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 stitching system includes a jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine. The jig includes a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine and an upper member also capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine. The two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member. The lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts therebetween are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.

A shoe manufacturing system (100) processes a to-be-bonded surface (11a) of an upper (11) before bonding a sole to the upper (11). The shoe manufacturing system (100) includes a holding platform (10), a camera (20a, 20b), an applicator (30), a robot arm (40), and a control device (60). The control device (60) identifies a boundary of the to-be-bonded surface (11 a) of the upper (11) that is to serve as a master model M among a plurality of uppers (11), for defining an area of the to-be-bonded surface (11 a) to be processed, based on three-dimensional shape data of the master model M acquired by the camera (20a). The control device (60) controls the robot arm (40) for each of the uppers (11) (such as products P1 to P3) other than the master model M, to cause the applicator (30) to apply an adhesive to the area of the to-be-bonded surface (11a) enclosed by the identified boundary.

A shoe manufacturing system (100) processes a to-be-bonded surface (11a) of an upper (11) before bonding a sole to the upper (11). The shoe manufacturing system (100) includes a holding platform (10), a camera (20a, 20b), an applicator (30), a robot arm (40), and a control device (60). The control device (60) identifies a boundary of the to-be-bonded surface (11 a) of the upper (11) that is to serve as a master model M among a plurality of uppers (11), for defining an area of the to-be-bonded surface (11 a) to be processed, based on three-dimensional shape data of the master model M acquired by the camera (20a). The control device (60) controls the robot arm (40) for each of the uppers (11) (such as products P1 to P3) other than the master model M, to cause the applicator (30) to apply an adhesive to the area of the to-be-bonded surface (11a) enclosed by the identified boundary.

Physical foaming a footwear component with a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid is provided. The method include temperature conditioning a mold and then engaging the mold with a robot that conveys the mold to a press. At the press a gas counter pressure is applied to a cavity of the mold before injecting a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid into the cavity of the mold. The process continues with releasing the gas counter pressure from the cavity of the mold and then removing the footwear component from the cavity of the mold. The parameters of the method are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner.

Systems and processes for reinforcing components of articles of wear are disclosed. The processes can include applying a thermoplastic powder to a component of an article of wear and levelling at least a portion of the thermoplastic powder. The processes can also include applying thermal energy to the component and the thermoplastic powder. Further, the processes can include compressing the thermoplastic powder and the component.

Systems and processes for reinforcing components of articles of wear are disclosed. The processes can include applying a thermoplastic powder to a component of an article of wear and levelling at least a portion of the thermoplastic powder. The processes can also include applying thermal energy to the component and the thermoplastic powder. Further, the processes can include compressing the thermoplastic powder and the component.

Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated manner. A material handling system suitable for use in an automated shoe-manufacturing process has a guide rail and first and second moveable holding elements, each of the holding elements having gripping elements for engaging a part or part stack during the manufacturing process.

Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated manner. A material handling system suitable for use in an automated shoe-manufacturing process has a guide rail and first and second moveable holding elements, each of the holding elements having gripping elements for engaging a part or part stack during the manufacturing process.

A method for determining a design of a customized footwear object for a wearer is provided. The method includes steps of: receiving a user input of a requirement data set regarding features that are related to the wearer; obtaining a cushion data set for producing a cushion of the footwear object based on the requirement data set, the cushion data set including data regarding a position of the cushion, data regarding a shape of the cushion, data regarding a material for the cushion and data regarding a hardness of the cushion; generating an order for production of the footwear object, the order including the cushion data set; and providing the order to a forming machine in order for the forming machine to produce the footwear object.