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. 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 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: 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 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.