Automated Shoe Adhesive Application Using 3D Shape Data

The patent uses an imager to capture three-dimensional shape data of the upper, creating a digital copy of the upper's geometry. This digital model is then used to generate the tool movement path, replacing the need for physical scribe lines. The boundary of the to-be-bonded surface is identified through image processing of the digital model, enabling fully automated path generation without manual intervention.

The patent replaces the mechanical process of drawing scribe lines with an optical imaging system. The imager captures three-dimensional shape data, and software algorithms automatically identify boundaries and generate movement paths. This substitution of mechanical drawing operations with optical and computational processes achieves complete automation of the adhesive application preparation steps.

The system performs preliminary imaging to acquire three-dimensional shape data of the upper before the adhesive application process. The boundary identification and movement path generation are completed in advance based on this pre-acquired data, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual scribe line drawing for each product and thereby improving manufacturing efficiency.

The imager creates a digital three-dimensional model of the upper, which is then processed to identify the boundary of the to-be-bonded surface. This digital copying and processing approach enables rapid, accurate boundary identification without manual intervention, maintaining high precision while significantly reducing the time and labor required compared to physical scribe line methods.

The patent replaces manual mechanical drawing operations with an automated optical imaging and computational processing system. The imager captures three-dimensional shape data, and software algorithms automatically identify boundaries and generate movement paths. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual scribe line drawing process while maintaining accurate boundary marking capability.

The system uses the upper's own three-dimensional shape data, automatically captured by the imager, to identify its own boundary and generate the appropriate movement path. The upper essentially 'marks itself' through the imaging and processing system, eliminating the need for external manual marking operations and reducing both labor and time requirements.