Robot Shoe Sole Processing with 3D Scan Offset Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated methods for processing components of sporting articles, such as shoe soles, struggle to account for material instabilities like shrinkage, distortion, or bending, leading to inaccuracies and increased production costs due to manual post-processing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that use a robot and 3D scanning to determine both global and local offsets between a computer-generated model and the real component, allowing for the generation of an optimized processing path that adapts to the actual shape and dimensions of the component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a global offset correction is applied to compensate for component position and orientation deviations, then the overall positioning accuracy is improved, but the processing accuracy deteriorates because material instabilities (shrinkage, distortion, curving, bending) cause local deviations that cannot be corrected by a single global offset
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the component into multiple spatial sections and calculates separate local offsets for each section rather than using a single global offset. This segmentation allows the system to account for local deviations caused by material instabilities in different regions of the component, thereby improving processing accuracy while maintaining the benefits of automated robot control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual processing or post-processing is performed to handle material instabilities, then processing flexibility is improved, but production costs increase and working time per component increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic processing approach where the robot system automatically adapts to component variations by calculating and applying local offsets for each spatial section. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the automated system to handle material instabilities without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining high productivity while improving processing flexibility.
3Extent of automation
If the robot follows a predetermined processing path based on CAD model, then automation level is maintained, but processing quality deteriorates because the real component no longer corresponds to the CAD model due to material instabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system scans the actual component, compares it with the CAD model, calculates local offsets for each spatial section, and automatically adjusts the processing path accordingly. This feedback loop enables the automated robot system to adapt to real component variations, maintaining both high automation level and processing quality.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for processing a component for a sporting article, in particular a shoe sole, using a robot, the method comprising: (a.) creating a first path with respect to the component to be processed, comprising a list of points or a predetermined trajectory; (b.) determining a 3D scan of the component to be processed; (c.) calculating a global offset between the first path and the 3D scan of the component to be processed; (d.) calculating a plurality of local offsets between the first path and the 3D scan of the component to be processed; (e.) creating a second path based on the first path, the calculated global offset and the calculated plurality of local offsets; and (f.) transmitting the second path to the robot which performs the processing of the component based on the second path.