Systems and processes for packing articles of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018346166-A1
Application number	US-201815991331-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2018
Priority date	May 31, 2017
Publication date	Dec 6, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and processes for packing complementary articles of footwear into a container are disclosed. The processes can include utilizing a reusable packing sheet positioned underneath complementary articles of footwear to transfer the complementary articles of footwear into a container. The processes can also include removing the reusable packing sheet from underneath the complementary articles of footwear while the complementary articles of footwear remain positioned in the container. Additional processes can include aligning and sizing complementary articles of footwear for packing in a container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method of packing complementary articles of footwear into a container, the method comprising:
utilizing one or more sheet extension members to contact and extend a reusable packing sheet out from a packing sheet source to a distal point so that the reusable packing sheet extends from the packing sheet source past first and second guiding members to the distal point, wherein a bottom side of the reusable packing sheet faces the first and second guiding members; positioning first and second complementary articles of footwear on a top side of the reusable packing sheet at a position between the first and second guiding members while tension in the reusable packing sheet at least between the first and second guiding members is sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the first and second complementary articles of footwear positioned above the first and second guiding members; and subsequent to the positioning the first and second complementary articles of footwear on the top side of the reusable packing sheet, reducing tension in the reusable packing sheet so that the first and second complementary articles of footwear vertically shift below the first and second guiding members and into a container.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a lateral or a medial side of each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear faces the top side of the reusable packing sheet.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second complementary articles of footwear are at least partly covered in a packing material.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reducing tension in the reusable packing sheet comprises moving the one or more sheet extension members from the distal point towards the packing sheet source.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein as the one or more sheet extension members moves from the distal point towards the packing sheet source to reduce tension in the reusable packing sheet an additional portion of the reusable packing sheet extends out from the packing sheet source thereby increasing the absolute length of the reusable packing sheet extending out from the packing sheet source.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the packing sheet source comprises a roll of the reusable packing sheet, so that as the reusable packing sheet is extended out from the packing sheet source to the distal point a portion of the reusable packing sheet is unrolled from the packing sheet source.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a compression member applies a force to the reusable packing sheet at a point proximal to the packing sheet source so that the reusable packing sheet at the point proximal to the packing sheet source is maintained in a substantially fixed position as the one or more sheet extension members move from the distal point towards the packing sheet source.

8 . The method of claim 1 , subsequent to the reducing tension in the reusable packing sheet so that the first and second complementary articles of footwear vertically shift below the first and second guiding members and into a container, the reusable packing sheet is retracted back toward the packing sheet source while the first and second complementary articles of footwear remain inside the container.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning first and second complementary articles of footwear on the top side of the reusable packing sheet at the position between the first and second guiding members occurs while the reusable packing sheet is extended out from the packing sheet source to the distal point.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the reusable packing sheet exhibits a static coefficient of friction against steel of less than about 0.4.

11 . A method of aligning complementary articles of footwear for packing, the method comprising:
placing first and second complementary articles of footwear on a conveyance apparatus so that an outsole of each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear contacts the conveyance apparatus; directing a light source onto each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear to identify the desired location of an apex position of a toe end or a heel end of each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear on the conveyance apparatus; and contacting each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear with one or more moveable alignment members to align each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear so that an axis extending from the toe end to the heel end of the first complementary article of footwear is substantially parallel to an axis extending from the toe end to the heel end of the second complementary article of footwear.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a medial side of the first complementary article of footwear faces a lateral side of the second complementary article of footwear when placed on the conveyance apparatus.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the heel end of the first complementary article of footwear is adjacent the toe end of the second complementary article of footwear.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more moveable alignment members comprises a first and a second moveable alignment member, wherein each of the first and the second moveable alignment members comprises opposing first and second contacting components, wherein the contacting each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear with one or more moveable alignment members comprises: 1) the first contacting component of the first moveable alignment member contacting a heel portion of the first complementary article of footwear; 2) the second contacting component of the first moveable alignment member contacting a toe portion of the first complementary article of footwear; 3) the first contacting component of the second moveable alignment member contacting a toe portion of the second complementary article of footwear; and 4) the second contacting component of the second moveable alignment member contacting a heel portion of the second complementary article of footwear.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: determining the size of the first and second complementary articles of footwear; and based on the determining the size, selecting at least one piece of packing material for the first and second complementary articles of footwear, the at least one piece of packing material sized to substantially cover a maximum length of each of the first and second complementary articles of footwear; and placing the at least one piece of packing material on a second conveyance apparatus.

16 . The method of claim 15 , utilizing a first transfer member to transfer the first complementary article of footwear onto the at least one piece of packing material so that a lateral or a medial side is contacting the at least one piece of packing material on the second conveyance apparatus, wherein the first transfer member comprises toe and heel components that contact the toe end and heel end of the first complementary article of footwear, respectively.

17 . A system for packing complementary articles of footwear into a container, the system comprising:
a first conveyance apparatus sized to transport first and second complementary articles of footwear; one or more moveable alignment members, each of the one or more moveable alignment members having first and second contacting components positioned on opposing sides of the first conveyance apparatus, wherein the first and second contacting components are moveable towards or

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Chang Pu-Yuan
• Chan Chin-Ming
• Huang San-Bei
• Huang Tsung-Sheng
• Lee Kuo-Hung

Classifications

• B65B41/14

  by grippers · CPC title

• B65B35/58

  Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position · CPC title

• B65B59/02

  Arrangements to enable adjustments to be made while the machine is running · CPC title

• B65B57/12

  and operating to control, or stop, the feed of wrapping materials, containers, or packages · CPC title

• B65B65/06

  coated or treated with anti-friction or anti-sticking materials, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene · CPC title