Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
  • B29D35/00—Producing footwear
  • B29D35/0009—Producing footwear by injection moulding; Apparatus therefor
  • B29D35/0018—Moulds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
  • B29D35/00—Producing footwear
  • B29D35/06—Producing footwear having soles or heels formed and joined on to preformed uppers using a moulding technique, e.g. by injection moulding, pressing and vulcanising
  • B29D35/061—Producing footwear having soles or heels formed and joined on to preformed uppers using a moulding technique, e.g. by injection moulding, pressing and vulcanising by injection moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
  • B29D35/00—Producing footwear
  • B29D35/06—Producing footwear having soles or heels formed and joined on to preformed uppers using a moulding technique, e.g. by injection moulding, pressing and vulcanising
  • B29D35/065—Producing footwear having soles or heels formed and joined on to preformed uppers using a moulding technique, e.g. by injection moulding, pressing and vulcanising by compression moulding, vulcanising or the like

Definitions

• This invention relates to the manufacture of footwear and more particularly to an apparatus and method for forming a sole on a shoe upper.
• the invention further contemplates a novel mold for molding a sole on a shoe upper having a welt or an extended edge formed about a lower periphery thereof, fitted on a last.
• the principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method for making footwear.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method for forming the sole portion of a shoe on a shoe upper.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method for molding the sole portion of a shoe onto a shoe upper.
• a still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method of forming the sole portion of a shoe on a shoe upper without incurring any undesirable deposit of sole material on the shoe upper which would require an additional cleaning or trimming operation.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method for molding the sole portion on a shoe upper which prevents seepage of the material injected into the mold cavity for the sole, between the mold body and the shoe upper which would deposit and set on or adjacent the shoe upper, requiring an additional trimming or cleaning operation.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method for forming the sole portion of a shoe on a shoe upper which are simple in design and operation, comparatively easy to use and relatively inexpensive to construct and perform.
• Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, having portions thereof broken away.
• Figure 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of several components of the mold assembly comprising a part of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is an enlarged, front-elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, having portions thereof broken away.
• Figure 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1.
• Figure 5 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 3, iUustrating certain sections of the mold assembly in spaced relation.
• Figure 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1.
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6.
• Figure 8 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 6, having the last and shoe upper fitted thereon removed and certain mold sections disposed in spaced relation.
• the present invention generaEy includes a frame 10, a last carrier assembly U supported on the frame and a mold assembly 12 also supported on the frame.
• the shoe carrier assembly includes a horizontaUy disposed shaft 13 supported on a pair of axiaUy spaced components 14 of the frame, and a carrier 15 having a plurality of radially disposed leg sections 16 rotatable about shaft 13 in substantially a vertical plane. Formed on the free end of each leg section is a last 17 on which a shoe upper 18 may be fitted.
• the last carrier assembly is adapted to be indexed either manuaEy or by means of an appropriate drive mechanism between a loading and unloading station A, a work station B and cooling or setting stations C and D. It wiE be appreciated that in a normal operating cycle, a shoe upper may be fitted onto the last positioned at station A, the last carrier may then be indexed to position the last with the upper fitted thereon at the work station B, and then, after forming the sole portion, the last with the upper having a sole portion molded thereon may be indexed to stations C and D for cooling or setting of the sole material. FinaUy, the last with the finished shoe fitted thereon may be indexed to station A where the operator would remove the finished shoe, fit another upper on the last and repeat the cycle.
• last carrier assemblies be used corresponding to different shoe sizes and different moldings.
• the uppers fitted onto the lasts be of any desired style and material.
• Each of such uppers is provided with a strip or welt or extended edge formed about the periphery of a lower portion thereof onto which the sole portion may be molded, in addition to the bottom surface of the upper.
• Mold assembly 12 generally includes a sole plate 20 and a pair of mold sections 21 and 22.
• Sole plate 20 is positioned at work station B and is adapted to be detachably mounted on frame 10.
• the sole plate is located at work station B so that when a last of the last carrier assembly is positioned at work station B, as shown in Figure 1, the last wiE be in vertical, spaced alignment with the sole plate.
• the sole plate is provided with a pair of curved sidewalls 23 and 24 usuaEy, but not necessarily, conforming to the shape of the sole to be formed on an upper fitted on a last positioned at work station B, and an upper surface 25 having a desired pattern intended to be embossed on the bottom of the sole to be formed.
• Mold section 21 includes a base plate 26 and a clamp plate 27 hingedly mounted on the base plate.
• the base plate has a height or thickness greater than the height or thickness of sole plate 20, and an inner mating surface 28 having a recessed portion 29.
• the recessed portion of mating surface 28 is defined by a waE 30 having the same shape as and engageable with sidewaE 23 of sole plate 20.
• base plate 26 The outer side of base plate 26 is provided with a pair of spaced hinge blocks 31 and 32 in which there are provided a pair of aligned hinge pins for hingedly connecting clamp plate 27 to base plate 26. Also mounted at one end of base plate 26 is a camming block 32 having an inwardly and downwardly facing camming surface 33.
• Clamp plate 27 is provided with a mating surface 34 having a recessed portion 35. Such recess is -defined by a curved surface 36 which is relieved as at
• Mating surface 34 of clamp plate 27 further is provided with an inwardly and upwardly facing cam surface 37 disposed at one end thereof and an inwardly and downwardly facing cam surface 38 at the opposite end thereof.
• Clamp plate 27 is biased in an open position, i.e., pivoted upwardly and away from base plate 26, by means of a coil spring 39 seated in a recess provided in the upper surface of base plate 26, and engaging the underside of the clamp plate.
• Mold section 22 is similar in construction to mold section 21, consisting of a base plate 40 comparable to base plate 26 and a clamp plate 41 comparable to clamp plate 27.
• Base plate 40 is provided with an inner surface 42 comparable to and adapted to be mated with inner surface 28 of base plate 26. Mating surface
• clamp plate 41 is provided with an inner surface 46 adapted to mate with mating surface 34 of clamp plate 27, having a recessed portion 47. Such recessed portion is defined by a curved surface 48, comparable to curved surface 36 of clamp plate
• edge of the recessed portion of clamp plate 41, along surface 48, is adapted to overlie the recessed portion of mating surface 42 of base plate 40, and engage the upper surface of a welt formed on a shoe upper fitted on a last disposed at work station B when mold section 22 is in a closed or operative position.
• edgewaE 48 defining recess 47 wiE engage a lower side portion of the upper fitted on such last O RE-A OMPI
• Mating surface 46 of clamp plate 41 further is provided with an inwardly and downwardly facing cam surface 49 engageable with cam surface 37 of clamp, plate 27, and an inwardly and upwardly facing cam surface 50 engageable with inwardly and downwardly facing cam surface 38 on clamp plate 27.
• Base plate 40 also is provided with a coE spring 51 seated in a recess provided on the upper surface of the base plate, and engaging clamp plate 41.
• base plate 40 is provided with a clamp block 52 having a downwardly and inwardly facing cam surface 53 adapted to engage an upper corner 54 of cam plate 27 to pivot the clamp plates downwardly against the biasing action of coE springs 38 and 51.
• Cam surface 33 of cam block 32 similarly is adapted to engage an upper corner 55 of clamp plate 41 to similarly urge the two clamp plates downwardly against the biasing action of coil springs 39 and 51.
• Mold sections 21 and 22 are disposed at work station B and are caused to move inwardly and outwardly into and out of engagement with sole plate 23 by means of a pair of conventional hydraulic cylinder assembUes 56 and 57, or other equivalent means.
• Such assemblies may be operated independently of the indexing of the last carrier assembly or may be operated in synchronization with the indexing of the last carrier assembly to provide a more automated operation.
• the hydrauEc cylinder assemblies are operated to supply fluid under pressure to the rod sides of the cylinders, causing the rods to retract and the mold sections to be spaced apart as shown in Figures 5 and 8.
• a shoe upper having a welt 19 formed thereon is fitted on a last positioned at loading and unloading station A.
• the last carrier assembly is indexed to position the last with the upper at work station B whereby the last wiE be disposed in spaced, vertical alignment with sole plate 20.
• control circuit for the hydrauEc cylinder assemblies is activated either manuaEy or automaticaEy to cause fluid under pressure to be supplied to the piston ends of the cylinder assembEes to extend the rods thereof and thus cause mold sections 21 and 22 to move together into engagement with the sole plate and the peripheral side edge of welt 19.
• base plate mating surfaces 28 and 42 engage and recess surfaces 30 and 43 of the base plates engage sidewaEs 23 and 24 of the sole plate.
• initiaEy cam surfaces 33 and 53 engage corner surfaces 55 and 54, respectively, and, sequentiaEy, cam surface 37 engages cam surface 49 and cam surface 38 engages cam surface 50, to cause clamp
• a fluid sole forming material is supplied through suitable supply line 59 connected to suitable fluid passageway 60 provided in the base plates of the mold sections, and injected into mold cavity 58 in the conventional manner. Air is ejected from the mold cavity as the sole forming material is injected therein.
• the controls for the hydraulic cylinder assemblies are operated to retract the mold sections, permitting the clamp plates thereof to be released and biased upwardly out of engagement with the upper sides of the welt or extended edge.
• the sole plate may be lowered to free the molded sole therefrom and the last carrier assembly is indexed to position the shoe with the newly formed sole to cooling or setting station C while another last having an upper fitted thereon is positioned at the work station to begin another molding operation.
• the finished shoe is cycled back to loading and unloading station A where it is removed by the operator. The operator then fits another upper on the last to continue the operation.
• last carrier assembly Although a rotary type of last carrier assembly has been described in connection with the present invention, it is contemplated that other types of devices may be used to position and remove lasts having shoe uppers fitted thereon with respect to the mold assembly as described, for forming the sole portion of a shoe on a shoe upper. In addition, it is within the contemplation of the invention to utilize any moldable materials for forming the sole portions, including conventional thermoplastics and vulcanized rubber.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1984
  • 1984-05-10 WO PCT/US1984/000705 patent/WO1984004444A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1984-05-10 EP EP84902161A patent/EP0143833A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-05-11 IT IT8448187A patent/IT8448187A0/it unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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