Apparatus for molding outer and inner soles onto shoe uppers

Claim 1

Apparatus for molding outer and inner soles on to shoe uppers, comprising an upstanding frame structure including a vertically movable upper cross block, a mold carrier mounted on said cross block for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, said mold carrier including a heatable first mold part at one end for the molding of outer soles of an elastomer, a vertically movable lower cross block having a mold plate in engagement with said first mold part in a molding position of said cross block and said mold carrier, said first mold part defining a mold cavity into which an elastomer is injected for molding an outer sole, means for raising and lowering said blocks between extended and retracted positions of said mold carrier, said first mold part disengaging from said mold plate in said retracted position, laterally movable mold elements mounted on said frame structure above said upper cross block, means for moving said mold elements between mold open and mold closed positions, said mold carrier further including a second mold part at an opposite end thereof, a shoe last holder mounted on said frame structure above said lateral mold elements for pivotal movement about a transverse axis between said molding position and an outer sole cooling position, and for vertical movement between extended and retracted positions relative to said mold carrier, means for pivoting and for vertically moving said last holder, said last holder having a shoe last at one end supporting a shoe upper and having a rod at its opposite end supporting a transfer plate, means for pivoting said mold carrier to a position in which said first mold part contains the molded outer sole and confronts said transfer plate with said last holder in said cooling position and engages said transfer plate in the extended positions of said last holder and said mold carrier, whereby said transfer plate when retracted removes the molded outer sole from said first mold part to allow cooling thereof as said mold carrier is pivoted to a position in which said second mold part engages said transfer plate which transfers the molded outer sole thereto, in said extended position of said mold carrier the molded outer sole in said second mold part cooperating with said mold elements in said mold closed position thereof and with said last supported shoe upper in said extended position of said last holder to form a cavity for molding an inner sole of thermoplastic material and for chemically bonding said material to said molded outer sole and to said shoe upper.