System and method for printing functional elements onto articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427046-B2
Application number	US-201514986312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2015
Priority date	Jul 25, 2012
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A flexible manufacturing system for an article of footwear includes a printing system for printing graphics onto the footwear. The flexible manufacturing system also includes a projection system for aligning a projected graphic with a predetermined portion of the article prior to printing the graphic to the article. The graphic can include a masked portion that corresponds to a design element on the article.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of printing a functional element onto an article, the method comprising:
calibrating a display device to a printing system;
placing an article on a platform so that the article is positioned between the platform and the display device when the printing system is in a first position;
receiving functional element information at the display device;
displaying an image of the functional element using the display device;
aligning the image of the functional element so that the image of the functional element corresponds to a predetermined location on the article;
moving the printing system to a second position; and
printing the functional element onto the article in the predetermined location when the printing system is in the second position,
wherein the display device comprises a see-through screen, and wherein the step of aligning the functional element includes displaying the image of the functional element on the see-through screen so that the image of the functional element is superimposed on the article.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of aligning the functional element includes translating the image of the functional element on the display device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the see-through screen is a touch screen.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of
removing the display device prior to the step of printing the functional element onto the article; and
moving the printing system from the first position to the second position after the step of removing the display device, wherein when the printing system is in the second position, the article is positioned between the platform and a printer of the printing system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of manufacturing the article prior to the step of placing the article on the platform.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein step of printing the functional element includes printing multiple layers of ink in the predetermined location to build up structural layers on the article.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of printing the functional element includes additive printing.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of
receiving second functional element information at the display device for printing a second functional element;
displaying an image of the second functional element using the display device;
aligning the image of the second functional element so that the second functional element corresponds to a predetermined location on the article; and
printing the second functional element onto the article in the predetermined location when the printing system is in the second position.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein both the image of the first functional element and the image of the second functional element are displayed on the display device at the same time.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of aligning the image of the first functional element and the step of aligning the image of the second functional element occur simultaneously.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of printing includes printing both the first functional element and the second functional element.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing system prints ink.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing system prints a polymer material.

14. A flexible manufacturing system for an article, the flexible manufacturing system comprising:
a platform;
a printing system including a printer mounted on the platform,
wherein the printer is mounted on the platform so that the printer can move from a first configuration relative to the article to a second configuration relative to the article, and
wherein the printer is mounted to the platform at a predetermined height above the platform, and
wherein the printer includes a printing material for forming structural features on the article;

a see-through display device that is calibrated with the printing system;
wherein the article is disposed between the display device and the platform when the printing system is in the first configuration so that an image of a functional element displayed by the display device is superimposed onto the article,
wherein the display device is mounted to the platform using at least one mounting post.

15. The flexible manufacturing system of claim 14 , wherein the display device rests on the mounting post so that the display device is restricted from horizontal movement.

16. The flexible manufacturing system of claim 14 , wherein the display device is a touch screen.

17. The flexible manufacturing system of claim 14 further comprising a remote device networked to the display device.

18. The flexible manufacturing system of claim 17 , wherein the remote device includes a computing device and a second display.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Miller Todd W

Classifications

• B41J3/46

  Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication · CPC title

• A43D8/22 Primary

  by embossing or printing (printing per se, stamping per se B41) · CPC title

• B41F17/006

  for printing on curved surfaces not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B41J3/4073 Primary

  Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112) · CPC title

• A43B3/0078

  provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence) · CPC title