Abstract: A side (or heel seat and side) lasting machine comprises two lasting rollers (232; 232') arranged one at either side of a shoe support (20) by which a shoe is supported bottom up. Each roller (232; 232') has a helical rib arrangement (294) which, when rotated while in pressing engagement with the shoe bottom, effects an inwiping movement on the lasting marginal portions of the shoe upper. The rollers (232; 232') are inclined to the longitudinal center line of the shoe support, with their free ends directed heelwardly; the acute angle subtended between each center line and the roller axis of rotation is in the order of 50.degree. to 62.degree., preferably 57.degree.. The lasting rollers (232; 232') are of non-metallic material, preferably synthetic polymer or ceramic material, and have a single helical rib the pitch of which is in the range of 10 to 15 mm.

Abstract: The speed of rotation of a side wall roughing tool (250) can be varied in accordances with the speed of relative movement between the tool (250) and side wall portions of the shoe being roughed (the traverse speed of the tool). To this end, a flow control arrangement (F) is provided including a plurality of flow control valves (CV1, CV2), the arrangement being such that, with the rate of flow through each such valve set, the operator can select one or other to be switched into the hydraulic circuit by which a hydraulic motor (232) is driven, said motor effecting rotation of the tool. The selection of one or other flow control valve (CV1, CV2) is made by the operator during the digitishing of the path of the tool relative to the shoe and such information is stored together with the programmed instruction, in the form of digitised corrdiante axis values, for said path.

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: 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.