Apparatus for applying adhesive

Claim 2

In a machine for adhesively connecting parts of a shoe, in combination, support means for supporting a last and a material on said last, said support means having a contact surface; distributing means on said contact surface for promoting the spreading of adhesive applied onto said surface; heating means for heating said support means at least in the region of said surface; supply means remote from said heating means so as not to exchange heat therewith, for supplying quantities of particulate dry powdered substance of thermoplastic adhesive; and transfer means for transferring quantities of said adhesive from said supply means to said support means and for depositing said quantities on said surface at a plurality of spaced locations, so that the adhesive melts and spreads on said surface via said distributing means.

Claim 3

In a machine as defined in claim 1, said transfer means being far from connection to and engagement with said support means.

Claim 4

In a machine as defined in claim 1, said distributing means comprising a network of channels through which said adhesive may flow upon melting.

Claim 5

In a machine as defined in claim 1, said transfer means comprising a slide member provided with a plurality of bores therethrough spaced and arranged in a predetermined relationship, said slide member having an upper side and a lower side, and further comprising a closure member arranged below and adjacent said lower side, said closure member being provided with a plurality of bores arranged identically to those of said slide member but normally out of registry with the lower ends of the same, said bores of said slide member receiving adhesive at said supply means and said closure member being movable relative to said slide member to a position of registry of the respective bores with one another when said slide member is located above said surface so as to permit said adhesive to issue from said bores of both of said members and onto said surface, said bores of said slide member permitting to be selectively closed, for instance by plugs of plastic material provided with one or more wedging beads, in cases where thermoplastic adhesive is to be applied only on part of said surface.

Claim 6

In a machine as defined in claim 1, said transfer means comprising a pair of superimposed members each having a plurality of bores arranged in identical patterns but normally out of registry with one another, said members being movable from said supply means to a position above said surface for rEceiving adhesive material into the bores of the upper of said members at said supply means and for depositing such adhesive material onto said surface when said members are located above the same and in response to relative movement of said members to effect registry of their respective bores.