Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.

Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.

Described are methods for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as shoes manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes includes providing a plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes, and moving the plurality of first shoe components with a transport means which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components.

A method for manufacturing a shoe body, comprising the following steps: overlap and fix a tensile film and a composite material film; move a vamp having a three-dimensional shape to make a surface of the vamp abutting against the composite material film, so that both of the tensile film and the composite material film have a predetermined tension; heat the composite material film in a contactless manner, so that the composite material film is joined to the surface of the vamp; move the tensile film away from the composite material film. An apparatus for utilizing such method includes a fixture which is adapted to fix the tensile film and the composite material film; a fixing member which is adapted to support the vamp; a driving device which is adapted to drive the fixing member or the fixture; a contactless heating device which is adapted to heat the composite material film.

A method for manufacturing a shoe body, comprising the following steps: overlap and fix a tensile film and a composite material film; move a vamp having a three-dimensional shape to make a surface of the vamp abutting against the composite material film, so that both of the tensile film and the composite material film have a predetermined tension; heat the composite material film in a contactless manner, so that the composite material film is joined to the surface of the vamp; move the tensile film away from the composite material film. An apparatus for utilizing such method includes a fixture which is adapted to fix the tensile film and the composite material film; a fixing member which is adapted to support the vamp; a driving device which is adapted to drive the fixing member or the fixture; a contactless heating device which is adapted to heat the composite material film.

An apparatus for aligning materials in order to construct an article is provided. The apparatus may include an array of moveable pins and a solid plate having an array of holes, where the array of holes is aligned with the array of pins. Each pin may be extended and/or retracted by a programmable actuator array. When a pin is extended, at least a portion of the pin may extend through the hole with which it is aligned, such that at least a portion of the pin extends beyond the solid plate. A fraction of the total number of pins in the array of pins may be extended by the programmable actuator array. The particular pins that are to be extended may be based on a pattern for an article. A material that is to be used in constructing the article may be aligned using the extended pins.

An apparatus for aligning materials in order to construct an article is provided. The apparatus may include an array of moveable pins and a solid plate having an array of holes, where the array of holes is aligned with the array of pins. Each pin may be extended and/or retracted by a programmable actuator array. When a pin is extended, at least a portion of the pin may extend through the hole with which it is aligned, such that at least a portion of the pin extends beyond the solid plate. A fraction of the total number of pins in the array of pins may be extended by the programmable actuator array. The particular pins that are to be extended may be based on a pattern for an article. A material that is to be used in constructing the article may be aligned using the extended pins.

A method for manufacturing a shoe body, comprising the following steps: overlap and fix a tensile film and a composite material film; move a vamp having a three-dimensional shape to make a surface of the vamp abutting against the composite material film, so that both of the tensile film and the composite material film have a predetermined tension; heat the composite material film in a contactless manner, so that the composite material film is joined to the surface of the vamp; move the tensile film away from the composite material film. An apparatus for utilizing such method includes a fixture which is adapted to fix the tensile film and the composite material film; a fixing member which is adapted to support the vamp; a driving device which is adapted to drive the fixing member or the fixture; a contactless heating device which is adapted to heat the composite material film.

A method for manufacturing a shoe body, comprising the following steps: overlap and fix a tensile film and a composite material film; move a vamp having a three-dimensional shape to make a surface of the vamp abutting against the composite material film, so that both of the tensile film and the composite material film have a predetermined tension; heat the composite material film in a contactless manner, so that the composite material film is joined to the surface of the vamp; move the tensile film away from the composite material film. An apparatus for utilizing such method includes a fixture which is adapted to fix the tensile film and the composite material film; a fixing member which is adapted to support the vamp; a driving device which is adapted to drive the fixing member or the fixture; a contactless heating device which is adapted to heat the composite material film.

Elastomeric components, such as a shoe outsole, are treated with a plasma application to clean and activate the elastomeric component. The application of plasma is controlled to achieve a sufficient surface composition change to enhance adhesion characteristics while not adversely physically deforming the elastomeric component. The plasma treatment is applied to increase carbonyl functional group concentrations within an altered region of the elastomeric component to within at least a range of 2%-15% of carbon atomic percentage composition. The cleaning and activation is controlled, in part, by ensuring a defined height offset range is maintained between the elastomeric component and the plasma source by a generated tool path. The elastomeric component may then be adhered, with an adhesive, to another component.