GB190606957A - Improvements in and relating to Felt Slippers and in the Means for Manufacturing the same. - Google Patents

Abstract

6957. Parker, J. H., and Turner, A. March 23. Slippers; moulding; seamless ; soles; lasts.- Relates to felt slippers with seamless uppers and arched soles, and to means for producing them. A piece of felt, of the requisite size and shape to form an upper, is laid over a steam-heated mould g, Fig. 3, and held by a clamping-plate s. The mould is then raised by the ram e of an hydraulic cylinder into engagement with a male die h, the air in the mould g escaping through a vent g<1>. Towards the end of the moulding operation, the plate s is caused to press lightly upon the felt, and so to allow the felt to slip slightly during the final set, to prevent undue straining of the material. The felt is thinnest at the part where it is most stretched, but this part is afterwards cut away, as shown in Fig. 6, previous to the attachment of the sole. The mould g is set at an angle so as to give the heel of the upper the usual curved formation. After the sole has been attached, the slipper is placed upon a heated, hollow, divided last, Fig. 8, and the last is raised by an hydraulic ram f into contact with a heated mould j, to level or shape the sole. The loose part i<1> of the divided last is preferably solid, and adapted to be adjusted by a screw k and a hand-wheel to hold the upper in the correct position. A hood i<2> is provided to bridge over the gap between the two parts of the last when in their extended positions. The two sets of moulds, for moulding the uppers and levelling the soles, are preferably mounted in one machine frame, which may be provided with a series of moulds and dies to suit different sizes of slippers. In a modification, the lower moulds or dies may be fixed and the upper ones movable ; or the mould g may be horizontal and be moved in other than a vertical direction, the die h being suitably arranged.