Smoothing machine for stitch seams

Abstract

The machine smoothes stitched seams on shoe shanks and applies a tape to cover the smoothed seam. A driven frictional wheel is cooperable with a second friction wheel rotatably mounted on a relatively elongated support over and along which the shanks are fed, the two friction wheels pressing and smoothing the stitched seams. Two holding elements are releasably engageable with this support at supporting points thereon spaced longitudinally of the support. A control circuit operates in such a manner that the two holding elements initially clamp the support at points spaced longitudinally therealong and, as a shoe shank leaves the friction wheels, the leading holding element is released for passage of the shoe shank therethrough while the trailing holding element remains clamped on the support. As the shoe shank clears the leading holding element, the latter is again clamped on the support and the trailing holding element is released from the support for passage of the shank. As the shank leaves the trailing holding element, the latter is again clamped on the support.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.