777,455. Shoe-cementing presses. STANDARD ENGINEERING CO., Ltd. May 16, 1955 [Feb. 16, 1954], No. 4497/54. Class 17(1). In a sole pressing machine having a plurality of presses each comprising a clamp to hold the footwear and a pressure applying device, e.g. an inflatable bladder 33 or a ram to press the footwear against a resilient bed, both operated by fluid pressure under control of respective valves, the valves of the presses are under control of a common actuating member, e.g. a pedal 5 or manual, connected with cyclically operated cam mechanism moved stepwise by successive actuations of the member so as to effect sequential operation of the presses in a cycle to effect clamping, pressure-applying, pressure-releasing, and declamping. of each press in appropriate sequence. Each actuation of the pedal &c. may operate a single valve, or several valves simultaneously, or sometimes one only and sometimes more than one. One depression of the pedal may clamp a shoe in one press and simultaneously release the pressure in the next press, and the next depression cause pressure to be applied at the first press and simultaneously release the clamp in the next press. Alternatively two actuations of the pedal may clamp the shoe and apply pressure in one press, while one only of these actuations releases pressure and declamps a shoe in the next press, the two valves being operated simultaneously. Manually-operated means may be provided for effecting or completing the declamping at a press. The arrangement may be such that as pressure is applied at the last press, pressure is simultaneously relieved on the shoe in which the cement has set, but when the setting time of the cement is such that the first shoe is not completed when pressure is applied to the last shoe, the operation of the valves of the first and last presses may be made independent and require successive actuation of the pedal, or the cam mechanism may be such that at one point in the cycle all presses are closed. e.g. by asymmetrical arrangement of the cams and/or means, which may be automatically or operator controlled and adjustable, to defer operation of the valves of the first press at the beginning of each cycle. Thus a six-press machine incorporates twelve cams controlled by a ratchet wheel with 12, 13 or 14 teeth. With twelve teeth the closing of one press entails the opening of the next unless a delay device is inserted controlling further movement of the ratchet and operation of the valves of the first press. The delay device may be cam operated to cause valves to remain closed and to stop the pedal movement for a predetermined time or until normally adjusted. With a ratchet having thirteen or fourteen teeth a delay device may be incorporated to prevent accidental premature pedal operation. The delay device may be controlled automatically by a piston and cylinder with an adjustable supply or bleed valve, or by hand. In the machine illustrated depression of pedal 5 acts through rod 6 bell crank 7 and pawl 9 to rotate stepwise the ratchet wheel 10 on cam shaft 11, and abutment 12 operates valve 13 to admit air to cylinder 14 cams 20 on shaft 11 and followers 21 control valves 22 for respective clamps and bladders, release valves permitting adjustment if the shoe is incorrectly clamped &c. The delay device includes a spring loaded catch 15 which is held away from pedal 5 at all times except at the end of a revolution by a spring loaded arm 18 controlled by cam 17. At the end of a revolution arm 18 is moved so that catch 15 moves into engagement with abutment 16 on.the pedal, and a spring-loaded plunger 30 then falls in front of the catch to prevent its retraction by the plunger of cylinder 14. In falling, plunger 30 lifts handle 29 and rod 31 which move member 32 so that it prevents follower 28 and follower 21 of the first press to which it is coupled, from falling to follow cam 20. Handle 29 is depressed to raise plunger 30 so that the plunger of cylinder 14 can retract catch 15, and to move member 32 to permit followers 28, 21 to follow the cam and open the valve to deflate the bladder of the first press. When the machine is used without interruption handle 29 is kept depressed by a stop. Where delay is required at the end of a cycle the air flow regulator for cylinder 14 is set for slow movement of the plunger, handle 29 remaining elevated except when used at commencement. Each press comprises a pivoted clamping arm 35 held in shoe engaging position by spring loaded pawls 37 and rack 38, the pawls being disengaged, to release the clamp, by a trip lever, with adjustable shoe engaging members 39 and adjustable counterweight 40.