A transport apparatus is for conveying a shoe sole, and includes a rail unit divided into process and bridge regions, a delivery device and a transfer device. The delivery device is movable in the process and the bridge regions, and includes a conveyor belt for carrying the shoe sole and to move the shoe sole on the rail unit. The transfer device is located adjacent to the bridge region, and includes a transfer roller assembly and a transfer belt, which surrounds the transfer roller assembly and is drivable by the same for carrying the shoe sole. When the delivery device is in the bridge region, the conveyor belt is adjacent to the transfer belt, and is operable to convey the shoe sole onto the transfer belt.

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 system for stitching two parts of a shoe together includes a stitching machine with a head and a cylinder bed. The head has a needle base disposed on a lower end adjacent the cylinder bed such that the two shoe parts can be stitched together therebetween. A positioning mechanism has a curved drive frame and is capable of moving the curved drive frame in a rotating motion along the circumference of the curved drive frame and in a linear direction generally along an axis of the curved drive frame. A jig positions the two shoe parts with respect to one another and is coupled to the curved drive frame. The jig includes a curved support surface for supporting the two shoe parts.

Described are methods for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as shoes manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes includes providing a plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes, and moving the plurality of first shoe components with a transport means which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components.

The present invention refers to a method for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular shoes, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of components in one of a plurality of predefined shapes, and placing the plurality of components onto a two-dimensional or three-dimensional carrier surface to create the sporting good or a part thereof.

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.

A transport apparatus is for conveying a shoe sole, and includes a rail unit divided into process and bridge regions, a delivery device and a transfer device. The delivery device is movable in the process and the bridge regions, and includes a conveyor belt for carrying the shoe sole and to move the shoe sole on the rail unit. The transfer device is located adjacent to the bridge region, and includes a transfer roller assembly and a transfer belt, which surrounds the transfer roller assembly and is drivable by the same for carrying the shoe sole. When the delivery device is in the bridge region, the conveyor belt is adjacent to the transfer belt, and is operable to convey the shoe sole onto the transfer belt.

A transfer module for components held in position on the module, which circulates in a production line that is equipped with workstations. The module has a plate provided with reference positions, of which at least certain positions are equipped with lowerable pins, which can be moved between a position in which they are lowered beneath the surface of the plate and a position in which they are extended out of the plate, so as to receive the component which to be held on the plate.

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with at least one mechanically actuated modality for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.