Platen for direct digital printing onto a shoe

A system for stretching a surface of a shoe for digitally printing onto the surface by an external device, the system comprising an apparatus and a controller being in electrical communication with the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a main plate configured to receive and provide support for the shoe;
• a side arm associated with the main plate, the side arm being adapted to traverse longitudinally along an edge of a medial portion of the main plate and being configured to engage with at least a portion of the tongue of the shoe;
• and
• a driver configured to cause the longitudinal traversal of the side arm, the driver having:
• an end bearing and an adjacent end connector disposed beneath the main plate;
• a rotary band attached to and extending between the end bearing and the end connector;
• an end bracket disposed opposite the end bearing and beneath the main plate;
• a driving screw extending between the end bracket and the end bearing, the driving screw being associated with the side arm;
• and
• a motor associated with the end connector, the motor being adapted to receive an electrical signal from the controller, the electrical signal selectively causing a rotation of a rotary shaft of the motor.

A method of stretching a surface of a shoe for digitally printing onto the surface using an external device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an apparatus configured to stretch the surface of the shoe and a controller being in electrical communication with the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a main plate adapted to receive and provide support to the shoe, the main plate having a curved groove disposed at a rear end of the main plate, a side arm associated with the main plate, the side arm being adapted to traverse longitudinally along a medial portion of the main plate, such that to engage at least a portion of the tongue of the shoe, and a motor adapted to receive an electrical signal from the controller, the electrical signal selectively causing a rotation of a rotary shaft of the motor;
• placing the shoe onto the main plate, such that an interior sole of the heel of the shoe abuts at least a portion of the curved groove, and such that at least a portion of the toe cap of the shoe abuts a front end of the main plate;
• and
• selectively operating the controller, such that to cause a transmitting of the electrical signal to the motor, the electrical signal selectively causing a rotation of the rotary shaft of the motor, and thus a longitudinal forward traversal of the side arm, the side arm engaging at least a portion of the tongue of the shoe, such that to stretch a surface of the shoe for subsequently digitally printing onto the surface using the external device.