Jointer perfect shoe. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved assembler for footwear.

Machines are known, usually called assemblers in the footwear sector, which are suitable in practice to make the always perfect assembly of a sole to an instep, previously glued.

These machines substantially comprise, on a support and support structure, a bell that supports, at different levels of height, two rubber membranes that form with the same two chambers in which corresponding conduits for feeding flow and also for the aspiration of air.

The bell is linked to the structure through an articulated joint, and is rotatable around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the position assumed by the footwear to work.

In operation, an operator is placed frontally with respect to the machine and carries out the loading of the footwear on the support plane, this operation being possible thanks to the opening of the bell, whose axis of rotation is posterior, then the machine performs the assembly operation is automated, the bell is open and the operator himself carries out the unloading operation.

Although the appearance in the machine market such as the one mentioned above has been a remarkable technological step forward with respect to traditional assembly systems, it has not been without problems, which have arisen in particular from the change in the requirements of the manufacturers, more and more oriented towards the reduction of human intervention in the production cycle.

For this reason, the structure of the machine, despite its optimal operating principle, has not been particularly suitable for use in automatic or semi-automatic production lines, because loading and unloading are carried out in a single position.

Other disadvantages have arisen in particular with footwear that has soles provided with high heels with edges, which lead to a rapid degradation of the lower membrane, that is, the one that rests directly on the footwear during work.

Attempts have been made to remedy these inconveniences by manually inserting a suitable cradle to level the surface to be pressed, in order to avoid abnormal stretching of the pressure membranes and their consequent deterioration.

This has led to only partially solve the problems, and represents a substantially insurmountable obstacle to the automation of the operation.

The main purpose of the present invention is to set up an assembly machine for footwear with a structure that allows a reduction in working times.

In the context of this purpose, the consequent priority objective is to set up an assembly whose structure makes possible its insertion in semi-automatic or automatic working lines of footwear.

Another important objective is to set up an assembler in which the deterioration of the membranes with use is avoided.

Another objective is to eliminate the use of the crib that is now necessary for shoes with high heels or with edges.

One more objective is to set up an assembly that is competitive in the market.

These and other objectives, which will be revealed later on, are achieved by an improved shoe assembly, of the type comprising, on a support and support structure, a bell that holds two flexible membranes at different levels of height to form with the same two chambers in which corresponding air ducts flow, said assembler being characterized by the fact that the bell is articulated to the structure around an axis arranged longitudinally with respect to the position of the footwear to work, and by the fact that adjacent to the part where the shoe heel is placed is associated with a download handler after work.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the detailed description of one of its embodiments, illustrated by way of indication, but not limited to its scope, in the attached drawing sheets, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the machine;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the machine;

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the phase of unloading the footwear of two machines, one for a right shoe and one for a left shoe, towards a conveyor belt;

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the internal parts of the machine before work;

Figure 5 represents the internal parts of Figure 4 during the work;

Figures 6 and 7 are views in longitudinal section of the internal parts of the machine in successive phases of shoe work with heels with edges;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the internal parts of the machine during the work of footwear with tacoan with edges;

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the hood comprised in the machine;

Figures 10 and 11 are views in longitudinal section of the internal parts of the machine in successive phases of footwear work with rounded tacoan;

Figures 12 to 14 are schematic views showing the discharge phase.

ES 1 034 276 U

With reference to the aforementioned figures, an assembler is indicated together with the reference number 10 and comprises a support structure 11 on which a support plane 12 on which a bell 13 operates, is defined in a superior manner, as will be described better later.

The machine is completed with an upper protection housing 14 provided with an electric control panel 15.

The bell 13 will be constituted by a lower open box structure, divided into two pieces, respectively 16 and 17, to which the edges of two rubber membranes 18 and 19 are connected tightly, at different levels of height, being the first one located at a lower level.

The bell 13 has a substantially rectangular plan shape and with the bottom edge suitable for adhering to the support plane 12.

The membranes 18 and 19 form with the bell 13 two chambers 20 and 21 into which corresponding air ducts 22 and 23 flow.

As can be seen in the figures, the bell 13 is linked to the structure of the machine 10 to rise from the support plane 12, being articulated by means of a bolt 24 arranged laterally and longitudinally with respect to the same.

The rotation is produced by means of a pneumatic cylinder, of which the rod is only visible in the figures, indicated with reference 25, articulated to a lever arm 26 integral with the bell 13 on the side opposite to the bolt 24.

The shoe to work, indicated with reference 27, is supported by an emine holder 28, arranged in correspondence with an opening 29 of the support plane 12.

The position of the shoe 27 is parallel to the bolt 24, which is therefore arranged laterally thereto.

On the opposite side of the bolt 24 with respect to the shoe 27 there is located a bell locking device 13, constituted by a support to which an associated lever 32 is articulated, by means of a connecting arm 33, to a pneumatic cylinder, of the which in the Saolo figures the stem 34 is visible.

The lever 32 acts on an appendage 35 protruding from the bell 13.

In the area of ​​the machine 10 corresponding to the position of the shoe tacoan 27, a manipulator 36, in the form of a clamp and known per se, is arranged rotating around a transverse horizontal axis with respect to the shoe 27.

Said manipulator 36 is suitable for unloading the shoe 27 after work, as best seen in Figure 3, for example by placing it on a conveyor belt 37 of a cooler, which is not shown in the figures.

It should also be noted that a third membrane 38, which is in contact only with the back of the shoe in correspondence with the heel, is linked to the ends between the lateral edges of the bell 13, as can be seen in particular in the figures 6 and 7.

This membrane has a purely protective function of the others, this membrane being the one that prevents the deterioration of the others in the case of footwear provided with heels with edges.

As regards the operation, the operator stands in front of the machine and positions the shoe 27 on its support inside the area affected by the bell 13 (figure 4).

During this operation, air is sucked through the ducts 22 and 23, so that in the chambers 20 and 21 a depression is formed that causes the membranes 18 and 19 to be no obstacle.

Next, the bell 13 is passed from an elevated position to a low position, in support of plane 12.

The lever 32, which blocks the bell 13, is then closed, and the latter is put in pressure by sending air through the conduit 22 to the lower chamber 20, so that the membrane 18 adheres completely to the shoe by wrapping both the sole 27a and the instep 27b.

The next operation is to send air to the chamber 21 through the duct 23, in order to compress the sole 27a on the instep 27b (Figure 5).

Once the work is completed, the bell 13 opens and the manipulator 36 carries out the unloading of the shoe 27 (figure 3).

In the practice it has been confirmed that the purpose and the objectives set forth in the present invention have been achieved.

In fact, arranging the rotational axis in the hood 13 laterally with respect to the shoe 27 has allowed the operational possibilities to be released in front and behind the shoe 27 itself, and therefore has made possible a frontal loading and a subsequent discharge, the latter being automatic thanks to the manipulator 36.

The addition of the third membrane 38 has allowed to lengthen the duration of the membranes 18 and 19 before their necessary replacement, and avoids having to resort to the cradle cited in the background.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all of them included in the scope of the inventive concept.

Thus, for example, an articulation of the bell can be provided on the side opposite to that which has been represented and described above.

In addition, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any depending on the requirements.

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