Shoe Printing on Segmented Flat Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing processes for shoes, particularly athletic shoes, result in poor quality logos and cumbersome processes due to the use of flimsy canvas and the difficulty in printing on non-flat surfaces, making it hard to achieve consistent designs across different sizes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving pre-printing designs on individual leather or synthetic panels before assembly, where each panel has designated areas for printing, allowing for seamless integration and uninterrupted designs upon stitching, using techniques like digital or screen printing, and optionally breaking prints into stages for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If printing is done on assembled shoe panels, then the design can be applied to the shoe, but the printing quality deteriorates due to non-flat surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe upper is divided into multiple separate panels that are printed individually while flat, then assembled together. This segmentation allows each panel to be printed on a flat surface for high quality, while the complete design is formed by assembling the printed panels, resolving the contradiction between printing quality and process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing is performed on the panels before they are assembled into the shoe. By preparing the panels in advance while they are in a flat state, the printing process achieves high precision without the complications of printing on curved, assembled surfaces.
2Manufacturing precision
If flimsy canvas material is used for printing, then the printing process can be simplified, but the logo quality and durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter is changed from flimsy canvas to sturdy leather or synthetic material. This parameter change improves logo quality and durability while the printing process remains simplified by using standard printing techniques on the flat panels, resolving the contradiction between logo quality and equipment complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If printing is done on assembled panels, then the design can be applied to the shoe, but the process becomes cumbersome and difficult to adjust for different sizes
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shoe into separate printable panels, the design can be adjusted for different sizes more easily. Each panel can be independently scaled and prepared, allowing for better adaptability to different shoe sizes while reducing the overall printing process time compared to printing on fully assembled panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are prepared and printed in advance while flat, allowing for easy size adjustments to be made during the preparation stage. This preliminary action enables flexible adaptation to different shoe sizes before assembly, reducing the time required for final adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method of assembling a shoe including a printed design for providing flat material having a first designated area and a second designated area, printing a first portion of the design on the first designated area and printing a second portion of the design on the second designated area, separating the designated areas into individual panels and assembling each panel, so that the first portion of the design joins the second portion of the design when each panel is arranged side by side to form an uninterrupted and complete design.