Heel filling device

Claim 2

A filling device for use with a moulding apparatus in which moulds carried by mould carriers are fed along a path of travel seriatim, said device comprising track means extending parallel to the path of travel of said moulds; carriage means for movement along said track means; carrier engaging means for moving said carriage means along said track means in synchronism with said mould carrier and mould; dispensing means on said carriage means for dispensing a mouldable material into each mould; first switch means for actuation by a mould to cause said engaging means to engage a mould carrier, whereby the carriage means moves from a rest position along said track means with said mould; second switch means for actuation by a mould carrier to start dispensing of said mouldable material through said dispensing means; third switch means for actuation by said carriage means for stopping dispensing of mouldable material; and means for returning said carriage means with the dispensing means to said rest position.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said carrier engaging means includes a pivot plate mounted for rotation on said carriage means; and a clutch assembly on said carriage means for locking the pivot plate in a carrier engaging position.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 2, wherein said first switch means includes a switch assembly for actuation by each successive mould; and a clutch cylinder which acts in response to actuation of said switch assembly for engaging said clutch assembly to lock the plate in said carrier engaging position.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, wherein said mouldable material is dispensed vertically into a preselected portion of said mould, said carriage means including frame means, and means mounting said dispensing means for vertical, longitudinal and transverse movement on said frame means, whereby the location of the dispensing means relative to the mould can be adjusted.

Claim 6

A filling device for use with a footwear moulding apparatus in which moulds, each carried by a mould carrier, are fed by a conveyor seriatim along a path of travel, said device comprising track means extending parallel to the path of travel of said moulds; carriage means for movement along said track means; carrier engaging means for moving said carriage means along said track means in synchronism with said mould carrier and mould; dispensing means on said carriage means for dispensing a polymeric material into each mould; first switch means for actuation by a mould to cause said engaging means to engage a mould carrier, whereby the carriage means moves from a rest position along said track means with said mould; second switch means for actuation by a mould carrier to start dispensing of said polymeric material through said dispensing means; third switch means for actuation by said carriage means for stopping dispensing of polymeric material; and means for returning said carriage with the dispensing means to said rest position.

Claim 7

A filling device for use with a footwear moulding apparatus in which moulds, each carried by a mould carrier, are fed by a conveyor seriatim along a path of travel, said device comprising track means extending parallel to the path of travel of said moulds; carriage means for movement along said track means; carrier engaging means for moving said carriage means along said track means in synchronism with said mould carrier and mould; dispensing means on said carriage means for dispensing a polymeric material into each mould; first switch means for actuation by a mould to cause said engaging means to engage a mould carrier, whereby the carriage means moves from a rest position along said track means with said mould; second switch means for actuation by a mould carrier to start dispensing of said polymeric material through said dispensing means; third switch means for actuation by said carriage means for stopping dispensing of polymeric material; and means for returning said carriage with the dispensing means to said rest position.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 5, wherein said carrier engaging means includes a pivot plate mounted for rotating on said carriage means, and said engaging means including a clutch assembly on said carriage means for locking the plate iN a carrier engaging position.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 6, wherein the moulds are boot moulds having a heel cavity, said first switch means including a switch assembly for actuation by the heel of each successive mould to cause the clutch assembly to engage a mould carrier with the dispensing means aligned with the heel cavity.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 7, wherein said engaging means includes a clutch cylinder which acts in response to actuation of said switch assembly to engage said clutch assembly and lock the pivot plate in said carrier engaging position.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for returning the carriage to said rest position includes means for engaging the clutch assembly to release the pivot plate from said carrier engaging position.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 9, including cushion means for cushioning the return of said carriage to the rest position.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 5, wherein said polymeric material is heat hardenable polyvinyl chloride, said dispensing means including a dispensing head; a reservoir for said polyvinyl chloride; and a pump for circulating said polyvinyl chloride from said reservoir through said dispensing head and back to said reservoir.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 11, wherein said dispensing head includes a tubular casing defining a longitudinally extending passage; an inlet duct in said casing for introducing polyvinyl chloride into said passage from the pump; and outlet duct for discharging polyvinyl chloride from said passage to the reservoir, said inlet and outlet ducts being in constant fluid communication; a nozzle at one end of said passage; or orifice in said nozzle for discharging polyvinyl chloride from the dispensing head into a mould; a plunger slidably mounted in said passage normally closing said orifice; means for moving said plunger away from said orifice to open the nozzle; and means for returning said plunger to an orifice closing position to terminate dispensing of polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 12, wherein said means for moving the plunger away from said orifice includes a head on said plunger dividing a portion of said passage into first and second chambers; a duct for introducing air under pressure into the first chamber to move the plunger away from said orifice; and spring means for returning said plunger to the orifice closing position.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 7, including plate means movably mounted on the moulding apparatus and supporting said switch assembly, whereby the location of the switch assembly can be changed for use with moulds of varying sizes.

Claim 17

A device according to claim 5, including a lug movably mounted on said mould carrier for actuating said second switch means.

Claim 18

A device according to claim 10, including pneumatic valve means disposed in the path of travel of said carriage means for actuating said cushion means at the end of a dispensing step and immediately preceding return of the carriage means to said rest position.

Claim 19

A device according to claim 1, including a safety switch located in the path of travel of said carriage means beyond said third switch means for terminating operation of the entire moulding apparatus in the event that the carriage means fails to return to the rest position following a dispensing operation.

Claim 20

A device according to claim 1, including fourth switch means normally opened by said carriage means in the rest position for preventing dispensing while the carriage means is in said rest position.

Claim 21

A device according to claim 5, including means for adjusting the position of said dispending means on said carriage means, whereby the device can be used with moulds of varying sizes and shapes.