GB2033834A - Seam rubbing and strip applicator machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A seam rubbing and strip applicator machine, in particular for pressing together and smoothing and strengthening the seams of shoe shank portions and applying thereto a cold adhesive strip, has two pressure rollers (4, 17) which are arranged substantially one above the other. The rollers (4, 17) are rotatable about substantially parallel axes and are mounted on pivotal arms (3, 18) so as to be movable towards and away from each other. At least one of the pressure rollers is driven by a motor (19) which can be switched on and off upon controlled pivotal movement of the pressure rollers towards and away from each other. A pivotally-mounted hood (6) is disposed adjacent the upper pressure roller (4) and carries a pressing roll (8) freely rotatably there on by an arm (7). The hood (6) is pivotable by a pneumatic cylinder (10), which is pivotally mounted on the machine body (1). The arm (18) carrying the roller (17) is pivotally connected to the piston rod (22) of a further pneumatic cylinder (23), pivotally mounted on the machine body. A limit switch (18) is provided which is actuable by the hood (6), so as to switch the motor (19) on and off. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to seam rubbing and strip applicator machines The invention relates to a seam rubbing and strip applicator machine, in particular for pressing together and smoothing and strengthening the seams of shoe shank portions by a cold adhesive strip which can be applied thereto.

The machine is of the type which is provided with two pressure rollers arranged substantially one above the other, mounted rotatably about substantially parallel axes and pivotal relative to each other, with a least one of the pressure rollers drivable by a motor which can be switched on and switched off respectively upon controlled pivotal movement of the pressure rollers towards each other and away from each other. A pivotal hood associated with the mounting position of the upper pressure roller and a pressing roll is mounted freely rotatably on the hood by way of an arm.

In known machines of this kind (British Patent Specification No. 897,289), the upper pressure roller is mounted rotatably on a cantilever arm which is fixed with respect to the machine while the machine also has a hood which is controlledly pivotal, about the mounting position of the upper pressure roller. A non-driven pressure roller is mounted on the hood, at the free end of an arm which is connected thereto.

During the working operation, the non-driven pressure roller presses from the outside on to the seam of the shoe shank portion which is there internally reinforced by an adhesive strip. The lower pressure roller by way of which the adhesive strip to be applied to the shank portion is supplied, when a shoe shank portion is inserted between the two pressure rollers, is mounted at the free end of an arm which, like the hood, can be controlledly pivoted.

The two pressure rollers are driven during the working operation. In order to control the known machine, it is necessary to actuate three foot pedals, that is to say, the person operating the machine must be continuously changing the position of at least one of his feet and in so doing must apply a comparatively high force to one of the foot pedals, quite apart from the fact that the structure of the machine is relatively complicated. A foot switch is used for switching the drive motor on and off, a second foot pedal is used for raising or lowering the arm which carries the lower pressure roller, and a third foot pedal controls the pivotal movement of the hood which is associated with the upper pressure roller and which is provided with a transporter roll, by way of a cable assembly.

The invention is therefore based on the problem of further developing this known machine in such a way that the operator of the machine only needs to apply less force, and can operate the machine more easily, and in addition the structure of the machine is also simplified.

According to one aspect of the invention, a seam rubbing and strip applicator machine, in particular for pressing together and smoothing and strengthening the seams of shoe shank portions by a cold adhesive strip which can be applied thereto, is provided with two pressure rollers which are arranged substantially one above the other, mounted rotatably about substantially parallel axes, and pivotable relative to each other, at least one of which pressure rollers is drivable by a motor which can be switched on and off upon controlled pivotal movement of the pressure rollers towards each other and away from each other, a pivotal hood carrying a pressing roll disposed adjacent the upper pressure roller, the mounting position of the hood being provided on a cantilever arm of the machine, with the pressing roll freely rotatable on the hood, said hood being pivotable by first actuating means, said lower pressure roller being pivotable by second actuating means, the first actuating means being operable by a limit switch itself operable by pivotable movement of the hood.

According to another aspect of the invention, a seam rubbing and strip applicator machine, in particular for pressing together and smoothing and strengthening the seams of shoe shank portions by a cold adhesive strip which can be applied thereto, has two pressure rollers which are arranged substantially one above the other and which are mounted rotatably about parallel axes and which are pivotal relative to each other, at least one of which pressure rollers can be driven by a motor which can be switched on and switched off respectively upon controlled pivotal movement of the pressure rollers towards each other and away from each other, wherein a pivotal hood provided with a pressing roll is associated with the mounting position of the upper pressure roller, the mounting position being provided on a cantilever arm of the machine, a pressing roll being mounted freely rotatably on the hood by way of an arm, characterised in that the hood which is associated with the mounting position of the upper pressure roller is connected at a pivot position to a pneumatic cylinder which is pivoted at its other end to the machine body, and the lower pressure roller which is mounted at the free end of an arm is connected by way of a pivot position on the arm, to one end of a further pneumatic cylinder whose other end is pivoted to the machine body, wherein a limit switch which is actuable by the hood and which switches the motor on and off is arranged in the region of pivotal movement of the upper pressure roller.

The invention not only provides a machine that can be operated with one foot, but in addition provides that the operator scarcely has to apply forces for controlling the machine.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view in partial cross-section of the machine, and Figure 2 is a front view of the machine.

With reference to the drawings, a seam rubbing and strip applicator machine has a body 1 arranged on a table 2. The body 1 has a cantilever arm 3, at the free end of which an upper pressure roller 4 is freely rotatably mounted. Associated with the mounting position 5 of the upper pressure roller 4 is a controlledly pivotal hood 6 on which a freely rotatably mounted pressing roll 8 is secured by way of an arm 7. The controlled pivotal movement of the hood 6 is produced by first actuating means, in this example, comprising the piston rod 9 of a pneumatic cylinder 10. A suitabie pressure is applied to the piston ofthe pneumatic cylinder 10-by way of conduits 11 and 12. The supply of pressure to the conduits 11 and 12 is controlled by way of a solenoid valve 13 whose position is electrically controlled by a foot switch 14.When the hood 6 is in the limit position shown in Figure 1, and the foot switch 14 pressed, the hood 6 is pivoted an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, so that the surface 15 of the hood 6 actuates a limit switch 16 which causes a drive motor 19 to rotate. The drive motor 19 drives both the pressure roller 4 and also the lower pressure roller 17, in this embodiment, by way of a V-belt 20 or the like. The upper pressure roller4then rotates in an anti-clockwise direction while the lower pressure roller 17 rotates in a clockwise direction. If the foot switch 14 is then released again, the solenoid valve 13 is directly switched over and the piston of the pneumatic cylinder 10 is retracted, whereby the hood 6 returns to the limit position shown in Figure 1, and the motor 19 is stopped.

The lower pressure roller 17 is mounted at the free end of a double-armed pressure arm 18 and is driven by the above-mentioned motor, by way of a chain or belt drive or the like. The double-armed pressure arm 18 is pivotal about a horizontal axis 21. Second actuating means comprising the piston rod 22 of a piston which is arranged in a second pneumatic cylinder 23, acts on the shorter lever arm of the pressure arm 18. The cylinder 23 is connected by way of conduits 24 and 25 to a second solenoid valve 26 which can be switched over by a knee-actuated device, namely an electronic knee switch 27, by way of a current pulse relay. Compressed air is supplied to the solenoid valves 13 and 16 by a compressed air source (not shown). The connection to the foot switch 14 and to the electrical knee switch 27 is made by way of a respective electric cable.When compressed air is passed by way of the conduit 25 to the piston of the pneumatic cylinder 23, which piston is connected to the piston rod 22, then the pressure arm 18 is pivoted downwardly from the position shown in Figure 1, by renewed actuation ofthe electrical knee switch 27 the solenoid valve 26 is switched over, and compressed air is fed to the pneumatic cylinder 23 by way of the conduit 24 so that the press arm is pivoted back into the operating position shown in Figure 1. It is sufficient to tap the electrical knee switch in order to close the contact in the current pulse relay, while further tapping of the switch opens the contact. Thus, the operator does not have to press continuously on the knee switch, during the operations of raising or lowering the lower arm. Compressed air is fed to the solenoid valves 13 and 26 by way of conduits 28 and 29.

Switching over of the solenoid valves is produced electrically when the foot switch 14 or the electrical knee switch 27 is actuated.

A cold adhesive strip 30 which is to be applied is fed in known mannertothe lower pressure roller 17, by way of a guide means 31 which is secured to the pressure arm 18.

Claims (5)

1. A seam rubbing and strip applicator machine, in particular for pressing together and smoothing and strengthening the seams of shoe shank portions by a cold adhesive strip which can be applied thereto, provided with two pressure rollers which are arranged substantially one above the other, mounted rotatably about substantially parallel axes, and pivotable relative to each other, at least one of which pressure rollers being drivable by a motor which can be switched on and off upon controlled pivotal movement of the pressure rollers towards each other and away from each other, a pivotal hood carrying a pressing roll disposed adjacent the upper pressure roller, the mounting position of the hood being provided on a cantilever arm of the machine, with the pressing roll freely rotatable on the hood, said hood being pivotable by first actuating means, said lower pressure roller being pivotable by second actuating means, the first actuating means being operable by a limit switch itself operable by pivotable movement of the hood.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second actuator means are operable by a kneeactuated control device.

3. A seam rubbing and strip applicator machine, in particular for pressing together and smoothing and strengthening the seams of shoe shank portions by a cold adhesive strip which can be applied thereto, having two pressure rollers which are arranged substantially one above the other and which are mounted rotatably about parallel axes and which are pivotal relative to each other, at least one of which pressure rollers can be driven by a motor which can be switched on and switched off respectively upon controlled pivotal movement of the pressure rollers towards each other and away from each other, wherein a pivotal hood provided with a pressing roll is associated with the mounting position of the upper pressure roller, the mounting position being provided on a cantilever arm of the machine, a pressing roll being mounted freely rotatably on the hood by way of an arm, characterised in that the hood which is associated with the mounting position of the upper pressure roller is connected at a pivot position to a pneumatic cylinder which is pivoted at its other end to the machine body, and the lower pressure roller which is mounted at the free end of an arm is connected by way of a pivot position on the arm, to one end of a further pneumatic cylinder whose other end is pivoted to the machine body, wherein a limit switch which is actuable by the hood and which switches the motor on and off is arranged in the region of pivotal movement of the upper pressure roller

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the further pneumatic cylinder is operable by a knee actuated control device.

5. A seam rubbing and strip applicator machine, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.