Machine for the production of shoe lasts for the footwear industry

Abstract

Machine for the production of shoe lasts comprising at least a first insertion and machining zone (10) for the insertion of at least one blank (12), the insertion and machining zone (10) comprising : - a blank gripping device (5), - movement means for the blank (12), displacement means for at least one tool (2) configured to work on said blank (12). The movement means for the blank (12) are configured so as to move said blank (12) on a horizontal plane and so as to rotate said blank (12) around a first axis of rotation (D, E) perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said di splacement means being configured so as to move the tool (2) along a direction (Z) perpendicular to the horizontal plane and so as to oscillate the tool (2) around an axis perpendicular (C) to the axis of rotation (D, E).

Description

[0001] NEWLAST ITALIA srl

[0002] MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHOE LASTS FOR THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

[0003] The object of the present invention is a machine for the production of shoe lasts comprising at least a first insertion and machining zone for the insertion of at least one blank .

[0004] The insertion and machining zone comprises :

[0005] - a blank gripping device ,

[0006] - movement means for the blank , displacement means for at least one tool configured to work on said blank .

[0007] The above described is the common configuration of the machinery commonly used in the footwear industry .

[0008] The present invention relates , in fact , to a machine for finishing shoe last blanks for use in the footwear industry .

[0009] The machine that is the object of the present invention was created to meet the needs of last factories and shoe factories in relation to the construction of prototypes of shoe lasts for subsequent mass production .

[0010] In the footwear industry, the problem is well known of creating prototypes of the lasts with which , in the actual production phase , shoes will be made .

[0011] The prototyping phase represents a weak link in the chain that goes from the designer , who , as is known , conceives the original design of the model of the shoe , to the mass production of the shoe itself in the shoe factory . In fact , in current practice , from preliminary drawings , possibly made by the designer using a CAD station , it is necessary to move on to a prototype made manually by a modeller starting from a blank , generally made of plastic materials . Inter alia , the designer makes continuous corrections to the initial prototype of the model . This means that the modeller must manually make the relevant changes to the initial prototype with a consequent loss of time .

[0012] Therefore , it could be very interesting for the designer and the last factories to have a user-friendly machine at their disposal that allows them to create a three-dimensional prototype , in a matter of minutes , which has so far only been available in the form of a graphic representation .

[0013] Once the final prototype has been conceived that simultaneously meets the aesthetic needs of the designer , the anatomic needs of the foot , and the technical and economic needs of industry, the electronic file with the chosen shoe model can be used by the last factory to clone the lasts with which the corresponding shoe will be made by the shoe factory .

[0014] The machinery known in the state of the art allow prototypes finished completely both at the tip and at the heel to be produced, thus avoiding the subsequent finishing machining for the removal of unwanted overthicknesses that would have remained if the blank had been narrowed by means of a gripping device acting on these two portions of the blank .

[0015] An example of machines known in the state of the art is described within patents EP2254434 e EP0990399 the contents of which are to be considered an integral part of this patent application . The types of machinery known in the state of the art , however , have particularly complex constructions , especially due to the high number of components necessary to ensure the movement of tools and blanks .

[0016] A large number of components , in addition to complex constructions , causes inevitable increases in costs , both production and maintenance , as it increases the probability of breakage of one or more components , compromising their functionality .

[0017] There is therefore a need which is not satisfied by machines known in the state of the art to overcome the above-described disadvantages .

[0018] The present invention achieves the above obj ects by realizing a machine for producing shoe lasts as described above , wherein the movement means for the blank are configured to move the blank on a horizontal plane and to rotate the blank around a rotation axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane .

[0019] Further , the displacement means are configured to move the tool along a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane and to oscillate the tool around an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis .

[0020] According to this configuration , with respect to the machines known in the state of the art , the movements are precisely subdivided : all possible combinations of movements are obtained, i . e . coordinated movement of the blank and the tool in the space , but the blank moves exclusively on a horizontal plane and according to a rotational movement around a vertical axis , while the tool moves exclusively along a vertical axis and has an oscillating movement .

[0021] In particular , a limitation of the number of degrees of freedom of the components of the machine subject-matter the present invention is obtained, without diminishing the precision of machining on the blanks .

[0022] In particular , preferably the number of degrees of freedom of the displacement means and / or movement means is limited .

[0023] It follows that the tool will exhibit two degrees of freedom, namely a displacement along a vertical axis and a rotation around an axis incident or perpendicular to the vertical axis .

[0024] The blanks will have three degrees of freedom, i . e . a displacement in a horizontal plane , along two directions perpendicular to each other and a rotation around an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane .

[0025] Preferably, the tool has only and exclusively two degrees of freedom of movement .

[0026] Preferably each blank has only and exclusively three degrees of freedom of movement .

[0027] The decrease in the degrees of freedom of the tool is a particularly relevant aspect , as the support zone of the tool is subjected to high vibrations with consequent risks of breakage due to fatigue cycles .

[0028] Limiting the number of degrees of freedom and movement of the tool therefore allows the number of joints in the tool support zone to be limited, greatly reducing the possibility of breakage in this zone .

[0029] Despite the small number of components , the machine that is the object of the present invention maintains unchanged the production quality of the shoe last deriving from the blank .

[0030] The blank , therefore , approaches and moves away from the tool , whereas the tool only moves linearly vertically . This reduces the vibrations of the tool and makes it possible to use less expensive components , as they must have a lower resistance to vibrations .

[0031] The movements described can be obtained through the use of any technology .

[0032] However , according to one possible embodiment , the movement means comprise a carriage that can be moved on a horizontal plane , which acts as a support for at least one support base of the blank , the base being mounted rotatably around the rotation axis with respect to the carriage .

[0033] There is also an actuating unit configured for rotating the support base .

[0034] As will be evident from the illustration of some exemplary embodiments , the carriage moves along a horizontal plane through the combination of two linear movements , orthogonal to each other .

[0035] The advantages linked to the reduction of the number of components are particularly noticeable when the number of blanks that are processed inside the machinery increases .

[0036] For example , according to one embodiment , the first insertion and machining zone is configured to house at least two blanks ,

[0037] In this case there is a tool for each blank and there is a support base for each blank .

[0038] The actuation unit is provided externally with respect to the support bases and there are transmission means configured to connect the actuation unit to the support bases .

[0039] Based on this configuration , it is evident that , by increasing the number of support bases , that is , the number of blanks to be processed, the number of motors necessary to rotate the blanks themselves does not increase .

[0040] Therefore , the machine that is the object of the present invention is particularly efficient from a cost saving point of view, if more than two blanks are worked at the same time .

[0041] Again with the aim of reducing construction costs by using simple components , according to a preferred embodiment , the actuation unit has a first rotating element configured to be actively rotated .

[0042] Furthermore , each support base comprises a second rotating element configured to be placed in passive rotation , the transmission means comprising a transmission belt for each support base .

[0043] Advantageously, there is at least one second insertion and machining zone .

[0044] In this case , the carriages of the first and second insertion and machining zones are moved by a single drive unit .

[0045] As will be described below through the illustration of some embodiments of the machine that is the object of the present invention , the presence of two insertion and machining zones allows the blanks relating to the lasts of the right foot to be machined in a first zone , while the second zone allows the blanks relating to the lasts of the left foot to be machined .

[0046] The machine that is the object of the present invention therefore further limits the number of components , limiting the number of drive units , despite the increase in the number of insertion and machining zones . Preferably, means are provided for transmitting the movement of the drive unit to the carriages of the different insertion and machining zones .

[0047] Advantageously, the support base of the first insertion and machining unit rotates in the opposite direction with respect to the support base of the second insertion and machining unit .

[0048] This aspect is particularly advantageous , as it allows a mirror-image configuration of the lasts related to the right foot and those related to the left foot in order to perform the machining on these lasts simultaneously and symmetrically .

[0049] Therefore , this configuration is particularly effective in combination with the presence of two carriages that move symmetrically, driven by a single drive unit , as described above .

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment, the carriage is positioned below the support base , while the blank is held in position by the gripping device interposed between the support base and the blank .

[0051] Therefore , the blanks are loaded from below, resting on a horizontal plane and not hanging from the horizontal plane , as in some known state-of-the-art machines .

[0052] In order to further simplify the construction of the machine that is the object of the present invention , with a consequent decrease in construction costs , advantageously the gripping device has an end part comprising two jaws , which jaws have a reciprocal distancing / approaching movement , so as to pass from a condition of maximum reciprocal distancing to a condition of maximum reciprocal approaching and vice versa . There is also a manually operated lever configured to allow the transition from the condition of maximum distance to the condition of maximum approach and vice versa .

[0053] The gripping of the blank is therefore manual and does not require any automation mechanism, nor the use of complex and expensive components .

[0054] As described above , the main purpose of the machine that is the object of the present invention is to obtain shoe lasts that have a high quality from a machining point of view, through the use of simple components , so as to make a machine with limited costs .

[0055] Precisely for the advantageous aspects described above and related to the machine , the present invention also has for its object a method of producing shoe lasts .

[0056] This method comprises the following steps : a) positioning a blank at its lower reference plane , b) moving the blank along a horizontal plane in at least two directions and rotating the blank around a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane , c) displacing a tool along an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane and oscillating said tool around an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation , said tool being adapted to shape said blank so as to make said shoe last .

[0057] Preferably, the blank is moved exclusively on a horizontal plane and according to a rotation around an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane , while the tool is moved exclusively along a direction parallel to the rotation axis and is oscillated around an axis parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the rotation axis .

[0058] As described for the machinery, by realising the method that is the object of the present invention , the number of components can be limited and simpler components can be used, and the risk of wear and tear of the components can be significantly decreased .

[0059] According to one embodiment, step a) provides for tightening a part of the blank through two jaws of a gripping device approaching , which approaching is carried out manually .

[0060] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following disclosure of some embodiment examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings , wherein :

[0061] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the machine that is the object of the present invention ;

[0062] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a detail of the machine that is the object of the present invention according to the embodiment of Figure 1 ;

[0063] Figures 3a and 3b show two views of the embodiment of Figure 1 according to two different operating conditions ;

[0064] Figures 4a and 4b show two views of a detail of the machine that is the object of the present invention , according to a further embodiment ;

[0065] Figures 5a to 5d show some views of a possible embodiment of the gripping device belonging to the machine that is the object of the present invention ;

[0066] Figures 6a to 6d show two views of a further embodiment of the gripping device belonging to the machine that is the object of the present invention . It is specified that the figures attached to this patent application show only some possible embodiments of the machine for the production of shoe lasts that is the object of the present invention , in order to better understand the advantages and features described .

[0067] Such embodiments are therefore to be understood as purely illustrative and not limiting to the inventive concept of the present invention , namely that of making machinery with a small number of components to avoid particularly complex constructions , so as to reduce costs , both of production and maintenance , limiting the possibility of component breakage , while maintaining the production quality of the shoe last .

[0068] With particular reference to Figure 1 , a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the machine that is the object of the present invention is shown .

[0069] Inter alia , the blank gripping system, the particular arrangement of the rotating tool , the number of work axes along which the rotating tool or blank is moved make it a totally different machine from the traditional copying lathes used for the construction of shoe lasts .

[0070] The machine that is the object of the present invention is a lathe-milling machine in that there is simultaneously a movement of the blanks to and from a rotating tool , typical of turning machining , and a movement of the rotating tool to and from the blanks , typical of milling .

[0071] The machine comprises two insertion and machining zones 10 , 11 for the insertion and fixing in place of a plurality of blanks 12 , which blanks are processed, so as to obtain finished shoe lasts .

[0072] In particular , the insertion and machining zones differ for the treated blanks , as the blanks that will make the shoe lasts relating to the right foot will be inserted in one zone , while the blanks that will make the shoe lasts relating to the left foot will be inserted in the other zone .

[0073] As will subsequently be described, the blanks of zone 10 have a rotation with an opposite direction with respect to the blanks of zone 11 .

[0074] Each insertion and machining zone 10 , 11 has movement means for the blanks 12 , gripping devices 5 for the blanks 12 , displacement means for at least one tool 2 configured to work on the blanks 12 .

[0075] With particular reference to the variant illustrated in the figures , there is a tool 2 and a gripping device 5 for each blank 12 on which the machining is to be carried out .

[0076] The tool 2 can be made of any instrument known in the state of the art, such as milling cutters or the like , described in EP2254434 and EP0990399.

[0077] The displacement means for the tool 2 consist of an arm 21 which is mounted on the machine so as to be translatable according to an axis Z , see Figures 3a and 3b , and which has a terminal 22 for supporting the tool 2 , joined to the arm 21 so that the tool 2 can oscillate around the axis C .

[0078] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate two operating conditions in which the arm 21 is in two different positions with respect to the Z axis .

[0079] A motor 23 can be provided for each arm 21 to generate commands for displacement of the tool 2 . The co-ordinated movement of the displacement means for the tool 2 and the movement means for the blanks 12 allow all the desired machining to be performed on the blanks 12 to obtain the final shoe last of interest .

[0080] The movement means comprise means for moving the blanks along a horizontal plane , i . e . along the directions of the X and Y axes , with reference to Figures 1 and 2 , as well as means configured to rotate the blanks , according to the D and E axes .

[0081] In particular , the movement means comprise a carriage 40 mounted on guides 400 that allow the carriage to slide along the X axis .

[0082] Two slides 41 are mounted on the carriage 40 , that is , one for each insertion and machining zone 10 , 11 , which slide on further slides 410 for moving them along the Y axis .

[0083] Since the blanks 12 , as will be described later , are supported by the slides 41 , the blanks 12 are moved along the horizontal plane and can reach any point of the horizontal plane through the different possible combinations of the linear movements along the axis X and along the Y axis , i . e . through a combination of the movements of the carriage 40 and the slides 41 .

[0084] Therefore , the displacement of the blanks on the horizontal plane is broken down into two linear movements along the axes X and Y made by the carriage 40 and the slides 41 , respectively .

[0085] In the solution illustrated, there is only one carriage , while there is one slide 41 for each machining zone .

[0086] Increasing the number of blanks to be machined, therefore , will require increasing the number of slides 41 i . e . increase in the components that move along a linear direction , without also requiring the increase in the number of carriages .

[0087] The movements of the carriage 40 and of the slides 41 are controlled by a single drive unit , consisting for example of a motor 42 , made according to the technologies known in the state of the art .

[0088] In particular , there is a transmission from the motor 42 to the slides 41 configured so that the slides 41 move in a mirror-like and symmetrical manner to an axis parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the X direction , that is , they move away from and towards each other along the direction Y .

[0089] This specific movement can be achieved, for example , by means of the presence of an endless screw positioned between the two slides 41 .

[0090] As anticipated, the movement means , in addition to movement along a horizontal plane , allow the rotation of the blanks 12 according to rotation axes perpendicular to the horizontal plane of movement of the blanks .

[0091] In particular , two different axes of rotation are provided, as the blanks 12 in the insertion and machining zone 10 rotate in one direction , while the blanks 12 in the insertion and machining zone 11 rotate in the opposite direction , as indicated in the arrows of Figure 2 .

[0092] Figure 2 shows in detail the part of the movement means responsible for the rotation of the blanks 12 .

[0093] In this case , each insertion and machining zone 10 , 11 has a support base 43 for each blank 12 , which support base consists of a cylindrical element with bearings capable of rotating according to the rotation axes D and E .

[0094] The rotation of the support bases 43 is a passive rotation , as these support bases are driven into rotation through the presence of belts 430 and an actuation unit 44 .

[0095] The actuation unit 44 consists of a rotating motor , mounted integral with the carriage 40 , which itself actively rotates and rotates the blanks corresponding to the support bases 43 connected to the actuation unit 44 through the belts 430 .

[0096] According to the variant illustrated in the figures , two actuation units 44 are provided as the blanks must perform two different rotations , but it is also possible to provide a single actuation unit 44 for any number of blanks 12 , in the event that the blanks 12 are processed according to a single rotation axis .

[0097] It is possible to increase / decrease the number of blanks by increasing / decreasing the number of belts . Figures 4a and 4b show a version of the machine that is the object of the present invention with three support bases 43 , for three corresponding blanks .

[0098] It is also possible to provide , to improve the efficiency of the operation of the machine that is the object of the present invention , tensioning pins 45 of the belts 430 , which have contact heads 451 , preferably mounted rotating in an idle manner .

[0099] On the slides 41 it is possible to provide guides 452 inside which the pins 45 can slide so as to vary the tension acting on the belts 430 .

[0100] From the above-described, it is evident how the combined movement of the actuation unit 44 , the carriage 40 , the slides 41 and the tool 2 , allows the blanks 12 to be moulded to the user ’ s liking , so as to achieve the desired shoe last .

[0101] For this reason , preferably, the movement means and the displacement means are controlled by a main control unit , not illustrated in the figures , capable of generating command signals for the movement means and the displacement means , on the basis of an electronic file loaded inside the control unit itself .

[0102] The machine that is the object of the present invention is in fact controlled by an electronic computer that , in addition to managing the movements of the blank and the rotating tool along the machining axes , integrates a powerful CAM.

[0103] This electronic calculator allows :

[0104] - the calculation of the path of the rotating tool for the machining of a prototype starting from a file from a CAD design system;

[0105] - the management of the measurement cycle of the prototype with automatic generation of the characteristic measurements according to the indications of the UNI commission in charge of defining a relevant standard;

[0106] - the optimisation of the working cycle by fine- tuning the relative movements of the blank / rotating tool .

[0107] As illustrated in the figures , the blanks 12 are connected to the support bases 43 by gripping devices 5 , which hold the blanks 12 in place during machining .

[0108] These gripping devices 5 are obviously integral with the rotating part of the support bases 43 , so as to transmit the rotation of the support bases 43 to the blanks 12 .

[0109] Figures 5a to 5d illustrate some views of such gripping devices 5 .

[0110] The gripping devices 5 comprise a fixing base 50 configured to be fixed integrally to the rotating part of the support bases 43 , which fixing base has a vertical upright 51 to which is fixed, at the upper end, a gripping terminal 52 to which the blanks are fixed .

[0111] The gripping terminal 52 comprises two jaws 521 , which have a movement of reciprocal distancing / approaching , so as to pass from a condition of maximum reciprocal distancing to a condition of maximum reciprocal approaching and vice versa .

[0112] Starting from the condition of maximum reciprocal distancing of the jaws 521 , the blank is inserted between the two j aws 521 , which are then reciprocally approached to reach the condition of maximum reciprocal approach in which they encircle the part of the blank 12 inserted between the two jaws 521 .

[0113] Advantageously, the blank 12 has a specific gripping part , not illustrated in the figures , but known to the state of the art and positioned above the part corresponding to the heel and shaped like a dovetail .

[0114] Finally, it is specified that , according to the variant illustrated in the figures , the transition from the condition of maximum approach to the condition of maximum distance , and vice versa , of the jaws 521 , is obtained through a manual operation , by means of the presence of a lever 522 . The lever 522 has a gripping free end and an end fixed to the jaws 521 at which the lever 522 is able to oscillate according to the F axis .

[0115] During oscillation , the lever 522 transitions from an open condition , corresponding to the condition of maximum reciprocal distancing of the jaws 521 , to a closed condition , corresponding to the condition of maximum reciprocal approach of the jaws 521 , illustrated in Figures 5a-5d .

[0116] At the rotation end the lever 522 has a cam surface which , starting from the condition of maximum distancing of the jaws 521 , pushes the jaws 521 to the condition of maximum reciprocal approach , due to the oscillation from open lever to closed lever .

[0117] Finally, it is possible to provide for inserting shims between the two jaws 521 , in order to adapt the grip of the jaws themselves to the different thicknesses of the blanks to be worked .

[0118] Figures 6a to 6d show some views of a further embodiment of the gripping devices 5 .

[0119] As with the previous variant , the gripping devices 5 comprise a fixing base 50 configured to be fixed integrally to the rotating part of the support bases 43 , which fixing base has a vertical upright 51 at the upper end of which a gripping terminal 52 is fixed, to which gripping terminal the blanks are attached .

[0120] Also in this case , the gripping terminal 52 has two jaws 621 that move away from / towards each other to block the blanks and, as for the previous variant , there is a manually operated lever 622 that allows the movement of the jaws 621 . In Figure 5a , the lever 622 is shown in a position , which corresponds to the condition of maximum reciprocal approach of the jaws 621 .

[0121] As illustrated in Figure 6c , the lever 622 remains stably in the closed condition , i . e . that of Figure 6a , by means of the presence of a pusher element 625 , supported by a spring (not illustrated in the figure) .

[0122] The lever 622 has a housing seat for housing said pushing element 625 , consisting of a ball , so that , when closed, the housing seat is located at the ball so that the spring can extend and push the ball into the housing seat .

[0123] As soon as the lever 622 is moved, i . e . pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow F , by applying a force greater than the compression force of the spring , the spring is compressed by means of the interaction between the walls of the lever 622 which push the ball and make it return towards the right side of Figure 6c .

[0124] Starting therefore from the condition illustrated in Figure 6a , the lever 622 , fulcrumed to the gripping terminal 52 , can be moved in the direction of the arrow F , to move to the condition of maximum reciprocal distancing of the jaws , illustrated in Figure 6b .

[0125] The lever 622 in this case is in an open condition and remains stably in an open condition as the point of application of the force is positioned lower , with reference to Figure 6b , with respect to the fulcrum of rotation of the lever 622 .

[0126] Figure 6d illustrates a detail of the embodiment of the gripping devices 5 just described, aimed at showing the movement mechanism for the jaws 621 . The lever 622 moves a pin 623 that drives two corresponding abutment members 624 that interact with the jaws 621 .

[0127] In particular , the lever 622 , in the transition from the closed condition (Figure 6a) to the open condition (Figure 6b) , moves the pin 623 in the direction indicated by the arrows of Figure 6d, i . e . towards the right side of the figure .

[0128] The pin 632 pulls the abutment members 624 in the same direction and the jaws 621 can open by means of the presence of springs (not shown in the figure) and by means of the interface between the outer walls of the jaws 621 and the pusher members 624 , thanks to the presence of an inclined plane , on which the outer walls of the jaws can slide .

[0129] While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative constructions , some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail .

[0130] It should be understood, however , that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but , on the contrary, the aim is to cover all the modifications , alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims .

[0131] The use of "for example" , "etc . " , "or" refers to non-exclusive non-limiting alternatives , unless otherwise stated .

[0132] The use of "includes" means "includes but is not limited to" , unless otherwise stated .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Machine for the production of shoe lasts comprising at least a first insertion and machining zone (10) for the insertion of at least one blank (12) , the insertion and machining zone (10) comprising:- a blank gripping device (5) ,- movement means for the blank (12) ,- displacement means for at least one tool (2) configured to work on said blank (12) , characterized in that the movement means for the blank (12) are configured so as to move said blank (12) on a horizontal plane and so as to rotate said blank (12) around a first axis of rotation (D, E) perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said displacement means being configured so as to move the tool (2) along a direction (Z) perpendicular to the horizontal plane and so as to oscillate the tool (2) around an axis perpendicular (C) to the axis of rotation (D , E) .

2. Machine according to claim 1 , wherein said movement means comprise a carriage (40) movable on a horizontal plane, which carriage (40) acts as a support for at least one support base (43) of the blank (12) mounted rotatable around the axis of rotation (D, E) with respect to the carriage (40) , there being an actuation unit (44) configured to rotate said support base (43) .

3. Machine according to claim 2, wherein said first insertion and machining zone (10) is configured to house at least two blanks (12) , there being one tool (2) for each blank (12) and there being a support base (43) for each blank (12) , the actuation unit (44) beingprovided externally to said support bases (43) and there being transmission means (430) configured to connect the actuation unit (44 ) to the support bases (43) .4 . Machine according to claim 3 , wherein the actuation unit (44 ) has a first rotating element configured to be actively rotated, each support base (43) comprising a second rotating element configured to be passively rotated, the transmission means (430) comprising a transmission belt for each support base .5 . Machine according to one or more of the preceding claims , wherein there is at least one second insertion and machining zone (11 ) , the displacement of the blanks along the horizontal plane being performed by a single drive unit .6 . Machine according to claim 5 , wherein said displacement means comprise a carriage (40) for the first ( 10) and second ( 11 ) insertion and machining zones , one slide (41 ) being provided for each insertion and machining zone ( 10 , 11 ) , the carriage (40) and the slides (41 ) being configured to perform linear displacements perpendicular to each other .7 . Machine according to claim 5 , wherein the support base (43) of the first insertion and machining zone ( 10) rotates in the opposite direction with respect to the support base (43) of the second insertion and machining unit ( 11 ) .8 . Machine according to one or more of the preceding claims , wherein said carriage (40) is positioned below said support base (43) , the blank ( 12 ) being held in position by the gripping device (5) interposed between the support base (43) and the blank9 . Machine according to one or more of the preceding claims , wherein said gripping device (5) has a terminal part (52 ) comprising two jaws (521 ) , which jaws (521 ) have a reciprocal distancing / approaching movement , so as to pass from a condition of maximum reciprocal distancing to a condition of maximum reciprocal approach and vice versa , there being a manually operated lever (522 ) configured to allow the transition from the condition of maximum distancing to the condition of maximum approaching and vice versa .10 . Method for the production of shoe lasts characterized in that it comprises the following steps : a) positioning a blank at its lower reference plane , b) moving the blank along a horizontal plane in at least two directions and rotating the blank around a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane , c) displacing a tool along an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane and oscillating said tool around an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation , said tool being adapted to shape said blank so as to make said shoe last .11 . Method according to claim 10 , wherein step a) provides for tightening a part of the blank through the approach of two jaws of a gripping device , which approach is carried out manually .

Images