Abstract: A device for positioning and blocking soles of footwear includes a table (26, 32) with an area for resting the sole, members (28, 29, 39, 40) for centering the sole disposed at least at opposite ends of the rest area and a vacuum operated device (44, 45) which suction the sole against the table to maintain it in the position imposed by the centering members. The adaptability of the work surface and the positioning members, together with the replaceability of the suction fixtures (46, 47) disposed on the work surface enable the correct positioning and blockage of soles of various shapes. A machine (53) incorporating the device can thus operate on a sole quickly and efficiently, for example to spread glue on its surface to be stuck onto a corresponding shoe.

Abstract: A method for removing material from a portion of an edge of a shoe upper folded over the bottom of a shoe, comprises the steps of moving the bottom of the shoe in relation to lateral roughing wheels (15) for roughing the edges according to two different paths and in relation to a first (26) and a second tool (22) for roughing the heel and toe areas. The roughing wheels (15) rotate according to an axis substantially parallel to the length of the footwear to provide a removing action directed towards the inside of the bottom, and are movable along a path comprising a forward stroke and a return stroke which are carried out at different distances towards the inside of the bottom. The first tool and the second tool rotate to provide a removing action directed towards the inside of the bottom along a path substantially parallel to the length of the footwear in respective heel and toe areas.

Abstract: A machine for the automatic carding of uppers for footwear, having a locking unit of the last formed by two parts, one for locking the last in the heel-zone and the other to support the toe, and positioned on a carriage movable on a bedplate; a template positioning system connected to a lifting unit; a fixed tool-holder unit provided with a rocking arm having a free end with a tool fixed thereto; two similar tool-holder units movable in a transverse direction relatively to the axis along which the carriage slides and symmetrically positioned with reference to the symmetry axis of the bedplate, each tool-holder unit being provided with a tool fixed to the free end of a rocking arm whose work pressure on the upper may be suitably regulated; and a profile-copying system for controlling the movement of the two movable tool-holder units in accordance with the contour of the template.