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.