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 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: In an integrated system to achieve a number of operations on a footwear upper assembly, an automatic rougher that includes a roughing tool adapted to remove material--and hence rough--the cement margin (or bonding surface) of the footwear upper assembly to provide a cementing surface onto which an outer sole is later applied. The cement margin (or bonding surface), as is known in this art, typically follows a closed-loop path that rapidly changes in all directions of an X-Y-Z coordinate system and the roughing tool must be continuously re-oriented to the many direction changes of the cement margin in order to track the margin. According to the present teaching the upper assembly, and hence the cement margin thereof, is ordinarily moved in rotational movement, rocking movement, transverse translational movement, and, also, vertical translational movement (i.e., movement toward and away from the roughing tool) during the course of roughing.

Abstract: A machine to apply adhesive to the toe and ball region of a footwear upper assembly that includes a last, an upper draped about the last and an insole at the last bottom. The machine includes a pair of adhesive nozzles to apply the adhesive onto the footwear upper assembly near the edge of the insole, a pair of nozzle arms, one nozzle arm of the pair of nozzle arms being secured to each nozzle of the pair of adhesive nozzles and adapted to move the nozzle secured thereto; and a mechanical structure operable to guide the nozzles along respective paths adjacent each edge of the insole to deposit a ribbon of adhesive onto the upper assembly from the toe of the upper assembly to the ball region of the upper assembly. The mechanical structure includes a nozzle-guide template that is configured to an outline that, together with other mechanical structures, matches the outline of the insole between the toe and the ball region of the smallest upper assembly of the style to be lasted.

Abstract: For use in a system that includes first and second machines to perform operations on a footwear upper assembly, a transfer machine that includes an activator arm assembly, and a gripper assembly rotatably and pivotally connected to one end of the activator arm assembly. The gripper assembly includes a pair of fingers with a gripper jaw pivotally secured to each of the fingers. The pair of fingers are movable toward and away from each other respectively to grasp and release the footwear upper assembly. The pivotal attachment of the jaws permits the jaws to adjust to the irregular profile of the footwear upper assembly, a situation which is enhanced by the geometry of the gripper jaws which permits contact between the jaws at regions spaced longitudinally along the footwear upper assembly and by choosing a jaw material that is soft enough to deform, and hence provide larger contact area between the upper assembly and the jaws.

Abstract: A transfer machine to move a footwear upper assembly (or the like) between stations in a footwear (or the like) processing system which transfer machine includes an end effector having a mechanism to grasp the footwear upper assembly. A base serves as a reference in an X-Y-Z coordinate system with respect to which positions of the footwear upper assembly are known during movement of the footwear upper assembly within the footwear processing system. An interconnecting mechanism connects the end effector to the base and provides seven degrees of freedom to the mechanism to grasp with respect to said base; three translational degrees of freedom along the X-Y-Z axes of the transfer machine, a pivotal degree of freedom with respect to the base about the Y-axis, a tilting degree of freedom about the X-axis, a pivotal degree of freedom about the Z-axis, and a further pivotal degree of freedom about the Y-axis.

Abstract: Apparatus (and method) for automatically roughing the cement margin of a shoe or other footwear assembly, which footwear upper assembly includes an upper mounted on a last and an inner sole disposed upon the bottom of the last and connected to the upper. The apparatus (i.e., a roughing machine) typically includes a disc-shaped wire wheel (or other roughing tool) positioned with the plane of the brush approximately perpendicular to the cement margin at the region of contact between the two. The roughing machine includes a mechanism to receive the upper assembly and provide some combination of movements between the upper assembly and the periphery of the wire wheel to achieve a constant region (or area) of contact between the two as the cement margin moves with respect to the wire wheel in the course of roughing.

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 machine to form an end of a unit of a box from a flat box blank that includes two sides, a bottom, and, at each end, an end flap supporting a cantilevered sealing tab, and two side tabs supported by the two sides. A planar movable table receives the box blank and a planar folding table receives the end flap and the sealing tab. A pair of side guides secures the two sides of the box blank and guide the box blank in its rearward travel. An end flap folding mechanism serves to fold the two side tabs attached to the box sides inward through ninety degrees to a position essentially parallel to the fold line. An adhesive applicator applies an adhesive ribbon in a predetermined pattern to the sealing tab and, sometimes, to the end flap.

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: An activator for shaping the heel portion of a footwear upper to provide an upper whose heel is shaped approximately to the shape it will ultimately take in the fabricated shoe or other footwear. The activator includes a mold to receive the upper; the mold has a back portion contoured to the required shape of the heel portion of the upper. The activator further includes a pad having a bight region and legs extending from the bight region, which pad has an inner contour that approximately matches the outer contour of the back and adjacent portions of the mold and both can be replaced to fit requirements. The pad has an open position to receive the mold with the upper thereon and a closed position to squeeze the upper between the pad and the mold. A mold drive mechanism is provided to move the mold from a location spaced from the pad to receive the upper to a nested location within the bight region and the legs of the pad. Then the pad is moved around and about the upper and heat is introduced to the upper.

Abstract: A side and heel lasting machine that serves to adhere the upstanding unwiped side and heel margin of a shoe upper assembly, which assembly includes a last with an insole on the last bottom and an upper draped about the last. The toe portion of the upper assembly has previously been wiped to the periphery region of the assembly insole. A pair of pincers, one disposed at each side of the upper of the assembly, grasps the upstanding unwiped margin and draws it upwardly, inwardly and forwardly (i.e., towards the toe thereof) to fit it snugly about the last. Lasting pads are employed to keep the unwiped margin in position during application of adhesive from nozzles that are spring loaded to press outwardly and track the upstanding unwiped margin when adhesive is applied in the region between the insole and the margin. The upstanding side and heel margin is then wiped onto the insole.

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 machine for lasting sides and heels of a shoe assembly having a last with an upper mounted thereon and an insole at its bottom, the assembly being one whose toe portion has already been wiped and whose side and heel portions are to be wiped. Nozzles serve to apply adhesive as a ribbon into the region between the insole and the unwiped margin at and near the insole periphery. A lasting mechanism provides backup to the margin to permit the nozzles to press outwardly against and track the margin. Later the lasting mechanism applies inward and downward pressure onto the margin. The lasting mechanism includes a lasting instrumentality at each side of the shoe assembly. Each such instrumentality includes an inner, an intermediate and an outer flexible lasting pad; each pad has relatively rigid segmets at its top edge; and each is moved by air cyliers to perform its function. The inner lasting pad performs a backup function during application of adhesive and a wiping function.

Abstract: A machine for automatically roughing the cement margin of a footwear upper assembly. The machine includes means for supporting the footwear upper assembly by a mechanism capable of applying to the upper assembly rocking movement, translational movement and rotational movement. A roughing tool is provided, as well as means for applying a combination movement to the upper assembly. Simultaneously, roughing is effected along the shoe margin by the roughing tool. The combination of movements serves continuously to present a new roughing surface to the roughing tool in the course of roughing, resulting in uniformity of roughing. The rotational movement serves to cause the roughing tool to track the cement margin with a determined orientation therebetween as the cement margin moves past the roughing portion of the roughing tool.

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.