Method for handling and transferring lasts for assemblying shoes

Abstract

A method for handling and transferring lasts for assemblying shoes, wherein a last is moved so as to trace: a first circular arc, a straight segment which is perpendicular to the first circular arc, and a second circular arc which is perpendicular to the straight segment. The first and second circular arcs belong to two distinct and spatially separate circles. The method uses a plurality of rotating units and is designed so that it can be used both with human operators and with automatic and/or semiautomatic machines. The invention provides total integration of a transfer system with a handling device in. order to achieve production flexibility.

1 . A method for handling and transferring lasts for assemblying shoes, each shoe being assembled on one of said lasts, characterized in that at least one of said lasts is moved so as to trace a first circular arc, a straight segment which is substantially perpendicular to said first circular arc, and a second circular arc which is substantially perpendicular to said straight segment, said first and second circular arcs belonging to two distinct and spatially separate circles.  
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein after said second circular arc said last is moved so as to travel along a second straight segment which is spatially distinct with respect to said first straight segment and is substantially perpendicular to said second circular arc.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein after said second straight segment, said last is moved so as to trace a third circular arc which is substantially perpendicular to said second straight segment; said first, second and third circular arcs belonging to three distinct and spatially separate circles.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein after said third circular arc said last is moved so as to trace a third straight segment which is spatially distinct from said first and second straight segments and is substantially perpendicular to said third circular arc.  
     
     
         5 . A method for handling and transferring lasts for assemblying shoes, each shoe being assembled on one of said lasts, characterized in that at least one of said lasts is moved so as to perform a plurality of movements which are mutually spatially distinct and wherein each movement comprises a circular arc and a straight segment which is substantially perpendicular to said circular arc, so that the straight segments transfer said last from one circle to another one which is different and spatially distinct, so that said last is moved along a plurality of spatially mutually distinct circles.  
     
     
         6 . A device for handling and transferring lasts for assemblying shoes, each shoe being assembled on one of said lasts, comprising: a plurality of rotating units, each of which supports a plurality of supports, each adapted to support one of said lasts, and a transfer unit for transferring said last from one rotating unit to another.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said rotating unit can move, on command, by preset discrete movements, so as to engage a plurality of preset stations, so that at each movement said plurality of supports can be arranged on said preset stations, changing a relative position of said lasts.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 7 , wherein each one of said rotating units comprises a plurality of arms, an inner end of each arm being supported by a motorized component of said rotating unit so that each arm can trace a circular arc during movement, an outer end of said arm supporting said support.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 8 , characterized in that each one of said rotating units comprises a transfer unit; preferably a separate transfer unit for each component with which it is interfaced; preferably, each transfer unit is arranged at the center of said rotating unit and comprises a motorized arm and a pusher body for transferring said last; preferably, said transfer unit has a single degree of freedom.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 9 , wherein said plurality of rotating units comprises a plurality of production rotating units for performing operations for the assembly of said shoe and a plurality of handling rotating units for the transfer of said lasts, and comprises a plurality of storage rotating units for providing distributed storage of said lasts.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 10 , wherein each one of said handling rotating units is interfaced with three or four production rotating units or storage rotating units, preferably with three production rotating units or storage rotating units; preferably, said storage rotating unit is provided with  12  supports and said production rotating unit is provided with 24 supports.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 11 , wherein a number of preset positions of said production rotating unit or of said storage rotating unit is a multiple of the number of interfaces of said handling rotating unit.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 12 , wherein said support supports a container for containing accessories for assembling said shoe, said container preferably having an auxiliary support for supporting said last.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 13 , comprising a plurality of modules, each module comprising a handling rotating unit, a production rotating unit and a storage rotating unit.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 14 , comprising a linear arrangement formed by an alternating succession of production rotating units and of said handling rotating units.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 15 , wherein said rotating units can move by angular steps.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to at least one of claims  6 - 16 , wherein said device has a finite and known number of states.