Digital molding and associated articles and methods
AssigneeKornit Digital Technologies Ltd.
InventorTravis Alexander Busbee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to three-dimensionally printed molds, and associated methods, for use in manufacturing articles such as footwear. In some embodiments, for example, a three-dimensionally printed mold may be a master mold that is used to manufacture a secondary mold. The secondary mold may be used, in certain embodiments, to provide a cured material that can be transferred to a substrate, such as a textile, thereby providing the manufactured article. The use of such arrangements can, according to certain embodiments, allow for the production of improved articles of footwear and/or customized articles of footwear.
Claims20
A method of curing a liquid, comprising:
- dispensing a curable liquid into a mold through a printing nozzle disposed on a robotic gantry, wherein a composition of the curable liquid is varied between at least a first portion of the composition and a second portion of the composition;
- and
- at least partially curing the curable liquid to provide an at least partially cured material.
A method of manufacturing an article, comprising:
- casting an elastomer into a first mold to provide a second mold;
- dispensing a curable liquid into the second mold;
- at least partially curing the curable liquid to provide an at least partially cured material;
- and
- transferring the at least partially cured material from the second mold to a substrate such that the at least partially cured material is adhered to the substrate, thereby providing the article.
A method of manufacturing a colored article, comprising:
- depositing one or more pigment-containing components into a mold;
- dispensing a curable liquid onto the one or more pigment-containing components;
- at least partially curing the curable liquid to provide an at least partially cured material associated with the one or more pigment-containing components;
- and
- transferring the at least partially cured material associated with the one or more pigment-containing components from the mold to a substrate such that the at least partially cured material associated with the one or more pigment-containing components is adhered to the substrate, thereby providing the colored article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.