Graphical element laminate for use in forming a skate boot including: a base layer having inner and outer sides; a first thermoplastic layer laminated on the base layer outer side, the first thermoplastic layer having inner and outer sides; a graphical element printed on the inner side of the first thermoplastic layer, at least a portion of the first thermoplastic layer overlying the graphical element being transparent or translucent such that when the laminate forms part of the skate boot, the graphical element is visible through the first thermoplastic layer from an exterior of the skate boot. Optionally, the base layer includes a design element also visible from the exterior of the skate boot. Optionally, a second thermoplastic layer is interposed between the first thermoplastic layer and the base layer. In such cases, the graphical element may be, or may also be, printed on the second thermoplastic layer.

A machine for a shoemaking operation, especially for fixing the upper to the insole, in which suitable mechanical members (12-16) position on a support (11) a shoemaker's last (A) to which is attached the insole (B) and over which is laid the upper (C), grip and stretch the upper (C), clamp the last (A) on the support (11), and fold the upper (C) onto the insole (B) in order to fix the upper to the insole, is also provided with transferring and conveying members (17-21) underneath the support (11), into which the last (A) is discharged under gravity after having been released, and by which the last (A) is passed on for the succeeding operations. This enables the operator to perform the task without the risk of accidents, at high speed, and without damaging the footwear.

The process applies to the fabrication of any type of footwear, requiring only three operators. The plant includes two conveyor belts (23, 24), in continuous closed cycles, one carrying the lasts (68) and the other one carrying the soles, the belts crossing each other at different points, the first belt over the second belt. In certain sectors of both belts (23, 24), loops are provided to adjust the size to drying or waiting times so that a same robot can carry out various operations. At the points where are carried out works on the shoe, the shoe support corresponding to the conveyor belts (23, 24) is stopped. In the process, a robot (27) places the inner soles on the last (68), the latter carrying, inside, a plurality of data, concerning the model and number, for the right foot and left foot, the sole and other data; another operator mounts the toes, the heels and the shanks, and rotates by 90° the shoe support (23) for its introduction into the heat oven (31). Other robots are used respectively to emboss the shoe, card the upper, apply adhesive both to the sole and the shoe, and a last operator joins the sole to the shoe.

A system is disclosed which is specially suited to edge card uppers (19) attached to an insole (20) and apply an adhesive thereto for subsequent gluing of a sole member thereon. It comprises:

   shuttle holders (5) for holding the semimanufactured article,

   track means (10,11,12) for the shuttle holders arranged to define at least two travel paths having a section (11) in common,

   at least one processing station (B,C,D,E) in each of the two paths at sections (10,12) thereof other than the common one,

   driving means (M) for the shuttle holders (5),

   means of detecting (P) the shuttle holder positions, and

   a central control unit (UC) receiving signals from the stations and the position detecting means and issuing signals to drive the shuttle holders (5) and have the processing steps carried out according to a predetermined program.

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Schuhfertigungsanlage mit einem von einer Transportanlage (1) gebildeten, vorzugsweise im wesentlichen geschlossenen Transportweg für Paletten (2), auf welchen je ein Leisten (3) bzw. eine Schuheinheit (3'), bestehend aus Leisten, auf dem Leistenboden angeordneter Brandsohle und Schuhschaft, fixierbar ist, und wobei der Transportanlage mindestens eine Station (18) für das Aufbringen der Brandsohle auf dem Leistenboden, eine Station für das Aufziehen des Schuhschafts auf den Leisten, eine Spitzenzwickmaschine (7), eine Fersen- und Seitenzwickmaschine (11) und eine Station (20) für das Ausleisten des Schuhs zugeordnet sind. Zur Rationalisierung und Verbesserung des Fertigungsprozesses wird vorgeschlagen, daß eine erste Transporteinrichtung (5,6) zur Entnahme des ggf. mit der Brandsohle versehenen Leistens von der Transportanlage an die Spitzenzwickmaschine und eine zweite Transporteinrichtung vorgesehen sind, welche nach dem Aufleisten des Schuhschafts, dem Spitzenzwicken sowie dem Fersen- und Seitenzwicken durch Handhabung von Hand die spitzen-, seiten- und fersengezwickte Schuheinheit aus der Fersen- und Seitenzwickmaschine entnimmt, wieder auf die Palette lagegerecht aufsetzt und dort fixiert.

A transfer machine (100) for use in a system (101) that includes first (102) and second (104) machines to perform operations on a footwear upper assembly (103), includes an activator arm assembly (2), and a gripper assembly (1) rotatably and pivotally connected to one end of the activator arm assembly (2). The gripper assembly (1) includes a pair of fingers (1F, 1G) with a gripper jaw (1A, 1B) pivotally secured to each of the fingers (1F, 1G). The pair of fingers (1F, 1G) are movable toward and away from each other respectively to grasp and release the footwear upper assembly (103). The pivotal attachment of the jaws (1A, 1B) permits the jaws to adjust to the irregular profile of the footwear upper assembly (103), a situation which is enhanced by the geometry of the gripper jaws (1A, 1B) which permits contact between the jaws at regions spaced longitudinally along the footwear upper assembly (103) and by choosing a jaw material that is soft enough to deform, and hence provide larger contact area between the upper assembly (103) and the jaws (1A, 1B).

The transfer apparatus comprises a transfer arm (16) and a distributor (18). The transfer arm has two axes of movement (22, 26) and is non-extendable so that it moves between a take-off station and an intermediate station (I) through a fixed distance. The distributor (18) has a table (50) which receives a shoe (S) at the intermediate station (I). Furthermore, the table (50) can be positioned at any one of four stations (I, F1, F2, F3) each aligned with a channel (12) of a heat setting apparatus (14). A pneumatic control circuit causes shoes (S) fed successively to the table (50) to be transferred in a sequence to the channels (12) by operation of pusher means (68).

The apparatus is suitable for transferring shoes from a lasting machine, a shoe support (10) of which can be positioned at the take-off station, to a hest setting apparatus (14).