Improvements in or relating to Mechanism for Supporting and Positioning the Work in Machines for use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.

摘要

14,959. Roberts, W. T. B., and British United Shoe Machinery Co. June 23. Work-supports. - Nailing, trimming, finishing, or other machines for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, of the type in which there is a relative traversing-movement of the work-support and operating-means, are provided with mechanism by which the path of such movement is automatically determined by the size of the shoe. The invention is described as applied to a fastener-inserting machine, and is particularly an improvement on the machine for nailing heels described in Specification 17,665/07, [Class 17, Boots &c.], wherein the work is held in a clamp and is traversed in a horseshoe path beneath the nailinserting mechanism. According to the present invention, the act of closing the clamp automatically sets the traversing-mechanism to the size of the shoe. The clamp C comprises adjustable and self-adapting members C1, Fig. 5, to engage the heel seat, and a spring-controlled back gauge D. The members C1 are secured to the ends of levers C2 pivoted on a carrier plate E and provided with adjustable or other cam surfaces C11 which are adapted to engage rollers D3 on the gauge D ; this gauge is carried by a slide rod housed in the plate E, and is moved outwards yieldingly from the plate proportionately to the relative inward movement of the members C'. The plate E is held against angular movement, but is free to move laterally in two directions by being provided with a groove and lip connexion with aT-shaped slider F, which is itself movable endwise in a recess in the machine frame. The traversing - movement of the clamp is obtained by moving the plate E through an oscillatory cross - head G, Fig. 4, in a path which is determined by a heelshaped cam groove H formed in a stationary plate A3 and engaged by a runner L1 connected to the cross-head G; this cross-head is oscillated by a toothed segment J, which is actuated as described below. The connexions between the cross-head G and plate E comprise two sliders K, L, mounted in and turning with the crosshead, one slider K being connected by a boss K' with the plate E, and the other slider carrying the runner L1. These two sliders are locked together by a spring-pressed toothed plunger L4 and rack K4 during the traversing-movement of the clamp, the size of the path of which movement is determined by the distance of the boss K1 from the centre of oscillation of the cross-head G. During the clamping of the heel, however, the upper slider K is movable in opposition to a spring G3 relatively to the lower slider L by means of a chain connexion K2 with a hand-lever N. When this lever is actuated with the clamp open, the boss K1 is moved nearer to the centre of oscillation of the crosshead G, and at the same time a conical-headed plunger P1 is raised by a wedge surface L2 on the slider L so that it enters between stepped inclined blocks C14 on the rearward ends of the levers C2. This results in the clamp as a whole being moved forwards diagonally, while the levers C2 are closed inwards until the members C1 grip the heel, the back gauge being at the same time moved outwards from the plate E to engage the back of the heel. Fig. 6a shows the positions into which the clamp is moved to engage heels of three different sizes. When the heel is clamped, the levers C2 are locked against further movement by the engagement of a spring-pressed washer P4, Fig. 4, with a pair of inclined blocks C14, and the two sliders K, L are locked together ready for the traversing- movement. The machine is fitted with a cutout mechanism, and may also be furnished with a variable-speed gear. The toothed segment J, above referred to, has a projecting arm J', Figs. 1 and 2, adjustably connected by a link J2 with a semi-cylindrical slider Q, which carries a roller Q2 in engagement with a barrel cam R. This cam is rotated by worm gearing R2, S1 from a shaft S, which carries one element S2 of each of four or more sets of gear wheels, the other elements T3 of which are carried by a shaft T driven from the main shaft of the machine. The shaft T is vertically movable, and carries a key T' for altering the gears S2, T3. The machine is automatically stopped when the slider Q reaches either end of its stroke, corresponding with a single traverse of the heel beneath the tacker, for which purpose the slider carries two blocks Q3, each of which is adapted to engage a roller U6 on a swinging - arm U2 which is pivoted to a clutch-operating member U and has a hook engagement U4, V1 with a treadle rod V. When the slider reaches the end of its stroke, the corresponding block Q3 raises the clutch member U against the action of springs U', and stops the machine. To re-start the machine, the treadle is depressed and the hook portion V1 swings the arm U2 about its pivot to move the roller U6 sideways from the block Q3, whereupon the springs U1 pull the member U down and start the machine. The arm U2 is then restored in position to stop the machine again by a spring - pressed plunger U5. In another construction, the heel clamp is normally closed, and the act of inserting the heel into the clamp automatically determines the path to be described by the clamp, and effects the locking together of the parts in the position into which they have been brought.