Generation of tool paths for shoe assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020143091-A1
Application number	US-202016733008-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 2, 2020
Priority date	Nov 18, 2011
Publication date	May 7, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for generating a tool path used for processing a partially assembled article of footwear, the system comprising:
a bite line component configured to collect bite line data representing a location of a bite line formed between a first shoe part and a second shoe part upon assembly of the first shoe part and the second shoe part; a three-dimensional scanning component configured to collect three-dimensional profile data for at least part of a portion of the first shoe part that is to be covered by the second shoe part upon assembly of the first shoe part and the second shoe part; and a computing device configured to:
combine the bite line data and the three-dimensional profile data to generate a surface map of the portion of the first shoe part that is to be covered by the second shoe part, and
generate a tool path useable for processing the first shoe part, the tool path generated to be contained within an area bounded by the bite line.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive application system that is adapted to apply adhesive to the first shoe part using the generated tool path.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bite line component is adapted to identify the bite line as marked with physical indicia formed from a conditionally visible marking agent.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the conditionally visible marking agent is one of a marking agent responsive to the Ultraviolet light spectrum and a marking agent responsive to the Infrared light spectrum.

5 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a vision system that renders the conditionally visible marking agent visible.

6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a movement mechanism that moves the vision system around the first shoe part while the vision system records a plurality of images of the first shoe part.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the movement mechanism:
rotates the vision system in a substantially circular fashion around at least a portion of the first shoe part, or rotates the vision system in a substantially elliptical fashion around at least a portion of the first shoe part.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a processing tool adapted to apply a manufacturing process to the first shoe part using the generated tool path, the manufacturing process comprising at least one of:
adhesive application, stitching, buffing, cutting, painting, scoring, and marking.

9 . A method for generating a tool path used for processing a partially assembled article of footwear, the method comprising:
collecting bite line data representing a location of a bite line formed between a first shoe part and a second shoe part upon assembly of the first shoe part and the second shoe part; collecting three-dimensional profile data for at least part of a portion of the first shoe part that is to be covered by the second shoe part upon assembly of the first shoe part and the second shoe part; combining the bite line data and the three-dimensional profile data to generate a surface map of the portion of the first shoe part that is to be covered by the second shoe part; and generating a tool path useable for processing the first shoe part, the tool path generated to be contained within an area bounded by the bite line.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising applying an adhesive to the first shoe part with an adhesive application system guided by the generated tool path.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising marking the bite line with a physical indicia comprising a conditionally visible marking agent.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the conditionally visible marking agent is one of a marking agent responsive to the Ultraviolet light spectrum and a marking agent responsive to the Infrared light spectrum.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using a vision system to render the conditionally visible marking agent visible.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising a movement mechanism that moves the vision system around the first shoe part while the vision system records a plurality of images of the first shoe part.

15 . A method for generating a tool path used for processing a partially assembled article of footwear, the method comprising:
collecting bite line data representing a location of a bite line formed between a first shoe part and a second shoe part upon assembly of the first shoe part and the second shoe part; collecting three-dimensional profile data for at least part of a portion of the first shoe part that is to be covered by the second shoe part upon assembly of the first shoe part and the second shoe part; utilizing the bite line data and the three-dimensional profile data in combination to generate a surface map of the portion of the first shoe part that is to be covered by the second shoe part, wherein supplemental three-dimensional profile data is interpolated and/or extrapolated from the combination of the bite line data and the three-dimensional profile data and used to generate the surface map; and generating a tool path useable for processing the first shoe part, the tool path generated to be contained within an area bounded by the bite line.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising using the generated tool path to guide an adhesive application system.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the bite line is identified using a conditionally visible marking agent.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the bite line is identified using a digital stylus.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising applying a manufacturing process to the first shoe part using the generated tool path.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the manufacturing process comprises at least one of:
adhesive application, stitching, buffing, cutting, painting, scoring, and marking.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Regan Patrick Conall
• Jurkovic Dragan
• Chang Chih-Chi
• Jean Ming-Feng

Classifications

• A43D1/08

  Measuring devices for shoe parts · CPC title

• G06T19/00

  Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics · CPC title

• A43D8/00

  Machines for cutting, ornamenting, marking or otherwise working up shoe part blanks (pulling-over or lasting A43D9/00 - A43D23/00; making or fastening soles, heels or welts A43D25/00 - A43D83/00) · CPC title

• G05B2219/39393

  Camera detects projected image, compare with reference image, position end effector · CPC title

• G05B2219/45243

  Shoe, footwear making · CPC title