A production line for detecting waterproofness of a shoe upper and a method for detecting waterproofness

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of finished shoe upper detection, and specifically relates to a detection line and a detection method for detecting the waterproof performance of a shoe upper, comprising a conveying mechanism, a central control unit, a pre-drying assembly, a non-destructive testing assembly and a post-detection sorting unit arranged in sequence along the feeding direction on the conveying mechanism; the non-destructive testing assembly comprises a detection frame, and a surface detection unit and an internal detection unit are arranged on the detection frame and used for detecting surface defects of the shoe upper and internal structural defects of the shoe upper, respectively; the pre-drying assembly comprises a drying mechanism and a moisture detection mechanism, and a to-be-tested product rejection unit for rejecting shoe bodies with drying effects not meeting the expected drying effect is arranged between the moisture detection mechanism and the surface detection unit. The present application can effectively detect the waterproof performance of the shoe upper without damaging the shoe upper, and improve the detection efficiency, accuracy and degree of automation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of footwear processing technology, specifically to a production line and testing method for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers. Background Technology

[0002] With the booming development of outdoor sports, hiking, and other leisure activities, the requirements for the waterproof performance of footwear products are increasing. ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) films have micropores much smaller than water droplets but larger than water vapor molecules, thus achieving good breathability and moisture permeability while effectively isolating liquid water. Currently, ePTFE film three-in-one composite uppers (outer fabric layer - ePTFE film layer - lining layer) are widely used in high-end shoe upper materials. After production, a pair of shoes must undergo rigorous quality testing before leaving the factory. Waterproof testing of the upper is an indispensable part of this process, and the integrity of the ePTFE film is the most important factor affecting the waterproof performance of the upper.

[0003] Existing waterproof performance testing technologies typically involve fixing the fabric to a clamp, continuously injecting water and applying pressure on one side, and observing water seepage on the other side. Chinese utility model patent CN223346680U discloses a device for testing the waterproof performance of shoe uppers. This device stretches the shoe upper using a clamping mechanism, sprays it, and combines this with a hot air system to simulate a wearing environment. Finally, a moisture content analyzer monitors the water permeability of the shoe upper. However, the above method requires water injection, pressure application, stretching, spraying, and direct hot air blowing on the shoe upper. This can easily cause the shoe upper to deform and wrinkle due to water pressure, external force stretching, and rapid thermal expansion and contraction, and may even damage the ePTFE membrane. Some qualified shoe uppers may fail to pass the test, wasting shoe manufacturing materials and increasing production costs. How to achieve effective waterproof performance testing without damaging the shoe upper has become an urgent problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a production line and testing method that does not damage the ePTFE membrane when testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers, thereby enabling non-destructive testing of the waterproof performance of shoe uppers without simulating usage conditions.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A production line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers includes a conveyor mechanism for transporting shoes and a central control unit. The conveyor mechanism is sequentially equipped with a pre-drying component, a non-destructive testing component, and a post-inspection sorting unit along the feeding direction. The central control unit is electrically connected to the pre-drying component, the non-destructive testing component, and the post-inspection sorting unit. The non-destructive testing component includes a testing frame with a surface testing unit for detecting surface defects of the shoe upper and feeding the results back to the central control unit, and an internal testing unit for detecting internal structural defects of the shoe upper and feeding the results back to the central control unit. The pre-drying component includes a drying mechanism for drying the inside and outside of the shoe and a moisture detection mechanism. The moisture detection mechanism is located between the drying mechanism and the surface testing unit, and a reject unit is provided between the moisture detection mechanism and the surface testing unit. After receiving the test results from the central control unit, the post-inspection sorting unit sorts and classifies qualified or defective shoe uppers according to the judgment instructions of the central control unit.

[0006] By employing the above technical solution, the central control unit coordinates the control of each component, ensuring that the shoes to be inspected undergo drying and moisture screening before entering the inspection stage. Then, surface defect detection and internal structural defect detection are performed sequentially. Finally, the shoes are automatically sorted and categorized based on the test results. This allows for non-destructive testing of the waterproof performance of the shoe upper without damaging it. In particular, by adding pre-drying and moisture detection steps before non-destructive testing, and coordinating with the rejecting unit to pre-exclude shoes that do not meet the testing conditions, residual moisture from shoe production is prevented from interfering with the test results, improving the accuracy and stability of the testing. Simultaneously, the cooperation between the surface and internal detection units can identify both external and internal structural defects in the shoe upper, enhancing the accuracy of the test results. The automatic transport of shoes via a conveyor mechanism, the automatic rejection unit for rejecting unqualified shoes, and the automatic sorting unit for sorting inspected shoes further improve the automation level of the production line.

[0007] The above technical solution can be further configured as follows: the conveying mechanism includes a belt conveyor unit and a belt frame for conveying the shoe body from the non-destructive testing component to the post-inspection sorting unit. The belt conveyor unit passes through the non-destructive testing component and the post-inspection sorting unit in sequence. The surface inspection unit includes a surface mounting base rotatably mounted on the top of the inspection frame, a laser emitter and a photodetector mounted on the surface mounting base. The output end of the laser emitter and the input end of the photodetector are both arranged facing the shoe body transport path. The laser emitter is used to emit a laser beam towards the shoe surface, and the photodetector is used to receive the laser signal reflected from the shoe surface and convert the relevant parameters of the shoe surface into parameters. The data is fed back to the central control unit; the internal detection unit includes a terahertz wave transmitter and a terahertz wave receiver, which are set opposite each other on both sides of the shoe conveying path. The emission direction of the terahertz wave transmitter is set perpendicular to the shoe conveying direction, and the signal receiving end of the terahertz wave receiver is set facing the emission end of the terahertz wave transmitter. After the terahertz wave receiver receives the terahertz wave emitted by the terahertz wave transmitter and penetrates the shoe, it feeds back the distribution characteristic signal of the terahertz wave after penetrating the shoe to the central control unit; the central control unit controls the post-inspection sorting unit to sort the shoes based on the analysis of the information fed back by the surface detection unit and the internal detection unit.

[0008] By employing the above technical solution and integrating optical and terahertz wave technologies, a multimodal, high-precision non-contact detection system is constructed. The belt conveyor unit provides a stable and continuous transportation foundation, while the surface detection unit models the outer surface of the shoe upper using laser scanning. Its working principle is as follows: a laser emitter projects a high-precision laser beam onto the moving shoe upper. When surface defects such as wrinkles or scratches exist, the intensity, shape, or position of the reflected light undergoes characteristic changes. A photoelectric receiver captures these changes and converts them into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the central control unit. The central control unit uses these electrical signals to create an image and model, and analyzes the image and model. By comparing parameters with preset images and models, it analyzes whether the current shoe upper has defects such as stains based on the image, and whether the shoe upper surface has defects such as scratches, wrinkles, and holes based on the model. A rotatable surface mount allows the laser beam to be adjusted to scan areas of varying curvature on the shoe upper from different angles, ensuring comprehensive detection without blind spots. A terahertz wave transmitter generates and emits a terahertz beam that penetrates vertically through the moving sandwich structure of the shoe upper. A terahertz wave receiver on the other side receives the penetrated beam. Because terahertz waves can penetrate non-polar, non-metallic materials such as textiles and polymer films, but produce significant absorption, scattering, or phase changes on internal structural defects (such as film fractures, air bubbles, and water-permeable holes), the central control unit can reconstruct the microscopic state of the ePTFE film layer inside the shoe upper by analyzing its intensity attenuation spectrum, spectral characteristics, and imaging information, accurately locating potential defects invisible to the naked eye. The detection covers both the macroscopic surface and the microscopic internal structure. By simultaneously analyzing the data from both, the central control unit can more comprehensively and reliably evaluate the overall waterproof performance of the shoe upper, thereby achieving precise control of the post-inspection sorting unit.

[0009] The above technical solution can be further configured as follows: the conveying mechanism includes a mesh belt conveyor unit and a mesh belt frame for conveying the shoe body from the pre-drying component to the non-destructive testing component; the mesh belt conveyor unit and the belt conveyor unit are connected sequentially along the feeding direction; the drying mechanism includes a tunnel furnace body covering the conveying mechanism; the tunnel furnace body has an inlet and an outlet at both ends along the shoe body conveying direction; a circulating fan and a drive motor for driving the circulating fan are fixedly installed on the outer side of the top of the tunnel furnace body; an exhaust port is provided at the top of the tunnel furnace body; the exhaust port is connected to the outlet of the circulating fan through an exhaust pipe; the tunnel furnace body is close to the mesh belt conveyor unit. A return air vent is located below the furnace body, and the return air vent is connected to the air inlet of the circulating fan through a return air duct. The air inside the tunnel furnace body is discharged from the exhaust vent and then flows back to the circulating fan through the return air vent. A heating element is located below the exhaust vent in the tunnel furnace body, and a temperature sensor is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the tunnel furnace body. A thermostat is installed on the outside of the tunnel furnace body, and the thermostat is electrically connected to the circulating fan, the heating element, and the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor monitors the internal temperature of the tunnel furnace body in real time and feeds it back to the thermostat. The thermostat adjusts the output power of the heating element and the circulating fan in real time according to the temperature data to keep the temperature of the tunnel furnace body constant.

[0010] Using the above technical solution, the mesh belt conveyor unit uses a mesh belt as the conveyor belt. Hot air passes through the mesh belt conveyor unit from above the shoe body, forming a closed drying chamber through the tunnel furnace. This chamber, along with the circulating fan, heating elements, and temperature sensors, forms a closed-loop circulating hot air system. The working principle is as follows: the heating elements heat the air inside the chamber, and the circulating fan, as the power source, blows air out from the exhaust vent at the top and into the tunnel furnace through the exhaust duct. The hot air flows from top to bottom within the furnace, drying the shoe body on the mesh belt. The hot air is then drawn back into the furnace by the circulating fan through the return air vent and return air duct at the bottom, forming a closed air circulation loop. The temperature sensor monitors the furnace temperature in real time and feeds it back to the temperature controller. The temperature controller adjusts the power of the heating elements and the speed of the circulating fan to precisely stabilize the drying temperature at the set value. This technical solution can safely and efficiently process the shoe body to an ideal drying state, creating stable and reliable initial conditions for subsequent accurate testing.

[0011] The above technical solution can be further configured as follows: the moisture detection mechanism includes a water detection frame installed at the outlet of the tunnel furnace body. The water detection frame includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part fixed to both sides of the conveying mechanism. The water detection frame also includes an installation part with both ends connected to the upper ends of the first connecting part and the upper ends of the second connecting part, respectively. An infrared moisture detection probe is installed on the lower side of the installation part. The infrared moisture detection probe is set towards the conveying mechanism. The infrared moisture detection probe can perform non-contact detection of the moisture content information of the shoe surface and feed the detection result back to the central control unit. The central control unit judges the dryness of the shoe body according to the information fed back by the infrared moisture detection probe and controls the test product rejection unit to reject the shoe body.

[0012] Using the above technical solution, a non-contact infrared moisture detection technology is employed. A water detection rack spans a mesh belt, and the infrared moisture detection probe is stably mounted on the underside of the rack, facing directly above the shoe. The probe operates based on the characteristic absorption of infrared light by water molecules at specific wavelengths: the probe emits a beam of infrared light onto the shoe surface and receives the reflected light signal. Since residual moisture on the shoe surface absorbs some infrared energy of specific wavelengths, the probe can quickly and accurately calculate the moisture content of the shoe surface by analyzing the intensity of the characteristic absorption band in the reflection spectrum. This information is then fed back to the central control unit in real time as an electrical signal. The central control unit has a preset moisture content threshold for successful drying. If a shoe's surface moisture content remains above the threshold due to insufficient time spent in the tunnel oven, abnormal initial humidity, or uneven heating, it indicates that the shoe has not met the required drying standard. If it proceeds directly to subsequent testing, the surface water film will severely interfere with the laser and terahertz wave signals, leading to misjudgment. At this point, the central control unit will immediately issue an instruction to control the downstream product rejection unit to remove the shoe body from the main line, ensuring that every shoe body flowing into the non-destructive testing component is in a dry state, improving the accuracy of core testing, and avoiding the waste caused by mistreating unqualified dry products as waterproof defective products. At the same time, these rejected shoe bodies can be returned to the drying process for reprocessing or the cause of drying abnormalities can be checked separately, realizing refined management of the production process.

[0013] The above technical solution can be further configured as follows: the test product rejection unit includes a rejection support frame, which is fixed to one side of the shoe body conveying route on the conveying mechanism. A rejection mechanism is provided on the rejection support frame facing the shoe body conveying route. The rejection mechanism includes a first electric cylinder and a first push plate. The first electric cylinder is provided with a cylinder rod. The first push plate is provided with a connecting part connected to the cylinder rod on the side facing the first electric cylinder. A shoe pushing part for pushing down the shoe body is provided on the side of the first push plate away from the first electric cylinder. The end of the shoe pushing part away from the connecting part is recessed towards the connecting part to form an arc-shaped fitting groove. The arc-shaped fitting groove is positioned facing the shoe body conveying route. The test product rejection unit also includes a first recycling box located below the conveying mechanism and a first recycling pipe located on the side of the conveying mechanism away from the rejection support frame. The inlet end of the first recycling pipe is positioned directly opposite the first push plate, and the outlet end of the first recycling pipe is positioned facing the first recycling box.

[0014] Using the above technical solution, the rejection support frame serves as the foundation of the entire unit, firmly installed on the side of the conveyor mechanism to provide reaction force support for the rejection action. The first electric cylinder serves as the power source, providing linear thrust through the extension and retraction of the cylinder rod. The first push plate converts the cylinder power into an effective rejection action. The structural design of the first push plate matches the shape characteristics of the shoe body: the pushing part is the part that directly contacts the shoe body, and its front end is designed with an arc-shaped fitting groove whose curvature matches the arc-shaped outline of common shoe bodies. When the first electric cylinder receives a command from the central control unit, it drives the cylinder rod to extend, pushing the first push plate toward the target shoe body on the conveyor belt. At this time, the arc-shaped fitting groove fits the arc-shaped side of the shoe body, forming surface contact, which increases the contact area and makes the thrust distribution more uniform, avoiding scratches or indentations on the shoe surface that may be caused by excessive local stress; surface contact can more stably control the shoe body posture, preventing the shoe body from accidentally rotating or tipping over during the pushing process, ensuring that it is accurately and smoothly pushed away from the conveyor belt and guided into the first recycling box below through the first recycling pipe.

[0015] The above technical solution can be further configured as follows: the post-inspection sorting unit includes a sorting support frame fixedly installed on one side of the conveying mechanism and a pushing mechanism installed on the sorting support frame. The pushing mechanism includes a second electric cylinder fixedly installed on the sorting support frame and a second push plate connected to the output end of the second electric cylinder. The second electric cylinder can drive the second push plate to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the shoe body transport path. The post-inspection sorting unit also includes a second recycling box installed below the conveying mechanism and a second recycling pipe installed on the side of the conveying mechanism away from the sorting support frame. The inlet end of the second recycling pipe is set directly opposite the second push plate, and the outlet end of the second recycling pipe is set towards the second recycling box.

[0016] The above technical solution provides a simple and reliable automated sorting end-point execution scheme, achieving a closed loop from detection results to physical sorting. The sorting support frame provides a stable mounting base for the pushing mechanism. The pushing mechanism is the core of the sorting action; it is cylinder-driven and features fast response, precise movement, and simple maintenance. The second pusher plate is directly connected to the output end of the second electric cylinder, and its plate structure can cover the effective width of the shoe body. Its working principle is as follows: When the shoe body is transported to the post-inspection sorting station via the belt conveyor unit, the central control unit has made a final judgment on whether the shoe body is qualified or defective based on all the aforementioned detection data. If it is determined to be defective, the central control unit sends a signal to the second electric cylinder, which drives the second pusher plate to extend rapidly, its movement direction perpendicular to the conveyor belt's forward direction. The second pusher plate contacts the shoe body laterally, and with the cooperation of the conveyor belt's forward movement, pushes the shoe body laterally away from the main path of the conveyor belt, allowing it to enter the defective product collection box below through the guide of the second recycling pipe. Qualified shoes continue to move forward with the conveyor belt into the qualified product collection area. The second recycling box, located below the conveyor belt, catches the defective products that fall, facilitating centralized collection and processing. The entire sorting process requires no manual intervention, resulting in high sorting efficiency and a high degree of automation.

[0017] A non-destructive testing method for the waterproofness of shoe uppers based on the above-mentioned device includes the following steps: S1: Place the shoe body to be inspected on the conveyor mechanism, which will transport the shoe body to the pre-drying component in sequence; the drying mechanism of the pre-drying component will simultaneously apply hot air to the inner and outer surfaces of the shoe body to remove residual moisture from the surface and inner cavity of the shoe body; S2: After drying, the moisture detection unit performs non-contact detection on the surface moisture content of the shoe and feeds the detection results back to the central control unit. The central control unit analyzes the detection results: if the moisture content is higher than the set threshold, the central control unit controls the test product rejection unit to remove the shoe from the conveying mechanism; if the moisture content is lower than or equal to the set threshold, the conveying mechanism will continue to transport the shoe to the non-destructive testing component. S3: After the shoe body enters the non-destructive testing component, the surface inspection unit performs defect detection on the shoe surface and feeds back the detection results to the central control unit. After receiving the detection results, the central control unit analyzes the surface quality of the shoe surface: if the surface quality of the shoe surface meets the preset surface parameters, the analysis is completed and the process proceeds to step S4; if the surface quality of the shoe surface does not meet the preset surface parameters, the analysis is completed and the process proceeds to step S5. S4: The internal inspection unit detects defects in the internal structure of the shoe upper and feeds the inspection results back to the central control unit, which then analyzes the quality of the internal structure of the shoe upper. S5: The central control unit comprehensively analyzes the test results and makes a final judgment. After receiving the test results provided by the central control unit, the post-inspection sorting unit sorts and classifies the shoes according to the judgment instructions of the central control unit: shoes judged as qualified are sorted to the qualified product area; shoes judged as defective are sorted to the defective product area.

[0018] Using the above technical solution, pre-drying in step S1 is a necessary pretreatment. It removes interference sources through a non-contact hot air method, creating a clean signal environment for high-sensitivity non-destructive testing. Step S2 introduces the first decision point, quantifying and instantly screening the drying effect based on objective data from infrared moisture detection. This ensures the consistency of input samples in subsequent core testing stages, allowing substandard dried products to be pre-processed and optimizing the efficiency and accuracy of the main testing line. Steps S3 and S4 employ a progressive testing logic: surface testing quickly removes shoes with obvious macroscopic defects, preventing them from entering the more complex and time-consuming internal testing stages, thus improving overall testing efficiency. Only shoes that pass surface testing proceed to the internal testing in step S4, where the penetrating power of terahertz waves is used to thoroughly evaluate the microscopic integrity of key waterproof structures such as the ePTFE film layer. Step S5 is the final decision and execution stage. The central control unit integrates surface parameters and internal structural information, uses a preset algorithm model for final judgment, and instructs the post-inspection sorting unit to complete physical sorting, achieving an automated closed loop from information collection and analysis to action execution.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following beneficial effects: This application establishes a waterproof non-destructive testing solution suitable for footwear processing production lines by setting up pre-drying, moisture detection, surface inspection, internal inspection, and post-inspection sorting processes, with a central control unit coordinating and controlling each process. This solution enables comprehensive identification of surface defects, internal structural defects, and suspected defect areas on the shoe upper without damaging the upper. It reduces material waste, improves testing efficiency, automation, and adaptability to continuous production. Furthermore, pre-drying reduces the interference of residual moisture on the test results, further enhancing the accuracy, stability, and reliability of the testing.

[0020] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the rear structure of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the test sample rejection unit in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the non-destructive testing component structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the test sample rejection unit structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Labeling notes: 1. Conveying mechanism; 2. Central control unit; 3. Detection frame; 4. Pre-drying assembly; 41. Drying mechanism; 411. Tunnel furnace body; 412. Circulating fan; 413. Exhaust duct; 414. Return air duct; 415. Heating element; 416. Temperature sensor; 417. Temperature controller; 42. Moisture detection mechanism; 421. Water detection frame; 4211. First connecting part; 4212. Second connecting part; 4213. Mounting part; 4213. Infrared moisture detection probe; 422. Non-destructive testing assembly; 5. Surface detection unit; 51. Surface mounting base; 512. Laser emitter. Photoelectric receiver 513, internal detection unit 52, terahertz wave transmitter 521, terahertz wave receiver 522, post-inspection sorting unit 6, sorting support frame 61, second electric cylinder 621, second push plate 622, second recycling pipe 63, second recycling box 64, test item rejection unit 7, rejection support frame 71, first electric cylinder 721, first push plate 722, connecting part 7221, shoe pushing part 7222, arc-shaped bonding groove 7223, first recycling pipe 73, first recycling box 74, mesh belt conveyor unit 11, belt conveyor unit 12. Detailed Implementation

[0022] like Figure 1 - Figure 5 As shown, the production line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers according to the present invention includes at least the following technical solutions: A production line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers includes a conveyor mechanism 1 for continuously conveying shoe bodies, a central control unit 2 as the control core, and a testing frame 3 set on the conveying path of the conveyor mechanism 1. The conveyor mechanism 1 is sequentially equipped with a pre-drying component 4, a non-destructive testing component 5, and a post-inspection sorting unit 6 along the feeding direction. The central control unit 2 is installed below the conveyor mechanism 1 and is connected to the pre-drying component 4, the non-destructive testing component 5, and the post-inspection sorting unit 6 via electrical signal lines to automate and coordinate the entire testing process. The pre-drying component 4 is responsible for drying the shoe bodies and screening out substandard products. It includes a drying mechanism 41 and a moisture detection mechanism 42, which is located at the outlet of the drying mechanism 41. Between the moisture detection mechanism 42 and the subsequent non-destructive testing component 5, there is a reject unit 7 for removing substandard shoe bodies from the main conveyor line. The non-destructive testing component 5 is the core testing unit, installed on the testing frame 3. It includes a surface testing unit 51 for detecting defects on the shoe upper surface and an internal testing unit 52 for detecting defects in the internal structure of the shoe upper (especially the ePTFE film layer). Both units feed the test data back to the central control unit 2 in real time. The post-inspection sorting unit 6 receives the comprehensive judgment instructions from the central control unit 2 and automatically sorts the shoes that are ultimately judged as qualified or defective to different areas.

[0023] The conveying mechanism 1 is specifically composed of two interconnected conveying units with different functions. The first section is a mesh belt conveyor unit 11 and its supporting frame for conveying the shoe body from the pre-drying component 4 to the non-destructive testing component 5. The second section is a belt conveyor unit 12 and its supporting frame for conveying the shoe body from the non-destructive testing component 5 to the post-inspection sorting unit 6. The mesh belt conveyor unit 11 and the belt conveyor unit 12 are connected end-to-end along the feeding direction to ensure continuous flow of the shoe body within the device. It should be noted that the mesh belt conveyor unit 11 in this structure uses a mesh belt as the conveying surface, the purpose of which is to allow hot air to pass through the mesh after drying the shoe body from above; while the belt conveyor unit 12 provides a stable bearing surface through the belt, preventing the perforated structure of the mesh belt from affecting the accuracy of the laser-scanned model.

[0024] The drying mechanism 41 of the pre-drying assembly 4 includes a tunnel furnace 411 covering the mesh belt conveyor unit 11. The tunnel furnace 411 has an inlet and an outlet at both ends along the shoe conveying direction for the shoes to enter and exit. A circulating fan 412 and its drive motor are installed on the outer top of the tunnel furnace 411. An exhaust port is opened at the top of the tunnel furnace 411, which is connected to the outlet of the circulating fan 412 via an exhaust duct 413. A return air port is located near the bottom of the mesh belt conveyor unit 11 in the tunnel furnace 411, which is connected to the inlet of the circulating fan 412 via a return air duct 414. The circulating fan 412 drives air to form a closed loop within the tunnel furnace 411, the exhaust duct 413, and the return air duct 414. A heating element 415 located below the exhaust port heats the circulating air to form constant-temperature hot air, which is blown from the top onto the shoes on the mesh belt to dry them. A temperature sensor 416 installed on the inner wall of the tunnel furnace body 411 monitors the internal temperature in real time and transmits the signal to an external temperature controller 417. The temperature controller 417 automatically adjusts the power of the heating element 415 and the speed of the circulating fan 412 according to the deviation between the set temperature and the real-time temperature, thereby keeping the internal temperature of the tunnel furnace body 411 constant.

[0025] A moisture detection mechanism 42 is installed at the outlet of the tunnel furnace 411 and includes a water detection frame 421 spanning the conveying mechanism 1. The water detection frame 421 consists of a first connecting part 4211 and a second connecting part 4212 respectively fixed on both sides of the conveying mechanism 1, and a mounting part 4213 connecting the upper ends of the two. An infrared moisture detection probe 422 is installed on the lower side of the mounting part 4213, facing the conveying mechanism 1. Its working principle is as follows: when the dried shoe body is transported out of the tunnel furnace 411 and passes under the infrared moisture detection probe 422, the infrared moisture detection probe 422 emits infrared light of a specific wavelength onto the shoe surface in a non-contact manner and receives the reflected light. By analyzing the characteristic absorption intensity of water molecules in the spectrum, the real-time moisture content of the shoe surface is calculated and the data is sent to the central control unit 2. The central control unit 2 has a preset qualified moisture content threshold parameter. If the detected value is higher than the threshold parameter, it is determined that the shoe body is not sufficiently dried and is not suitable for subsequent precision testing.

[0026] The rejecting unit 7 is located after the moisture detection mechanism 42 and before the non-destructive testing component 5. It includes a rejecting support frame 71 fixed to one side of the conveying mechanism 1. A rejecting mechanism, consisting of a first electric cylinder 721 and a first pusher plate 722, is mounted on the rejecting support frame 71 facing the shoe's conveying path. The cylinder rod of the first electric cylinder 721 is fixedly connected to a connecting portion 7221 on one side of the first pusher plate 722. The other side of the first pusher plate 722 has a pushing part 7222 for pushing down the shoe body. The end of the pushing part 7222 is recessed inward to form an arc-shaped fitting groove 7223, the curvature of which is designed to match the arc contour of the shoe's side surface to increase the contact area, apply force evenly, and avoid damaging the shoe surface. On the side of the conveying mechanism 1 away from the rejecting support frame 71, a first recycling pipe 73 is provided, its inlet facing the movement path of the first pusher plate 722. A first recycling box 74 is placed below the outlet of the first recycling pipe 73. When the central control unit 2 determines that a certain shoe body needs to be removed based on the moisture detection result, it sends a command to the first electric cylinder 721. The first electric cylinder 721 drives the first push plate 722 to extend. The arc-shaped fitting groove 7223 of the shoe pushing part 7222 contacts and pushes the shoe body, so that it smoothly leaves the main conveyor line and slides down through the first recycling pipe 73 into the first recycling box 74 for centralized collection.

[0027] The surface inspection unit 51 of the non-destructive testing component 5 includes a surface mounting base 511 rotatably mounted on the top of the inspection frame 3. A laser emitter 512 and a photodetector 513 are mounted on the surface mounting base 511, both with their optical central axes oriented towards the shoe transport path on the belt conveyor unit 12 below. The laser emitter 512 projects a laser beam onto the moving shoe surface, and the photodetector 513 receives the laser signal reflected from the shoe surface. The photodetector 513 converts the shoe surface parameters into electrical signals and transmits them to the central control unit 2. When the shoe surface has defects such as wrinkles, scratches, or holes, the intensity, spot shape, or spatial distribution of the reflected light will undergo characteristic changes. The central control unit 2 processes and analyzes the signals, comparing them with preset standard shoe surface model parameters to determine whether the shoe surface quality is qualified. The internal inspection unit 52 of the non-destructive testing component 5 includes a terahertz wave emitter 521 and a terahertz wave receiver 522 positioned opposite each other on both sides of the belt conveyor unit 12. The terahertz wave transmitter 521 emits power perpendicular to the transport direction of the shoe body, while the signal receiving end of the terahertz wave receiver 522 is positioned directly opposite the transmitter. Its working principle is as follows: the terahertz wave transmitter 521 generates and emits a terahertz beam that penetrates vertically through the moving shoe body (including the upper, ePTFE film, and lining layers). The terahertz wave receiver 522, located on the other side, receives the penetrated beam. Due to microscopic defects within the ePTFE film layer (such as film ruptures, air bubbles, or water-permeable pores), specific absorption, scattering, or phase modulation occurs in the terahertz waves, causing changes in the intensity distribution or spectral characteristics of the received beam. The terahertz wave receiver 522 feeds these characteristic signals back to the central control unit 2. The central control unit 2 analyzes these signals to reconstruct the state of the internal structure of the shoe upper. If the size of the internal defects is within a set threshold, the shoe is determined to be a qualified product; if the size of the internal defects exceeds the set threshold, the shoe is determined to be a defective product.

[0028] The post-inspection sorting unit 6 is located at the end of the belt conveyor unit 12. It includes a sorting support frame 61 fixedly mounted on one side of the conveyor mechanism 1. A pushing mechanism is installed on the sorting support frame 61, consisting of a second electric cylinder 621 and a second pusher plate 622 connected to its output end. The second electric cylinder 621 drives the second pusher plate 622 to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the shoe's transport path. On the side of the conveyor mechanism 1 away from the sorting support frame 61, a second recycling pipe 63 is provided, with its inlet facing the movement path of the second pusher plate 622. A second recycling box 64 for collecting defective products is placed below the outlet of the second recycling pipe 63. Qualified shoes continue to move forward with the belt conveyor unit 12 and fall into the qualified product collection area (not shown in the figure). Its working principle is as follows: the central control unit 2, after integrating feedback information from the surface detection unit 51 and the internal detection unit 52, makes a final quality judgment on the current shoe. If the product is determined to be defective, the central control unit 2 controls the second electric cylinder 621 to push the second pusher plate 622 to push the shoe body laterally away from the main conveyor line, so that it falls into the second recycling box 64 through the second recycling pipe 63. If the product is determined to be qualified, the pushing action is not triggered, and the shoe body enters the qualified product area with the conveyor belt.

[0029] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows: The shoe body to be inspected is placed at the starting end of the mesh belt conveyor unit 11. First, the shoe body enters the tunnel oven 411 of the pre-drying component 4, where residual moisture on its surface and inside is effectively removed by circulating hot air. After drying, the shoe body is removed from the tunnel oven 411 and immediately passes over the infrared moisture detection probe 422 above. The probe 422 non-contactly measures the surface moisture content and uploads the data to the central control unit 2. The central control unit 2 compares the measured moisture content with a preset threshold. If it is higher than the threshold, the shoe body is deemed unqualified for drying, and the downstream product rejection unit 7 is immediately controlled to push it into the first recycling box 74; if it is qualified, it is allowed to continue conveying.

[0030] The qualified, dried shoe bodies, after passing moisture screening, are transferred from the mesh belt conveyor unit 11 to the belt conveyor unit 12 and then enter the workstation of the non-destructive testing component 5. Here, the laser emitter 512 of the surface inspection unit 51 emits a laser towards the shoe surface, and the photoelectric receiver 513 receives the reflected light. The central control unit 2 analyzes the reflected light signal to determine whether there are any appearance defects on the shoe surface. Subsequently, the terahertz wave emitter 521 and receiver 522 of the internal inspection unit 52 work together, and the terahertz wave beam penetrates the shoe body. The changes in the received signal are used to analyze the integrity of the internal ePTFE film layer and other structures. The central control unit 2 comprehensively analyzes the two sets of inspection data from the surface and the interior, and makes a final judgment on whether the waterproof performance of the shoe body is qualified or defective based on a preset algorithm model.

[0031] Finally, the shoe body is transported to the post-inspection sorting unit 6. The central control unit 2 controls the second electric cylinder 621 according to the final judgment result: if it is judged to be a defective product, the second pusher plate 622 is driven to push it into the second recycling pipe 63 and recycling box 64; if it is a qualified product, no action is triggered, and it falls naturally into the qualified product collection area, thereby completing the entire non-destructive testing and automated sorting process.

[0032] The above embodiments are merely one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Ordinary variations and substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention are all included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A production line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers, comprising a conveying mechanism, a central control unit, and a testing frame disposed at the conveying path of the conveying mechanism, characterized in that: The conveying mechanism is sequentially equipped with a pre-drying component, a non-destructive testing component, and a post-inspection sorting unit along the feeding direction. The central control unit is electrically connected to the pre-drying component, the non-destructive testing component, and the post-inspection sorting unit. The non-destructive testing component includes a surface testing unit mounted on a testing frame for detecting surface defects of the shoe upper and feeding back the test results to the central control unit, and an internal testing unit for detecting internal structural defects of the shoe upper and feeding back the results to the central control unit. The pre-drying component is used to dry the inside and outside of the shoe body. After receiving the test results provided by the central control unit, the post-inspection sorting unit sorts and classifies qualified or defective shoe bodies according to the judgment instructions of the central control unit.

2. The assembly line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveying mechanism includes a belt conveyor unit and a belt frame for transporting the shoe body from the non-destructive testing component to the post-inspection sorting unit. The belt conveyor unit passes sequentially through the non-destructive testing component and the post-inspection sorting unit. The surface inspection unit includes a surface mounting base rotatably mounted on the top of the inspection frame, a laser emitter and a photodetector mounted on the surface mounting base. The output end of the laser emitter and the input end of the photodetector are both oriented towards the shoe body transport path. The laser emitter emits a laser beam towards the shoe surface, and the photodetector receives the laser signal reflected from the shoe surface and feeds back relevant parameters of the shoe surface. The system then moves to a central control unit. The internal detection unit includes a terahertz wave transmitter and a terahertz wave receiver positioned opposite each other on either side of the shoe's conveying path. The terahertz wave transmitter's emission direction is perpendicular to the shoe's conveying direction, and the terahertz wave receiver's signal receiving end faces the transmitter's emission end. After receiving the terahertz waves emitted by the transmitter and penetrating the shoe, the receiver feeds back the distribution characteristic signal of the terahertz waves after penetrating the shoe to the central control unit. The central control unit then controls the post-detection sorting unit to sort the shoes based on the information fed back from the surface detection unit and the internal detection unit.

3. The production line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The conveying mechanism includes a mesh belt conveyor unit and a mesh belt frame for conveying the shoe body from the pre-drying component to the non-destructive testing component. The mesh belt conveyor unit and the belt conveyor unit are connected sequentially along the feeding direction. The drying mechanism includes a tunnel furnace body covering the conveying mechanism. The tunnel furnace body has an inlet and an outlet at both ends along the shoe body conveying direction. A circulating fan and a drive motor for driving the circulating fan are fixedly installed on the outer side of the top of the tunnel furnace body. An exhaust port is provided at the top of the tunnel furnace body, and the exhaust port is connected to the outlet of the circulating fan through an exhaust pipe. The tunnel furnace body is located near the bottom of the mesh belt conveyor unit. The tunnel furnace has a return air vent, which is connected to the air inlet of the circulating fan via a return air duct. Air inside the tunnel furnace is discharged from the exhaust vent and then flows back to the circulating fan through the return air vent. A heating element is installed below the exhaust vent in the tunnel furnace, and a temperature sensor is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the tunnel furnace. A thermostat is installed on the outside of the tunnel furnace, and the thermostat is electrically connected to the circulating fan, the heating element, and the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor monitors the internal temperature of the tunnel furnace in real time and feeds it back to the thermostat. The thermostat adjusts the output power of the heating element and the circulating fan in real time according to the temperature data to keep the temperature of the tunnel furnace constant.

4. The assembly line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers according to claim 3, characterized in that: The moisture detection mechanism includes a moisture detection frame installed at the outlet of the tunnel furnace. The moisture detection frame includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part fixed to both sides of the conveying mechanism. The moisture detection frame also includes an installation part with both ends connected to the upper ends of the first connecting part and the upper ends of the second connecting part, respectively. An infrared moisture detection probe is installed on the lower side of the installation part. The infrared moisture detection probe is positioned facing the conveying mechanism. The infrared moisture detection probe can perform non-contact detection of the moisture content information on the surface of the shoe and feed the detection result back to the central control unit. The central control unit determines the dryness of the shoe based on the information fed back by the infrared moisture detection probe and controls the test product rejection unit to reject the shoe.

5. The assembly line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers according to claim 4, characterized in that: The test item rejection unit includes a rejection support frame, which is fixed to one side of the shoe conveying route on the conveying mechanism. A rejection mechanism is provided on the rejection support frame facing the shoe conveying route. The rejection mechanism includes a first electric cylinder and a first push plate. The first electric cylinder has a cylinder rod. The first push plate has a connecting part connected to the cylinder rod on the side facing the first electric cylinder. A shoe-pushing part for pushing down the shoe is provided on the side of the first push plate away from the first electric cylinder. The end of the shoe-pushing part away from the connecting part is recessed towards the connecting part to form an arc-shaped fitting groove, which faces the shoe conveying route. The test item rejection unit also includes a first recycling box located below the conveying mechanism and a first recycling pipe located on the side of the conveying mechanism away from the rejection support frame. The inlet end of the first recycling pipe faces the first push plate, and the outlet end of the first recycling pipe faces the first recycling box.

6. The assembly line for testing the waterproofness of shoe uppers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The post-inspection sorting unit includes a sorting support frame fixedly mounted on one side of the conveying mechanism and a pushing mechanism mounted on the sorting support frame. The pushing mechanism includes a second electric cylinder fixedly mounted on the sorting support frame and a second push plate connected to the output end of the second electric cylinder. The second electric cylinder can drive the second push plate to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the shoe body transport path. The post-inspection sorting unit also includes a second recycling box mounted below the conveying mechanism and a second recycling pipe mounted on the side of the conveying mechanism away from the sorting support frame. The inlet end of the second recycling pipe is positioned opposite the second push plate, and the outlet end of the second recycling pipe is positioned towards the second recycling box.

7. A non-destructive testing method for the waterproofness of shoe uppers based on the device described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Place the shoe body to be inspected on the conveyor mechanism, which will transport the shoe body to the pre-drying component in sequence; the drying mechanism of the pre-drying component will simultaneously apply hot air to the inner and outer surfaces of the shoe body to remove residual moisture from the surface and inner cavity of the shoe body; S2: After drying, the moisture detection unit performs non-contact detection on the surface moisture content of the shoe and feeds the detection results back to the central control unit. The central control unit analyzes the detection results: if the moisture content is higher than the set threshold, the central control unit controls the test product rejection unit to remove the shoe from the conveying mechanism; if the moisture content is lower than or equal to the set threshold, the conveying mechanism will continue to transport the shoe to the non-destructive testing component. S3: After the shoe body enters the non-destructive testing component, the surface inspection unit performs defect detection on the shoe surface and feeds back the detection results to the central control unit. After receiving the detection results, the central control unit analyzes the surface quality of the shoe surface: if the surface quality of the shoe surface meets the preset surface parameters, the analysis is completed and the process proceeds to step S4; if the surface quality of the shoe surface does not meet the preset surface parameters, the analysis is completed and the process proceeds to step S5. S4: The internal inspection unit detects defects in the internal structure of the shoe upper and feeds the inspection results back to the central control unit, which then analyzes the quality of the internal structure of the shoe upper. S5: The central control unit comprehensively analyzes the test results and makes a final judgment. After receiving the test results provided by the central control unit, the post-inspection sorting unit sorts and classifies the shoes according to the judgment instructions of the central control unit: shoes judged as qualified are sorted to the qualified product area; shoes judged as defective are sorted to the defective product area.

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