Nike, Inc.

Grabit, Inc.

Nile, Inc.

Nike Innovate C.v.

Kuo-Hung Lee

Patrick Conall Regan

Chih-Chi Chang

Ming-Feng Jean

Chang-Chu Liao

Dragan Jurkovic

Yen-Hsi Liu

Harsha Prahlad

Hung-Yu Wu

Howard Fu

John Matthew Farren

Susan Kim

Richard J Casler

Matthew Thomas Leettola

Pu-Yuan Chang

Po Cheng Chen

Patrick Wang

Kenneth Tan

Tsung-Sheng Huang

Chin-Ming Chan

San-Bei Huang

Aishwarya Varadhan

John Mathew Farren

Jon Smith

Mike F Quigley

TaeHoun Kim

Tsung Tai Chien

Honam Ko

Shih-Yuan Wu

Guo-Chang Wang

Wen-Ruei Chang

Qingde Chen

Chang-chu Liao

Wen-Ru Chang

Yu-Jui Liu

Greg Miller

Taehoun Kim

Tae-Houn Kim

Manufacturing of a shoe is enhanced by creating 3-D models of shoe parts. For example, a laser beam may be projected onto a shoe-part surface, such that a projected laser line appears on the shoe part. An image of the projected laser line may be analyzed to determine coordinate information, which may be converted into geometric coordinate values usable to create a 3-D model of the shoe part. Once a 3-D model is known and is converted to a coordinate system recognized by shoe-manufacturing tools, certain manufacturing steps may be automated.

Automated 3-D modeling of shoe parts

Systems and processes for packing complementary articles of footwear into a container are disclosed. The processes can include utilizing a reusable packing sheet positioned underneath complementary articles of footwear to transfer the complementary articles of footwear into a container. The processes can also include removing the reusable packing sheet from underneath the complementary articles of footwear while the complementary articles of footwear remain positioned in the container. Additional processes can include aligning and sizing complementary articles of footwear for packing in a container.

Systems and processes for packing articles of footwear

Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.

Automated manufacturing of shoe parts with a pickup tool

The present invention provides systems, methods, and apparatus for a vacuum tool having a switchable plate, such that a common vacuum tool may be adapted with different plates. A switchable plate may form the entirety of the vacuum tool's material contacting surface or a switchable plate may form a portion of the material contacting surface. The vacuum tool is effective for picking and placing one or more manufacturing parts utilizing a vacuum force.

Manufacturing tool

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

Automated identification and assembly of shoe parts

An apparatus for picking up and positioning an item includes a vacuum assembly capable of applying a suction force to the item. The apparatus further includes an item engaging plate positioned adjacent the vacuum assembly in a first position for engaging with and picking the item. The engaging plate is moveable to a second position by one or more actuators that reduce a suction force experienced at the engaging plate to deposit or place the item. The one or more fans may additionally be controlled to limit a suction force generated during a disengagement operation where the item is being deposited or placed.

Item pick-up system

Manufacturing tool with selective activation of pickup zones

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.

Methods and systems for electroadhesion-based manipulation in manufacturing

Aspects relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for a manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool is comprised of a vacuum tool and an ultrasonic welder as a unified manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool may be used to pick and position a manufacturing part that is then welded with the associated ultrasonic welder.

Multi-functional manufacturing tool

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with vacuum for the pick up and release of materials, respectively.

Methods and systems for combined negative pressure and electroadhesion-based manipulation in manufacturing

Growing community of inventors

Douliu, Taiwan

Kuo-Hung Lee