US2006071A - Assembling machine - Google Patents

Description

June 25; 1935. H E EDWARDS 2,006,071

ASSEMBL I NG' MACHINE Filed July 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l ativz-zzqy June 25,1935. H. E. EDWARDS ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 28 Claims.

The present invention relates to assembling machines, and more particularly to machines for assembling component parts of shoe uppers.

In the manufacture of shoes, particularly for women, it is necessary to assemble with shoe upper parts, such as Vamps, tips and quarters, relatively small pieces such as overlays and underlays. In addition it is customary to reinforce inherently weak portions of the shoe upper parts or portions thereof which will be weakened in subsequent operations by applying locally relatively small staying or reinforcing pieces. The application of theserelatively small pieces to a particular portion of the shoe upper part is expensive as it involves a number of operations most of which must be performed by hand with skill and care. First the shoe upper part must be marked to indicate accurately the portion thereof which is to receive the small piece, whether it is an overlay, underlay or a reinforcement. Then one face of the small piece must be rendered sticky, either by treating a prepared coating thereon or by applying adhesive thereto. Then the sticky piece must be superimposed upon the shoe upper part, care being taken to cover the proper portion of the shoe upper part by registering the piece with the mark previously formed on the shoe upper part. Finally the assembled parts must be subjected to pressure to insure 30 the adherence of the superimposed piece to the underlying shoe upper part.

The object of the present invention is to produce a machine which will assemble unmarked component shoe upper parts in a rapid, reliable and inexpensive manner.

To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may appear hereinafter, the various features of the present invention consist in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims.

The various features of the present invention will be understood readily from an inspection of the acompanying drawings, illustrating the best form of the invention at present devised, in which,

Figure l is a view in plan of the assembling machine, the pick-up means being at the pick- 50 up station;

Fig. 2. is a view in front elevation;

3 is a view in plan, the pick-up means being at the superimposing station;

Fig. 4 is a view in sectional elevation on the line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in plan illustrating a modification;

Fig. 6 is a view in-elevation of the modified type of die illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the roll for rendering the bottom faces of the pieces of stock adhesive;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in sectional elevation illustrating the mechanism for lowering the roll during the idle stroke of the dies, and

Fig. 9 is a detail View in rear elevation of the mechanism for lowering the disappearing pins in a step by step manner.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and. 4, the machine is set up to support separately a pair of shoe upper parts herein shown as quarters it), one right and the other left (Fig. l) and a pair of stacks ll (Fig. 2) of pieces of stock 53 (Figs. 1 and 3) herein shown as stays for reinforcing the quarters l0 in the region or" the eyelet holes to be inserted therethrough in a subsequent operation.

The quarters it! are supported fiat-wise upon the horizontal surface of a pattern I 3 which is provided with one or more holes i 4, herein shown as four in number. The holes l4 receive vertical pins !5 projecting upwardly from the fiat top of an elevated bed l6 integral with a bed plate ll. With this construction the pattern I3 is removably mounted on the bed IE.

The stacks H are supported upon a pattern [8. For economy in manufacture the patterns l3 and I8 are standardized. The pattern I8 is provided with holes [9 which receive vertical pins 20 projecting upwardly from the upper walls of a hollow bed 2i on the bed plate H. The walls of the hollow bed 2! form a box-like structure which is closed at its top by the pattern IS. The pattern I8 is provided with a plurality of eyelets 22 (Fig. 3) which embrace loosely a plurality of pins 23 (Figs. 3 and 4) which confine laterally the pieces H2 in the stacks H in all directions by engagement with various points on their edges. The stacks are thus supported in magazines each having a stationary bottom and a vertically movable retaining Wall. The bottom of the pattern I8 is reinforced in the region of the eyelets 22 by a backing plate 24 (Fig. 4). The bottom ends of the pins 23 are supportedby a false bottom 25 the edges of which engage loosely the internal walls of the hollow bed 2|. The false bottom 25 rests on a horizontal plate 26. With this construction the location of the eyelets 22 may be varied as desired to change the shape or size of the area bounded by the pins 23. Provided the eyelets 22 are properly located, the operative may prepare the pattern It for the support of work pieces l2 varying widely in size or shape merely by dropping the pins 23 through the eyelets as the bottoms of the pins 23 may rest upon any portion of the extensive surface of the false bottom 25.

Soldered to the bottom of the plate are two horizontal rods 2's and 28 which are wider than the plate so that the ends thereof may project into inclined slots 2!? and Si), respectively, formed in the lateral side walls of the hollow bed 25. Pivoted to the horizontal rod 28 are two links 3i and 32 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are pivoted, respec tively, on pins 33 and 3d carried by ears and 36 projecting upwardly from a slide Bl mounted to slide on the bed plate ll. Secured centrally to the slide Si is a strap 38 which carries on its free end a roll 3% (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 9) arranged to engage the peripheral edge of a verge it. The verge id is carried by a ratchet ii rotatably mounted on the cylindrical shank of a horizontal boltv 42 (Fig. 9). The shank of the bolt 22 is threaded on both ends to receive nuts 63 (Fig. l) and M (Fig. 9) one of which, the nut is, secures the bolt to the rear wall of the hollow bed 2i. The bolt M holds the verge it and the ratchet ii in position on the shank of the bolt @2. The roll 39 is held in engagement with the verge ti! by a pair of coiled springs (Fig. 3) the ends of each of which are secured to the horizontal rod 28 and to pins 16 projecting laterally from the side walls of the hollow bed 2 l.

I Shoe factory systems vary in the number of pairs constituting a case lot. In some factories thirty-six pairs form a case lot. In others, twenty-four. In still others, twelve. The pins 23 (Fig. 4) are standardized. That is, they are long enough for use with a stack i i formed by thirtysix ofthe pieces l2. When a stack ll, containing less than thirty-six pieces of stock, is to be supported upon the pattern t8, the distance the pins 23 project above the work supporting surface of the pattern 5 8 is reduced so that the upper ends of the pins 23 may project above the top piece of stock in the stack a predetermined distance, the amount of which is uniform for all heights of stacks and which is maintained uniform as the pieces of stock are withdrawn one at a time from the stack.

To enable the operative to adjust the pins 23 preliminarily to accommodate them to different heights of stacks H the shank of the bolt 12 carries loosely an arm ll (Fig. 9) Normally the arm H is held against a pin 68, projecting from the l rear wall of the hollow bed M, by a coiled spring 469 one end of which is secured to the rear wall of the hollow bed 2i and the other end of which is secured to a bent pin 58 secured to the arm ill. The arm 4? carries a pivoted spring pressed pawl 5! arranged to engage the ratchet ll. The operative may, by oscillating the arm ll, operate the ratchet ll in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 9, through the pawl 58, and thus rotate the verge ll). The verge til by engagement with the roll 39 draws the slide ill to the right (Fig. l)

thus causing the rods 2? and 28 to travel down the slots 2E! and 3E? and lower the plate which supports the false bottom 25 upon which the pins 23 rest. The ratchet ll is held from a retrograde movement, viewing Fig. 9, by a pivoted spring pressed pawl 52 mounted in a cage 53 secured to the rear wall of the hollow bed 2 i.

In order to withdraw the uppermost piece from both of the stacks it simultaneously the pieces are engaged, respectively, by dies 56 and 55 (Fig.

2) projecting downwardly from the bottom face of a flat plate 56 removably secured to a holder 5?. To this end the plate 5 5 is provided with a pair of upstanding pins 58 which are received in holes formed in the holder 511. The pins 53 near their upper ends are provided with notches engaged by latches 59 pivotally mounted on the holder. By swinging the latches 59 on their pivots the pins 58 are released so that the plate 56 may be withdrawn from the holder El and another plate 56 carrying other dies 54 and 55 substituted therefor.

The dies 5% and 55 have flat bottom faces shaped in exact accordance with the shape of the pieces in the stacks H. The dies project below the bottom of the plate 55 a distance commensurate with the distance the pins 23 project above the uppermost pieces in the stacks I I. With this construction the dies enter into the spaces defined by the pins 23 to engage the uppermost pieces in the stacks, the extent of this movement being limited by the upper ends of the pins 23 which engage the plate 56.

The holder 5? is carried by the bottom of a rod til (Fig. 4) which slides vertically in a boss 62 formed in a head 62. The head 62 receives and slides upon two horizontal rods 63 and 64 the free ends of which are supported, respectively, in brackets 65 and E56 projecting upwardly from the bed plate II. the head 52 is constrained to slide laterally in a single horizontal plane.

In order to reciprocate the rod (ii! to lower the dies 5 and 55 into engagement with the top pieces in the stacks l2, the rod is slotted to receive an arm 6'! pivoted at one end on the head t2 and provided on its other end with an operating handle 68. The arm El and the parts operated therebyare held normally in the position of Fig. i by a coiled spring 69 which is mounted in a springchamber 70 formed in the head 62. The upper end of the spring 65) engages a pin ll depending from the arm Bl.

In order to constrain the downward movement of the rod Bil to a single vertical plane the horizontal rod 63 is provided with an opening l2 (Fig. 3) which, when the head 62 is positioned against a buffer 13 on the rod 63, is in position to receive a pin M m0ll1lt8d in an opening 15 formed in the head 62. The upper end of the pin M is pivoted between two plates l5 (Figs. 1 and i) which'are secured'to the opposite sides of the arm 67.

'In order-to prepare for the operation of the machine the pattern maker designs paper patterns having contours identical with the shoe upper parts to be supported upon the pattern I3. Each paper pattern has an opening cut therein having a contour identical with the pieces to be supported upon the pattern l8. Thus the paper patterns show not only the contours of the left and right shoe upper parts and the pieces to be superimposed thereon, but the exact position the pieces should occupy when superimposed upon the shoe upper parts.

With these paper patterns as guides, the dies 5 and 55, on the bottom of the plate 56, are constructed with surface contours identical with the openings in the paper patterns. Stated in. another way, the dies 54 and 55 are provided with contours on their bottom faces, respectively, identical with the contour of the pieces to be applied to the shoe upper parts represented by the paper patterns.

In order to determine the proper location of With this construction 1 the quarters H! and the stacks I l on the patterns l3 and I8, respectively, these patterns, without anything on their exposed surfaces, are placed in position on the beds It and 2|, respectively. With the head 62' positioned at the pick-up station, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle 68 is pressed downwardly to force the dies Stand 55 into contact with'the pattern l8 to imprint, through carbon paper or otherwise, their contour on the surface of the pattern l8. These imprints are used as guides to determine the location of the eyelets 22 for the pins 23 which confine laterally the pieces I2 in the stacks Ii in all directions by engagement with various points on their edges. 7

Then the handlefit is elevated intothe position of Fig. 4 and the head 62 is slid to the left (Fig. 1) to bring the left side end thereof in contact with a buffer 7'! (Figs. 1 and 2) as shown in Fig. 3. When the head 952 is in contact with the buffer 1! the pin F4 is registered with a hole 18 in the horizontal rod 655 thus permitting the rod 6! to be reciprocated to bring the dies 54 and 55 into engagement with the exposed surface of the pattern l3 and print or impress their contours thereon.

Then the paper patterns, hereinbefore referred to, are placed upon the pattern i3 and the edges of the openings in the paper patterns are registered with the imprints of the dies d and 55. Next lines are scribed on the pattern [3 employing the available gaging edges of the registered paper patterns as guides. These available edges may be held to a grade. The scribed lines are used to determine the location of the gages E9 and 853, of the bumper type, on the pattern [3.

As indicated in Fig. 1 portions of the stays i2 register with edges on the quarters. In many instances, however, the overlays, underlays or reinforces generally are located within the marginal portions of the shoe upperparts supported on the pattern l3. Thus, the gages "l9 and 8E gage the location of the shoe upper parts on the pattern l3 relatively to the dies 54 and 55 so that any predetermined portion of the super ficial surface of the said shoe upper parts may receive the pieces I 2. It will be clear, viewing Fig. 4, that if the rod 60 is reciprocated to lower the dies 54 and 55 while the pin M is not in a position to enter the openings it or 58, the pin will strike the rod 63 and so block further descent of the dies. In this manner superimposing accuracy is assured because the operation of the pin 74 in the opinings 'lz and I8 necessitates first that the pieces l2 register accurately with the dies 54 and 55 and then that the pieces l2 be superimposed upon only the predetermined portion of the superficial surface of the shoe upper parts iii. 7

The gages 19 and Bil gage a complete series of shoe upper parts of the same style, one pair at a time, in position to receive in a uniform manner the pieces It which, however, are not graded in any way, they being the same size for all the various sizes and widths in the complete series of shoe upper parts supported upon the pattern It.

In order to enable thedies 5d and 55 to pick up the uppermost pieces in the stacks H and retain them in position while the pieces are being transferred to and superimposed upon the quarters It, the bottom faces of the dies 54 and 55 are provided with vertical air passages 8| and $2, respectively,'(Fig. 2). The upper ends of these air passages 8| and 82 receive hollow ferrules 83 and 84, respectively, carried by flexible conduits 85 andfi i communicating with a header 8?. In addition to the conduits 85 and 86, the header 8! is connected to two more suction conduits t8 and 3E5. These conduits are not used with small dies like the dies 54 and 55, but the ferrules on the lower ends thereof are fitted into blind openings 90 and 9! formed in the head 62.

The header 8? communicates with one end of a flexible conduit Q2 (Fig. 1) the other end of which is connected with the intake of an air pump 93 mounted on the bed plate ii and driven by the armature shaft 3 of an electric motor $5. When the air pump 93 is in operation air is drawn through the openings 8! and 82 thus producing a condition of unbalanced pressure on the bottom faces of the dies 54 and 55 which causes the uppermost pieces on the stacks to adhere to the dies when they are engaged therewith. The air drawn into the pump 93 is discharged through an outlet 95. The suction pull on the piecesengaged by the dies may be varied by a petcock 8? interposed in the suction line between the conduit S2 and the inlet to the pump 93.

The pieces 62 used for overlays, underlays, and reinforces generally, may be of three general types, namely, thermoplastic, hydroplastic, or dry. By thermoplastic I mean that the face of the piece which is to engage the shoe upper part is coated with an adhesive normally nonadhesive under ordinary conditions of temperature but which is capable of being rendered tacky by the application of heat thereto. By hydroplastic I mean that the coating requires the application of water thereto in order to render it adhesive. By dry I mean that the bottom face of the piece is uncoated and is rendered adhesive by the application of some sticky material such as latex, gum, paste, cement or the like.

If the pieces are hydro-plastic the machine is provided with a cylindrical roller S38 (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 3) constructed of some moisture absorbent material, such as sponge rubber 99. The sponge rubber $9 is mounted on a core 589 which in turn is mounted on a shaft if]! having ends journaled on the bottoms of slots it?! formed on the end'fianges m3 (Fig. 1) of a small tank tea. The tank ltd is reincvabiy mounted within a holder Hit which in turn is removably mounted onthe bed plate in the space between the beds [5 and The holder (Fig. l) is provided with an outturned end flange Hit having a slot H31 therein which receives a pin it, on the bed plate lfl, to the upper end of which is threaded a butterfly nut its for clamping the flange lit to the bed plate if. The holder 985 is provided also with a slotted end flange H6 (Fig. 2) which fits over a pin ill, on the bed plate 2?, for engagement with a butterfly clamping nut H2.

When the dies and 55 are moved into engagement with the uppermost hydroplastic pieces on the stacks ii, respectively, the suction produced by the air pump 93 causes the pieces to adhere to the dies and to leave the stacks upon the return of the dies to the position of Fig. 4. Then ti e head 323 is reciprocated to the left (Figs. 1 2) to bring the pl8ll--ll13 pieces into the superimposing position of Fig. 3. As the dies move from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. Sthe pieces wipe over the periphery of the roll 38 and the hydroplastic coating on the pieces is rendered adhesive by the water on the roll. During the engagement of'the pieces with the roll 98 the suction holds the pieces from displacement on the dies.

After the head 62 is positioned as shown in Fig.

3, the dies are reciprocated to superimpose the sticky pieces upon the shoe upper parts supported upon the pattern I3. The pieces engage the underlying shoe upper parts with sufficient pressure to cause the pieces to adhere substantially instantly thereto. As soon as the handle $8 is released the dies are elevated but the pieces are not carried upwardly by the dies, the adherence of the pieces to the shoe upper parts being sufficient to break the suctional grip of the dies on the pieces.

In order to prevent the roll 98 from wetting the bottom faces of the dies as they return to obtain another pair of pieces from the stacks I I for application to another pair of shoe upper parts positioned in the pattern I3, the machine is provided with mechanism for lowering the roll iii? to withdraw its periphery from the plane of reciprocation of the dies. To this end the end flanges Hi6 and IIEI of the holder IE support for rotation a horizontal shaft III-I through which are threaded screws II i (Figs. '7 and 8). When the dies are travelling from the pick-up station to the superimposing station the tank IM- is supported upon the heads of the screws I M (Fig. 7) When the dies are travelling back to the pick-up station the bottom of the tank I62 rests upon the shaft H3 (Fig. 8).

In order to oscillate the shaft I IS in timed relation with the horizontal movements of the dies the rear end of the shaft IE3 carries an arm II5 which is secured to the shaft by a screw H6. The movement of the shaft lit, in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 7, is limited by a stop pin II? projecting rearwardly from the rear flange ltlfi of the holder I05. This stop pin insures the uniform elevation of the roll 98 to bring its periphery into the horizontal plane of movement of the dies.

The arm H5 is provided with a slot I I8 which embraces a pin IISI projecting laterally from a slide I2Il. The slide I2!) is provided with slots I2l (Fig. 2) which embrace the shanks of small headed bolts I22 (Fig. l) secured to brackets I23 (Fig. 3) secured respectively to the beds I6 and 2|. At its opposite ends the slide I20 is provided with upstanding lugs I24 and I25 (Fig. 2) arranged in the path of movement of a pin I26 (Fig. 4) projecting laterally from an arm I2? depending from the head 62. When the head 62 is reciprocated into the position of Fig. 3 to bring the dies into the superimposing station the pin I26 strikes the lug I24 and moves the slide to the left (Figs. 1 and 2) thereby oscillating, through the connections described, the shaft H3 into the position of Fig. 8. When the head 62 is reciprocated back into the position of Fig. 1 the pin I26 strikes the lug I25 and moves the slide I28 to the right (Figs. 1 and 2) thereby oscillating the shaft H3 into the position of Fig. 7. Thus the roll 98 is elevated for the passage of the dies thereover from the pick-up station to the superimposing station, and is lowered for the return of the dies to the pick-up station.

When the head 62 is moved back into the pickup station another pair of shoe upper parts is placed on the pattern I3 against the gages l9 and 8E? and the cycle of operations is repeated. As described hereinbefore the pins 23 by engagement with the plate 56 limit the downward movement of the dies. After one piece has been removed from each of the stacks it is necessary to lower the plate 25 a distance commensurate with the thickness of the removed pieces so that the upper ends of the pins 23 may be maintained a uniform distance above the uppermost pieces in the stacks until all the pieces are removed therefrom.

In order to control the lowering of the pins 23 automatically the arm 41 is provided with a lug I23 which is engaged by a toe I29 formed on the lower end of the arm IZI. Each time the head 62 is returned to the pick-up station the toe I29 strikes the lug I28 and oscillates the arm 41 to rotate the ratchet H and the verge 40. As the verge 40 rotates, the roll 39 is moved to the right (Fig. 4) and the plate 26 is lowered an amount commensurate with the thickness of the pieces in the stacks. As this thickness may vary with the different types of work pieces handled, the lug I 28 is secured to one end of a screw I30 threaded into the upper end of the arm 41, the adjustment of the screw I30 being maintained by a winged clamping nut I3 I. From an inspection of Fig. 9 it will be understood that the earlier the toe I29 engages the lug I26 in the return of the head 62 to the pick-up station the greater will be the rotative movement of the ratchet II and the consequent greater distance through which the plate 26 is lowered. The peripheral edge of the verge (It is shaped to permit the roll 3% to escape along a lateral wall I32 (Fig. 4), under the influence of the springs 25, when the pieces are all withdrawn from the stacks. Thus, the pins 23 are caused to pop up through the eyelets 23 into their original positions ready to receive two more stacks of pieces I2 immediately upon the exhaustion of the stacks.

If the pieces in the stacks are the dry type hereinbefore referred to, the tank IEJ i is supplied with the adhesive and the roll 98, or a substitute therefor, is then used to apply the adhesive to the bottom faces of the dry pieces as they are dragged across the periphery of the roll by the dies.

If the pieces in the stacks are thermoplastic, the die holder 5'! is provided with an electrical heating unit, (not shown), the terminals I33 and I3 1 (Fig. 1) thereof being connected to some suitable source of electricity.

But whether the pieces in the stacks are thermoplastic, hydroplastic or dry, they are rendered adhesive during the travel of the dies from the pick-up station to the superimposing station. The roll 98, the tank I04, or, it may be, the holder I05 therefor, may be removed from the machine during its use on thermoplastic pieces.

It is often desirable in the manufacture of shoes to apply a doubler to a shoe upper part. Usually the doubler and the shoe upper part are the same size and shape so that it is necessary to register their edges in assembling them to gether. Owing to the porous character of the material from which the doubler is made it would be impracticable to employ suction means for transferring the doubler from the pick-up station to the superimposing station. Therefore, in assembling a doubler and a shoe upper part together the doublers are supported, one at a time, on a pattern I35 (Fig. 5) while a, stack of shoe upper parts are supported on the pattern I8.

Owing to the grade of the doubler it is not practicable to employ gages of the bumper type like the gages I9 and 8%, Fig. 1. Instead, the pattern I35 (Fig. 5) is provided with a line gage I36, with which certain edges on the doubler are registered. To this end the pattern I35 may be, and preferably is, the attachment illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings in my Patent No.

1,881,399, October 4, 1932; The pattern l8'supports a stack of shoe upper parts I31 -(Fig. 5) having the same shape and superficial 'a'rea as the doubler. These shoe upper parts I31 are engaged by the pins 23 to form the stack.

When using the machine to pick-up the shoe upper parts l3! from the stack on the pattern l8 a flatdie H8 is secured to the holder 51 by means of the latches 59 which engage the vertical pins 58 projecting from the back face of -the die I38; Thedle E33 is provided with a number of air passages i39, any selected four of which may be connected to the four conduits 85, 86, 8B and 89.

After the die I38 picks up the shoe upper part i it is transferred to the superimposing station Where the shoe upper'part is superimposed upon the doubler. In between the stations the shoe upper part is rendered adhesive in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the pieces l2. i

Nothing herein explained isto be interpreted as limiting th various inventions in the scope of their appplication to use in connection with the particular apparatus or the particular 1 mode of operation or both selected for purposes of illustration and explanation. While the particulars of construction herein set forth are well suited. to one mechanical form of the invention, it is not limited to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since theymay be modified within the skill of the artisan without departing from the true scope of the actual inventions, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims by the intentional useof generic terms and expressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supporting separately the parts to be assembled, of means having continuous suction for assembling the parts.

2. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supporting separately the parts to be assembled, of heated means having continuous suction for assembling the parts.

3. In a machine for assembling parts one face of at least one of which is thermoplastic, the

combination with means for supporting separately the parts to be assembled,a die for engagement with the non-thermoplastic face of the thermoplastic part, means for heating the die, and suction means connected to the die, of means for operating the die to pick up the thermoplastic part, render it adhesive, superimpose the adhesive thermoplastic part upon the other part and subject the assembled parts to pressure.

4. In an assembling machine, the combination "with removable patterns, and means for locating thereon the parts to be assembled, respectively, of means for picking up at least one part from one of the patterns and superimposing it in a predetermined position upon a part located on another pattern.

5; In an assembling machine, the combination with a support for a pair of shoe upper parts, one right and one left, and a support for two piles of pieces of stock, of means for picking up two pieces, one from eachpile', and superimposing them upon the right and left shoe upper parts, respectively, mounted on their original support; 6. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supporting separately the parts to be assembled, reciprocating mechanism for the movement of said overhead means, of means operating independently of said movement limit; ing means for constraining the pick-up movement of said reciprocating mechanism to a perpendicular. r

7. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supporting separately the parts to be assembled, reciprocating mechanism for picking up at least one part and superimposing it upon another part on another original support, movable ovcrhead'means adapted to receive said reciprocating mechanism, and means for limiting the movement of said overhead means; of means operating independently of said movement limiting means for constraining both the picking up and the superimposing movements of said mechanism to perpendiculars.

8. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supporting separately the partsto be assembled, reciprocating mechanism for picking up at least one part and superimposing it upon another part on another original support, movable overhead means adapted to receive said reciprocating mechanism, and means for limiting the movement of said overhead means, of means operating independently of said movement limiting means for constraining the pickup and superimposing movements of said reciprocating mechanism to rectilinear movements in vertical planes.

9. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supporting separately the parts to, be assembled, reciprocatingmechanism for picking up one part and superimposing it upon another part, movable overhead means adapted to receive said reciprocating mechanism, means for limiting the movement of said overhead means, and means operating independently of said movement limiting means for constraining the pick-up and superimposing movements of said reciprocating mechanism to rectilinear movements in vertical planes, of means underlying said reciprocating mechanism during the operation of said constraining means for correlating an identical superficial area on said parts uniformly with relation to said vertical planes, respectively. 1

10. In an assembling machine, the combination with a support for a plurality of shoe upper parts and a support for a plurality of piles of picking up small, thin work pieces and movable in a different plane for drawing the pieces in a rectilinear path from a position on one side of A the roll across the periphery of the roll to' the other side thereof, and means operativcly" connected to the suction means for elevating the roll for the drawing movement of" thesuctio'n means.

12. In a stock-handling machine, thecombination with a support for a stack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members associated with said support to confine the pieces laterally in all directions by engagement with various pointson their edges; of mechanism having a face engageable' with said-members and a face insertable within the area bounded by the members for withdrawing the pieces one at a time from the stack.

13. Ina stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for a stack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members loosely mounted in said support to confine the pieces laterally in all directions by engagement with various points on their edges, of a support for the lower ends of said members.

14. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for a stack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members loosely mounted in said support to confine the pieces laterally in all directions by engagement with various points on their edges and a support for the lower ends of said members, of means for lowering the second named support intermittently.

15. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for a stack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members loosely mounted in said support to confine the pieces laterally in all directions by engagement with various points on their edges and a support for the lower ends of said members, of means for lowering the second named support intermittently a distance substantially commensurate with the thickness of one of the pieces.

16. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a box having a removable cover pro- Vided with a plurality of openings and a false bottom, of a plurality of pins loosely mounted in the openings and engaged with the false bottom.

17. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a box having a removable cover provided with a plurality of openings and a false bottom, and a plurality of pins loosely mounted in the openings and engaged with the false bottom, of means for raising and lowering the false bottom.

18. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationary support for a stack of pieces of stock, vertically movable means for confining the stacked pieces laterally in all directions by engagement with various points on their edges, and means for imparting movement to said confining means, of means for maintaining said confining means in a given position to which it is moved by said movement imparting means until moved thereby to a diiferent position.

19. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a diminishable magazine having a stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stack of pieces of stock, and mechanism for withdrawing the pieces one at a time through the open top of the magazine and for diminishing the magazine with each withdrawal, of means for maintaining the magazine in the diminished state resulting from one withdrawal until the magazine is further diminished as the result of a subsequent withdrawal.

20. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a diminishable magazine having a stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stack of pieces of stock, and mechanism having a face engageable with said magazine for withdrawing the pieces one at a time out through its open top and for diminishing the magazine with each withdrawal, of means for maintaining the magazine in the diminished state resulting from one withdrawal until the magazine is further diminished as the result of a subsequent withdrawal.

21. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a magazine having a stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stack of pieces of stock, of mechanism having a face engageable with said magazine and a face shaped similar to the exposed face of the uppermost piece in the stack insertable within said open top for with drawing the pieces one at a time from the stack.

22. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a magazine having a stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stack of pieces of stock, of mechanism for withdrawing the pieces one at a time from the magazine and shortening the height of the stack retaining wall of the magazine a distance substantially commensurate with the thickness of one of the pieces in the stack.

23. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for a stack of pieces of stock and a retaining wall therefor, of mechanism having a face shaped similar to the exposed face of the uppermost blank in the stack insertable within the area bounded by the retaining wall for withdrawing the pieces one at a time from the stack.

24. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationary support for a stack of pieces of stock, a vertically movable retaining wall therefor, and reciprocating means for imparting movement to said wall, of means engaging the wall for maintaining it in a given position to which it is moved by said reciprocating means until moved thereby to a different position.

25. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationary support for a stack of pieces of stock, means for removing the pieces from the stack one at a time, and means, movable Vertically by engagement with the removing means, for confining the stacked pieces laterally in all directions by engagement with various points on their edges, of means for maintaining the confining means in a given position to which it is moved by the removing means until moved thereby to a different position.

26. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationary support for a stack of pieces of stock, means for removing the pieces from the stack, one at a time, and a retaining wall for the stack, said wall being vertically movable by the engagement of the removing means therewith, of means for maintaining the wall in a given position to which it is moved by the removing means until moved thereby to a different position.

27. In an assembling machine, the combination with removable patterns, means for locating thereon the parts to be assembled, respectively, and means for picking up at least one part from one of the patterns and superimposing it upon a predetermined portion of a part located upon another pattern, of means for blocking any superimposing movement of said first named means other than that causing superimposition of a part from one pattern upon said predetermined portion of a part on said other pattern.

28. In an assembling machine, the combination with a support for a plurality of shoe upper parts, a support for a plurality of piles of pieces of stock, and means for picking up pieces, one from each pile, and superimposing them upon the shoe upper parts, respectively, mounted on their original support, of means for blocking any superimposing movement of the first named means F other than that causing superimposition of said pieces upon a predetermined portion of said shoe upper parts, respectively.

HERBERT E. EDWARDS.

Images