The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles. Disclosed is an apparatus for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles, wherein the apparatus comprises: a.) a molding tool which is formed from at least two molding halves and which defines a molding cavity, and b.) at least two capacitor plates which are arranged adjacent to the molding cavity, wherein c.) at least one of the capacitor plates is connected to a radiation source, and wherein d.) at least one of the capacitor plates comprises several segments that have an adaptable distance to the molding cavity. Also disclosed is method for using such an apparatus in the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles.

A mould lifting device is suitable for use in lifting and rotating a middle mould. At each of two lateral surfaces of the middle mould is provided a pivot portion. The mould lifting device includes: a platform, two longitudinal guide assemblies, two transmissions, a power assembly, two lifting members, two push members, two pivot arms, and two covers. When the pivot arms lift and rotate the middle mould, the lifted portion of the covers will not be pushed by the lifting portions of the lifting members anymore, and the covers will naturally pivot downward by gravity to make the cover portions cover the openings of the restricting grooves, which prevents the disengagement of the pivot portions of the middle mould from the restricting grooves, and thus improving the stability and security of the middle mould during the course of lifting and rotation.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold for molding articles of footwear having sole regions of differing materials forming a desired outsole surface material pattern. The multi-part mold includes a carrier mold portion and a tray mold portion. The carrier mold portion provides definition to the lateral surfaces of a resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion cooperates with the carrier mold portion and provides definition to another (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion generally includes at least one pod or cavity for receiving a first material that when cured/catalyzed, defines a patterned other (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant product. A multi-part mold having the structure as described herein permits interchangeability of multiple tray mold portions with a single carrier mold portion.

A molding system for direct injection manufacturing of footwear. The molding system includes a mold cavity for receiving injection material for molding a sole part of the footwear. The system further includes a plurality of basic direct injection molds, each of which is attachable to injection molding equipment, and a plurality of sets of direct injection mold inserts, each set of direct injection mold inserts being configured to define at least part of an inner surface of the mold cavity when inserted in one of the plurality of basic direct injection molds. At least two of the plurality of basic direct injection molds differ from each other in size, corresponding to different ranges of sole part sizes.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold assembly for use in manufacturing articles. The mold assembly provides for contouring, shaping and cutting materials to form articles via a continuous single processing operation. The mold assembly includes an upper mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a first cutting edge, a lower mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a second cutting edge, and a base portion into which the lower mold portion may retract during use. Upon application of a first force, the upper and lower mold portions cooperate to contour/shape a material from which an article is to be formed. Upon application of a second force greater than the first, the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge interact to shear the material that extends beyond the respective cutting edges. The result is an article that is contoured, shaped and cut/trimmed utilizing a single processing operation.

A footwear article forming process, and a device for the same are disclosed. The process includes: providing a forming mold set including an outer modular mold, an inner formation mold, and a footwear-forming space therebetween. The footwear-forming space comprises a footwear lower portion forming space and a footwear main portion forming space. Footwear article forming steps are as follows: injecting a pre-determined amount of a footwear main portion rubber material into a footwear main portion sprue channel, the footwear main portion rubber material being injected from a footwear main portion rubber injection opening into the footwear main portion forming space via a transfer injection channel; and placing a footwear lower portion rubber material into the footwear lower portion forming space.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold assembly for use in manufacturing articles. The mold assembly provides for contouring, shaping and cutting materials to form articles via a continuous single processing operation. The mold assembly includes an upper mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a first cutting edge, a lower mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a second cutting edge, and a base portion into which the lower mold portion may retract during use. Upon application of a first force, the upper and lower mold portions cooperate to contour/shape a material from which an article is to be formed. Upon application of a second force greater than the first, the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge interact to shear the material that extends beyond the respective cutting edges. The result is an article that is contoured, shaped and cut/trimmed utilizing a single processing operation.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold assembly for use in manufacturing articles. The mold assembly provides for contouring, shaping and cutting materials to form articles via a continuous single processing operation. The mold assembly includes an upper mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a first cutting edge, a lower mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a second cutting edge, and a base portion into which the lower mold portion may retract during use. Upon application of a first force, the upper and lower mold portions cooperate to contour/shape a material from which an article is to be formed. Upon application of a second force greater than the first, the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge interact to shear the material that extends beyond the respective cutting edges. The result is an article that is contoured, shaped and cut/trimmed utilizing a single processing operation.

Described are soles for a shoe having a region with a plurality of pellets, each pellet having a hollow core structure. The plurality of pellets are formed of a composite material comprising a base layer and an outer layer. The base layer is formed of a material having a first melting temperature, and the outer layer is formed of a material having a second melting temperature. The first melting temperature is greater than the second melting temperature, and the plurality of pellets are bonded through melting of the outer layers while the inner layers retain the hollow core structure without melting.

A footwear article forming process, and a device for the same are disclosed. The process includes: providing a forming mold set including an outer modular mold, an inner formation mold, and a footwear-forming space therebetween. The footwear-forming space comprises a footwear lower portion forming space and a footwear main portion forming space. Footwear article forming steps are as follows: injecting a pre-determined amount of a footwear main portion rubber material into a footwear main portion sprue channel, the footwear main portion rubber material being injected from a footwear main portion rubber injection opening into the footwear main portion forming space via a transfer injection channel; and placing a footwear lower portion rubber material into the footwear lower portion forming space.