Abstract: A shoe sole mold for molding unit soles comprised of plastic-like material, where one of the mold halves has a retractable channel forming mechanism or design forming wall portion therein. The retractable mechanism may be used to fabricate holes in the sole or make a design in the wall of the sole during injection of the material into the mold cavity. The mechanism is then retracted into its respective mold and leaves behind a formed channel or image arranged in the unit sole material after it has set, and which unit sole may then be removed from the mold cavity. The channels or holes in the soles may then be used to secure straps or the like to the soles during subsequent manufacture of sandals or the like.

Abstract: A method of applying a band of liquid adhesive in which the adhesive is spread by a resiliently flexible tapering applicator portion having an adhesive-guiding surface which extends to a narrow terminal spreading surface, the adhesive-guiding being concave about an axis which extends transversely of the spreading surface. The spreading surface is brought into contact with a workpiece, a pool of adhesive from an orifice in the adhesive-guiding surface is formed against the spreading surface, the applicator portion is caused to flex so that a portion of the adhesive-guiding surface extends along the workpiece surface, and relative movement between the workpiece and the applicator portion is brought about so that the adhesive is spread. An applicator head and an apparatus are also claimed.

Abstract: A shoe support for supporting a shoe, bottom uppermost, with the bottom thereof exposed for an operation to be performed thereon, has a heel end support arrangement and toe end support means moveable relative thereto to accommodate shoes of different sizes. Associated with the toe end support means is a "shoe present" sensing device which, when actuated, initiates movement of the toe and support means. The shoe support also has a shoe length sensing device and an arrangement, associated with the heel and support arrangement and including an inductance sensor, for sensing whether the shoe is a left or right.

Abstract: A single-station combined toe and side lasting machine comprises pulling over instrumentalities 20, 22 for tensioning an upper over its last, toe lasting instrumentalities, including toe wipers 38, toe pad 48 and toe band 50, a heel support 56, two adhesive applying nozzles 28 and side lasting instrumentalities 114 constituted by two lasting rollers 176. In operation, with the upper tensioned, first the shoe is clamped by the toe lasting instrumentalities and heel support to allow adhesive to be applied progressively along opposite side portions from the toe to heel breast. Then the lasting rollers operate progressively from the ball region to the heel breast, and, when the rollers have cleared the ball region, the inwiping movement of the toe wipers is completed. The nozzles and side lasting rollers are mounted on a common carriage 26 which moved rectilinearly, supports 116 for the rollers being mounted for movement thereon about three perpendicular axes 82, 122, 140.

Abstract: A shoe support comprises toe support means (34) and heel support means (30), the toe support means being mounted for adjusting movement relative to the heel support means in directions extending lengthwise, widthwise and heightwise of the bottom of a shoe supported by the shoe support. The heel support means (30) comprises a last pin (32') mounted for limited rocking movement abut an axis (412) extending lengthwise of the shoe bottom, the last pin being supported on a support member (420) which is angularly displaceable on a support rod (28), the arrangement being such that the rocking axis (412) of the last pin (32') can be adjusted angularly on the support rod, thus to locate said axis (412) substantially in the heel-to-toe plane of the shoe, as determined by the position of the toe support means (34). In this way, the shoe is supported in a more stable manner for operations to be performed thereon, e.g. a heel seat lasting operation.

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: In tack seat lasting machines, operator skill is often required because of irregularities in last manufacture, especially in drilling the last pin hole. Thus, automatic presentation is difficult. In accordance with the invention the last pin (32') is mounted for limited rocking movement about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe bottom, and shoe centralizing means (424) engages edges of the shoe, at opposite sides of the last pin, to ensure alignment with a longitudinal center line of the machine. The centralized shoe is then clamped by a holddown (406), the centralizing means released, and the shoe heel end clamped by a heel band (520) which, by equalized pressure being applied to both "legs" thereof, holds, the shoe in position as presented.

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: A computer-controlled machine for progressively roughing marginal portions of shoe bottoms comprises a tool support arm, on which two rotary roughing brushes are carried side-by-side, and a shoe support between which and the arm relative movement takes place lengthwise, widthwise and heightwise of the shoe bottom. The relative lengthwise movement is fore-and-aft, and the left hand tool is arranged to operate along the right hand side of the shoe bottom as relative movement takes place in one direction, and vice versa in the opposite direction. For effecting such relative lengthwise movement, furthermore, the shoe support is mounted for movement along an arcuate path about an axis extending transversely of the shoe bottom. Conveniently, two shoe supports are provided, arranged side-by-side, the tool support arm being aligned alternately with each shoe support.

Abstract: Apparatus for the combined marginal roughing and toe scouring of shoe bottoms has a shoe support movable in an arcuate path past marginal roughing tools and a scouring tool, the roughing tools being movable widthwise and heightwise of the shoe bottom, and the scouring tool heightwise. All the movements are under the control of n.c. motors. The scouring tool thus follows a pre-determined path, giving enhanced control of the degree of scouring. To assist in accuracy, the shoe support has height datum means which, after use and subsequent to toe support means being locked in adjusted position, are moved out of the way so as not to impede the roughing and scouring.

Abstract: Machine for performing a progressive roughing operation on shoe bottoms has a three-axis computer controlled stepping motor arrangement for moving two rotary radial roughing tools along a pre-determined path in relation to the shoe bottom being operated upon. The tools are also mounted on a common sub-frame for pivotal movement about a transverse axis which extends tangential to the shoe bottom engaging portion of the operating surface of the tools, again by computer-controlled stepping motor. Grinding stones are provided for grinding the tools, and a further stepping motor operates to move the tools relative to the sub-frame to maintain the shoe bottom engaging region of the operating surface of each tool in the datum plane in which said transverse axis lies.

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: Provision is made for enabling the adhesive applying nozzles on a shoe lasting machine to be initially positioned offset from the longitudinal center line of the machine, selectively at one side or the other according to whether the shoe to be lasted is a left or a right. To this end each nozzle is movable, independently of the other, widthwise of the shoe bottom and has stop means associated therewith. At the start of a machine cycle, one stop means is in an operative position, in which its associated nozzle is in a desired offset position, while the other stop means is in a retracted position, allowing its associated nozzle to move to a position adjacent the first-mentioned nozzle. After engagement with the shoe bottom said one stop means is also retracted, so that both nozzles are then free to follow the edge contour of the shoe bottom without constraint.

Abstract: A digital stepping motor having a rigid tubular rotor arranged within a stator, in a housing, the stator having an arrangement of spline teeth adjacent one end thereof on a portion of the housing. The rotor has an array of spline teeth disposed at one end thereof, and a deflectable diaphragm at the other end thereof. The deflectable diaphragm is fixedly attached to an output shaft. The tubular rotor has an axis of rotation which is slightly skewed with respect to the axis of rotation of the output shaft during energization of the motor when the rotor is attracted to the stator. The stator comprises a plurality of equi-angularly spaced coils, the sequential energization of which causes sequential circumferential engagement of corresponding external and internal spline teeth between the rotor and the spline teeth on the end cap, creating an orbiting motion within the rotor, and a subsequent rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: The machine comprises a plurality of substantially enclosed channels in which a lasted shoe upper is subjected to hot air blown from both sides of the channel. Conveyors carry the uppers along the channels past inlets located at a distance of from 6 to 20 cms from the center-line of the lasted upper as it passes longitudinally along the channel. This arrangement enables air to be blown on to the uppers at high velocity. Moistening means may be provided to introduce moisture into the air before it is blown on to the uppers.

Abstract: A cementing press for cement attaching outsoles to lasted footwear from their toe up to the lower end of the heel breast by using a counter support applying pressure to the waist regian. A heel support takes up the pressure exerted to the heel breast during cement attaching. The heel support is arranged on a lever pivoted around a fulcrum running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the shoe towards the heel.

Abstract: A shoe sole attaching press in which a pressure member is moved by a relatively small cylinder from a retracted location into engagement with a shoe whereupon an interlocking means locks a relatively large pressure applying cylinder to means for applying force to the pressure member.

Abstract: In tack seat lasting machines, variation of the tack (nail) pattern is achieved by varying the wiper inwiping movement, itself dependent upon their lengthwise movement. Such variation also alters the "back tack" position (i.e. relationship between the heel band backseam region and corresponding region of the wipers). In accordance with the invention, the nail pattern is varied by an operator-set reference potentiometer (198) by matching with its signal that of a linear potentiometer (190) which controls operation of wiper-operating motor (72, 74). The back tack position is controlled by a motor (105) according to an operator setting of a reference potentiometer (208). The combined signal from the reference potentiometers (198, 208) is compared with a control signal of a linear potentiometer (202) associated with the heel band, the motor (105) being operated until the compared signals match.

Abstract: A machine for producing points on the pilot end of a rotary fastener, the machine comprising a rotating dial for supporting an array of blank fasteners above a pair of dies. The blank fasteners are sequentially fed between the dies for pointing thereof. The dial is notched on its periphery to hold the blanks therein. The fasteners are held in coaxial alignment with the pinch point of the dies, by a notched biased centering plate, permitting accurate pointing of the fastener along the axis thereof.

Abstract: A device for stiffening portions of sheets of flexible material including a reciprocable and rotatable nozzle disposed upon an extruder, the nozzle having a generally V-shaped nose section and a pair of wings disposed therebehind.