Heel support device for supporting a last without movement thereof

In a heel support device for use in a shoe making machine for forming the toe and sides of a shoe upper tensioned over a last seated on a last support, said heel support device including a guide fixed with respect to the machine, a base plate, a heel support member mounted on said base plate for movement toward and away therefrom, said base plate and said heel support member being mounted for movement guided by said guide toward and away from the last, drive means for moving said base plate and said heel support member along aid guide in a direction toward the last to a supporting position whereat said heel support member bears against and supports a heel portion of the last or a heel portion of the upper tensioned therearound, the improvement of means for preventing said heel support member from displacing the last upon movement to said supporting position, said last displacement preventing means comprising:

• switch means, operatively connected to said drive means and actuated by said heel support member reaching said supporting position, for stopping operation of said drive means upon movement of said heel support member to said supporting position, and thereby for preventing further movement of said heel support member in said direction;
• and
• means for actuating said switch means to stop operation of said drive means as soon as said heel support member abuts the heel portion of the last or the upper.