US2149594A - Upper uniting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1939. B w. FREEMAN 2,149,594

UPPER UNITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 7 1939. 5 w FREEMAN 2,149,594

UPPER UNI'IING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1955 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 March 7; 1939. 5 w FREEMAN 2,149,594

UPPER UNITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 55w Amy M 6965/14 /v March 7, 1939. B w. FREEMAN UPPER UNITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE UPPER UNITING MACHINE Benjamin W. Freeman, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 19, 1935, Serial No. 41,232

16 Claims.

This invention relates generally to shoe making machinery, and particularly to a machine adapted tomaintain the various parts which go to form an upper in their proper relative positions during the time in which the cement or glue employed for securing the various sections is setting.

It is well-known that when the various parts of an article are intended to be secured together by means of cement or glue, it is desirable that the various parts should be clamped or similarly retained in their desired positions during the process of setting of the cement or glue. This general rule is applicable to the manufacture of shoes as Well as other articles in which the parts are secured by cement, since the various portions of a shoe such as, for instance, those which go to make an upper may consist of quite a number of separate and individual parts which must be united before the finished upper is ready for the shoe forming operations, such as are well-known in the art. For instance, under some circumstances, it is preferable to secure the various parts of the upper, including the lining and doubler, together by cement, such as securing the quarter to the vamp, or securing an inlay such as is common practice, especially in ladies shoes.

The provision of a suitable clamp for maintaining the various parts of a shoe upper in their proper alinement during the setting of the cement or glue involves not only the provision of a device for adequately maintaining the parts in their desired position, but also involves the provision of such means as will have no tendency to mar or deface the surfaces of the various upper parts; it being realized that the leather or other material employed in the uppers of shoes of this character is often of a very delicate nature such as would be easily scratched or scarred by slight inadvertence or negligence of a worker, and as such would render the finished product objectionable to the user. 7

The object of this invention, generally stated, is to provide a suitable clamp for maintaining shoe uppers in their alined positions while the j cement or glue employed to secure the parts toto the work to be secured through a flexible dia-' phragm.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp in which an air bag is expanded under pressure against the work to be clamped.

A further object of this invention is to provide. a machine having a plurality of clamps for maintaining the various parts of a shoe upper in their proper alinement during the process of y ng.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a machine in which the various clamps will be automatically opened upon reaching a predetermined position.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a machine having a plurality of clamps and operating mechanism therefor adapted to advance the machine so as to stop the same when :he successive clamps reach a particular sta- Still another object of this invention is to provide such a machine having a device by which the clamp may be regulated while at the work receiving station.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a control mechanism for the machine of this invention which is movable through various zones to eifect, respectively, the regulation of the clamps and the advancement of the machine.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, throughout the various views of which like reference characters denote the same parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a machine having thereon a plurality of the clamps constructed in accordance with this invention and provided with an operating mechanism in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in end elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention, illustrating the work in supported position within the clamps;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the clamp constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the clamp;

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of the opposite side of a clamp constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 7 is a detail View in side elevation of a control device for the clamps;

Figure 8 isa plan view of the control device;

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of the clutch and driving mechanism for a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 10 is an end view thereof; and

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the clamp constructed in accordance with this invention.

In accordance with this invention, a suitable carrier preferably in the nature of a rotatable wheel is provided about its periphery with a plurality of clamps, each of which is adapted to receive a shoe upper after the various parts have been placed in their proper alinement and cemented. Any number of such clamps may be provided about the carrier and are preferably equally spaced therearound, it being understood that the carrier may be of any desirable size so as to accommodate the desired number of clamps. Suitable mechanism is provided for moving the carrier and stopping the same at a particular station to be designated hereinafter as the work re ceiving position. If the carrier takes the form of a wheel, as in the illustrated embodiment of this invention, suitable mechanism is preferably provided for advancing the carrier through a sulficient angle to bring the next succeeding clamp into the work receiving position. Furthermore, suitable mechanism is preferably provided for opening the clamp as it approaches the work receiving position, such mechanism being releasable to permit the clamp to close, and in the illustrated embodiment of this invention this mechanism is effective to initiate movement of the carrier at the same time that the clamp is released. Moreover, it is often desirable that the clamp may be regulated or opened several times while the operator is inserting the work therein, in order to insure that the work is properly alined before the full pressure of the clamp is applied to the work, and accordingly, this invention contemplates the provision of means for regulating the position of the clamp and governing the application of pressure thereby while the carrier is at rest and the particular clamp is in the work receiving position.

Referring now to the drawings for a description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention, a suitable support comprising upright members l and horizontal members 2 is provided for supporting the moving parts of the apparatus. Substantially centrally of the upper horizontal member 2 a suitable bearing 3 is provided for the reception of a shaft 4, which is rotatable therein. A wheel 5 is mounted upon the shaft 4, and preferably secured thereto for rotation therewith, as is likewise a ratchet wheel 6. The ratchet wheel 6 is preferably sufficiently spaced from the wheel 5 to permit access to the operating mechanism and is adapted to receive the driving force for the wheel 5 from a suitable operating mechanism to be later described.

The wheel 5 is provided about its periphery with a plurality of clamps I, constructed in accordance with this invention, so that the wheel 5 may be rotated to carry the respective clamps I in a circular path and past the work receiving and releasing position 8. The upper carried thereby is then released and another upper placed in the clamp to be carried about the circular path, it being understood that sufficient time is consumed during a single revolution of the wheel 5 to permit setting of the cement or glue so that under ordinary circumstances, the upper may be released from the clamp after one revolution of the wheel 5 andthe parts will then be secured.

Referring particularly to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the clamps I comprise a suitable casting having a bifurcated portion forming the legs 9 and II. The lower leg II is provided with a table I2 adapted to support the work. The table l2 may preferably be' covered over with a suitable covering such as, for instance, a layer of leather I3 suitably secured thereto. With the leg II and its adjunct table l2 shaped and arranged as shown, it is apparent that a completely closed shoe upper may be draped thereover, as shown in the broken lines at IUI in Figure 3. The upper leg 9 is provided with a bore l4 for slidably receiving a cylindrical shank l5. The shank I5 is provided with a flange I6 at the upper end thereof, so disposed as to limit the downward movement of the shank to a predetermined position, as will be later described. The shank I5'carries at its opposite end, a head I! which is provided on its bottom face with a recessed portion I8 and is covered over with a suitable diaphragm IQ of any flexible material such as, for instance, leather. The diaphragm I9 is secured to the head I'I around the edges thereof by any suitable device such as, for instance, a ring 2 I, and suitable fastening elements such as screws 22. It is thus apparent that the recessed portion I8 being covered over by an air-tight diaphragm such as I9, forms an air chamber which upon the application of pressure therewithin will cause the diaphragm l3 to be expanded outwardly in the direction of the table l2. A suitable connection such as a nipple 23 is provided for connecting the air chamber I8 with a source of air pressure and a suitable intake valve such as 24 is provided for controlling the admission of compressed air to the air chamber. Likewise, an exhaust valve 25 of any suitable type is provided. The operation of the respective valves will be more fully described hereinafter.

It is apparent that the shank [5 with the head [1 is movable vertically through the bore M to vary the distance between the head I! and the table I 2, as illustrated in the dotted line, Figure 6. Any suitable device may be provided for preventing relative rotation between the shank I5 and the bore I4, such as, for instance, a pin 26 provided at the rear of the head I! for cooperation with a groove 21 in the casting. On its upper face, the head I1 is provided with a boss 28 for.

loosely receiving a pin 29, which latter is carried by a lever 3I. The lever 3| is journaled for rotation upon a pin 32 carried by the casting. It is thus apparent that when the head I1 is moved vertically relative to the casting and between its dotted and full line position illustrated in Figure 6, the lever 31 will pivot about pins 26 and 32.

A bell crank lever 33 is provided and preferably rigidly secured to the pin 32, so that upon movement of the lever 33, the pin 32 is rotated within its bearing in the casting. One arm of the bell crank lever is provided with a knob 34, disposed to engage and cooperate with a suitable clamp regulating mechanism to be hereinafter more fully described. The other leg of the bell crank lever 33 is provided with a pin 35, extending inwardly therefrom and disposed to engage the under surface of the lever 3| when the bell crank lever 33'is rotated in a clockwise direction. It is thus apparent that when the bell crank lever 33 is rotated sufficiently to bring the pin 35 in contact with the lower surface of the lever 3| and the movement of the bell crank lever 33 continued after such engagement, the latter will be effective to raise the head I I. It may here be pointed out that the shank I5 and the head I! are preferably made of sufficient weight that they will tend to assume their lowermost position, illustrated in full lines in Figure 6, under the action of gravity, but itis within the scope of this invention to provide any suitable means such as, for instance, a spring for positively biasing the head I! into its lowermost position. Accord- 2149,5921 why, the positionor 'thehead n may be regula'ted by'moving the bell cranklever '33 through the zone a, near the dotted line position illustrated iii Figure 6.

tion is present to prevent the movement of the 'bar 38 toward the left upon application of a force upwardly against the head ll, so that the portion 31 cooperating with the slot 36 forms in effect a latch for maintaining the head l! in its lowermost position andto prevent upward movement thereof in consequence to the application of a pressure tending to force the head I! upwardly. The bell crank lever 33 is provided with a suitable lug 42 disposed in such position that it wiil engage a pin 43 extending from the bar 38 substantially at the same time that pin engages the lower portion of lever 3|, upon movement of the bell crank lever 33. It is thus apparent that when the bell crank lever 33 is moved in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 6, and in the vicinity of the dotted line position there shown,

the lug 42 will be effective to move the pin 43 and bar 38 toward the right thereby releasing the latch at 31, and consequently permitting the upward movement of the head I! in consequence of a further movement of the bell crank lever 33.

As pointed out above, the bell crank lever 33, is

rigidly mounted on the shaft 32 which extends through the casting being journaled for rotation therein. A cam member 44 is rigidly mounted on the pin 32 on the oppositeside of the casting from the bell crank lever 33, so that it is apparent that the cam 44 will be rotated with the bell crank lever 33 about the pin 32 as an axis. A suitable spring 45 may be provided in engagement with the cam member 44, and having its opposite end anchored to the casting at 46, is effective to bias the cam member and the bell crank lever 33 into the position shown in the full lines of Figures 5 and 6.

A pedestal 41 is mounted upon the head I! and is preferably adjustable relative thereto by any suitable arrangement such as, for instance, a nut 48. At the top of the pedestal 41, a lever 49 is pivotally mounted and the opposite end of the lever 49 is disposed for engagement with the cam member 44 when the head I! and its adjunct parts are at or near their lowermost position, as illustrated in Figure 5. It is apparent, however, that when the head I! and its adjunct parts are raised to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 6, the lever 49 will be carried upwardly therewith, so that the outer end thereof is lifted out of engagement with the cam 44. Intermediate the ends of the lever 49, a stem 5| is pivotally mounted for operating the intake valve 24, and it may be pointed out that when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5, that is, with the head I! in its lowermost position and the bell crank lever 33 at rest under the action of spring 45, the intake valve 24 is in this embodiment then in its open position. An operating stem 52 for the exhaust valve 25 is disposed for engagement with the lower surface of the lever 49, and it may be pointed out that when the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure 5, the exhaust valve 25 is preferably in its closed position. A spring 53 of any suitable type is preferably provided for biasing the lever 49 in a direction tending to open the exhaust valve. For the purpose of illustration, the spring 53 is shown as a contractile spring anchored at one end 'to the head l'l and engaging at its other end the lever 49. It is thus apparent that when the head I! with its adjunct parts has been moved into its raised position, so that the extreme end of the lever 49 has been moved out of engagement with the cam 44, the spring 53 will then operate to close the intake valve 24 and maintain the exhaust valve 25 in its open position.

It may here be pointed out that the arrangemerit of the various operating parts in the illustrative embodiment, illustrated in the drawings, is such that a substantial movement of the bell crank lever 33 is possible without releasing the latch 31 and raising the head [1, and consequently, it is possible to rotate the cam 44 through an angle of almost 45 and thereby manipulate the valves 24 and 25 to regulate the pressure on the diaphragm I9 without releasing the latch 31..

Upon movement of the wheel 5 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1, it is desirable that the respective clamps T be actuated into their open position in reaching the station 8, as hereinbefore pointed out, and accordingly, it is desirable to provide suitable means for engaging the lug 34 for the bell crank lever 33 on each of the clamps as they near the position 8, it being recalled that when the bell crank lever 33 is moved sufficiently in a clockwise direction, the latch 3! will be actuated to release the head I! and permit the pin 35 to raise the same through lever 3|. A device for engaging the lug 34 of the bell crank lever 33 as it approaches the work receiving position 8, may consist in any suitable z obstruction in the path of the lug 34, but for the purpose of illustration, a suitable mechanism, shown more particularly in Figures 7 and 8, has been provided for accomplishing this and other functions in cooperation with the bell crank lever I 33. A suitable bracket 54 is mounted upon one of the upper horizontal members 2 and extends inwardly therefrom in the direction of the wheel 5. The bracket 54 is provided with a pair of bosses 55 extending upwardly therefrom and in spaced relation to each other. Pivotally supported between the respective bosses 55, is an arm 56 which extends therefrom in a direction toward the wheel 5 and has its outer end 5! disposed in the path of the lugs 34 on the bell crank levers 33 of the respective clamps 'l. The arm 55 is mounted for rocking upon a shaft 58 carried by the bosses 55 and the shaft 58 is surrounded by a suitable coil spring such as 59, anchored at one end of the bracket 54, and having its other end secured at 611 to the arm 56. It is thus apparent that the spring 59 is effective to bias the arm 56 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure '7, and the movement of the arm 55 in this direction is limited by a suitable stop pin 6| which may be adjustable to the position desired.

Since as it is pointed out above, the bell crank lever 33 of the respective clamps is continuously biased in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 6, the tendency will be for the bell crank lever 33 to assume its normal position upon release of the lug 34 from the end 5! of the arm 56. Similarly, upon rocking of the arm 56, so

that the end thereof is carried upwardly approaching the dotted line position illustrated in Figure '7, the bell crank lever 33 will follow therebehind under the action of spring 45, so that when the end 41 of lever 56 is engaged with the knob 34 of a particular clamp, slight movements of the arm 56 will cause a corresponding movement in the clamp engaged. Accordingly, when the arm 56 is rocked about its pivot 58, its movement in the zone adjacent the position shown in full lines, will be effective to cause a corresponding movement of the head I] vertically. Likewise, when the arm 56 is rocked about its pivot in positions approaching the dotted line position. of Figure '7, the bell crank lever 33 in engagement therewith will have been sufliciently re leased to have permitted the head I! to drop into its lowermost position so that rocking of the arm 56 is effective to regulate the relative position of valves 24 and 25, it being understood that when the arm 56 is rocked into an extreme position in the clockwise direction, as seen in Figure '7, the end 5'! thereof will be moved a sufficient distance laterally to entirely release the knob 34 of the particular clamp which had been in engagement therewith, so that the normal position of the clamp parts will be assumed in which the head I! is lowered and latched, the: intake valve 24 is opened and the exhaust valve 25 is closed.

Anysuitable device such as, for instance, a treadle 62 may be provided for rocking the arm 56 to consequently control the position of the various parts of the clamp which is in engagementtherewith. The treadle 62 may be pivotally mounted such as at 63, and is preferably provided intermediate its end with a vertically extending link 64. At the upper end of the link 64, a suitable tang 65 is provided for releasably engaging the arm 56. A suitable guideway such as, for instance 66, is preferably provided in the bracket 54 for guiding the movement of the tang 65. In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, the guideway 66 comprises a slot which is adapted to slidably receive the tang 65. One face of the slot 66 is recessed to receive a slidable tongue 61 carried by the arm 56 and a spring 68 is preferably provided for maintaining the tongue 61 in its extended position. A spring 69 is preferably provided for maintaining the treadle 62 in its upper position and in this illustrative embodiment, the spring 69 is anchored at one end to the bracket 54, and at its opposite end to a suitable clamp such as H, for engaging the link 64 intermediate its ends. From the construction just described, it is apparent that when the treadle 62 is moved downwardly from its normal position, the tang 65, being in engagement with the tongue 61, will also move downwardly carrying with it the tongue 61, so that the arm 56 is rocked in a clockwise direction about its shaft 58. It is apparent that both the springs 59 and 69 are effective to bias the treadle, link and tang toward their uppermost position so that any rocking of the arm 56 must be in opposition to the forces of the springs 59 and 69. When the treadle is sufiiciently depressed to move the tang 65 downwardly to its dotted line position, illustrated in Figure 7, it is apparent that the tongue 61 will be released thereby and under the action of spring 56, the arm 56 will be drawn back into the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 7. Upon release of the treadle, however, the spring 66 will operate to draw the link 64 and the tang 65 upwardly to a position in which the inclined faces of the tang 65 and the tongue 61 cooperate to compress the spring 68 and permit the tang -65 to move into its uppermost position past the tongue 61.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the ratchet wheel 16 is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 4 for rotation with the wheel 5, and intermediate the ratchet wheel 6 and the wheel 5 is rockably mounted upon the shaft 4 an arm 12 having at its outer end a pawl 13 for cooperative engage- :ment with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 6. It may here be pointed out that the ratchet wheel 6 is preferably provided with a number of teeth corresponding to the number of clamps which are disposed about the periphery of the wheel 5, so that when the pawl 73 operates to advance the ratchet wheel 6 one notch, then likewise will the wheel 5 be rotated a distance equal to the spacing of the successive clamp i. The outer end of the arm i2 is connectedby a suitable rod M with an eccentric 15. The eccentric I5 is mounted upon a shaft 1'6, suitably journaled in a housing H, within which is provided any well-known type of worm gear driving mechanism therefor. Associated'with the eccentric '15 is a cam 18, the periphery of which is, with the exception of the notch-like portion 16, concentric with the shaft 36. A bell crank lever BI is pivotally mounted at 82 and carries at one end a follower 63, disposed for engagement with the cam E8. The bell crank lever 8! is rigidly secured to the shaft 82 by any suitable means such as, for instance, a spline connection, and likewise a suitable clutch operating device such as 84 is secured to the shaft 82 for movement with the bell crank lever. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a spring 85 is provided for biasing the parts just described in a counterclockwise direction so that when the cam 18 has rotated to a position in which the notch '16 comes adjacent the follower 83, the spring 85 will be effective to force the follower 66 into the notch, thereby permitting sufficient movement of the bell crank lever and the clutch operating arm 86 to permit release of the clutch. Any suitable driving device such as, for instance, a motor 86, is, of course, provided.

The other arm 8'! of the bell crank lever 8! m connected by a suitable flexible connection such as, for instance, a chain 88, with the treadle 62. It may here be pointed out that the length of the chain 88 is preferably sufiicient to permit a substantial movement of the-treadle 62 before the chain is sufficiently tightened to actuate the bell crank lever 8|. By this arrangement, the treadle 62 is not effective to actuate the bell crank lever 8! until moved downwardly to an extreme position. When the treadle 62 is moved downwardly to an extreme position, it will be recalled that the tang 65 is drawn downwardly, carrying with it the tongue 61, so that the arm 56 is rocked sufficiently to release the knob 34- of the bell crank lever 33 with which it had previously been in engagement and at the same time, during the latter part of the downward movement of the treadle 62, the bell crank lever 8| will be rocked in a clockwise direction about its pivot 62, so that the clutch device 64 is thrown into engagement to effect a connection between the motor 66 and the worm gear driving mechanism for the shaft 76. When the clutch device 84 is moved into its engaged position, it is apparent that the follower 83 on the bell crank lever BI is moved out of the notch 19, and it is further apparent that upon engagement of the clutch, the shaft i6 will be rotated to move the cam '58 relative to the follower 83, so that the treadle 62 may then be repanded under pressure of compressed air w1th1n leased and the follower 33will ride'upon-the cam 18maintaining theclutch device 84 in its en,- gaged position until a complete revolution of shaft 19 has brought the notch 19 adjacent the follower 83 where the spring 85 will be effective to force the bell crank lever 8| in a counterclockwise direction, so that the follower 83 is nested again in the notch '59 and the clutch is disengaged. It is thus apparent that once the machine is set intooperation, the operation continues for only one revolution of shaft 16, which, in fact, resultsin the advance of the ratchet Wheel 6 a Single notch, and, accordingly, the wheel 5 is advanced through an angle equal to the angular distance between the successive clamps 1.

A suitable locking pawl 89 is preferably pro- Vided for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 6 to prevent it from moving backwardly during the downward movement of the pawl 13.

Since the diaphragm I9 is adapted to be exthe air chamber defined by the recess 18 in head l1, it is necessary that a source of compressed air or other suitable fluid be obtainable. Accordingly, a compressor 9 I, which may be of any suitable andwell-known type, is provided. An air reservoir 92 is in accordance with the usual practice provided for association with the compressor 9|, and any suitable type of pressure gage 93 is preferably associated therewith. In accordance With the preferred embodiment of this invention,

. reservoir 92.

*for conducting the compressed air away from the reservoir 92. Any suitable type of connection such as, for instance, 95, is provided for connecting the conduit 94 with the shaft 4, and for maintaining an air-tight connection between these respective elements during rotation of the latter. The shaft 4 is preferably bored to provide a conduit therethrough for the compressed air from the reservoir 92, and a suitable outlet from the bore 96 is essentially provided at or near the hub 95. A suitable conduit is provided for connecting the outlet referred to with a supply conduit 91 which is preferably disposed near the outer periphery of the wheel 5 and in a convenient location for permitting the connection of the supply pipes 98 for therespective clamps; it being understood that each of the respective supply pipes 98 is connected with the nipple 23 of the corresponding clamp.

An auxiliary clamp control arm 99 is preferably provided to insure the opening of the intake valve 24'after the bell crank lever 33 has been released from the end 51 of arm 56. The arm 99 may advantageously be mounted upon bracket 54 and extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom so that the upper end thereof, which may be provided with a suitable abutment I99, is disposed for engagement withv knob 34 on bell crank lever 33, if, as under some conditions, the bell crank lever has not been moved-into the position illustrated by full lines in Figure 6 by the action of spring 45. It is thus apparent that the only time when the arm 99 comes into operation is under such a circumstance that for some reason the particular bell crarnk lever 33 has not movedinto its normal position under the action of its spring 45.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that whena particular clamp 1 has reached the workreceiving position at 8, and the wheel 5 is at rest, the valves 24.and -have been actuated to release the pressure on the diaphragm l9, and head I! has been elevated to its raised position by contact of the end 51 of arm 56 with the knob 34 on the bell crank lever 33 of the particular clamp which is now open and in its work-receiving position. An operator for the machine is stationed in position for conveniently placing the upper parts, which have been previously cemented together and are now to be retained in their'proper alined positions during the setting of the cement, in position within the clamp 1; it being understood that the operator is preferably so stationed that the treadle 62 may be readily operated by his foot. Thus, when the wheel 5 is rotated to bring a particular clamp into work-receiving position and the clamp is raised to release the work just prior to the time when the wheel 5 is arrested, the operator may then remove the work from .the clamp in its workreceivingposition; it being understood that the particular piece of work which is removed has been held in position within the particular clamp during an entire revolution of the wheel 5', so that the cement or glue has had sufilcient time to, set and the upper partsmay now be removed without danger of them becoming relatively displaced.

The clamp is now in position for the reception of an entirely new piece of work which consists usually in a plurality of separate pieces which go to form apcompleted upper, such as, for instance, the quarters and vamp; it being understood that they have previously received an application of cement or glue with which it is desired to secure themrtogether. The operator places the respective upper parts upon the support I2 and. adjusts them until they are brought into the desired relation at which time the treadle 62 may be operated to raise the end 51 of, arm 55, as hereinbefore described, thereby permitting a clockwise movement of the bell crank lever 33, and consequently, permitting the head. I! to be lowered an, amount corresponding to the movement of the treadle 62, all of which has beenlmorespecifically described hereinbefore. In this regard, it may be particularly pointed out that when the, head "is in its lowermost position, it isrpreferably spaced slightly. away from the support [2, so that therewill be permitted a slight movement of the upper partsrelative to the clamp even after the, head IT has reached its lowermost position. By reference to. Figs. 6. and 2, it will be observed that the movement of'the treadle 62 and the corresponding movement of the bell crank lever 33 is effective during movement in the zone designated as ato raise and lower thehead l1, and that movement of the treadle 62 and bell crank lever 33 throughout thezone designated as b is effective to .manipulate the valves 24 and 25. When the operator has placed the upper parts upon the support l2, the bell crank lever is moved in accordance with a correspondingmovement of the. treadle 62 to, drop the head l1. It will be recalled, however, that the head l1 when in its lowermost position is sufficiently spaced'from the support l2 topermit. a slight movement of the upper parts relative to the clamp, so that even after the head has been: dropped, the operator may further-adjust the upperparts before the air pressure is admitted to the chamber I 8, so that the diaphragm l9 isexpanded against the upper parts to positively hold them in position.

When theoperator issatisfied that the upper parts are in the desired position the treadle 62 is moved downwardly into the zone designated in Fig. 2 as 1) thereby effecting a corresponding movement of the bell crank lever 33 in the zone I) and actuating the intake valve 24 into its open position to admit the compressed air from reservoir 92 into air chamber l8. The treadle 62 may be oscillated thru the zone designated as b to effect a corresponding movement ofthe bell crank lever thru zone I) and thereby manipulate the intake and exhaust valves 24 and 25, respectively, to expand and collapse the diaphragm l9 thereby varying the pressure on the upper parts Ifll until the finally desired alinement of the upper parts relative to each other and a support I2 is obtained. When the desired alinement is obtained the treadle 62 may be moved further downwardly into the zone 0 causing a corresponding movement of the arm 56 raising the end 51 thereof, substantially into the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 7, where it will be recalled the end 51 is sufficiently displaced laterally from the clamp to release the knob 34 on the bell crank I lever 33 and upon such release the clamp parts will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 11

with the diaphragm l9 expanded against the upper parts l0! supported by the supporting table l2 as illustrated also in Fig. 3. At the time the treadle 62 is moved downwardly into the zone designated as c and after the arm 56 has been rocked sufiiciently to release the knob 54 on the bell crank lever 33, the chain 88 will, as hereinbefore described, become tightened so that further downward movement of the treadle 62 will effect rocking movement of the bell crank lever 8| with its shaft 82. As hereinbefore pointed out when the bell crank lever BI is rocked in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 9, by application of force of the treadle 62 thru chain 88, the follower 83 is raised from the depression 19 and the clutch 84 is moved into its engaging position to effect a connection between the driving motor 86 and the driven shaft 16. Upon the completion of such a positive connection between the driving motor 86 and the shaft 16 the latter will be rotated suificiently to move the depression 19 thru an angle sufficient to bring it out of alinement with the follower 83 and the treadle 62 may then be released without interfering with the operation of the clutch. Upon rotation of the shaft 16 it is apparent that the eccentric 15 will be operated to oscillate the'pitman rod 14 in a substantially vertical direction. Upon such oscillation in the longitudinal direction of the pitman rod 14, the arm 12 will be rocked on shaft 4 which rocking, it is apparent, will be effective during the upward movement of the rod 14 (when the pawl 13 is in engagement with the ratchet wheel 6) to effect a rotation of the wheel 5 in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. It may be here pointed out that the throw of the eccentric I5 is preferably such as to cause an angular movement of the arm 12 corresponding to the distance between successive teeth of the ratchet wheel 6 upon each revolution of the eccentric 15. Thus when the pitman rod 14 is moved in an upward direction the mechanism is effective to advance the wheel 5 a distance corresponding to the angular displacement of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 6 and also corresponding to the displacement of the successive clamps I while upon downward movement of the pitman rod 14 the arm 12 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction around shaft 4 in order to bring the pawl 1 back into the next operative position.

When the clutch connection has been inad and the pitman rod 14 started upon its upward movement to effect an angular movement of the wheel 5, the clamp l which has been adjacent the work receiving station is moved away from the work receiving station and the next successive clamp is advanced into that position. When the next successive clamp is advanced into the work receiving position, the treadle 62 has then been released by the operator so that the arm 56 has assumed its horizontal position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 7 so that the end 51 thereof is disposed for contact with the lug 34 on the crank arm 33 of the next succeeding clamp. Even in the event that the operator has not released the treadle 62 by the time the advancing clamp has moved into position adjacent the end 51 of arm 56, the parts are preferably so related that the tongue 61' will be released by tang 65 before the treadle 62 has been effective to engage the clutch so that in spite of the fact that the operator did not take his foot off the treadle 62 immediately upon initiation of the clutch, the arm 56, will have been released and under the force of:

spring 58 will have assumed a position in which the end 51 thereof, will be disposed in the path of the lug 34 of the advancing clamp.

From an inspection of the various figures, it is,

apparent that the lug 34 on bell crank lever 33 of an advancing clamp comes into engagement with the end 51 of the arm 56 before the clamp has reached its work receiving position and before the eccentric 15 has made one-half revolution and, it is thus apparent that when the end 51 of arm,

56 engages the bell crank lever 33 of an advancing crank further movement of the wheel 5 subsequent to such engagement will be elfective to rotate the bell crank 33 in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 6 for instance, thereby first closing intake valve 24 and next releasing exhaust valve 25 during the movement of the bell crank lever 33 thru zone b; and when the wheel 5 has advanced sufficiently the bell crank lever 33 will be moved into zone a whereupon the further movement will release the latch 35 and move the head I] into its raised position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The parts will preferably be arranged so that when the bell crank lever 33 has been suiiiciently rotated to raise the head I1 into uppermost position, then the shaft 16 with cam 18 will have made one-half revolution so that the depression 19 will be diametrically opposite its original position and further movement of the shaft 76 will be effective to retract the pawl 13 until it falls into engagement with the next successive ratchet tooth. When the pawl falls into engagement with the next successive ratchet tooth the parts are so positioned that the notch 19 will come into position adjacent the follower 83 whereby the spring 85 will be effective to rock the bell crank lever 8i and its shaft 82 in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 9 and force the follower 83 into the depression 19 thereby permitting release of the clutch.

Upon completion of this cycle of events, it is apparent that another clamp has been moved into work-receiving position and that the clamp has been released so that the operator may readily remove the upper parts IDI therefrom, they having been retained in position for sufiicient time to permit setting of the cement so that they may now be removed. The operator removes the upper parts upon which the cement has set and replaces them with other parts which are to be clamped during the setting of the cement thereon, as hereinbefore described.

It is apparent that many modifications of this invention will present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof, and accordingly it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing description and the illustrations in the accompanying drawings are merely an exemp-lification of a preferred embodiment of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited to the specific details of construction hereinbefore described and that such modifications as are made without departing from the spirit of this invention and the use of specific sub-combinations of lements are, although not specifically described hereinbefore, contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising, means for supporting upper parts, a head movable toward and away from said supporting means, means for latching the head against movement, an expansible diaphragm on the head for compressing the upper parts against the support, and means operable only when the head is latched for controlling the diaphragm without unlatching the head.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising, means for supporting upper parts said supporting means being constructed and arranged to have a closed shoe upper draped thereover, a head movable toward and away from said supporting means, means for latching the head against movement, an expansible diaphragm on the head for compressing the upper parts against the support, and unitary means movable in one zone for controlling the latching of the head and in another zone for separately controlling the expansion of the diaphragm.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising, means ior supporting upper parts, a head movable toward and away from said supporting means, an expansible diaphragm on the head for compressing the upper parts against the support, means carried by the head for controlling the eX- pansion of the diaphragm and means carried by the supp-art for operating the control means.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising, means for supporting upper parts, a head movable toward and away from said supporting means, an expansible diaphragm on the head for compressing the upper parts against the support, means carried by the head for controlling the expansion of the diaphragm and operating means carried by the support for operating the control means disposed to engage the control means when the head is moved toward the support.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising, means for supporting upper parts, a head movable toward and away from said supporting means, means for latching the head against movement, an expansible diaphragm on the head for compressing the upper parts against the support, means carried by the head for controlling the expansion of the diaphragm and operating means carried by the support disposed to engage the control means when the head is latched against movement.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a plurality of clamps on the carrier, stationary means operable to open the respective clamps,

and means for stopping the carrier concomitantly with the opening of a clamp.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a plurality of clamps on the carrier, and

means operable in one zone to control a clamp, and into another position to start the carrier.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a plurality of normally closed clamps on the carrier, stationary means disposed to engage the respective clamps to open the same, and means for actuating said stationary means to a variety of positions to regulate the clamps engaged therewith.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a plurality of normally closed clamps on the carrier, stationary means disposed to engage the respective clamps to open the same, said stationary means being movable to regulate the clamps engaged therewith, and means for advancing the carrier upon movement of said stationary means out of engagement with the clamp.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a clamp on the carrier having a head movable to engage the work, and a diaphragm expansible to compress the work, stationary means disposed to release the work, and cooperating means operable in one zone to move the head, operable in another zone to control the diaphragm and operable to an extreme position to advance the carrier.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a clamp on the carrier having a head movable to engage the work, and a diaphragm expansible to compress the work, means movable in one zone to control the diaphragm and in another zone to move the head, and a latch for the head disposed to be actuated by said means intermediate said zones.

12. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a normally closed clamp on the carrier having a head movable to engage the work, and a diaphragm expansible to compress the work, stationary means disposed to engage the clamp to open the same, said means being releasable to permit closure of the clamp, and immovable stationary means to engage the clamp to insure closure thereof.

13. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a plurality of clamps on the carrier, each of said clamps having a work support and inflatable cushion means for applying pressure to the work on the support, means for maintaining constant inflating pressure on the cushions of each of said clamps during movement of the carrier, and stationary means for releasing the pressure on the clamps adjacent thereto without disturbing the pressure on the remaining clamps.

14. A machine of the character described, comprising, a carrier movable about a circuitous path, a plurality of clamps on the carrier, stationary means disposed to engage and open the respective clamps as they are moved thereby, said means being movable to regulate said clamps while in engagement therewith and being releasable to close said clamps, and means operable upon release of said last means to advance the carrier until a succeeding clamp is engaged by said first named means.

til

ranged to have a closed shoe upper draped thereover, a clamping member cooperating with said supporting members, said members being relatively movable between open and closed positions, one of said members having a diaphragm distendable against the other member, means for moving said members between open and closed positions, and means operative only when said members are in closed position to selectively control the application and release of fluid pressure 10 on said diaphragm without opening said members.

BENJAMIN W. FREEMAN.

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