Heel attaching machine

In a heel attaching machine, the improvement comprising, in combination:

• a stationary nailing die for supporting in a predetermined position a shoe or boot to which a heel is to be attached, said nailing die having a plurality of nail passages arranged to guide nails toward and into said shoe or boot;
• nail driver means for driving nails through the passages into said shoe or boot;
• a heel holddown mechanism having a heel holddown engageable with a heel thereby to provide a back-up holddown force for the heel to resist the force of nails driven into said heel by the nail driver means;
• means mounting the heel holddown mechanism for movement in its entirety between an operating position in proximity to the nailing die and a remote position in which said holddown mechanism is incapable of providing said back-up hold down force;
• drive means for moving the heel holddown mechanism between said operable and remote positions;
• said heel holddown mechanism including a holddown member moveable toward and away from the nailing die between clamping and unclamped positions when said holddown mechanism is in said operable position;
• said heel holddown mechanism including second drive means for moving said holddown member between said clamped and unclamped positions;
• means for maintaining the heel holddown mechanism in its operable position at least during the holddown and nailing portion cycles of operation of the machine;
• and
• control means further comprising means for selectively causing the first drive means to return to its remote position after the nailing operation has been completed or, alternatively, to remain in its operable position.