Vacuum Bag Shoe Upper Sole Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of shoes, particularly sports shoes, incurs significant tool costs due to the need for expensive equipment to achieve tight contact and geometrical adjustment between the shoe upper and sole before connection.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a flexible air-tight container element, such as a plastic bag, to press together and connect the shoe upper and sole using vacuum evacuation and microwave radiation, reducing tool costs and eliminating the need for complex geometrical adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tools and equipment are used to achieve tight contact and geometrical adjustment between shoe upper and sole, then connection quality is improved, but tool costs and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible vacuum bag (thin film) to envelop the shoe upper and sole, using the bag's flexibility to conform to their shapes while maintaining tight contact. This eliminates the need for complex rigid tooling systems, directly resolving the contradiction between connection quality and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a vacuum environment (removing air) within the container element during the connection process. This inert environment prevents interference from atmospheric pressure and enables uniform contact between the shoe upper and sole without requiring complex mechanical adjustment tools.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional tools are used for production, then precise geometrical adjustment is achieved, but investment costs and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment systems with a vacuum-based system. The vacuum pressure uniformly presses the shoe upper and sole together, achieving precise geometrical adjustment without expensive mechanical tooling, thereby reducing both investment and production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum system automatically adjusts the geometrical relationship between shoe upper and sole through uniform pressure distribution. The process is self-regulating and requires minimal manual intervention or complex tooling, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining precision.
3Strength
If vacuum evacuation is used to press together shoe upper and sole, then contact tightness is improved, but additional equipment (evacuation pump) is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vacuum evacuation to create an inert environment within the container element, removing air to enable tight contact between the shoe upper and sole. The vacuum pressure provides uniform force distribution, achieving strong contact tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs vacuum pressure (pneumatic principle) to press the shoe upper and sole together. The evacuation pump creates negative pressure that uniformly distributes force across the contact surface, achieving tight contact without requiring complex mechanical pressing systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves a secure and efficient connection between the shoe upper and sole at low tool costs, with easy handling and minimal staff training, while allowing for the use of low-cost tools like a vacuum container and pump, and eliminates the need for extensive cleaning and surface preparation.
Implementation Method 1
evacuating of the container element, so that the container element presses together the joined shoe upper and the shoe sole within the container element
Implementation Method 2
the container element presses together the joined shoe upper and the shoe sole within the container element
Implementation Method 3
applying a microwaves radiation to the contact zone between the shoe upper and the shoe sole
Implementation Method 4
melting of material of the shoe upper and/or shoe sole in the contact zone between shoe upper and shoe sole and letting the molten material fuse with adjacent material
Implementation Method 5
applying a microwaves radiation to the contact zone between the shoe upper and the shoe sole
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the production of a shoe (1), especially of a sports shoe. To provide an effective and cost-efficient method for the shoe production, the invention comprises the steps: a) Production of a shoe upper (2) and of a shoe sole (3); b) Joining of the shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) and inserting the joined shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) into a flexible container element (4) which can be closed in an air-tight manner; c) Air-tight closing of the container element (4) and evacuating of the container element (4), so that the container element (4) presses together the joined shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) within the container element (4); d) Connecting the shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) within the container element (4) with another; e) Venting of the container element (4) and taking out the connected shoe upper (2) and shoe sole (3).