Abstract: A machine for finishing the sides of the bottoms of footwear has an endless abrasive belt carried by a pair of rollers, including a driving roller and an idler or drive roller. The driving roller is connected to a power-driven oscillating head on the machine, and the driven roller has an articulated connection to the machine.

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 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: An apparatus for trimming a sole of a shoe includes a support structure and a shoe carriage mounted on the support structure. The shoe carriage is constructed and arranged for mounting a shoe thereon and is movable along x and z axes. A sensing station is mounted on the support structure, the sensing station having a detector for detecting the exact outline of the shoe upper with respect to the sole. A cutting station is mounted on the support structure for trimming the sole of the shoe with a first cutter. The first cutter is movable along a y axis and rotatable about a t axis. A microprocessor controls the movement of the carriage between a starting position, the sensing station, the cutting station and back to the starting position and controls the operation and movement of the first cutter for trimming the sole of the shoe when the shoe is in the cutting station. A process for trimming a sole of a shoe is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating the marginal edge portion of a shoe sole, including a longitudinally reciprocable carriage supporting a template having an opening or cavity of generally the same profile as and smaller than, a sole to be treated, whereby the sole is supported on the template covering the opening. A suction is created within the covered opening to draw the central portion of the sole down into the opening while the marginal edge portion of the sole is supported on the top of the pattern member. The carriage is driven longitudinally beneath a transverse pressure roller at an elevation to cause a transverse knife to engage only the supported marginal edge portion of the sole to split the same, while passing over the depressed central portion of the sole. After the sole has been split, the vacuum is removed to facilitate discharge of the cut sole.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying an adhesive coated wear portion to the underside of a shoe wherein the wear portion and the underside of the shoe are heated, a first pressure is applied to urge the wear portion and the shoe together, and a second greater pressure is applied in situ to further urge the wear portion and the underside of the shoe together. In one embodiment, a heating element may be provided for transfer between a first location for heating and drying a shoe and a second location directly between the shoe and the wear portion to be applied. The periphery of the wear portion may be trimmed to correspond to the underside of the shoe.

Abstract: In a pulling over and toe lasting machine the construction of the gripper assemblies (12) and their mountings is simplified firstly to enable the assemblies to be standardized and secondly, by means of a simple manual operation, readily to be located and oriented in relation to the shoe support means (10) in accordance with the shoe style to be operated upon. Furthermore, the most heelwardly disposed gripper assemblies (No. 2 gripper assemblies) are mounted each on a slide-way inclined at about 17.degree. to the longitudinal center line of the machine, and a single mechanism firstly allows their positions along the slide-ways to be simultaneously adjusted and secondly, by means of a fluid pressure operated piston-and-cylinder arrangement, allows them to effect a heelward pull on an upper gripped thereby.

Abstract: Side lasting machine has a last support and two side lasting assemblies each comprising a plurality of lasting fingers, a plurality of clamp pads arranged beneath the fingers, one associated with each pair of fingers, and, depending from each finger and interposed between the pads and the upper, a plurality of lasting bands. Each band extends over the width of not less than two fingers; preferably in the region of the two most heelwardly disposed pairs, a single band is provided. Each pad is mounted for independent pivotal movement about a vertical axis, to enable it to conform more readily to the last contour. The pads hold the bands against the upper under a pressure sufficient to allow slipping therebetween, the band thus applying an updrafting force to the upper as the fingers move inwardly.