Machine for producing lasts in footwear industry

Abstract

Machine for producing lasts for the footwear industry, comprising at least one first insertion processing area (10) for insertion of at least one blank (12) and comprising: a clamping device (5); a movement device for the blank (12); displacement means for at least one tool (2), the tool (2) being configured to process on the blank (12). The movement device for the blank (12) is configured to move the blank (12) on a horizontal plane and to rotate the blank (12) about an axis of rotation (D, E) perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and the displacement device is configured to move the tool (2) in a direction (Z) perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and causing the tool (2) to oscillate about an axis (C) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (D, E).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a machine for producing shoe lasts, comprising at least one first inserting processing area, wherein at least one blank is inserted into the first inserting processing area.

[0002] The first plunge machining area comprises a clamping device, movement means for the blank, and displacement means for at least one tool configured to machine on said blank.

[0003] The above describes a common configuration of machines commonly used in the shoe industry.

[0004] In fact, the utility model relates to a machine for finishing shoe last blanks for the shoe industry.

[0005] The machine to which the utility model relates is created to meet the needs of shoe last factories and shoe factories, which are related to the construction of shoe last prototypes for subsequent large-scale production. Background Art

[0006] In the shoe industry, it is a well-known problem to create prototype lasts, which will be used to make shoes during the actual production phase.

[0007] As is known, the prototype phase is the weak link in the chain from the designer (who, as we all know, conceives the original design of the shoe model) to the mass production of the shoe itself by the shoe factory. In fact, in current practice, starting from preliminary drawings (probably made by the designer using a CAD workstation), the prototype must be made manually by the model maker starting from a blank, usually made of plastic material. Among other things, the designer makes continuous and continuous corrections to the initial prototype of the model. This means that the model maker must manually make the relevant modifications to the initial prototype, which results in a loss of time.

[0008] It might therefore make sense for designers and last manufacturers to have a user-friendly machine that lets them create a three-dimensional prototype in a matter of minutes. Until now, this machine has only been available in the form of a graphical representation.

[0009] Once the final prototype is conceived that meets the designer's aesthetic needs, the anatomical needs of the foot, and the technical and economic needs of the industry, the shoe last factory can use the electronic file with the selected shoe model to clone the shoe last. The shoe factory will use this shoe last to manufacture the corresponding shoe.

[0010] The machines known in the prior art allow the production of prototypes that are completely finished both at the tip and at the heel, thus avoiding subsequent finishing to remove unwanted excess thickness that would have remained if the blank had been narrowed by means of clamping devices acting on these two portions of the blank.

[0011] An example of a machine known in the prior art is described in patents EP2254434 and EP0990399, the contents of which are considered as an integral part of the present patent application.

[0012] However, machines of the type known from the prior art have a particularly complex structure, in particular due to the large number of components required to ensure the movement of the tool and the blank.

[0013] In addition to the complex structure, the large number of components leads to an inevitable increase in production and maintenance costs, since this increases the probability of one or more components breaking, impairing their functionality.

[0014] Therefore, there exists a need to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, which need is not met by the machines known in the prior art. Utility Model Content

[0015] The utility model achieves the above object by realizing the machine for producing shoe lasts as described above, wherein the moving device for the blank is configured to move the blank on a horizontal plane and rotate the blank around a rotation axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0016] Furthermore, the displacement device is configured to move the tool in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane and to swing the tool around an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis.

[0017] According to this construction, the movement is subdivided precisely compared to the machines known in the prior art: all possible combinations of movements are obtained, namely the coordinated movement of the blank and the tool in space, but the blank moves only in the horizontal plane and according to the rotation movement around the vertical axis, while the tool moves only along the vertical axis and has a swinging movement.

[0018] In particular, the number of degrees of freedom of the displacement device is limited.

[0019] This feature has a particularly important aspect since the support area of ​​the tool is subject to high vibrations and thus there is a risk of fracture due to fatigue cycles.

[0020] Therefore, limiting the number of degrees of freedom and movement of the tool can limit the number of joints in the tool support area, greatly reducing the possibility of fracture in this area.

[0021] Despite the low number of components, the machine according to the invention maintains the same production quality of the lasts obtained from the blanks.

[0022] Thus, the blank moves towards and away from the tool, while the tool only moves vertically linearly.

[0023] This reduces vibrations in the tool and makes it possible to use less expensive components, which have a lower resistance to vibrations.

[0024] The described motion may be achieved using any technique.

[0025] However, according to one possible embodiment, the movement device comprises a carriage movable in a horizontal plane. The carriage is used to support at least one supporting base of the blank, the base being rotatably mounted relative to the carriage about a rotation axis.

[0026] There is also an actuation unit configured for rotating the support base.

[0027] As is apparent from the illustrations of some exemplary embodiments, the carriage moves along a horizontal plane by a combination of two mutually orthogonal linear motions.

[0028] The advantages associated with reduced component count are particularly evident when the number of blanks processed inside the machine increases.

[0029] For example, according to one embodiment, the first insert processing area is configured to accommodate at least two blanks.

[0030] In this case, there is one cutter per blank and one support base per blank.

[0031] The actuating unit is arranged externally with respect to the supporting base, and there is a transmission device configured to connect the actuating unit with the supporting base.

[0032] Based on this configuration, it is obvious that by increasing the number of support bases, i.e. increasing the number of blanks to be processed, the number of motors required to rotate the blanks themselves does not increase.

[0033] Therefore, if more than two blanks are processed simultaneously, the machine according to the present invention is particularly effective from the point of view of cost saving.

[0034] Also, in order to reduce construction costs by using simple components, according to a preferred embodiment, the actuation unit has a first rotating element configured to actively rotate.

[0035] Furthermore, each supporting base includes a second rotating element configured to passively rotate, and the transmission device includes a transmission belt for each supporting base.

[0036] Advantageously, at least one second inserted processing region is present.

[0037] In this case, the carriage which is inserted into the first processing area as well as the carriage which is inserted into the second processing area is moved by a single drive unit.

[0038] As described below by way of illustration of some embodiments of the machine to which the invention relates, the presence of two inserted machining areas allows machining of blanks associated with a right last in a first area and of blanks associated with a left last in a second area.

[0039] Therefore, despite the increase in the number of inserted processing areas, the machine according to the invention further limits the number of drive units and thus the number of components.

[0040] Preferably, a transmission device is provided for transmitting the movement of the drive unit to the different carriages inserted into the processing area.

[0041] Advantageously, the support base of the first insert machining unit and the support base of the second insert machining unit rotate in opposite directions.

[0042] This is particularly advantageous on the one hand, since it allows a right-foot last and a left-foot last to be constructed in a mirror-image manner, so that processing can be performed simultaneously and symmetrically on these lasts.

[0043] This configuration is therefore particularly effective in combination with the presence of two carriages that are symmetrically moved and driven by a single drive unit as described above.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the carriage is located below the support base and the blank is held in place by a clamping device inserted between the support base and the blank.

[0045] Thus, the blanks are loaded from below, placed on a horizontal surface, rather than being suspended from a horizontal surface as in some known prior art machines.

[0046] In order to further simplify the construction of the machine to which the invention relates, and thereby reduce construction costs, the clamping device advantageously has an end portion comprising two jaws which have a moving away / approaching movement to switch from a state of maximum mutual distance to a state of maximum mutual approach and vice versa.

[0047] A manual operating lever is also provided, which is configured to allow switching from a maximum distance position to a maximum proximity position, and vice versa.

[0048] Thus, the clamping of the blank is manual, without requiring any automated mechanism and without using complicated and expensive components.

[0049] As stated above, the main purpose of the machine to which the invention relates is to obtain a last of high quality from a machining point of view, by using simple components, thereby making the machine of limited cost.

[0050] It is because of the above-mentioned advantageous aspects associated with the machine that it is important to emphasize the method of physically producing shoe lasts by means of the machine of the present invention.

[0051] The method comprises the following steps:

[0052] a) positioning the blank on a reference plane below it;

[0053] b) moving the blank in at least two directions along a horizontal plane and rotating the blank about a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane;

[0054] c) moving a tool along an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane and oscillating the tool around an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the tool being suitable for shaping the blank to manufacture the last.

[0055] Preferably, the blank moves only in a horizontal plane and rotates around an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, while the tool moves only in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and oscillates around an axis parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0056] As described above for the machine, by implementing this method, the number of components can be limited and simpler components can be used, and the risk of component wear can be significantly reduced.

[0057] Preferably, step a) is performed by manually moving two clamping jaws of the clamping device close to clamp a portion of the blank. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the disclosure of some embodiments shown in the following drawings, in which:

[0059] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a possible embodiment of the machine to which the present invention relates;

[0060] Figure 2 Shown according to Figure 1 A detailed perspective view of the machine involved in the utility model of an embodiment;

[0061] Figure 3a and Figure 3b Shows Figure 1 Two views of two different operating states of an embodiment;

[0062] Figure 4a and Figure 4b Two detail views of another embodiment of the machine to which the present invention relates are shown;

[0063] Figure 5a to Figure 5d Some views showing possible embodiments of the clamping device belonging to the machine to which the invention relates;

[0064] Figures 6a to 6dFour views are shown of another embodiment of a clamping device belonging to the machine to which the invention relates.

[0065] In order to better understand the advantages and features, the drawings of the present patent application only show some possible embodiments of the machine for producing shoe lasts involved in the present invention.

[0066] Therefore, these embodiments should be understood as purely illustrative and not limiting the inventive concept of the present invention, namely to manufacture a machine with a small number of parts to avoid particularly complex structures, thereby reducing production and maintenance costs and limiting the possibility of component damage while maintaining the production quality of shoe lasts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] Special reference Figure 1 , showing a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the machine involved in the utility model.

[0068] Among other things, the blank clamping system, the special arrangement of the rotary tool, the number of machining axes along which the rotary tool or the blank moves, make this a completely different machine from the traditional copy lathes used to manufacture lasts.

[0069] The machine involved in the utility model is a dual-purpose turning and milling machine tool, which has both the movement of the blank back and forth between the rotating tool (typical turning processing) and the movement of the rotating tool back and forth between the blank (typical milling processing).

[0070] The machine comprises two insertion processing areas 10, 11 for inserting and fixing a plurality of blanks 12 which are processed to obtain finished lasts.

[0071] In particular, the insertion processing zones are different for the processed blanks, since the blanks for the manufacture of a right last will be inserted into one zone, while the blanks for the manufacture of a left last will be inserted into another zone.

[0072] As will be described below, the direction of rotation of the blank in the region 10 is opposite to the direction of rotation of the blank in the region 11 .

[0073] The insert machining areas 10 , 11 each have movement means for the blank 12 , a clamping device 5 for the blank 12 , and displacement means for at least one tool 2 which is configured to machine the blank 12 .

[0074] With particular reference to the variant shown in the figures, there is a tool 2 and a holding device 5 for each blank 12 to be machined.

[0075] The tool 2 may be made of any device known in the prior art, such as a milling cutter as described in EP2254434 and EP0990399.

[0076] The displacement device of the tool 2 comprises an arm 21 mounted on the machine so as to be translated according to an axis Z, see Figure 3a and Figure 3b , and the arm 21 has a terminal 22 for supporting the tool 2, the terminal 22 is connected to the arm 21 so that the tool 2 can swing around the axis C.

[0077] Figure 3a and Figure 3b Two operating states are shown with the arm 21 in two different positions relative to the Z-axis.

[0078] A motor 23 may be provided for each arm 21 to generate displacement commands for the tool 2 .

[0079] The coordinated movement of the displacement means for the knife 2 and of the movement means for the blank 12 allows all the required machining to be carried out on the blank 12 in order to obtain the final last of interest.

[0080] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The motion device includes a device for moving the blank along a horizontal plane, that is, a device for moving the blank along the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and a device configured to rotate the blank according to the D-axis and E-axis.

[0081] In particular, the motion device comprises a carriage 40 mounted on a guide rail 400 which allows the carriage to slide along the X-axis.

[0082] Two slides 41 are mounted on the carriage 40, namely one slide 41 for each insertion processing area 10, 11, and the slide 41 slides on another slide 410 for movement along the Y axis.

[0083] Since the blank 12 (to be described later) is supported by the slide 41, the blank 12 moves along the horizontal plane and can reach any point on the horizontal plane through different possible combinations of linear motion along the X-axis and along the Y-axis, that is, through the combination of motion of the slide 40 and the slide 41.

[0084] The movement of the carriage 40 and the slide 41 is controlled by a single drive unit, which consists, for example, of an electric motor 42 manufactured according to the prior art.

[0085] In particular, there is a transmission from the motor 42 to the slider 41 which is configured so that the slider 41 moves in a mirrored manner, that is, the two sliders 41 move away from and towards each other by the presence of a worm located between the two sliders 41 .

[0086] As expected, in addition to the movement along the horizontal plane, the movement device also allows the blank 12 to be rotated according to an axis of rotation perpendicular to the horizontal plane of movement of the blank.

[0087] In particular, two different axes of rotation are provided, such that the blank 12 inserted into the processing area 10 rotates in one direction, while the blank 12 inserted into the processing area 11 rotates in the opposite direction, such as Figure 2 As indicated by the arrow.

[0088] Figure 2 The part of the movement device responsible for the rotation of the blank 12 is shown in detail.

[0089] In this case, each insert machining area 10 , 11 has a support base 43 for each blank 12 , consisting of a cylindrical element with bearings capable of rotating according to axes D and E of rotation.

[0090] The rotation of the support bases 43 is a passive rotation, since these support bases are driven in rotation by the presence of the belts 430 and the actuating unit 44 .

[0091] The actuating unit 44 includes a rotary motor integrally mounted with the slide 40 . The rotary motor actively rotates itself and drives the blank corresponding to the supporting base 43 connected to the actuating unit 44 to rotate through the belt 430 .

[0092] According to the variant shown in the figures, two actuation units 44 are provided, since the blank has to perform two different rotations, but it is also possible to provide a single actuation unit 44 for any number of blanks 12 if the blanks 12 are machined according to a single axis of rotation.

[0093] The number of blanks can be increased / decreased by increasing / decreasing the number of belts. Figure 4a and Figure 4b A version of the machine to which the present invention relates is shown, the machine having three support bases 43 for three corresponding blanks.

[0094] In order to improve the operating efficiency of the machine involved in the utility model, a tensioning pin 45 of the belt 430 can also be provided, and the tensioning pin 45 has a contact head 451, which is preferably mounted to rotate in an idle manner.

[0095] A guide rail 452 may be provided on the slider 41 , and the pin 45 may slide in the guide rail 452 so as to change the tension acting on the belt 430 .

[0096] From the above description it is apparent how the combined movement of the actuating unit 44 , the carriage 40 , the slide 41 and the knife 2 allows the blank 12 to be shaped to the user's preferences, thereby obtaining the desired last.

[0097] To this end, preferably, the motion device and the displacement device are controlled by a main control unit (not shown in the figure), which is capable of generating command signals for the motion device and the displacement device based on electronic files loaded inside the control unit itself.

[0098] The machine to which the invention relates is actually controlled by an electronic computer which, in addition to managing the movement of the blank and the rotary tool along the machining axis, also integrates a powerful CAM.

[0099] This electronic calculator can:

[0100] Calculate the path of the rotary tool used to machine the prototype starting from the file of the CAD design system;

[0101] Manage the measurement cycle of prototypes, automatically generating characteristic measurements according to the instructions of the UNI committee responsible for defining the relevant standards;

[0102] Optimize the work cycle by fine-tuning the relative motion of the blank / rotating tool.

[0103] As shown, the blank 12 is connected to the support base 43 via a clamping device 5, which fixes the blank 12 in place during processing.

[0104] These clamping devices 5 are obviously integral with the rotating part of the supporting base 43 so as to transmit the rotation of the supporting base 43 to the blank 12 .

[0105] Figure 5a to Figure 5d Some views of such a clamping device 5 are shown.

[0106] The clamping device 5 includes a fixed base 50, which is configured to be integrally fixed to the rotating part of the support base 43. The fixed base has a vertical column 51, and a clamping terminal 52 is fixed to the upper end of the vertical column 51. The blank is fixed to the clamping terminal 52.

[0107] The clamping terminal 52 comprises two clamping jaws 521 which have a movement of moving away from / approaching each other so as to go from a state of maximum mutual distance to a state of maximum mutual proximity and vice versa.

[0108] Starting from the state where the jaws 521 are most distant from each other, the blank is inserted between the two jaws 521 , and then the two jaws 521 approach each other to reach the state where they are most closely approached, in which the two jaws 521 surround the blank 12 inserted in the portion between the two jaws 521 .

[0109] Advantageously, the blank 12 has a particular clamping portion, not shown in the figures but known in the art, situated above the portion corresponding to the heel and shaped like a dovetail.

[0110] Finally, it should be noted that, according to the variant shown in the figure, the conversion of the clamping jaw 521 from the maximum approach state to the maximum distance state, and the reverse conversion, are all achieved through manual operation with the help of the existence of the lever 522.

[0111] The lever 522 has a gripping free end, and an end fixed to the clamping jaw 521 at which the lever 522 can swing according to the F axis.

[0112] like Figure 5a to Figure 5d As shown, during the swinging process, the lever 522 switches from an open state to a closed state, wherein the open state corresponds to a state in which the clamping jaws 521 are maximally separated from each other, and the closed state corresponds to a state in which the clamping jaws 521 are maximally approached to each other.

[0113] At the rotation end, the lever 522 has a cam surface which pushes the clamping jaws 521 from their maximum separation state to their maximum mutual proximity state due to the swing from the opening lever to the closing lever.

[0114] Finally, a spacer may be inserted between the two clamping jaws 521 in order to adapt the clamping force of the clamping jaws themselves to blanks of different thicknesses to be processed.

[0115] Figures 6a to 6d Some views of another embodiment of a clamping device 5 are shown.

[0116] As with the aforementioned variant, the clamping device 5 comprises a fixed base 50 configured to be integrally fixed to the rotating portion of the support base 43, the fixed base having a vertical column 51, a clamping terminal 52 being fixed at the upper end of the vertical column 51, to which the blank is attached.

[0117] Also in this case, the clamping terminal 52 has two jaws 621 that move away from / towards each other to block the blank and, as in the previous variant, there is a manually operated lever 622 that allows the jaws 621 to move.

[0118] exist Figure 1 In FIG. 6 , the lever 622 is shown, which corresponds to the maximum mutual approach state of the clamping jaws 621 .

[0119] like Figure 6c As shown, by the presence of the push rod element 625 supported by a spring (not shown in the figure), the lever 622 is stably maintained in the closed state, that is, Figure 6a status.

[0120] The lever 622 has a housing seat for accommodating said push rod element 625, which is constituted by a ball, so that when closed, the housing seat is located at the ball, so that the spring can expand and push the ball into the housing seat.

[0121] Once the lever 622 is moved by applying a force greater than the compression force of the spring, i.e. pushed in the direction indicated by arrow F, the spring is compressed by interaction between the walls of the lever 622, which pushes the ball and moves it towards Figure 6c Return to the right side.

[0122] Therefore, from Figure 6a Starting from the state shown, the lever 622 with the fulcrum on the clamping terminal 52 can be moved in the direction of arrow F to move to Figure 6b The clamping jaws are shown at their maximum mutual distance.

[0123] Reference Figure 6b In this case, the lever 622 is in an open state, and because the force application point is located lower relative to the rotation fulcrum of the lever 622, the lever 622 is stably maintained in the open state.

[0124] Figure 6d A detail of the embodiment of the clamping device 5 just described is shown, in order to illustrate the movement mechanism for the clamping jaws 621 .

[0125] The lever 622 moves a pin 623 which drives two corresponding abutment elements 624 which interact with the jaw 621 .

[0126] In particular, when switching from the closed state ( Figure 6a ) to the open state ( Figure 6b ) during the conversion, the lever 622 moves along Figure 6d The pin 623 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, i.e., toward the right side of the figure.

[0127] The pin 632 pulls the adjacent element 624 in the same direction and the jaw 621 can be opened by means of the presence of a spring (not shown in the figure) and by means of the interface between the outer wall of the clamping jaw 621 and the push rod element 624, which interface consists of an inclined surface on which the outer wall of the clamping jaw can slide.

[0128] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

[0129] It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the present invention to the specific exemplary embodiments, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

[0130] Unless otherwise stated, the use of "such as," "etc," and "or" refers to non-exclusive, non-limiting alternatives.

[0131] Unless otherwise stated, the use of “including” means “including but not limited to”.

Claims

1. A machine for producing shoe lasts for the footwear industry, comprising at least one first insertion processing area (10) for inserting at least one blank (12) and comprising: Clamping device (5), a moving device for the blank (12), a displacement device for at least one tool (2), the tool (2) being configured to machine on the blank (12), It is characterized in that The movement device for the blank (12) is configured to move the blank (12) on a horizontal plane and to rotate the blank (12) about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the horizontal plane, The displacement device is configured to move the tool (2) along a direction (Z) perpendicular to the horizontal plane and to cause the tool (2) to swing around an axis (C) perpendicular to the rotation axis.

2. The machine for producing shoe lasts for the shoe industry according to claim 1, wherein: The moving device includes a slide (40) which is movable on a horizontal plane, the slide (40) being used to support at least one support base (43) of the blank (12), the at least one support base (43) being installed to be rotatable relative to the slide (40) around the rotation axis, and an actuating unit (44) being provided, the actuating unit (44) being configured to rotate the support base (43).

3. The machine for producing shoe lasts for the shoe industry according to claim 2, wherein: The first insertion processing area (10) is configured to accommodate at least two blanks (12), each blank (12) has a tool (2), each blank (12) has a support base (43), the actuating unit (44) is arranged outside the support base (43), and there is a transmission device (430), and the transmission device (430) is configured to connect the actuating unit (44) to the support base (43).

4. The machine for producing shoe lasts for the shoe industry according to claim 3, wherein: The actuating unit (44) has a first rotating element configured to actively rotate, each supporting base (43) includes a second rotating element configured to passively rotate, and the transmission device (430) includes a transmission belt for each supporting base.

5. The machine for producing shoe lasts for the shoe industry according to claim 2, wherein: There is at least one second insertion processing area (11), the carriages (40) of the first insertion processing area and the second insertion processing area being moved by a single drive unit.

6. The machine for producing shoe lasts for the shoe industry according to claim 5, wherein: The support base (43) of the first insertion processing area (10) and the support base (43) of the second insertion processing area (11) rotate in opposite directions.

7. The machine for producing shoe lasts for the shoe industry according to claim 2, wherein: The slide (40) is located below the support base (43), and the blank (12) is fixed in place by a clamping device (5) inserted between the support base (43) and the blank (12).

8. The machine for producing shoe lasts for the shoe industry according to claim 1, wherein: The clamping device (5) has a terminal part (52), which includes two clamping jaws (521), and the clamping jaws (521) have a mutual separation / approaching movement so as to go from a maximum mutual separation state to a maximum mutual approach state, and vice versa; there is a manual operating lever (522), which is configured to allow a transition from a maximum separation state to a maximum approach state, and vice versa.

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