Digital and Visible Bite Line Generation for Shoe Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling shoes using adhesives are inefficient and costly due to the need for meticulous handwork and high rejection rates during quality control, as they struggle to ensure proper adhesive application without overspray, which can be unsightly and detrimental to the shoe's performance.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that simultaneously generate a digital bite line and a visible bite line for guiding adhesive application, using a stylus and turntable assembly to create a digital representation of the shoe assembly, allowing for precise adhesive application and quality control, while the visible bite line is used for temporary alignment and later removed or made invisible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If meticulous handwork is used to apply adhesives, then adhesive application precision is improved, but productivity decreases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adhesive application with an automated spray system guided by digital bite line data. The system uses computer-controlled spray heads to deposit adhesive precisely along the digital bite line, eliminating the need for meticulous handwork while maintaining high precision and significantly improving productivity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (digital bite line) of the physical shoe upper geometry through 3D scanning. This digital model is then used to generate precise adhesive application paths, allowing automated systems to replicate the precision of manual application without the time and skill requirements of handwork
2Strength
If adhesive application is increased to ensure proper coverage, then bond strength is improved, but adhesive waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adhesive with locally optimized quantity and distribution based on the digital bite line geometry. The system adjusts spray parameters (flow rate, pressure, pattern) to match the specific local requirements of each region of the shoe upper, ensuring sufficient coverage for bond strength while minimizing excess adhesive application and waste
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the digital bite line as a feedback reference to continuously monitor and adjust adhesive application. By comparing actual spray patterns against the digital model, the system can detect and correct deviations in real-time, ensuring optimal adhesive coverage without over-application
3Quantity of substance
If adhesive is applied to ensure coverage, then adhesive coverage is improved, but overspray increases causing harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic spray control where spray parameters (activation, flow rate, direction) are continuously adjusted based on the real-time position of the spray head relative to the digital bite line. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain adequate coverage while minimizing overspray by activating spray only when and where needed along the complex 3D geometry
4Manufacturing precision
If digital bite line is used for adhesive application guidance, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a multi-functional system where the 3D scanning apparatus, digital model generation, and adhesive application guidance all rely on the same digital bite line data structure. This universal data format serves multiple purposes (geometry definition, adhesive path generation, quality control reference), reducing the need for separate complex subsystems and integrating functions efficiently
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A system (100) for simultaneously generating a digital bite line and a visible bite line for use in assembling a shoe (110). The system (100) includes: a turntable (160) that receives a shoe sole assembly (114) and rotates at a known rate; a press (130) that applies a predetermined pressure to a lasted shoe upper (112) to engage the lasted shoe upper (112) with a shoe sole assembly (114) retained upon the turntable (160), the press (130) operable to apply the predetermined pressure to the lasted upper (112) while the shoe sole assembly (114) and lasted upper (112) are rotated, and a stylus assembly (150) comprising a marking tip (201) that contacts the shoe upper (112) at a junction line (116) between the lasted shoe upper (112) and the shoe sole assembly (114) and a digital bite line creation unit that communicates measurements of the location of the stylus assembly (150) to a computing device (105) to generate a digital bite line representative of the measurements made of the location of the stylus assembly (150).