[0001] This invention is concerned with a machine for use in lasting side portions of shoe
uppers. The term "shoe" where used herein is used generically as indicating articles
of outer footwear generally, including such articles in the course of manufacture.
[0002] Machines for lasting side portions of shoe uppers are known comprising a support
for a shoe last on which an upper, the side portions of which are to be lasted, and
an insole are positioned, and two side lasting assemblies arranged so as to act on
opposite side portions of an upper positioned on a last supported by said support,
wherein each side lasting assembly comprises clamping means, comprising at least one
clamp member, movable towards the last support to cause a side portion of the upper
to be held against the last, on which it is positioned and which is supported by the
last support, at a locality spaced from the feather line thereof, lasting element
means, comprising a plurality of lasting elements arranged side-by-side and movable
inwardly towards the last support so as to cause lasting marginal portions of the
side portion of the upper to be wiped over corresponding marginal portions of the
insole and be pressed thereagainst, and lasting band means comprising at least one
upper-engaging band portion of flexible sheet material arranged to be interposed between
the shoe upper on the one hand and the lasting elements and the clamp member(s) on
the other.
[0003] In U.K. Patent Specification No.1559171 is described a side lasting machine in which
each side lasting assembly comprises a single lasting band which is supported at its
upper and lower edges, the arrangement being such that, as the lasting band is moved
inwardly towards the last support, a portion thereof intermediate its upper and lower
edges first engages the upper in the waist region, continued movement thereafter causing
the upper to be deformed in the direction of both the top line and the feather line.
The inward movement of each assembly, furthermore, is limited by a presser pad between
which and the upper the lasting band is interposed, which pad also assists in holding
the upper in position against the last during the lasting operation. When the inward
movement of each lasting band is arrested, the lasting marginal portions of the upper,
which are already partially folded over the feather line by the action of the inward
movement of the lasting band, is merely rolled over and pressed against corresponding
marginal portions of the insole by presser feet, which serve also to support one edge
of the lasting band.
[0004] It will thus be appreciated that, in the operation of this machine, no significant
drafting of the upper, in the waist portion thereof, takes place but rather the upper
is deformed to the shape of the last by the progressive application of pressure thereto
from an intermediate point outwardly towards the top line and feather line. Furthermore,
the action of the presser feet is merely to roll the lasting marginal portion of the
upper over the insole edge without any inward wiping action being applied thereto.
[0005] In U.S. Patent Specification No.1722499 is described a machine having side lasting
assemblies, each of which comprises a plurality of lasting devices, each device in
turn comprising a lasting element in the form of a wiping finger, a strap of flexible
material one end of which is secured to the wiping finger, and the other end also
being secured to a portion of the assembly, and a clamp pad between which and the
upper the strap is interposed. In the operation of this machine, each device operates
independently of the others, the arrangement being such that each assembly is moved
bodily towards the shoe and the presser pads are brought into pressing engagement
with the band against the upper, thus to clamp the upper against the last at a locality
closely adjacent the feather line. Thereafter, the pressure applied by the pads is
increased as the wipers move inwardly to wipe lasting marginal portions of the upper
against corresponding marginal portions of the insole and press them thereagainst.
Thereafter, the wiping fingers are cammed down from an out-of-the-way position to
lay the lasting marginal portions of the upper over corresponding marginal portions
of the insole and press them thereagainst.
[0006] A further modification of this machine is described in U.S. Patent Specification
No.1843232. In this machine, the straps are secured to the clamp members at one end
and are resiliently connected at the other to the wiping fingers, the arrangement
being such that the wiping fingers effect an in-wiping action effectively on the strap
rather than on the upper, the resilient connection yielding during such in-wiping
movement so that the wiping fingers move relative to their associated straps. The
overall effect of this arrangement is that the lasting marginal portions of the upper
are again merely laid over corresponding marginal portions of the insole and pressed
thereagainst.
[0007] In U.K. Patent Specification No.1079611 are described two lasting machines, in a
first of which two side lasting assemblies are provided, each comprising a plurality
of lasting bands which are pressed against the upper by clamp members in the form
of fingers, the bands being capable of limited movement heightwise of the last thus
to provide an updraft on the upper prior to lasting marginal portions thereof being
folded over the insole edge and pressed against corresponding marginal portions of
the insole. In this machine, however, no separate lasting elements are provided, the
bands serving the function of both updrafting and overlaying members. Again, in U.K.
Patent Specification No.1339835, a machine is described having two side lasting assemblies,
each comprising a plurality of lasting elements and a plurality of bands, but in this
case no clamping pads are provided, the upper merely being engaged by the bands which
are drawn over the insole edge, together with lasting marginal portions of the upper,
during the in-wiping movement of the lasting elements.
[0008] In the side lasting of shoes, problems arise where the inside of the last, at the
waist region, is significantly inclined or rounded, so that it is difficult to ensure
that the material of the upper, which is relatively bulky, is properly bedded down
to the last before the lasting marginal portions of the upper are secured to corresponding
marginal portions of the insole. Thus, it is not always sufficient merely to rely
on the in-wiping action of wiping fingers to ensure that the upper is properly bedded
to the last, nor it is necessarily sufficient merely to press the upper against the
last without any drafting force being first applied. On the other hand, the use of
wiping fingers or similar lasting elements is advantageous in ensuring a sharp feather
edge on the finished shoe and also an adequate bedding down of the lasting marginal
portions on to corresponding marginal portions of the insole, so that the mere application
of an updrafting force does not in itself necessary provide a good result in the finished
shoe. Furthermore, it is desirable that clamp pads be provided so that a controlled
drafting force can be applied to the upper, thus ensuring that any displacement of
the upper does not lead to its being badly positioned on the last prior to the waist
lasting operation.
[0009] It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a machine for lasting side
portions of shoes, wherein the upper is properly conformed to the last, regardless
of the shape of the latter in the waist region, by the application of a controlled
drafting force, and also in the operation of which lasting marginal portions of the
upper are wiped over corresponding marginal portions of the insole and pressed thereagainst
using conventional lasting elements.
[0010] This object is resolved in accordance with the invention, in a shoe upper conforming
machine as set out in the second paragraph of this specification, in that the or each
upper-engaging band portion is held by the clamp member(s), in the operation of the
machine, against the upper positioned on its last under a pressure which does not
prevent movement of the upper-engaging band portion(s) relative to the clamp member(s)
but which is sufficient to cause such movement of said portion(s) to apply a drafting
force to the portion of the upper engaged thereby, and in that the or each band portion
of each side lasting assembly is connected at one end to the lasting elements of said
assembly, inward movement of the lasting elements towards the last support as aforesaid
thus being effective to cause movement of said band portion(s) to take place relative
to the clamp member(s) whereby, in the operation of the machine, a drafting force
is applied to the upper by said portion(s) heightwise of the last in the direction
of the feather line of the shoe.
[0011] It will thus be appreciated that, using a machine in accordance with the invention,
the lasting elements are utilised to apply a controlled drafting force to the upper
through the upper-engaging band portion(s), the control being specifically achieved
by the action of the clamp member(s) acting on the band portion(s).
[0012] Desirably, the upper-engaging surface of the or each upper-engaging band portion
is such as to cause the upper to be frictionally engaged thereby, thus to apply a
drafting force to the upper as aforesaid and at least one of the opposite surface
of the or each band portion and the surface of the or each clamp member engaging such
opposite surface is a low-friction surface. Thus, for example, the aforementioned
surface of the or each clamp member may be of polytetrafluoroethylene. Conveniently,
furthermore, the or each upper-engaging band portion may be made of a laminated sheet
material having a first layer which comprises the upper-engaging surface and which
provides sufficient friction to apply a drafting force to the upper engaged thereby,
and a second layer which comprises a low-friction surface which is engaged by the
clamping member(s).
[0013] In order further to ensure that the drafting force applied by the band portion(s)
is controlled, desirably the sheet material from which the or each portion is made
has a modulus not less than 850 p.s.i. at 100% elongation (as per the ASTM test procedure).
[0014] The holding pressure applied by the clamp member(s) to the upper-engaging band portion(s)
is preferably of the order of 1.4 kgf/sq. cm. (20 lbs/sq. in.). Furthermore, preferably
the or each clamp member is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending heightwise
of the last. Where the clamping means comprises a plurality of clamp members, desirably
the position of each such axis in relation to its clamp member, and also the cross-sectional
shape, viewed along said axis, of each clamp member, are such as to enable the clamp
members to pivot without adjacent members binding on one another.
[0015] For effecting movement of the clamp member(s) towards the last support as aforesaid,
preferably fluid pressure operated means is provided. In addition, preferably locking
means, e.g. a bar lock arrangement associated with the or each clamp member, is also
provided for locking the clamp member(s) in position after having been moved towards
the last support to hold the upper-engaging band portion(s) as aforesaid.
[0016] The machine in accordance with the invention is preferably constructed and arranged
in such a manner that operation of the fluid pressure operated means is also effective
to cause inward movement of the lasting elements to take place, further fluid pressure
operated means also being provided for effecting further inward movement of the lasting
elements, when the or each clamp member is holding the upper-engaging band portion(s)
against the upper as aforesaid. Conveniently, such further inward movement of the
lasting elements is through a predetermined distance. Furthermore, conveniently in
the operation of the machine, after lasting marginal portions of the upper have been
wiped over corresponding marginal portions of the insole as aforesaid under the action
of the lasting element means, said locking means is operated to cause the clamp member
(s) of-each side lasting assembly to be released, viz. when bedding pressure is applied
through the lasting elements to such marginal portions.
[0017] In conventional machines which utilise lasting elements in the form of wiping fingers,
it is usual to set each lasting element heightwise of the last support, so that, in
effecting an in-wiping action on the shoe bottom, each such element engages the shoe
just below the feather line and rides up over said line, in. this way achieving a
desired in-wiping drafting force. This feature can be dispensed with in the machine
in accordance with the invention, and to this end preferably each lasting element
is movable not only inwardly towards the last support as aforesaid, but also heightwise
thereof between a first condition, in which a pressure-applying surface thereof is
spaced from the shoe bottom, and a second condition, in which,.in the operation of
the machine, said element is in pressing engagement with the shoe bottom, the arrangement
being such that, as each element is moved inwardly towards the last support as aforesaid,
it is also moved from its first to its second condition, whereby the or each band
portion is caused to be drawn around the feather edge of the shoe bottom, thus effecting
a drafting force on the upper prior to the lasting marginal portion of the upper engaged
thereby being pressed against corresponding marginal portions of the insole.
[0018] In accordance with the invention various arrangements of band portions and lasting
elements may be contemplated. Thus, a single band portion may be used in combination
with a plurality of lasting elements. Alternatively, the lasting band means of each
side lasting assembly may comprise a plurality of band portions, one associated with
each lasting element, and in such case, furthermore, the lasting elements may be mounted
in pairs and each pair have one clamp member associated therewith, each clamp member
thus being arranged to hold two band portions in pressing engagement with the upper
as aforesaid. Again with such an arrangement of lasting elements and clamp members,
each pair of lasting elements may have one band portion associated therewith.
[0019] There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying
drawings, of one machine in accordance with the invention, this machine having been
selected for description merely by way of exemplification of the invention and not
by way of limitation thereof.
[0020] In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the machine in accordance with the invention;
and
Figure 2 is a view in front elevation, showing details of a left-hand side lasting
assembly of said machine.
[0021] The machine in accordance with the invention now to be described is a combined heel
seat and side lasting machine comprising a last support 10 on which a last can be
supported, bottom uppermost, with an insole I located on the bottom thereof and a
shoe upper U positioned thereon. The machine further comprises heel seat wiping instrumentalities
12 and a heel band 14, and also two side lasting assemblies generally designated 16,
arranged forwardly of the heel seat lasting instrumentalities, one at either side
of the last support 10. The side lasting assemblies are mirror-opposites of one another
and the left hand assembly will be now described with reference to Figure 2.
[0022] The side lasting assembly 16 comprises a sub-frame 18 carried on a forwardly extending
plate 20 mounted on a main machine frame 22 by pin-and-slot connections whereby the
side lasting assembly 16 can pivot bodily about an axis extending transversely of
the machine through a leading edge of the heel seat wipers 12 when in their advanced
condition. For pivoting the sub-frame, a handle 30 is provided on the front thereof.
[0023] Forming part of the sub-frame 18 is a block 32 which accommodates four push-rods
34 for sliding movement in a direction transversely of the bottom of a last carried
by the last support 10, said rods being arranged side-by-side in the block 32. Fixedly
supported at the end, near the last support 10, of each push-rod 34 is a block 36
carrying a pivot pin 38 which extends fore-and-aft of the machine and on which two
levers 40 are supported for pivotal movement. Each lever 40 supports a further pivot
pin 42, extending transversely of the machine, and carrying an arm 44 on which a lasting
element 46 is supported by a pivot pin 48, the axis of which extends fore-and-aft
of the machine. Each side lasting assembly 16 thus comprises eight such lasting elements.
A spring 50 urges the lasting element downwardly about the pin 48 (anti-clockwise,
viewing Figure 2). The lasting element 46 has a flat pressure-applying surface 52,
while the end of said element facing the last support 10 is rounded at its top and
bottom.
[0024] It will be appreciated that each block 36 carries a pair of lasting elements 44,
each element being independently pivotable therein about its own pin 42. Furthermore,
it is to be noted that, when the pressure-applying surface 52 is horizontal, the axis
of the pin 42 lies in the plane of said surface.
[0025] For urging each lever 40 about its pin 38, furthermore, four piston-and-cylinder
arrangements 66 are provided, each acting on two associated levers 40 and each being
carried by a bracket 68 carried on a mounting 70 secured to a rearward end of its
associated push-rod 34. In each pair of levers 40 one is shorter than the other and
there is provided, pivotally connected to the shorter lever and connected by a pin-and-slot
connection to the longer lever, a link 92 itself connected by a pin-and-slot connection
to a piston rod 90 of its associated piston-and-cylinder arrangement 66. In this manner,
the levers 40 can be pivoted about the pin 38 independently of one another using a
single piston-and-cylinder arrangement. The amount of movement in a clockwise direction
of each lever is determined by a stop pin 94 carried by the bracket 68.
[0026] Mounted in the block 32, one beneath each of the push-rods 34, are four further push-rods
80. At the end, nearer the last support 10, of each push-rod 80 is secured a plate
78 to which is in turn secured a C-shaped bracket 74 between the arms of which is
secured a pivot pin 136, on which is freely pivotable a clamp pad 72, each pad thus
being associated with a pair of lasting elements 46. The clamp pad 72 is of a polyurethane
material having a Shore A hardness of 70. The position of the pin 136 and the cross-sectional
shape, viewed in plan, of each pad 72 is such that pivoting movement of each pad can
take place, independently of the other pads, without adjacent pads binding on one
another.
[0027] Also mounted adjacent said end of each push-rod 80 is a block 96 which is connected
to a piston rod 82 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 84, there being four such
arrangements 84 each pivotally mounted on the sub-frame 18. Furthermore, each block
96 is arranged to be in engagement, in the rest condition of the machine, with a face
of a depending portion of its associated block 36. Thus, when each piston-and-cylinder
arrangement 84 is operated, the push-rod 80 associated therewith is moved inwardly
to move the clamp pad 72 inwardly towards the last support and, by engagement of the
block 96 with the block 36, the pair of wiping elements 46 associated with said pad
is moved inwardly also.
[0028] At the end of the inward movement of each clamp pad 72, locking means is actuated
to lock the push-rod 80 in position, said locking means comprising an apertured plate
98 through a restricted aperture 100 of which passes the push-rod 80 (and through
a larger aperture 102 of which passes the push-rod 34). Each plate 98 is pivoted at
104 on a lug of the block 32 and is urged by a spring 106 into a locking position
in which the aperture 100 binds on the push-rod 80 in the manner of a bar lock. For
releasing the lock, a bar 108 is mounted for pivotal movement on lugs of the block
32, said bar carrying four adjustable stop screws 110 each of which can engage with
one of the plates 98. For pivoting the bar 108 a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 11.2
is mounted on the block 32 and acts through a link 114 connecting the piston rod 116
thereof with said bar.
[0029] Carried on a depending portion of each block 96 is a bracket 118 supporting a piston-and-cylinder
arrangement 56 a piston rod 58 of which is pivotally connected to a lever 60 pivoted,
intermediate it length, on a rearward end of its associated push-rod 80, and connected
by a pin-and-slot connection at its other end to the mounting 70 on the rearward end
of its associated push-rod 34, for purposes to be hereinafter described.
[0030] The machine in accordance with the invention al -so comprises lasting band means
comprising a plurality of bands 128, one associated with each lasting element 46.
The bands are connected by clamp plates 130 to upper surfaces of the arms 44 by which
the lasting elements 46 associated with the bands are carried, and each band extends
over the inwardly facing end face of its associated lasting element 46. The bands
also extend, in pairs, side-by-side over the inwardly facing face of the clamp pad
72 associated therewith. The lower end of each band is connected by springs 132 to
a bracket 134 mounted on the lower end of the plate 78. The springs 132 merely serve
to control the lower end of the bands but do not affect the function of the bands,
to be hereinafter described.
[0031] In the operation of the machine, when in a rest condition the lasting elements, under
the action of their associated cylinders 66, are in a first, raised, condition in
which they are spaced above the plane of the last bottom; in addition, the lasting
elements and the clamp pads 72, are in a retracted position (see Figure 2). When a
shoe to be operated upon has been placed on the last support 10, piston-and-cylinder
arrangements 84 are actuated to cause the clamp pads, and thus the lasting elements
46 therewith, to be moved inwardly towards the last support until the clamp pads,
independently of one another, are pressing their associated bands 128 into contact
with the shoe upper. As the clamp pads are moved into pressing engagement with the
bands as aforesaid, they are free to pivot, independently of one another, each about
the axis of its pin 136, so that the surface of each pad, through which surface pressure
is applied as aforesaid, engages,over substantially the whole of its width, its associated
bands. The pressure applied by the pads is in the order of 1.4 kgf/sq. cm. (20 lbs./sq.
in.). In this position, piston-and-cylinder arrangement 112 is de-actuated and the
bar lock is applied, the clamp pads now being locked in said position. At this stage,
the lasting elements 46 are still in their first, raised, condition. Thereafter, piston-and-cylinder
arrangements 56 are actuated whereupon, through their associated levers 60, the pivots
of which on the push-rods 80 are now stationary, the push-rods 34, and thus the lasting
elements 46,are moved inwardly relative to the clamp pads, and at the same time piston-and-cylinder
arrangements 66 are actuated to cause the lasting elements 46 to be moved downwardly
to a second, operative, condition in which the pressure-applying surface 52 of each
element 46 can engage the shoe through its associated band 128. The inward movement
of the elements 46 under the action of the cylinder 56 is limited by engagement of
the forward face of the block 36 with the plate 78; the distance through which the
elements 46 can move inwardly relative to the pads 72, is of the order of 50 mm.
[0032] The effect of the inward and downward movement of the lasting elements 46 is to cause
the bands 128 associated therewith to be drawn relative to the pads 72 heightwise
of the last and about the feather line region thereof. To this end, the pressure applied
by the pads is sufficient to hold the bands in pressing engagement with the upper
while allowing such slippage to take place, and further the surface of each band engaging
the upper is such that it can apply a frictional drafting force to the upper while
the surface of the pad 72 is coated with a low-friction coating, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene,
so that the band can readily slip relative thereto.
[0033] Also during the inward and downward movement of the lasting elements 46, because
of the action of the springs 50 in urging the elements anti-clockwise (viewing Figure
2) about the pins 48, the pressure-applying surface 52 of each element is brought
into early engagement, along its length, with the feather edge of the shoe bottom,
through its associated lasting band, and after such engagement is progressively caused
to pivot in a clockwise direction (viewing Figure 2) about its pin 48 until it reaches
its second condition in which it overlays the lasting marginal portion of the upper
and serves to press them against corresponding marginal portions of the insole. This
progressive action of each lasting element 46 has an "ironing" effect on the marginal
portions of the upper.
[0034] It will be appreciated that the material of the lasting bands 128 should not be significantly
stretchy for this function, while being relatively flexible so as to conform to the
shape of the shoe being operated upon. It has been found that a suitable material
is a polyurethane having a Shore A hardness in the range 70 to 90 and a modulus not
less than 850 p.s.i. at 100% elongation (as per the ASTM test procedure). Furthermore,
each band has a thickness in the range 1.5 to 3.0 mm. (1/16 to 1/8 ins.).
[0035] When all the lasting elements 46 have reached their second condition, and are in
pressing engagement with the shoe bottom, a bedding pressure can be applied thereby
to the wiped-over lasting marginal portions of the upper, and to this end the fluid
pressure control circuit of the machine is arranged so that the piston-and-cylinder
arrangements 66 can be supplied with pressure fluid at two different pressures. Furthermore,
when bedding pressure is applied, the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 112 of each
assembly is again actuated, thereby releasing the bar lock arrangement against the
action of the springs 106, whereupon the action of the piston-and-cylinder arrangements
56 is effective to cause the levers 60 to pivot about their pin-and-slot connection
with the mountings 70 to cause a small withdrawal movement of the push-rods 80 away
from the last support, and thus of the clamp members 72, thereby discontinuing their
pressing of the bands against the upper. In this way, the bands 128 and clamp members
72 do not interfere with the application of bedding pressure to the shoe bottom.
[0036] The machine in accordance with the invention may also comprise selector means (not
shown) whereby any one pair of lasting elements 46 can be rendered inoperative.
1. Machine for lasting side portions of shoe uppers comprising a support for a shoe
last on which an upper, the side portions of which are to be lasted, and an insole
are positioned, and two side lasting assemblies arranged so as to act on opposite
side portions of an upper positioned on a last supported by said support, wherein
each side lasting assembly comprises clamping means, comprising at least one clamp
member, movable towards the last support to cause a side portion of the upper to be
held against the last, on which it is positioned and which is supported by the last
support, at a locality spaced from the feather line thereof, lasting element means,
comprising a plurality of lasting elements arranged side-by-side and movable inwardly
towards the last support so as to cause lasting marginal portions of the side portion
of the upper to be wiped over corresponding marginal portions'of the insole and be
pressed thereagainst, and lasting band means comprising at least one upper-engaging
band portion of flexible sheet material arranged to be interposed between the shoe
upper on the one hand and the lasting elements and the clamp member(s) on the other,
characterised in that the or each upper-engaging band portion (128) is held by the
clamp member(s) (72), in the operation of the machine, against the upper positioned
on its last under a pressure which does not prevent movement of the upper-engaging
band portion(s) (128) relative to the clamp member(s) (72) but which is sufficient
to cause such movement of said portion(s) (128) to apply a drafting force to the portion
of the upper engaged thereby, and in that the or each band portion (128) of each side
lasting assembly (16) is connected at one end to the lasting elements (46) of said
assembly (16), inward movement of the lasting elements (46) towards the last support
(10) as aforesaid thus being effective to cause movement of said band portion(s) (128)
to take place relative to the clamp member(s) (72) whereby, in the operation of the
machine, a drafting force is applied to the upper by said portion(s) (128) heightwise
of the last in the direction of the feather line of the shoe.
2. Machine according to Claim 1 characterised in that the upper-engaging surface of
the or each upper-engaging band portion (128) is such as to cause the upper to be
frictionally engaged thereby, thus to apply a drafting force to the upper as aforesaid,
and further in that at least one of the opposite surface of the or each band portion
(128) and the surface of the or each clamp member (72) engaging such opposite surface
is a low-friction surface.
3. Machine according to Claim 2 characterised. in that the or each upper-engaging
band portion (128) is made of a laminated sheet material having a first layer which
comprises the upper-engaging surface and which provides sufficient friction to apply
a drafting force to the upper engaged thereby, and a second layer which comprises
a low-friction surface which is engaged by the clamp member(s) (72).
4. Machine according to any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the
holding pressure applied by the clamp member(s) (72) to the upper-engaging band portion(s)
(128) is of the order of 1.4 kgf/sq. cm. (20 lbs./sq. in.).
5. Machine according to any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the
or each clamp member (72) is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis (136) extending
heightwise of the last.
6. Machine according to Claim 5 characterised in that the clamping means comprises
a plurality of clamp members and in that the position of each said axis (136) in relation
to its clamp member (72), and also the cross-sectional shape, viewed along said axis
(136), of each clamp member (72), are such as to enable the clamp members (72) to
pivot without adjacent members (72) binding on one another.
7. Machine according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein fluid pressure operated
means is provided for effecting movement of the clamp member(s) inwardly towards the
last support as aforesaid, operation of said means also being effective to cause inward
movement of the lasting elements therewith, and wherein locking means is provided
for locking the clamp member(s) in such position, after having been moved to hold
the band portion(s) as aforesaid, further fluid pressure operated means then being
effective to cause further inward movement of the lasting elements whereby to cause
lasting marginal portions of the upper to be wiped over and pressed against corresponding
marginal portions of the insole, characterised in that said locking means (98, 100,
104, 106) is operated to cause the clamp member(s) (72) to be released, when bedding
pressure is applied through the lasting elements (46) to the wiped-over lasting marginal
portions of the upper.
8. Machine according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each lasting element
is also movable heightwise of the last support between a first condition, in which
a pressure-applying surface thereof is spaced from the shoe bottom, and a second condition,
in which, in the operation of the machine, said element is in pressing engagement
with the shoe bottom, characterised in that, as each element (46) is moved towards
the last support (10) as aforesaid, it is also moved from its first to its second
condition, whereby the or each band portion (168) is caused to be drawn around the
feather edge of the shoe bottom, thus effecting a drafting force on the upper prior
to the lasting marginal portions of the upper engaged thereby being pressed against
corresponding marginal portions of the insole.
9. Machine according to any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the
lasting band means (128) of each side lasting assembly (16) comprises a plurality
of band portions (128), one associated with each lasting element (46).
10. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the lasting
elements (46) of the lasting element means are arranged in pairs, each pair having
associated therewith a clamp member (72), and one band portion of the lasting band
means being associated with each pair of lasting elements (46).