System And Method For Applying Heat And Pressure To Three-Dimensional Articles
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSam Fisher, Jared M. Kilmer, Thomas Berend, Tony H. Le
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible manufacturing system can be used to fuse different layers of material together for forming an article of footwear. The system includes a base portion, an intermediate member and an upper member. The intermediate member includes a flexible membrane. The intermediate member can be sealed with the base portion and a vacuum can be provided to pull the flexible membrane over layers of material placed on the base portion. The upper member can be sealed against the intermediate member so that external pressure can be applied to the flexible membrane. The intermediate member and the upper member can be moved independently.
Claims20
A method of pressing materials for an article of footwear using a flexible manufacturing system, comprising:
- associating at least one material layer with a base portion of the flexible manufacturing system;
- lowering an intermediate member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the base portion so that the at least one material layer is sealed between the base portion and a flexible membrane of the intermediate member;
- lowering an upper member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the intermediate member;
- applying a vacuum between the intermediate member and the base portion;
- increasing pressure in the region between the upper member and the intermediate member;
- and thereby pressing the flexible membrane against the at least one material layer.
A method of pressing materials for an article of footwear using a flexible manufacturing system, comprising:
- associating at least one material layer with a base portion of the flexible manufacturing system;
- translating an intermediate member of the flexible manufacturing system to any height between the base portion and an upper member of the flexible manufacturing system;
- lowering the intermediate member onto the base portion so that the at least one material layer is sealed between the base portion and a flexible membrane of the intermediate member;
- applying a vacuum between the intermediate member and the base portion;
- and thereby pressing the flexible membrane against the at least one material layer.
A method of pressing materials using a flexible manufacturing system, comprising:
- placing one or more material layers on a base portion of the flexible manufacturing system;
- lowering an intermediate member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the base portion so that a fluid seal is formed between the base portion and a flexible membrane of the intermediate member, thereby the flexible manufacturing system being in a first operating mode;
- applying a vacuum between the intermediate member and the base portion in the first operating mode;
- lowering an upper member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the intermediate member so that a fluid seal is formed between the upper member and the intermediate member, thereby the flexible manufacturing system being in a second operating mode;
- increasing pressure in the region between the upper member and the intermediate member in the second operating mode;
- and thereby pressing the flexible membrane against the one or more material layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.