The manufacturing of articles relies on the bonding of two or more components to form some forms of the articles, such as a shoe sole bonded with a shoe upper. The bonding may be achieved with an adhesive particulate that is applied to a surface of a substrate. The adhesive particulate is selectively fused to the substrate with a controlled energy source, such as a laser. The selective application of laser energy allows for specific geometric structures of adhesive particulate to be formed on the substrate. The substrate having the fused adhesive particulate is mated with another component allowing the fused adhesive particulate to bond the first substrate and the second component.

The manufacturing of articles relies on the bonding of two or more components to form some forms of the articles, such as a shoe sole bonded with a shoe upper. The bonding may be achieved with an adhesive particulate that is applied to a surface of a substrate. The adhesive particulate is selectively fused to the substrate with a controlled energy source, such as a laser. The selective application of laser energy allows for specific geometric structures of adhesive particulate to be formed on the substrate. The substrate having the fused adhesive particulate is mated with another component allowing the fused adhesive particulate to bond the first substrate and the second component.

This document relates to adhesive application devices and methods for applying an adhesive on a shoe during manufacturing.

Embodiments provide a lamination machine and lamination process for laminating a membrane to a three-dimensional (3D) target surface of an article, such as a footwear article, glove, clothing article, backpack, or other article. The lamination machine may include an inflatable former that is permeable to air. The inflatable former may have a shape that generally corresponds to a shape of the target surface. The membrane and target surface may be arranged on the former, with a heat-activated adhesive disposed between the membrane and the target surface. The lamination machine may further include a pump to pump heated compressed air into the former. The heated compressed air may inflate the former to press the membrane against the target surface and to activate the adhesive to bond the membrane to the target surface.

Embodiments provide a lamination machine and lamination process for laminating a membrane to a three-dimensional (3D) target surface of an article, such as a footwear article, glove, clothing article, backpack, or other article. The lamination machine may include an inflatable former that is permeable to air. The inflatable former may have a shape that generally corresponds to a shape of the target surface. The membrane and target surface may be arranged on the former, with a heat-activated adhesive disposed between the membrane and the target surface. The lamination machine may further include a pump to pump heated compressed air into the former. The heated compressed air may inflate the former to press the membrane against the target surface and to activate the adhesive to bond the membrane to the target surface.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing shoes that includes: (a) preparing a midsole material and performing a multi-functional treatment by irradiation of a defined amount of UV energy to provide adhesive-friendly properties; (b) molding the midsole material from the UV irradiation step to form a midsole having a defined shape; (c) preparing a multi-functional adhesive primer used to provide stable adhesive strength for the molded midsole and secure surface modification and adequate applicability of the midsole material; (d) applying the multi-functional adhesive primer to the molded midsole; (e) irradiating UV radiation to the midsole coated with the multi-functional adhesive primer to perform a curing; and (f) bonding an outsole, an upper, and other shoe parts to the midsole from the step (e) to complete a shoe. Unlike the conventional method for manufacturing shoes, the present invention enables to skip the steps of washing and using an additional primer for midsole to reduce the process, enhance the adhesion and increase productivity.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing shoes that includes: (a) preparing a midsole material and performing a multi-functional treatment by irradiation of a defined amount of UV energy to provide adhesive-friendly properties; (b) molding the midsole material from the UV irradiation step to form a midsole having a defined shape; (c) preparing a multi-functional adhesive primer used to provide stable adhesive strength for the molded midsole and secure surface modification and adequate applicability of the midsole material; (d) applying the multi-functional adhesive primer to the molded midsole; (e) irradiating UV radiation to the midsole coated with the multi-functional adhesive primer to perform a curing; and (f) bonding an outsole, an upper, and other shoe parts to the midsole from the step (e) to complete a shoe. Unlike the conventional method for manufacturing shoes, the present invention enables to skip the steps of washing and using an additional primer for midsole to reduce the process, enhance the adhesion and increase productivity.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a midfoot region of the plate than at a forefoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A shoe sizing assembly for measuring and constructing custom shoe sizes includes a panel that is positionable on a support surface for having a person's foot placed thereon. A scanner is coupled to the panel and the scanner emits a measuring signal upwardly from the panel thereby facilitating the scanner to detect the sole of person's foot. In this way the scanner measures the size of the person's foot. A heating element is coupled to the panel and the heating element heats the panel when the heating element is turned. Thus, the heating element melts an adhesive between the shoe sole and the shoe upper for bonding the shoe sole to the shoe upper.

A shoe sizing assembly for measuring and constructing custom shoe sizes includes a panel that is positionable on a support surface for having a person's foot placed thereon. A scanner is coupled to the panel and the scanner emits a measuring signal upwardly from the panel thereby facilitating the scanner to detect the sole of person's foot. In this way the scanner measures the size of the person's foot. A heating element is coupled to the panel and the heating element heats the panel when the heating element is turned. Thus, the heating element melts an adhesive between the shoe sole and the shoe upper for bonding the shoe sole to the shoe upper.