A last extension for a shoe last provides a pattern defining an origin location. The origin location on the last extension can be used to identify locations or points on a last or a shoe component on a last for control of location-critical manufacturing operations, including decorative and functional operations.

The present invention relates to a method for generating control data for controlling a shoe part production machine for making shoes or elements for optimizing traction properties of the shoe by customizing modules to be mounted on the sole for a specific user, said method comprising the steps of: receiving user profile data describing the characteristics of the user where the user profile data comprise use data and test data, receiving a user selection identifying a selected shoe from a number of shoe models or a selected element influencing the property of a shoe, generating modified template data by modifying a shoe sole template corresponding to the selected shoe model or by modifying an element influencing the properties corresponding to the selected element, said modifications being performed based on said received user profile data, generating control data based on said modified template data.

The present invention relates to a method for generating control data for controlling a shoe part production machine for making shoes or elements for optimizing traction properties of the shoe by customizing modules to be mounted on the sole for a specific user, said method comprising the steps of: receiving user profile data describing the characteristics of the user where the user profile data comprise use data and test data, receiving a user selection identifying a selected shoe from a number of shoe models or a selected element influencing the property of a shoe, generating modified template data by modifying a shoe sole template corresponding to the selected shoe model or by modifying an element influencing the properties corresponding to the selected element, said modifications being performed based on said received user profile data, generating control data based on said modified template data.

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.

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 and a system are provided to re-create an internal shape of a shoe using a pneumatically-powered inflatable sock. For example, a shoe last used to manufacture a shoe product based on a selected shoe identifier may be identified. A description of the dimensions of the shoe last may be accessed. The description of the dimensions of the shoe last may be expressed as a set of fills per chamber of a sock having a plurality of fillable chambers. The set of fills per chamber may be determined based on the displacement of an inner wall of the sock when the fillable chambers are in an inflated state. Further, an instruction to cause the plurality of fillable chambers to inflate according to the accessed description may be transmitted.

A method and a system are provided to re-create an internal shape of a shoe using a pneumatically-powered inflatable sock. For example, a shoe last used to manufacture a shoe product based on a selected shoe identifier may be identified. A description of the dimensions of the shoe last may be accessed. The description of the dimensions of the shoe last may be expressed as a set of fills per chamber of a sock having a plurality of fillable chambers. The set of fills per chamber may be determined based on the displacement of an inner wall of the sock when the fillable chambers are in an inflated state. Further, an instruction to cause the plurality of fillable chambers to inflate according to the accessed description may be transmitted.

A footwear manufacturing system includes a footwear assembly, a footwear identification representation associated with the footwear assembly, a plurality of footwear manufacturing locations, and a footwear manufacturing line for conveying the footwear assembly between the plurality of footwear manufacturing locations under control by a system controller and/or a robot controller. The system controller is configured to monitor the footwear assembly when the footwear assembly is transported from a first location of the plurality of footwear manufacturing locations to a second location of the plurality of footwear manufacturing locations based on the footwear identification representation.

A footwear manufacturing system includes a footwear assembly, a footwear identification representation associated with the footwear assembly, a plurality of footwear manufacturing locations, and a footwear manufacturing line for conveying the footwear assembly between the plurality of footwear manufacturing locations under control by a system controller and/or a robot controller. The system controller is configured to monitor the footwear assembly when the footwear assembly is transported from a first location of the plurality of footwear manufacturing locations to a second location of the plurality of footwear manufacturing locations based on the footwear identification representation.

A footwear manufacturing robot system includes an automated footwear manufacturing robot. A robot controller is configured to control the automated footwear manufacturing robot. A robot instructions database includes a plurality of robot manufacturing instructions. A system controller and/or the robot controller are communicatively coupled to the robot instructions database and the robot controller. The automated footwear manufacturing robot is configured to manufacture different footwear assemblies at least partially. Each of the different footwear assemblies is associated with footwear assembly identification information. The system controller is configured to select an elected manufacturing instruction of the plurality of robot manufacturing instructions based on the footwear assembly identification information. The robot controller is configured to automatically execute said elected manufacturing instruction to operate said automated footwear manufacturing robot.