feather edge of the last and against the insole. The bag assemblies are inflatable, a higher air pressure being applied, so as to apply bedding pressure to the lasting margin, after the assemblies (40) have moved fully inwardly.

Abstract: A heel support device for use in a shoe making machine for forming the toe and sides of a shoe upper tensioned over a last seated on a last support include a guide fixed with respect to the machine. A heel support member is mounted for movement guided by the guide by a drive to a supporting position whereat the heel support member bears against and supports a heel portion of the last or heel portion of the upper tensioned therearound. A switch is operatively connected to the drive and is actuated by the heel support member reaching the supporting position to stop operation of the drive upon movement of the heel support member to the supporting position. As a result, the heel support member cannot move the last from a predetermined position.

Abstract: In a hydraulically operated pulling over and toe lasting machine both the operative position of the heel support (26), i.e. in which it holds the shoe by engagement with its heel end, and the position from which it initially moves to engage the shoe (the "next start" position) are controlled by electronic circuitry. Thus, an inductance switch (118) is actuated when the heel pad (100) engages the heel end of the shoe, said switch causing the supply of fluid to be shut off and locking the heel support in its operative position. For setting the "next start" position, on the other hand, selector switches (122,124) are provided each of which has an associated timer (T1,T2). At the end of a lasting cycle the heel support (26) is first fully retracted and then moves to its "next start" position under the control of the timer associated with the selected switch.

Abstract: In a footwear side-lasting machine, the setting movement of pressure members is automated which are operative to upturn and press onto a margin of a footwear blank insole coated with an adhesive a flap of its respective upper, while monitoring the curvature of the footwear blank insole and driving, based on such monitoring, motive members for the setting movement of the pressure members.

Abstract: A heel lasting machine to receive a footwear upper assembly that includes a last, an insole on the last bottom and an upper draped about the last with a margin extending upwardly from the insole, the last having a spindle hole. The machine includes two stations; each station includes a heel post or spindle having a last pin to insert into the spindle hole and a toe rest to receive the toe of the upper assembly. A single adhesive applicator applies adhesive to the heel region of the upwardly directed insole of both upper assemblies. All operations of the machine are computer controlled. A mechanism is provided to locate the nozzle of the adhesive applicator in its rest position relative to the heel region, despite variations in the placement of the spindle hole. A mechanism to assure a snug fit of the heel of the upper about the heel of the last is also provided. Once the upper is fitted about the last the upper assembly is pressed onto the toe rest.

Abstract: Apparatus for lasting footwear comprising a wiper assembly which lays the lasting margin about the insole which prior to lasting is pressed against the last by an adhesive injector plate. By a control the movement of the wiper assembly is arrested in an intermediate position in which the wiper assembly has just traversed the insole margin. By means of a signalling device a "fall away" signal which causes the injector plate to fall away from the insole is supplied when the wiper assembly is arrested. Adjacent the injector plate are provided adhesive injector nozzles which are movable away from the plate. By means of a latching member or a timer member it is ensured that the wiper assembly closes only if the adhesive injector nozzles cannot hinder the movement of the wiper assembly.

Abstract: A machine for lasting the heel of a shoe comprising a shoe last support including an axially displaceable column having a free end. The support is displaceable from a first retracted position to an advanced position and a shoe last is mounted on the free end of the column for limited rocking movement relative thereto to permit realignment of the shoe last. The column may be elevated from a lower position, and when so elevated, strikes the inner edge portion of the heel band wiper plate which has been displaced to a selected position in interference with an edge portion of the shoe last. Such upward movement of the shoe last will be, accordingly, stopped by the interfering edge portion of the heel band wiper plate and the shoe last will be automatically aligned into uniform engagement therewith. The column is locked at the stopped position and a heel band forcefully engages the stopped and aligned shoe last to maintain the shoe last at that position in that alignment.

Abstract: In a combined heel seat and side lasting machine, in which the heel seat lasting operation takes place during the dwell time necessary for the cement side lasting operation, the backpart of the shoe remains free of any clamping pressure at least in and adjacent the backseam region thereof, which pressure would have the effect of forcing excess material out of the heel seat region into the region to be lasted by the side lasting instrumentalities, while at the same time provision is made for locating the shoe, prior to the side lasting operation, in a predetermined relationship, both heightwise and lengthwise, with the heel seat lasting instrumentalities. To this end, the shoe is first located lengthwise by the heel band (16), whereafter, with the shoe clamped against a holddown (20), the heel band is retracted out of engagement with the backseam region of the shoe during the side lasting operation.

Abstract: Device for tensioning a shoe upper on a last and for laying its lasting margin over in the ball and shank region, wherein the shoe upper is first pressed against the last by means of a presser member, whereafter a band secured to the presser member is tensioned about the shoe upper in a direction towards the last bottom. The bands which embrace the last from both sides are brought together in tension in the middle of the insole.

Abstract: A side and heel lasting machine. The machine serves to adhere the unwiped margin of a shoe upper assembly, whose toe portion has been wiped, to the periphery region of the assembly insole. Lasting pads are employed to keep the margin in position during application of adhesive from nozzles that are spring loaded to press outwardly and track the upstanding margin when adhesive is applied in the region between the insole and the margin. The pads are then raised and urged inwardly to press the margin onto the insole. The top edge of inner lasting pads are folded onto the insole to achieve during wiping action; the direction of forces upon the top edges of the lasting pads is changed during wiping to increase downward wiping forces upon the margin. A quick-release mechanism is provided to permit removal and replacement of the lasting pads without need to remove any screw-type fasteners.

Abstract: A device for toe and ball lasting a shoe unit consisting of a last with a shoe upper superimposed thereon and an insole arranged on the last bottom comprises main wipers seated above the shoe support for linear movement and pivotal movement about a fulcrum point and carrying, on their side opposite the fulcrum point, ball wipers arranged for longitudinal displacement.In order to achieve perfect wiping results in the ball area, irrespective of the length, i.e., size of the shoe unit being processed, without the need to perform troublesome adjusting or setting work on the wipers, the device is provided with a sensing element for scanning the length of the shoe unit placed upon the shoe support, and for emitting a signal indicative of the length of the said shoe unit, the said sensing element coacting with adjusting means which are controlled by the said signal and which serve to automatically adjust the initial position of the ball wipers on the main wipers to the respective length of the shoe unit.

Abstract: A footwear forming machine wherein a shoe (or other footwear) upper assembly comprising a shoe upper draped about a last and an inner sole at the bottom of the last, is presented to the machine for applying adhesive and wiping of the lasting margin. The machine includes an inner sole support or footrest to receive the shoe upper assembly, means for stretching and forming the upper about the last and means for wiping the upper margin against the inner sole. An adhesive applicator mechanism is provided that include two extruder sections operable to apply adhesive to the bottom of the inner sole respectively near each edge of the toe portion of the shoe upper assembly.

Abstract: An insole support plate disposed on the last post, the insole support plate having a toggle mechanism which permits the support plate to be moved heelwardly an adjustable amount of distance, said support plate and toggle mechanism being arranged on a frame which is pivotable with respect to the last post to facilitate loading of an upper on a last by an operator of a shoe lasting machine.

Abstract: A toe lasting machine (10) for operating on a shoe assembly (66) formed of a last (68) having an upper (70) draped thereon and an insole (72) secured to its bottom by wiping the margin (74) of the toe portion of the upper against the insole while the heel portion of the shoe assembly is engaged by a heel clamp pad (29) that is moved in a rearward direction against the heel portion of the shoe assembly. The heel clamp pad (29) is so connected to a slide (42) that is yieldably urged upwardly as to have unitary heightwise movement with the slide (42). The slide (42) and the heel clamp pad (29) are mounted for forward-rearward swinging adjustment about a prone axis that is transverse to the rearward 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: 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: The machine comprises a shoe support (20) on which a shoe can be positioned, and which includes a toe end engaging member (48) which senses the shoe length, two abutment faces (84, 90) being set along shoe length sensed. The machine also comprises adhesive-applying nozzles (262) and side lasting rolls (224) mounted on a carriage (216) for movement relative to the last support. The "start" position of the nozzles is set by valves (334,336) actuated by cams (330, 332) positioned by a sensing member (326) engaging with one abutment face (84). Various other machine operations, which take place at the ball region of the shoe bottom, the position of which region thus varies proportionately with shoe length, are controlled by further valves (354, 356) actuated by cams (350, 352) carried on a control rod (344) the position of which is determined by a sensing member (338) engaging the other abutment face (90), an appropriate length grading arrangement (342) connecting said member and said control rod.

Abstract: A side lasting machine having a last support, for supporting a last bottom uppermost, and two side lasting assemblies, arranged one at each side of the last support, each assembly comprising a plurality of lasting elements (fingers), a plurality of clamp pads arranged beneath the fingers, and depending from each finger and interposed between the pads and the upper, a plurality of lasting bands. In operation, the pads hold the bands against the upper under a pressure sufficient to allow slipping between the bands and the pads, while causing the bands to apply a drafting force to the upper. As the fingers move inwardly, they draw the bands upwards so that the upper is updrafted before the lasting margin is secured to the insole. The fingers, in the rest condition, are spaced above the level of the last bottom and move downwardly thereonto as they are moved inwardly, thus avoiding the need to set their heightwise position for different styles of shoe.

Abstract: In a side (or heel seat and side) lasting machine, opposite side portions of the upper are clamped against the last, by means of clamp pads arranged in two rows one at each side of the last, prior to the lasting margin being wiped over corresponding marginal portions of the insole. To ensure that the upper lies snugly against the last prior to the in-wiping operation, the most heelwardly disposed pad of each row is so mounted that, as it is moved inwardly towards the last, it engages the upper at a position spaced from the feather line thereof, continued inward movement thereafter causing the pad to move towards the feather line, thereby causing an upward drafting of the upper. Said pads may be mounted to pivot or to be deflected to effect such upward draft. If desired, adjacent pads may be similarly mounted.

Abstract: A shoe side or combined heel seat and side lasting machine has two cement applying nozzles movable from an initial position, adjacent one another, outwardly to a first position, determined by abutments associated one with each nozzle, which abutments guide the nozzles in a straight line in the shoe bottom waist region. In the combined machine version, such outward movement causes a V-shaped pattern of adhesive to be applied in the shoe bottom heel seat region. Selector means is also provided for causing, according to whether the shoe is a left or right, the abutment associated with the nozzle tracking along the inside edge of the shoe bottom, to move from its first to a second position when the nozzle reaches the shoe bottom joint region, while the other nozzle continues in a straight line, thus to facilitate adhesive application to marginal portions of the shoe bottom up to the ball region.

Abstract: A shoe side or combined heel seat and side lasting machine has two side lasting assemblies, each comprising wiping elements mounted for pivotal movement, independently of adjacent elements, about first and second axes extending respectively transversely and lengthwise of the last bottom. For providing a substantially continuous wiping surface, the first axis lies in the plane of the work-engaging surface of its associated element, along the longitudinal center line thereof, when said surface lies horizontally. Also each shoe lasting assembly can pivot bodily about an axis adjacent the edge of the work-engaging surface of the most heelwardly disposed element, in the plane of its work-engaging surface. Associated with each pair of wiping elements is a clamp pad, said pad being caused clampingly to engage the shoe, while the inwiping movement of the elements continues, by operation of a common piston-and-cylinder arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for a point lasting machine to fold over an edge of a shaft of a shoe or of a shoe upper at a ball and joint part of a last of the machine. The apparatus includes movable presser members for applying pressure against opposite side surfaces of the last when the shaft or upper is positioned thereon. Associated bands are connected to the presser members respectively for folding over the shaft edge against an underside of an insole of the shoe and for holding the shaft edge in its folded position against the insole. Preferably, the bands are fabricated from an elastic material. Each band extends transversely from its associated presser member for positioning against the respective shaft and shaft edge. A tensioning device is connected to each band for tensioning the band against the associated shaft and shaft edge to fold and hold the shaft edge.

Abstract: A machine, operable on a shoe assembly formed of a last having an upper mounted thereon and an insole located on its bottom, that applies cement in the corners between the side and heel portions of the upper margin and the peripheries of the corresponding portions of the insole prior to wiping the side and heel portions of the upper margin against the insole and attaching the wiped margin portions to the insole by means of the cement.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a machine for applying cement to the periphery of an insole that is located on a last bottom and for wiping the entire margin of an upper mounted on the last against the insole to thereby adhesively secure the entire upper margin to the insole.

Abstract: A lasting machine that applies cement into the corner between a portion of the margin of an upper mounted on a last and an insole located on the last bottom and that wipes the margin portion against the insole so as to cementatiously attach the wiped margin portion to the insole.