Machine for the application of fluid substances on footwear components

Abstract

Machine for the application of fluid substances on footwear components comprising a fluid substance application group (1) connected to a first movement unit (2) in correspondence of a connection interface (10, 20) arranged between the application group (1) and the first movement unit (2). The application group (1) comprises an element (19) for the application of fluid substances connected to a second movement unit (M1, M2, M3; 12, 13, 15) arranged in the application unit (1). Therefore, the fluid substance application element is moved simultaneously along two different trajectories (T1, T19).

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] Machine for the application of fluid substances on footwear components.

[0003] DESCRIPTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a machine for applying fluid substances on footwear components, in particular, although not exclusively, to shoe soles.

[0005] It is known that the production of footwear involves the separate production of several components, such as sole and upper, to be subsequently joined together. In general, in processes involving the j oining of sole and upper by gluing, the adhesive may be distributed on both the sole and the upper.

[0006] US5678270 discloses an adhesive dispensing device and a system for moving the adhesive dispensing device with respect to a support on which a sole or an upper may be arranged. The adhesive dispensing device, moved so as to follow predetermined gluing trajectories with respect to said support, comprises a rotating brush.

[0007] Further examples of machines and devices for dispensing an adhesive onto footwear parts are disclosed in US2017 / 0231329, EP0276944, EP0353881, EP0596570, EP1281330.

[0008] US2017 / 202317 discloses a system in which use is made of a robotic arm with one end to which a spray nozzle is attached. On the same end of the robotic arm is fixed a tool for applying a coating having an end side which may be a brush or a block made of a spongy material. Said tool acts as a screen and moves together with said nozzle according to the movement imposed by the robotic arm.

[0009] EP0588054A1 discloses a system in which use is made of a robotic arm to which a nozzle is attached for spraying an adhesive on the bottom of a shoe being processed. The nozzle is connected to the robotic arm via a respective workpiece holder and follows the movements imposed by the robotic arm.

[0010] The main aim of the present invention is to provide a machine for applying fluid substances, for example an adhesive, to footwear components which enables this operation to be carried out with the precision required by current production needs by means of functionally and mechanically simplified devices which contribute to further increasing automation in production processes without, however, imposing excessive implementation and operating costs.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, this result has been achieved by adopting the idea of realising a machine having the features indicated in claim 1. Other features of the present invention are the subject matter of dependent claims.

[0012] By means of the present invention, it is possible to realize a machine which makes it possible to apply chosen fluid substances with high precision to footwear components having a complex geometry, such as for example the application of an adhesive to soles with a raised edge, in a simple, economical and reliable manner. It is also possible to use a fluid application group to apply substances other than a glue to footwear parts, such as solvents, halogens, paints etc.

[0013] These and further advantages and features of the present invention will be more and better understood by any skilled person in the art by means of the following description and accompanying drawings, provided by way of example but not to be considered in a limiting sense, wherein:

[0014] - Fig.l represents a perspective view of a machine in accordance with a possible embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] - Fig.2 represents a detail of Fig.l relating to the adhesive application unit;

[0016] - Fig.3 represents a further view of the detail shown in Fig.2;

[0017] - Fig.4 represents a perspective view of a machine in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] - Fig.5 represents a detail of Fig.4 relating to the adhesive application unit;

[0019] - Fig.6 is a schematic representation of trajectories “Tl” and “T19”;

[0020] - Fig.7 is a simplified block diagram relating to a possible embodiment of a machine control system in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] - Figs. 8-9 represent a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The following description concerns possible examples of embodiment and use of the present invention relating to the application of glue on the inside of a shoe. It is understood, however, that in place of the glue, any other fluid intended to be applied with precision along predefined areas of a component of a shoe can be used (for example, as previously mentioned, solvents, halogens, paints, etc.).

[0023] With reference to the example shown in Figs.1-3 of the attached drawings, a machine for applying glue on shoe components in accordance with the present invention comprises a glue application group (1) and a unit (2) for moving the glue application group (1). For example, said movement unit (2) comprises a robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom on one end (20) of which the glue application group (1) is connected. Therefore, said group (1) can be spatially moved along predefined and programmable trajectories and orientations with respect to a support (3) on which is positioned the component (for example a sole 4) of the shoe on which the glue is to be applied. In other words, the glue application group (1) is linked to a movement unit (in this example the robotic arm) allowing the same unit (1) to be spatially moved along predefined and programmable trajectories (Tl) related to the geometry of the component (4) on which the glue is to be applied and also allowing the glue application group (1) to be oriented, with respect to the same component (4), according to predefined and programmable angles which can also vary from point to point along each of said trajectories. With reference to the example shown in Figs. 1-3, the glue application group (1) has a flange (10) for its attachment to the end (20) of the robotic arm. Said flange (10) is formed on an upper side of a box-shaped body (11) which acts as a support for an electric actuator (12) to which a shaft (13) is attached, protruding transversally from a lower side (14) of the same box-shaped body (11), i.e. a shaft (13) protruding from a side other than that on which the flange (10) is formed. The shaft (13) is connected to the motor

[0024] (12) by means of a driving belt (not visible in the drawings) inside the body (11). A first end of a lever (15) is fixed to said shaft (13). An arm (16) is connected to a second end of the lever (15) by means of a pin (17a) oriented parallel to the shaft

[0025] (13), i.e. transversely to the arm (16). In this way, the arm (16) is constrained to the lever (15) and, through the latter, to the shaft (13). Furthermore, the arm (16) is constrained, by means of a further pin (17b) parallel to the other aforementioned pin (17a), to an appendix (18) of the body (11) in which a slot (180) is formed, crossed by said further pin (17b). On one side of the arm (16) opposite to the side constrained to said appendix (18), a brush (19) is fixed.

[0026] The rotation of the shaft (13) determines the movement of the arm (16), and therefore the movement of the brush (19), along a respective trajectory (T19) whose geometry is related to the dimensions of the lever (15) and the inclination of the slot (180). The brush (19) is axially hollow and a flexible tube (19G) is connected to it for supplying glue to the brush itself. For example, the glue is fed into the flexible duct (19G) by means of a pump (not visible in the attached drawings) connected to a tank (not visible in the attached drawings) containing the glue. It is understood, however, that the glue can be fed into the said flexible duct in any other way. In Figs. 1-4 the reference “190” indicates the body of the brush (19) connected to the arm (16). In other words, the brush (19) comprises a front part through which the glue is materially dispensed and a rear part (190) which is constrained to the arm (16).

[0027] Ultimately, thanks to the configuration described above, while the group (1) is moved by the movement unit (2) along a first predefined trajectory (T 1 ), the brush (2) is moved along a second trajectory (T19) which is also predefined.

[0028] In this way, a particularly precise distribution of the glue is achieved even when the geometry of the component (4) is complex, as in the case of the so-called "raised edge" or "boxed" soles which have a perimeter edge (40) on which the glue must be adequately distributed, which must also be adequately distributed in the areas of the internal bottom (41) of the soles adjacent to the perimeter edge.

[0029] The trajectory (T19) of the brush (19) can be modified or reconfigured by varying one or more of the dimensional or geometric parameters relating to the constraint realized between the brush itself and the respective means of movement with respect to the body (11), for example by replacing the lever (15) with another one having a different length and / or by replacing the appendix (18) with another one provided with a differently oriented slot (180) and / or by repositioning the pins (17a, 17b) to reduce or increase their mutual distance (for example, the arm 16 could have a plurality of holes along its length to allow the pins 17a, 17b to be positioned more or less distant from each other). In this perspective, the present invention also provides a kit for reconfiguring the trajectory (T19) of the brush (19) comprising at least one of the following components: a second appendix (18) with respective slot (180), a second arm (16) with respective holes for positioning the pins (17a, 17b), a second lever (15), wherein these components of the kit have predefined dimensional characteristics different from those of the same components mounted on a machine in accordance with the example described above and initially supplied by the manufacturer as original equipment.

[0030] Figs.4-5 represent a further example of implementation of the present invention. Also with reference to the example shown in Fig.4, a machine for applying glue on footwear components in accordance with the present invention comprises a glue application group (1) and a unit (2) for moving the glue application group (1). Also in this example, said movement unit (2) comprises a robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom on one end (20) of which the glue application group (1) is connected. Therefore, also in this example, said group (1) can be spatially moved along predefined and programmable trajectories and orientations with respect to a support (3) on which is positioned the component (for example a sole 4) of the shoe on which the glue is to be applied. The glue application group (1) is constrained, also in this example, to a movement unit that allows the same group (1) to be spatially moved along predefined and programmable trajectories (Tl) related to the geometry of the component (4) on which the glue is to be applied and also allows the glue application group (1) to be oriented, with respect to the same component (4), according to predefined and programmable angles that can also vary from point to point along each of said trajectories.

[0031] In accordance with the example shown in Figs.4-5, the glue application group (1) also includes a flange (10) for its attachment to the movement unit (2). In this case, on a lower side of the flange (10) there is a rectilinear guide (101) oriented along a first direction (DI) on which is constrained a slide (102), which is enslaved to a first electric motor (Ml) that controls its movement along the guide (101). For example, the motor (Ml) may have a pinion (Pl) meshing with a rack (Cl) formed on a lower side of the slide (102). Below the slide (102) there is an appendix (103) which has a second slide (104) constrained to a second linear guide (105) oriented along a second direction (D2) that is orthogonal to the first direction (DI). More precisely, said first and second directions (DI, D2) are contained in mutually orthogonal planes. On one side of the second slide (104) a second rack (C2) is fixed, oriented parallel to the second guide (105), meshing with a second pinion (P2) keyed onto the shaft of a second electric motor (M2). The latter is positioned on the opposite side of the second slide (104) with respect to the appendix (103). The second guide (105) is fixed on one side of a hollow arm (106) on one free end of which a body (107) is hinged by means of a shaft (108) that is connected, by means of abelt (109) inside the hollow arm (106), to a third electric motor (M3) fixed on the same arm on the opposite side with respect to said body (107). The shaft (108) connected to the third motor (M3) is oriented along a third direction (D3) orthogonal to said first and second directions (DI, D2). The body (107) is the body of the brush (19) by means of which the brush itself is connected to the shaft (18). In this example, the brush (19) comprises a front part through which the glue is materially dispensed and a rear part (107) which is constrained to the shaft (18).

[0032] With reference to the detail shown in Fig.5, the first direction (DI) is a direction parallel to a side of the flange (10).

[0033] Therefore, the brush (19) can be made to translate bi-directionally independently along the first direction (DI) and along the second direction (D2), and it can be made to rotate bi-directionally around an axis corresponding to the third direction (D3). The trajectory (T19) of the brush (19) is defined by the combination of said translations and the inclination of the brush is determined by the amplitude of the said rotation. It goes without saying, moreover, that the motors (Ml, M2, M3) can be controlled by a programmable control unit (UC) in which a plurality of different trajectories (T19) can be stored or entered and selected according to the programmed production. In the exemplificative diagram of Fig.7, the programmable control unit (UC) controls both the movement unit (2) and the motors (Ml, M2, M3) of the group (1), i.e. it controls, by program, both the trajectory (Tl) and the trajectory (T19).

[0034] With reference to both examples described above, by combining the geometries of the trajectories (Tl) and (T19), it is possible to move the brush (19) along combined trajectories (trajectories resulting from the combination of the first and second trajectories) that bring the brush (19) into contact with any desired point of the component (4) on which the glue must be applied. The first trajectory (Tl) is the trajectory followed by the group (1) with respect to the support (3) to which the component (4) of the footwear is associated, while the second trajectory (T19) is the trajectory followed by the body (190; 107) of the brush (19) with respect to a local reference which in the examples described above is constituted by the interface (10, 20) for attaching the group (1) to the movement unit (2).

[0035] In practice, in accordance with the present invention, the center of gravity of the brush (19) is moved along a first trajectory (Tl) controlled by the movement unit (2) and simultaneously along a second trajectory (T19) controlled by a second movement unit (Ml, M2, M3; 12, 13, 15) arranged in the application group (1).

[0036] As schematically represented in Fig.6, the second trajectory (T19) can be an elliptical trajectory. More generally, the second trajectory (T19) is a trajectory having a predefined but modifiable geometry, even non-circular. Said second trajectory (T19) can be programmed or configured both mechanically by intervening on the geometric configuration of the second movement unit, for example as described in relation to the first example illustrated above, and electronically, for example as described in relation to the second example disclosed. As already highlighted, the brush (19) can be fed not only with glue but also with other substances generally used in footwear production.

[0037] From the preceding description it is evident that a machine in accordance with the present invention is a machine for the application of fluid substances on footwear components wherein:

[0038] - a group (1) for applying the fluid substances is constrained to a first movement unit (2) in correspondence with a connection interface (10, 20) arranged between the application group (1) and the first movement unit (2),

[0039] - the application group (1) comprises an application element (19) adapted for applying a predetermined fluid substance on said footwear components and fed by means of a respective supply duct (19G),

[0040] - the application element (19) comprises a first part (191) through which the fluid substance is applied on the footwear components and a second part (190; 107) connected to a second movement unit (Ml, M2, M3; 12, 13, 15) which is arranged in the application group (1), the first movement unit (2) controls the movement of the application group (1) along a first predefined trajectory (Tl) with respect to a support (3) on which a component (4) of a shoe is positioned, and wherein the second movement unit (Ml, M2, M3; 12, 13, 15) controls the movement of said second part (190; 107) of the application element (19) along a second predefined trajectory (T19) with respect to said interface (10, 20), so that the centre of gravity of said second part (190; 107) of the application element (19) is moved simultaneously along said first and second trajectories (Tl, T19).

[0041] From the preceding description it also appears evident that a machine in accordance with the present invention may present one or more of the following additional characteristics, even combined with each other: said application element (19) is a brush; the fluid substance fed to the application element (19) is selected from a group comprising a glue, a solvent, a halogenating agent, a paint; said second trajectory (T19) is controlled by one or more actuators (12; Ml, M2) arranged in the application group (1) and enslaved to a programmable control unit (UC); said second trajectory (T19) is controlled by two independent actuators (Ml, M2) each of which controls the translation of the application element (19) along two directions (DI, D2) orthogonal to each other, said two independent actuators (Ml, M2) both being arranged in the application group (1) and being individually enslaved to a programmable control unit (UC); the inclination of the application element (19) with respect to said interface (10, 20) is controlled by a respective actuator (M3) enslaved to a programmable control unit (UC) and arranged in the application group (1); the first movement unit (2) comprises a robotic arm.

[0042] In the example shown in Fig.8 and Fig.9, the application element (19) is associated with a screen (19S) that serves to partially screen the application device (19) and thus prevent the latter from applying the chosen substance to areas of the footwear component (4) on which the substance should not be applied.

[0043] For example, with reference to the embodiment shown in Figs 8-9, the screen (19S) is applied to a bracket (19B) arranged underneath the application device (19). The bracket (19B) is mounted on one side of a support (19H) which, on the other side, is fixed to the aforementioned appendix (18) of the body (11) previously described. The connection between the bracket (19B) and the support (19H) is preferably made in such a way as to be able to adjust the position of the screen (19S) according to the programmed processing. For example, this connection can be made with screw means (19V). In Fig.8. and Fig.9 the screen (19S) is used to partially shield the application device (19) while it applies a fluid substance along a side of an upper (5) of a shoe.

[0044] In more general terms, a machine for the application of fluid substances on footwear components has been described, comprising a fluid substance application group (1) constrained to a first movement unit (2) in correspondence of a connection interface (10, 20) arranged between the application group (1) and the first movement unit (2), wherein the application group (1) comprises an element (19) for the application of fluid substances connected to a second movement unit (Ml, M2, M3; 12, 13, 15) arranged in the application group (1) in such a way that the fluid substance application element is moved simultaneously along two different trajectories (Tl, T19).

[0045] In practice, the execution details may however vary in an equivalent manner with regard to the individual elements described and illustrated, without departing from the adopted solution and therefore remaining within the limits of the protection conferred by this patent in accordance with the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Machine for the application of fluid substances on footwear components comprising a group (1) for applying the fluid substances connected to a first movement unit (2) in correspondence with a connection interface (10, 20) arranged between the application group (1) and the first movement unit (2), wherein- the application group (1) comprises an application element (19) adapted for applying a predetermined fluid substance on said footwear components and fed by means of a respective supply duct (19G),- the application element (19) comprises a first part (191) through which the fluid substance is applied on the footwear components and a second part (190; 107) connected to a second movement unit (Ml, M2, M3; 12, 13, 15) which is arranged in the application group (1), the first movement unit (2) controls the movement of the application group (1) along a first predefined trajectory (Tl) with respect to a support (3) on which a component (4) of a shoe is positioned, and wherein the second movement unit (Ml, M2, M3; 12, 13, 15) controls the movement of said second part (190; 107) of the application element (19) along a second predefined trajectory (T19) with respect to said interface (10, 20), so that the centre of gravity of said second part (190; 107) of the application element (19) is moved simultaneously along said first and second trajectories (Tl, T19).2) Machine according to claim 1 wherein said application element (19) is a brush.3) Machine according to claim 1 wherein the fluid substance fed to the application element (19) is selected from a group comprising a glue, a solvent, a halogenating agent, a paint.4) Machine according to claim 1 wherein said second trajectory (T19) is controlled by one or more actuators (12; Ml, M2) arranged in the application group (1) and enslaved to a programmable control unit (UC).5) Machine according to claim 1 wherein said second trajectory (T19) is controlled by two independent actuators (Ml, M2) each of which controls the translation of the application element (19) along two directions (DI, D2) orthogonal to each other, said two independent actuators (Ml, M2) both being arranged in the application group (1) and being individually enslaved to a programmable control unit (UC).6) Machine according to claim 1 wherein the inclination of the application element(19) with respect to said interface (10, 20) is controlled by a respective actuator (M3) enslaved to a programmable control unit (UC) and arranged in the application group (1).7) Machine according to claim wherein the first movement unit (2) comprises a robotic arm.8) Machine according to claim 1 wherein the application device (19) is associated with a screen (19S) to partially screen the application device (19).

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