A method for preparation of a part of a surface of a shoe for subsequent gluing comprises the steps of spreading a glue on the operating surface of a roughing tool and applying this operating surface onto the part of the shoe to be roughed before drying of the glue, so as to transfer the glue onto the part of the surface being roughed. A device (14) implementing this method and a machine (10) using this device are also described.

A method for preparation of a part of a surface of a shoe for subsequent gluing comprises the steps of spreading a glue on the operating surface of a roughing tool and applying this operating surface onto the part of the shoe to be roughed before drying of the glue, so as to transfer the glue onto the part of the surface being roughed. A device (14) implementing this method and a machine (10) using this device are also described.

A method for attaching an adhesive to a shoe sole which has a top surface includes the steps of: (A) capturing a shape of the top surface of the shoe sole and generating a preset pattern using a sampling device, the preset pattern having a contour corresponding to the shape of the top surface and an area similar to that of the top surface; (B) preparing a mold according to the preset pattern; (C) coating the adhesive on the mold and allowing the adhesive to stand for a while; (D) cooling the mold to a degumming temperature; (E) pressing the mold against the shoe sole with a surface thereof having the adhesive facing the top surface so as to attach the adhesive thereto; and (F) moving the mold away from the shoe sole to separate the mold from the adhesive.

A multiple camera vision system captures discrete images having overlapping fields of view. Each of the cameras is calibrated and the images from the cameras are stitched together as a stitched image. A stitched image from the multiple cameras is then used in a calibration process to prepare the multiple camera vision system to be used in connection with a processing operation. A stitched image is used as an input for identifying a feature of the material and for determining a tool path for the material. The tool path determined with the stitched image is provided to a process station to perform an operation on the material.

A method for treating a natural or synthetic leather object is provided. The method includes directing plasma onto a surface of an natural or synthetic object to form a plasma treated object, the object including at least one of a natural leather material and a synthetic leather material, applying adhesive onto the plasma treated object, and bonding the plasma treated object with a polymeric coating.

A roughing system includes a roughing machine and an imaging apparatus. The roughing machine roughs an upper of a shoe along a path to form a rough trace thereon. The imaging apparatus includes a camera module and a processing module. The camera module is moved parallel to the path and repeatedly captures an image of a portion of the upper having a segment of the rough trace thereon each time when one of a first condition that the camera module has been moved by a predetermined length and a second condition that the camera module has been moved for a predetermined time duration is satisfied. The processing module receives the images respectively of different portions of the upper that are sequentially captured by the camera module, and is configured to generate a panoramic image based on the images.

An automated production line for transferring and processing multiple shoe members includes multiple transferring rail units aligned along a transferring direction, multiple handoff rail units aligned along the transferring direction and alternately arranged with the transferring rail units, multiple transferring unit each being movably mounted to a respective one of the transferring rail unit for transferring the shoe members onto an adjacent one of the handoff rail units, multiple handling units each being movably mounted to a respective one of the handoff rail units and being adapted to transfer the shoe members onto an adjacent one of the transferring rail units, and multiple processing units disposed beside the transferring rail units for processing the shoe members.

Systems and methods of manufacturing a shoe outsole are provided wherein at least a portion of the resulting shoe outsole includes embedded particles. An example method includes applying adhesive to at least one region of the shoe outsole, depositing selected particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a first coat of particles, and at least partially curing the adhesive. The method continues by applying additional adhesive over the first coat of particles, depositing additional particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a second coat of particles, and at least partially curing the subsequent application of adhesive.

An adhesive applicator includes an actuation axle, a first hub unit, a second hub unit, a plurality of elastic members, and a pliable dispenser web. The first and second hub units are mounted on the actuation axle to be spaced apart from each other, and to rotate with the actuation axle about a rotation axis. Each of the elastic members is disposed between the first and second hub units, and has a radial elastic force relative to the rotation axis. The pliable dispenser web is configured to wrap around the elastic members, and can be deformed in compliance with a topology of an attachment region of a shoe component against the radial elastic force.

An article of cleated footwear includes an outsole plate and an upper. The outsole plate includes a rigid first member and a second rigid member. The first rigid member extends substantially along the length of the outsole, and the rigid second member is attached to the first member. The first member and/or the second member has a ground-engaging profile. The upper is attached to the first member.