Adjustable surface for use in manufacturing shoe parts
First Claim
1. An adjustable surface for use in the automated manufacture of shoe parts, the surface comprising:
- a support structure having a substantially planar support surface; and
a plurality of adjustable members coupled with the support structure, each of the plurality of adjustable members being independently adjustable in at least one direction relative to the substantially planar support surface, the at least one direction comprising a direction that is parallel to the substantially planar support surface, each of the plurality of adjustable members having an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the plurality of adjustable members are in the extended position, the plurality of members form one substantially planar top surface above the substantially planar support surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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. Vision systems may be leveraged to achieve movement and position information between and at machines and locations.
52 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An adjustable surface for use in the automated manufacture of shoe parts, the surface comprising:
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a support structure having a substantially planar support surface; and a plurality of adjustable members coupled with the support structure, each of the plurality of adjustable members being independently adjustable in at least one direction relative to the substantially planar support surface, the at least one direction comprising a direction that is parallel to the substantially planar support surface, each of the plurality of adjustable members having an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the plurality of adjustable members are in the extended position, the plurality of members form one substantially planar top surface above the substantially planar support surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification