US 5,296,060 A · Drying a coating of solvent-based adhesive

Abstract

For drying coatings of solvent-based adhesive applied to shoe bottoms a through-flow drying apparatus is provided which utilises air at ambient temperature for the constant rate period (i.e. the period during which the surface of the coating is "wet"), and thereafter applies infra-red heating during the falling rate period (i.e. the period when migration of the solvent through the solid adhesive is to be achieved). In the first stage, jets of air are directed against the shoe bottom at a velocity of not less than 15 meters/second (measured at the inlets (38)), while at the heating station a plate heater (42) of a size which is larger than the area of the shoe bottom is provided. Ideally, when the shoe is removed from the apparatus, an outsole having a reactivated coating of adhesive can be located with the shoe bottom and bonded thereto, without reactivation of the shoe bottom adhesive itself. Also disclosed is a shoe support (46) for supporting shoes of a wide range of sizes with little or no need for adjustment, said support comprising a plurality of pairs of shoe-engaging rolls (60, 62, 64) between which the downwardly depending portions of the shoe last can be accommodated.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of bonding a shoe sole to the bottom of a lasted shoe which includes the step of drying a coating of solvent-based adhesive applied to a bottom surface of a shoe by supporting the lasted shoe having a coating of solvent-based adhesive applied to the bottom surface thereof, with the bottom surface thereof to which adhesive has been applied exposed;

directing at least one jet of air at ambient temperature through an inlet therefor towards said surface such that the apical region of said jet impinges on the surface for so long as the rate of drying is substantially constant for the adhesive coating, and thereafter heating the surface to which adhesive has been applied for a further period for so long as drying of the adhesive coating continues, said heating period being determined according to the rate at which drying continues but being terminated when the condition of the adhesive coating is such that bonding of said surface to an attachment surface can be affected;
and
during said drying step activating an adhesive coating previously applied to an attachment surface of the shoe sole, whereafter the attachment surface of the shoe sole and the shoe bottom surface to which adhesive has been applied are brought into a desired location with one another and held pressed together until a bond therebetween is consolidated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drying a coating of solvent-based adhesive

Life of this patent

Drying a coating of solvent-based adhesive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10