Abstract: Device comprising a conveyor designed to transport trays some of which have lasts covered with uppers and soles. The claimed device comprises: a table having several tracks perpendicular to the conveyor and each track is provided with a device for transferring a tray between the conveyor and a remote reference position; the tracks being designed to receive trays with uppers and soles; a transfer robot located on the side of the table opposite the conveyor; a press located on one side of the robot; and a manual station, for assembling uppers and soles, located on the opposite side of the robot.

Abstract: The device has a support plate (119) provided with drive means (112, 117) for at least one lower part, as well as a plurality of holding plates (85) arranged in one row with an upper receiving surface and a lower receiving surface (93, 94), respectively, for a plurality of upper parts. The holding plates (85) can be rotated through 180.degree. by means of a pivoting device (86, 87, 108) around a symmetrical horizontal axis (L3). After the upper parts have been placed on the holding plates (85), adhesive is applied to the edges of the upper parts, after which the holding plates (85) are pivoted through 180.degree.. The support plate (119) subsequently gathers the upper parts, which are now hanging down, while at the same time the next upper parts can be placed over the receiving surfaces of the holding plates (85), which [receiving surfaces] are now facing upward. The support plate (119) and the holding plates (85) are designed as suction plates that can be turned on and off.

Abstract: Shoe manufacturing system to rough and cement lasted uppers and outsoles including subsequent operations to load shank and bottom filler, dry, spot and sole lay, scour, and ink "cement construction" shoes. The system combines non-synchronous carrousel transport with roughing and cement application stations where preprogrammed selective shoe model and size numerically controlled roughing and cementing application operations are performed.

Abstract: An arrangement for molding a flat insole (412) and adhesively attaching the molded insole to the bottom of a last (414) comprising an upper mold (62) and a lower mold (14) having complementary molding surfaces that are initially spaced from each other so that the flat insole is transported between the molding surfaces and are then closed upon the insole to mold the flat insole to the shape of the molding surfaces. The upper mold is then raised while the molded insole is retained on the upper mold molding surface after which the insole is released from the upper mold molding surface and descends onto the bottom of the last. The molded insole is then pressed onto the last bottom by an applicator (378) and is attached to the last bottom by an adhesive patch (421) on the last bottom that was previously applied to the last bottom by the applicator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shoe comprises the step of dry or moist heat setting a lasted shoe upper, with or without a protective coating as necessary, by total or partial immersion in a bath of heated liquid or fluidized solid material. The lasted shoe upper may contain a stiffener element and particularly a heel stiffener made of fibre reinforced thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric material which becomes cured by the heat treatment.

Abstract: A lasting apparatus for footwear, in which a flexible tubular diaphragm shapes the footwear upper and forces it onto the insole by means of vacuum applied to the interior of the diaphragm. The last and its associated support act to seal one end of the diaphragm. Preferably, an H-shaped guide is provided to form pleats in the diaphragm as it collapses at defined positions in relation to the article being lasted.

Abstract: Slippers of heat-sealable synthetic polymeric sheeting comprise a sole member and an upper member joined thereto by a heat-seal joint, the upper member having a progressively wider portion of said sheeting relative to the sole member, as measured across the slipper, whereby a permanent foot-receiving pocket is provided to facilitate donning the slipper without requiring the use of the hands. Method and apparatus for making such slippers comprise steps or means for joining separate bands of the material by heat-sealing the bands to each other on profiles corresponding to the sole and upper members, while simultaneously providing extra width in the upper member to create the foot receiving pocket.