Lasting sides of shoes using tacks

This invention is concerned with lasting sides of shoes using tacks, more particularly with a combined wiper and tack inserting device for use in a tack side lasting machine, which device operates along side portions of shoes in a succession of operating steps, wherein in each such step a lasting marginal portion of the upper of a shoe is wiped over and pressed against a corresponding marginal portion of an insole of such shoe and, while thus pressed, is secured to the insole by the insertion of a tack or tacks.

The invention is, furthermore, especially, but not exclusively, concerned with tack side lasting machines comprising a shoe support for supporting, bottom uppermost, a shoe comprising an upper on a last and an insole on the last bottom, two side lasting arrangements, arranged one at either side of the shoe support, and each comprising a wiper arrangement and a tack inserting device, and means for effecting relative movement, lengthwise of the bottom a shoe supported by the shoe support, between the shoe support and the side lasting arrangements, whereby said arrangements are caused to operate along the side portions of a shoe in a succession of operating steps, wherein in each such step lasting marginal portions of the upper of a shoe, at opposite sides thereof, are wiped over and pressed against corresponding marginal portions of an insole of such shoe and, while thus pressed, are secured to the insole by the insertion of tacks.

One such tack side lasting machine is described in EP-A-0046858, in the operation of which machine the shoe upper is tensioned over the last, prior to the insertion of tacks, by wipers arranged at opposite sides of the shoe support, each wiper being combined with a tack insertion device and serving to urge the lasting marginal portion over the insole and to press it against a corresponding marginal portion of the insole. In this way, a corresponding drafting force is applied to the upper to stretch it on its last, prior to the insertion of tacks.

Similarly, a device of the type referred to above is described in CS-A-881441, in the operation of which again a wiper is provided for wiping a lasting marginal portion of the upper of a shoe (in this case presented manually to the side lasting means) inwardly over and pressing it against a corresponding marginal portion of the insole, prior to the insertion of a tack.

It is now been found, however, that while in many instances the use of a wiper which is movable towards and away from the shoe in a plane substantially coincident with the shoe bottom is adequate to cause the upper to conform to the shape of the last prior to tack insertion, in a number of instances such a wiping motion is insufficient to ensure tight conforming of the upper, particularly because the wiper cannot effect a sufficient updrafting force on the lasting margin to draw the side portions of the shoe upper, from the top line thereof, tightly against the last. This deficiency may of course result in wrinkles being formed in the side portions of the finished shoe, which is undesirable not only from the point of view of the appearance of the finished shoe, but also in terms of foot comfort and fitting.

It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved combined wiper and tack insertion device for use in a tack side lasting machine, in the operation of which the upper is more readily stretched to conform to the shape of the last. In addition, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved tack side lasting machine in which the stretching of the upper is improved as aforesaid.

The first of the above objects is resolved in accordance with the present invention, in a device as set out at the first paragraph above, in that a friction element is provided which in each operating step is moved, in a direction extending transversely of the shoe bottom, in timed relation with the tack inserting operation, such movement being effected inwardly towards the shoe prior to the tack inserting operation and outwardly away from the shoe thereafter, and further in that, in the course of such inward movement, the friction element first engages the shoe upper in a region between the feather line and the top line of the upper and is then moved progressively towards the lasting margin, thereby tensioning the upper in a direction away from the top line and drawing it over the insole edge prior to the tack inserting operation.

It will thus be appreciated that in this way the side portion of the upper is progressively with each operating step drawn into tight conformity with the shape of the last in the region where a tack is to be inserted with sufficient stretching as to eliminate any wrinkles in the shoe upper in that region.

In one embodiment the friction element comprises a strap member held in tensioned condition between two mounting points such that, in the course of inward movement thereof, the strap member engages the upper in the "high wood" region of its last, with a first mounting point disposed over the lasting margin and the second beyond the top line of the upper. In order to enhance the stretching effect of such a strap member, furthermore, preferably said member is itself differentially stretchable along its length, such that less stretching of the strap member occurs in the region of the first mounting point than in the region of the second. Thus, the strap member may be made of elastic material, the elasticity increasing towards the second mounting point, or the strap member may comprise a non-stretchable portion in its region near the first mounting point and a portion of stretchable material in the region of the second mounting point. Alternatively, a spring may be provided with acts on the end of the strap member remote from the first mounting point thus to tension the strap member in a direction away from said point.

For supporting the strap member, furthermore, the first and second mounting points may be provided by a generally U-shaped member between the arms of which the strap member is held in tensioned condition, the strap member being pressed against the shoe as aforesaid through the operation of power operated means for effecting movement of such U-shaped member towards and away from the shoe. In using such an arrangement, the lasting marginal portion, having been drawn over the insole edge as aforesaid, may not be pressed by the strap member against a corresponding marginal portion of the insole, but rather the final pressing is effected by tack inserting instrumentalities preliminarily to the tack inserting operation.

In an alternative embodiment, on the other hand, the first mounting point is provided by a wiper element movable towards and away from the shoe in a plane substantially coincident with the shoe bottom, the strap member thus being secured at one end to such wiper element, and the wiper element thus serving not only to cause the strap member to stretch the upper and draw it over the insole edge as aforesaid, but also to press the lasting marginal portion against the corresponding marginal portion of the insole. In such embodiment, furthermore, there are provided first power means for moving the second mounting point inwardly to cause the strap member to engage the shoe upper as aforesaid, second power means for thereafter moving the wiper element over the shoe bottom thus to draw the strap member in the direction of the lasting margin and thus to tension it as aforesaid, and third power means for pressing the wiper element against the shoe bottom thus to cause the lasting marginal portion of the upper to be pressed against the corresponding marginal portion of the insole. Conveniently, furthermore, the upper-engaging surface of the wiper element has a groove for accommodating the immediately adjacent portion of the strap member so that the pressure applied by the wiper element to the lasting marginal portion is direct, rather than through the strap member.

Instead of the friction element comprising a strap member as aforesaid, other elements may be used. Thus, in a further embodiment the friction element comprises a friction roller. In this case, furthermore, there are provided first power means for effecting movement of the friction roller towards and away from the shoe and further power means for effecting movement thereof heightwise of the shoe, the arrangement being such that the roller is first moved inwardly into engagement with the shoe in the region of the "high wood" region and is then moved, while held in such engagement, heightwise towards the lasting margin and thereafter, having been moved inwardly over the insole edge, is pressed against the insole. It will thus be appreciated that, using the friction roller, again the upper is caused to conform tightly to the shape of the last and is generally stretched along its side portion and over the insole edge.

In a still further embodiment, the friction element comprises a rigid drafting element in the form of a runner mounted for pivotal movement on a wiper element which is movable towards and away from the shoe in a plane substantially coincident with the shoe bottom. In this case there are provided first power means for urging the drafting element to be pivoted towards a position in which it extends substantially heightwise of the shoe and engages the "high wood" region thereof, second power means for thereafter moving the wiper element over the shoe bottom, thus, in co-operation with the first power means, to draw the drafting element in a direction towards the lasting margin and then over the insole edge and thus to tension the upper as aforesaid, and third power means for pressing the drafting element against the shoe bottom to cause the lasting marginal portion of the upper to be pressed against the corresponding marginal portion of the insole as aforesaid.

Preferably, where third (or further) power means is provided as aforesaid, furthermore, said means is effective to raise the friction element out of engagement with the shoe bottom when said element is moved outwardly as aforesaid. In this way, any risk of the friction element disturbing the lay of the lasting margin on the insole can be avoided.

Where the shoe uppers are well cut, and the top line thereof is thus well fitted to the lasr, the top line region of the upper will not be detrimentally disturbed by the updrafting force applied to the shoe upper. Where the uppers are less well cut, on the other hand, the location of the upper on its last may be upset by the application of the updrafting force. Preferably, therefore, a presser member is associated with the friction element, for clamping the top line region of the upper against its last, and again power operated means is preferably provided for operating the presser member in timed relation with the operation of the friction element.

The second object recited above is resolved in accordance with the invention, in a machine as set out in the second paragraph of this specification, in that each side lasting arrangement comprises a tack inserting nozzle, which is moved along a path generally corresponding to the edge contour of the side portion of the shoe, and a friction element which is movable together with the nozzle lengthwise of the shoe bottom and also relative to said nozzle transversely of the shoe bottom, such transverse movement of the friction element being effected periodically in timed relation with the insertion of a tack through the nozzle, wherein, in the course of the transverse movement of the friction element inwardly towards the shoe, it first engages the shoe upper in a region between the feather line and the top line of the upper and is then moved progressively towards the lasting margin, thereby tensioning the upper in a direction away from the top line and drawing it over the insole edge prior to the tack inserting operation.

It will thus be appreciated that, in using the machine in accordance with the invention, lasting marginal portions of the upper are periodically, in timed relation with the tack inserting operation, stretched about the last and over the insole edge to bring the upper progressively into tight conformity with the shape of the last along the whole of the length of each side portion thereof.

Conveniently the friction element is so arranged that it precedes the tack inserting nozzle as the latter is moved along its path. Furthermore, the movement of the nozzle along its path may be continuous while the movement of the friction element lengthwise of the shoe bottom is arrested each time it is moved into engagement with the shoe and to this end conveniently a support for the element is mounted for limited pivotal movement on a support for the nozzle and thus allows limited relative movement to take place therebetween in the lengthwise direction.

There now follows a detailed description to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of various combined wiper and tack inserting devices in accordance with the invention and of machines incorporating such devices. It will of course be appreciated that these devices and machines have been selected for description merely by way of non-limiting example.

In the accompanying drawings:

• Fig. 1 shows a first device in accordance with the invention, wherein the friction element is constituted by a strap;
• Fig. la is a plan view of parts of the device shown in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 2 is a sectional view, along the line A-A of Fig. 1, showing the relationship between the friction element, tack inserting nozzle and shoe;
• Fig. 3 is a view similarly to Fig. 1, but showing the friction element in operative position;
• Fig. 4 shows a second device in accordance with the invention, wherein the friction element is constituted by a friction roller;
• Fig. 5 shows a third device in accordance with the invention, wherein a wiper elemenr is associated with a strap, the latter constituting the friction element;
• Fig. 6 is a view generally similar to Fig. 5, but showing the wiper element and friction element in operative position;
• Fig. 7 is a section view along the line B-B of Fig. 6;
• Fig. 8 shows a modification of the third embodiment, wherein a top line presser member is provided;
• Fig. 9 is a view similarly to Fig. 8 but showing the wiper element, friction element and presser member in operative position;
• Fig. 10 shows a fourth device in accordance with the invention, wherein the friction element is provided by a rigid drafting element in the form of a runner mounted on a wiper element;
• Fig. 11 is a view similarly to Fig. 10, but showing the friction element in operative position; and
• Fig. 12 is a section view along the line C-C of Fig. 11, showing details of the drafting element.

The devices shown in the drawings are all intended for use in a tack side lasting machine in accordance with the invention, which machine is of a type known from e.g. GB-A-1463704. Thus, the machine comprises a shoe support (not shown) for supporting, bottom uppermost, a shoe comprising an upper mounted on a last 1 and an insole (not shown) on the last bottom, together with two side lasting arrangements, arranged one at either side of the shoe support and each comprising a tack insertion device 5 and a wiper arrangement associated therewith. The tack insertion device 5 is of conventional design and comprises a driver 7 movable in a nozzle 29 and operated by a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 8 for driving tacks from a supply thus to secure a lasting marginal portion 3 of the upper 2 to the insole of the shoe. The tack insertion device 5 is carried on a carrier arm 9 which is pivotally connected by a pin 10 to a block 14 which in turn is pivoted on a vertical pin 13 to a frame portion 11 of the machine. The carrier 9 can thus pivot in the direction of the double arrow 12 (Fig. 1) about the pin 10 and can also pivot about the pin 13, whereby the device is caused to track progressively along a path corresponding to the marginal portion of the shank region of the shoe. (The pin 13 corresponds to the pin 8 of the machine described in GB-A-1463704.)

The wiper arrangement of each device in accordance with the invention is supported by a holder 16 which is pivotally mounted by a pin 15 on a block 17 supported on the under-side of the carrier arm 9. More particularly, the carrier block .17 is supported on a pin ' 18 (and secured by a securing ring 19) for pivotal movement on the carrier arm 9 (see Fig. 1a), such pivotal movement being limited by a stop 80 which is supported on the carrier arm 9 by a bracket 82 and which is engaged by an abutment 30 forming part of the holder 16 and urged into engagement with the stop 80 by means of a spring 79 accommodated in a recess 81 formed in the carrier arm 9. The abutment 30 also carries, disposed at the end thereof, an adjustable stop pin 31 which engages with a support block 32 forming part of the carrier 9, adjustment of the heightwise position of the pin 31 thereby varying the heightwise position of the wiper arrangement, about the pin 15, in relation to the shoe support.

Turning to Figs. 1, to 3, the first combined wiper and tack inserting device in accordance with the invention also comprises a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 20 formed in the holder 16, a piston rod 21 of said arrangement supporting a generally U-shaped fork member 22 the arms 23, 24 of which provide first and second mounting points for a strap member 25 which extends heightwise of the shoe. The strap member 25 is made of elastic material, the elasticity thereof increasing in the direction of the second mounting point 24. To this end, for example the strap may be made of rubber of varying thickness along its length to provide differential elasticity therealong. Alternatively, the strap member 25 may consist of non-stretchable material in its region adjacent the arm 23 and stretchable material in its region adjacent the arm 24.

As can be seen especially in Fig. 2, the strap member 25 extends over a relatively short distance in relation to the length of the last being arranged in advance of the tack insertion device 5 in the direction movement thereof along the shoe bottom, so that the effect of the strap member 25 is applied to the shoe upper 2 immediately in advance of a tack being inserted. (The direction of advancing movement is indicated by the arrow 27, namely from the heel breast line towards the ball region, although it will of course be appreciated that a machine could be provided in which lasting takes place progressively from the ball region to the heel rest region, in which case the wiper arrangement would be disposed on the opposite side of the tack insertion device 5). In the operation of the first device in accordance with the invention, the strap member 25 is advanced towards the shoe support by the operation of piston-and-cylinder arrangement -20, the arrangement being such that the strap member 25 first engages the upper 2 in the "high wood" region 26 of the last. Thereafter, as the member 22 is further advanced, the strap member 25 is stretched about the upper, pressing it against the last 1 from the top line region 28 thereof to the lasting margin 3. As will be seen in Fig. 3, the arm 23 projects well over the "high wood" region 26 of the last so that a drafting force is applied especially between said region 26 and the lasting margin 3, with a result that the upper 2 is stretched into conformity with the last in the region of its engagement with the strap member 25. In this position of the strap member 25, furthermore, a tack is then inserted through the nozzle 29 of the device 5, the lasting marginal portion 3 being pressed against the last in the region of said device 5 by the nozzle 29 thereof.

It will be appreciated that, by virtue of the mounting by the pin 15, the holder 16 can yield upwardly as the member 22 is moved from its position in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3. Upon retraction of the member 22, on the other hand, the holder 16 is returned to its heightwise position determined by engagement of the screw 31 with the abutment 30. In the operation of the machine in accordance with the invention, the tack insertion device 5 is moved along its operating path continously (under the action of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement (not shown)), while the operation of the wiper arrangement and of the tack insertion device 5 takes place intermittently or periodically. Moreover, when the strap member 25 is in engagement with the shoe upper, it is desirable that no movement thereof takes place lengthwise of the shoe bottom. In the operation of the machine, therefore, when the strap member 25 is in pressing engagement with the shoe upper 2, its movement lengthwise of the shoe is arrested by such engagement, such arresting being thus accommodated by the limited pivotal movement of the holder 16 about the pin 18, as referred to above. It will of course be appreciated that the strap member 25 is in engagement with the shoe upper for relatively short periods, namely immediately preceding and during the operation of the tack inserting device 5. The spring 79 of course serves to return the holder 16 to its position determined by the stop 80 when the strap member 25 is withdrawn from engagement with the shoe. (The rotation of the holder 16 is indicated by the arrow 83 (Fig. la).)

In the operation of the machine, therefore, each time the strap member 25 is moved into engagement with the shoe upper, renewed stretching of the shoe upper takes place as aforesaid so that the shoe upper is exposed to a constantly repeated stretching effect along the length of its side portion. This contributes to the upper being brought into tight conformity with the shape of the last.

It will of course be appreciated that, whereas in the machine described the movement of the tack inserting device 5 is continuous along its path, in other machines in accordance with the invention this movement may be intermittent also, in which case the provision of the pin 18 and associated abutment system can be dispensed with.

The operation of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 20 takes place in timed relation with the operation of the tack insertion device 5, the arrangement being such that the strap member 25 first stretches the upper in the manner aforesaid and, while pressure is maintained by the strap member 25, a tack is inserted. In this way, syncronism also arises automatically between the advancing movement of the tack insertion device and of the strap member 25 lengthwise of the shoe bottom, since each tack insertion is preceded by a stretching operation of the strap member 25.

For ensuring that badly cut uppers are not dislodged on the last by the operation of the strap members 25 operating at opposite sides thereof, the first wiper and tack inserting device in accordance with the invention also comprises a presser member 35 which is carried by a piston rod 34 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 33 mounted on the carrier arm 9, the angle of the arrangement 33 and its heightwise disposition being such that it operates to clamp the upper 2 against its last 1 in the region of its top line 28. The piston-and-cylinder arrangement 33 is actuated prior to the upper being stretched by the operation of the strap member 25, and to this end the presser member 35 is advanced together with the strap member 25 and applies its pressure through the strap member 25 prior to the arm 23 of the U-shaped member 22 moving over the high wood region 26 of the last. The stretchability of the strap member 25 in the region of the presser member 35 allows the pressing of the top line region 28 to take place as aforesaid.

In order that the presser member 35 can press against the strap member 25 as aforesaid, the piston rod 34 projects through an aperture formed therefor in the member 22. It will of course be appreciated that the aperture will be of sufficient length to enable relative movement to take place between the presser member 35 and the strap member 25, when the latter is arrested by engagement with the shoe upper as aforesaid. Alternatively, the presser member 35 may be arranged to engage the shoe upper adjacent the region engaged by the strap member 25.

Turning to Fig. 4, a second wiper and tack insertion device in accordance with the invention is shown wherein, instead of a strap member, the friction element comprises a friction roller 36 mounted by a pin 37 for rotation on the end of the piston rod 21 of piston-and-cylinder arrangement 20. In addition, the holder 16 is connected by a ball-and-socket connection 40, 41 to a piston rod 38 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 39 which is pivotally mounted by a pin 42 on the carrier arm 9, the arrangement 39 being thus effective to move the holder 16, and thus the friction roller 36, heightwise in relation to the shoe support. In order that during its rolling movement, the roller 36 can apply a desired stretching pressure to the shoe upper 2, the roller 36 is journalled with friction on the pin 37, thereby to apply a drafting force to the shoe upper in a direction extending from the top line 28 to the lasting margin 3.

In the operation of the second device in accordance of the invention, at the start of the advancing movement of the roller under the action of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 20, the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 39 is actuated to cause the roller 36 to be raised, the arrangement being such that the roller engages the shoe upper at or just above the "high wood" region 26 of the last. Continued operation of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 20 then causes the roller 36 to roll up the region of the last from the high wood region 26 to the insole edge and thereafter over the insole edge, to the end position shown in Fig. 4, in which the roller is pressing the lasting margin 3 against the insole. For enhancing this pressure, furthermore, the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 39 is so controlled that after the roller has moved over the insole edge, it is pressed thereby against the lasting margin.

The timing of the operation of the roller 36 in relation to the operation of the tack insertion device 5 and in relation to the movement of the latter along the shoe bottom is generally as described with reference to the first device in accordance with the invention. Upon withdrawal of the roller 36, however, the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 39 is actuated to raise the roller 36 out of engagement with the upper so that it is returned to its initial position without pressure being applied thereby to the now lasted over lasting marginal portion of the upper.

It should also be noted that, if desired, the second device in accordance with the invention may also comprise a presser member 35, as described above with reference to the first device.

Turning to Figs. 5 and 6, a third device in accordance with the invention is there illustrated. In this case the friction element again comprises a strap member 43 having a first mounting point 45 at one end of a wiper element 44, and a second mounting point 46 by which the strap member 43 is connected to an extension 60 forming part of a holder 55 pivotally mounted by means of the pin 15, in the same manner as the holder 16 of the first and second devices. Between the two mounting points 45, 46 the strap member 43 is guided over a tensioning roller 48, which is rotatably supported by a pin 52 on an arm 51 in turn pivotally supported by a pin 53 on an extension 54 of the holder 55, the arm 51 being pivotally connected, at a point intermediate its length, by a pin 56 to a piston rod 57 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 58, which is itself mounted by a pin 59 on the extension 60 of the holder 55. The wiper 44 is mounted for movement in a plane which is substantially coincident with the shoe bottom, the wiper for this purpose being carried on a piston rod 49 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 50 formed integral with the holder 55. As in the case of the second device in accordance with the invention, furthermore, the holder 55 is connected by a ball-and-socket arrangement 64, 65 to a piston rod 63 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangment 61, which is mounted for pivotal movement by a pin 62 on the carrier arm 9. The piston-and-cylinder arrangements 58, 50, 61 constitute first, second and third power operated means of the third device in accordance with the invention.

Because of the mounting of the strap member 43 using the spring 47 in this case the strap member may be of non-stretchable material throughout, e.g. leather or textile material, the yieldability being provided by the spring 47.

In the operation of the third device in accordance with the invention, starting from the position shown in Fig. 5, the first and second piston-and-cylinder arrangements 58, 50 are first actuated to move the wiper 44 and the roller 48 in a direction towards the shoe whereby the strap member 43 is first brought into engagement with the shoe upper 2 by the roller 48, at a position beneath the "high wood" region 26, whereafter the wiper 44 engages against the shoe upper in the region above the "high wood" region. At this time, furthermore, the holder 55 is urged downwardly by the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 61 to a position determined by the stop screw 31 engaging the abutment 32 (setting the plane in which the wiper 44 is movable). The wiper 44 continues its movement until it has drawn the strap member 43 upwardly over the high wood region of the last and over the insole edge, the strap member thus being tensioned and correspondingly tensioning the shoe upper from the top line region 28 thereof towards the lasting margin 3. Furthermore, the action of the wiper 44 has an additional stretching effect in the region of the lasting margin 3, which is of course also at the time pressed against the insole, this pressing effect being enhanced by the action of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 61.

The action of the third device in accordance with the invention in relation to the operation of the tack inserting device 5 is generally as described with regard to the first and second devices, and furthermore, as with the second device, the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 61 is actuated during the retraction of the wiper 44 to raise the wiper out of engagement with the shoe bottom, or at least to relieve the pressure applied thereby against the shoe bottom, so that the now secured lasting margin is not disturbed during such retraction.

As already mentioned, the strap member 43 is secured at the forward end of the wiper 44. In order that the strap member is not exposed to too strong a pressure during the wiping over of the lasting margin 3, a groove 67 is provided in the wiping surface of the wiper 44, for accommodating the upper end of the strap member 43 therein during operative engagement of the upper by the wiper. The depth of the groove is such that the whole thickness of the strap member 43 can be accommodated therein, although if desired the groove may be so dimensioned as to accommodate the strap member with part thereof projecting from the groove; this depends upon the particular desired effect of the strap member on the shoe upper. Where the groove is sufficiently deep to accommodate the whole thickness of the strap member, the wiping of the shoe upper is effected then by two edge portions 68, 69 of the wiper.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a modification of the third device, wherein additionally, as in the case of the first and second devices, a presser member 70 is provided on a piston rod of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 71, mounted on a support arm 72 from the carrier arm 9, for clamping the top line region 28 of a shoe upper to against its last 1. The operation of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 71 is the same as described with reference to piston-and-cylinder arrangement 33 of the first device.

Turning to Figs. 10 to 12, a fourth device in accordance with the invention has a friction element constituted by a rigid drafting element 73 (in the form of a runner) one end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 74 to a forward end of wiper 75, and the other end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 76 to a piston rod 77 of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 78, which is itself pivotally mounted on an extension of a holder (corresponding to the holder 16 of the first device). The wiper 75 is movable in a plane generally coincident with the shoe bottom and to this end is mounted on a piston rod of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 50 formed integral with the holder. In addition, a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 61 is provided, pivotally mounted by a pin 62 on the carrier arm 9 and a piston rod 63 of which is connected by a ball-and-socket connection 64, 65 to the holder. As with the previous devices in accordance with the invention, the holder is pivotally mounted by the pin 16. The piston-and-cylinder arrangements 78, 50, 61 constitute first, second and third power operated means of the fourth device in accordance with the invention.

The rigid drafting element 63 is provided with a friction coating 79 (see Fig. 12) for the purpose of applying a desired friction to the shoe upper being drafting thereby; the friction coating 79 may be provided by a vulcanised-on rubber coating.

In the operation of the fourth device in accordance with the invention, the holder 16 is urged downwardly, to a position determined by the stop screw 31, under the action of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 61 and in that position the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 78, 50 are actuated to move the element 73 into engagement with the shoe upper 2 in the "high wood" region of the last 1 whereafter, while maintaining the pressure in the piston-and-cylinder 78, continued movement of the wiper 75 is effective to cause the element 73 to pivot about its pin 74 heightwise of the shoe and over the insole edge, stretching the shoe upper heightwise of its last and wiping it over the insole edge. In this position (shown in Fig. 11), the element 73, through the wiper 75, is effective to press the lasting marginal portion 3 against the insole, under the pressure exerted by the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 61. As seen in Fig. 11, at this stage the stop screw 31 has been raised out of engagement with the abutment 32 (as was also the case with the third device, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9) so that the full pressure applied by the arrangement 61 is exerted on the lasting marginal portion.

As in the case of the second and third devices, furthermore, the drafting element 73 is raised out of engagement of the lasting margin 3, after the tack insertion device 5 has operated, in order to relieve any pressure applied by the element 73 to the lasting margin during its withdrawal.

It will of course also be appreciated that the fourth device may, if desired, also comprise a presser member as described with reference to the first and third devices, for clamping the top line region of the upper 2 against its last 1.