Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

A method for printing on an article can include positioning an article and a fiducial within a field of view of an image sensor. The method can also include generating an image of the article and the fiducial, using the fiducial to determine a print location on the article, and printing a graphic on the article at the print location. A method for printing on an article additionally or alternatively can include transforming a graphic using a shape model to produce a transformed graphic and printing the transformed graphic on the article. A method for printing on an article additionally or alternatively can include retrieving a shape model corresponding to a reference article, obtaining a configuration file corresponding to the article, transforming a graphic based on the shape model and the configuration file to produce a transformed graphic, and printing the transformed graphic on the article.

A method for printing on an article can include positioning an article and a fiducial within a field of view of an image sensor. The method can also include generating an image of the article and the fiducial, using the fiducial to determine a print location on the article, and printing a graphic on the article at the print location. A method for printing on an article additionally or alternatively can include transforming a graphic using a shape model to produce a transformed graphic and printing the transformed graphic on the article. A method for printing on an article additionally or alternatively can include retrieving a shape model corresponding to a reference article, obtaining a configuration file corresponding to the article, transforming a graphic based on the shape model and the configuration file to produce a transformed graphic, and printing the transformed graphic on the article.

Described are methods for the manufacture of a shoe, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as a shoe manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a shoe includes providing a three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component and processing the three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component, wherein the processing includes an individually controllable succession of processing steps.

Described are methods for the manufacture of a shoe, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as a shoe manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a shoe includes providing a three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component and processing the three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component, wherein the processing includes an individually controllable succession of processing steps.

A waterproof garment, such as a shoe, is formed from a first seamless circular knitted liner, which is coated with resin and cured to form a waterproof layer. The first liner is fitted within a second seamless circular knitted liner. In the case of a shoe, a sole can be attached and a reliably waterproof shoe is thereby provided which can be efficiently manufactured. In another embodiment, the combined liners are used as a waterproof lining for a shoe upper.

A waterproof garment, such as a shoe, is formed from a first seamless circular knitted liner, which is coated with resin and cured to form a waterproof layer. The first liner is fitted within a second seamless circular knitted liner. In the case of a shoe, a sole can be attached and a reliably waterproof shoe is thereby provided which can be efficiently manufactured. In another embodiment, the combined liners are used as a waterproof lining for a shoe upper.

A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.

Provided is, among other things, a shoe having a sole that includes multiple layers and an upper attached to and extending above the sole. In addition, the shoe includes a tab having: (1) a first portion, located between adjacent layers of the sole and thus hidden from view, that is imprinted with identification information pertaining to the shoe and (2) a second portion that is visible during ordinary use of the shoe.

Provided is, among other things, a shoe having a sole that includes multiple layers and an upper attached to and extending above the sole. In addition, the shoe includes a tab having: (1) a first portion, located between adjacent layers of the sole and thus hidden from view, that is imprinted with identification information pertaining to the shoe and (2) a second portion that is visible during ordinary use of the shoe.