A multi station system to act upon footwear upper assemblies with transfer between stations thereof.

摘要

A transfer machine (100) for use in a system (101) that includes first (102) and second (104) machines to perform operations on a footwear upper assembly (103), includes an activator arm assembly (2), and a gripper assembly (1) rotatably and pivotally connected to one end of the activator arm assembly (2). The gripper assembly (1) includes a pair of fingers (1F, 1G) with a gripper jaw (1A, 1B) pivotally secured to each of the fingers (1F, 1G). The pair of fingers (1F, 1G) are movable toward and away from each other respectively to grasp and release the footwear upper assembly (103). The pivotal attachment of the jaws (1A, 1B) permits the jaws to adjust to the irregular profile of the footwear upper assembly (103), a situation which is enhanced by the geometry of the gripper jaws (1A, 1B) which permits contact between the jaws at regions spaced longitudinally along the footwear upper assembly (103) and by choosing a jaw material that is soft enough to deform, and hence provide larger contact area between the upper assembly (103) and the jaws (1A, 1B).