Automated Shoe Part Assembly Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual methods of shoe manufacturing are resource-intensive and prone to high variability, necessitating the development of an automated system for assembling and stitching shoe parts to enhance efficiency and consistency.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that uses conveyance mechanisms and vision systems to synchronize the movement of shoe parts and a stitching machine, allowing for precise positioning and permanent attachment of shoe parts at preset relative positions, with adjustable stacking surfaces and shared control mechanisms for synchronized movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual methods are used for shoe manufacturing, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but resource consumption increases and variability is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated system that uses vision guidance and synchronized control. The stitching machine and conveyance mechanism are controlled through automated coordination, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with a integrated automated system that improves consistency while maintaining resource efficiency.
2Productivity
If automated stitching is implemented, then manufacturing efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared control mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls the stitching machine needle movements, manages the conveyance mechanism motion, and coordinates the synchronization between these components. This multi-functional control system reduces overall system complexity by using a single control architecture rather than separate control systems for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared control mechanism acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the stitching machine and the conveyance mechanism. It manages the synchronization of their movements without requiring direct complex interaction between the two machines, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Manufacturing precision
If synchronized control is used for conveyance mechanism and stitching needle, then positioning precision improves, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses vision systems to detect the position of shoe parts and provides feedback to the shared control mechanism. This feedback enables the control system to adjust and synchronize the movements of the conveyance mechanism and stitching needle in real-time, achieving precise positioning while managing control complexity through closed-loop control.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated manner. For example, shoe parts may be retrieved and temporarily assembled according to preset relative positions to form part stacks. The part stacks may be retrieved with the relative positioning of the shoe parts being maintained and placed at a stitching machine for more permanent attachment via stitching of the parts to form a shoe assembly. Movement during stitching of a conveyance mechanism that transfers the part stack from the stacking surface to the stitching machine and movement of a needle associated with the stitching machine may be controlled by a shared control mechanism such that the movements are synchronized with respect to one another. Image capture devices may be leveraged to achieve movement and position information between and at machines and locations.