Box lacing channel for automated footwear platform

An article of footwear comprising:

• a sole structure comprising a medial side and a lateral side;
• an upper connected to the sole structure;
• and
• a footwear lacing apparatus located in the sole structure, the footwear lacing apparatus comprising:
• a housing structure defining a lacing channel extending from the medial side of the sole structure to the lateral side of the sole structure;
• a spool disposed in the lacing channel;
• and
• a drive mechanism coupling with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool.

An article of footwear comprising:

• a sole structure comprising a medial side and a lateral side;
• an upper connected to the sole structure, the upper including a plurality of lace guides;
• a footwear lacing apparatus located in the sole structure, the footwear lacing apparatus comprising:
• a housing structure defining a lacing channel extending between the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure;
• a spool disposed in the lacing channel;
• and
• a drive mechanism coupling with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool;
• and
• a lace cable comprising first and second ends attached to the upper and a middle portion extending through the plurality of lace guides and the housing structure within the sole structure to pass through the spool.