Footwear assembly method with 3d printing
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsDavid P. Jones, Ryan R. Larson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed for apparel assembly using three-dimensional printing directly onto fabric apparel materials. Disclosed is a method and system for direct three-dimensional printing and assembly of an article of apparel, including designing a three-dimensional pattern for printing, positioning at least a portion of the article on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray, printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the article using the designed pattern, curing the printed material, and removing the article from the three-dimensional printing system.
Claims20
A method of three-dimensional printing onto a footwear portion of an article of footwear, comprising:
- printing a printed layer of a three-dimensional material onto the footwear portion with a three-dimensional printing system such that the printed layer has a thickness that extends above the footwear portion,
- wherein the printed layer forms at least a portion of a sole structure of the article of footwear.
A method of three-dimensional printing onto a footwear portion of an article of footwear, comprising:
- positioning the footwear portion on a holder in a three-dimensional printing system to provide a printing substrate;
- and
- printing a printed layer of a three-dimensional material directly onto the printing substrate with a thickness that extends above the printing substrate while the footwear portion is positioned on the holder in the three-dimensional printing system,
- wherein the printing substrate comprises a surface with an irregular surface topology, wherein printing the printed layer comprises compensating for the irregular surface topology by adjusting a distance between a printhead that ejects the three-dimensional material and the printing substrate, and wherein the printed layer forms at least a portion of a sole structure of the article of footwear.
A method of fabricating an article of footwear, comprising:
- printing an outsole of a sole structure directly onto a midsole of the sole structure,
- wherein the outsole is printed onto the midsole to form a wear-resistant material that is textured to impart traction and provide durability to the sole structure, and wherein printing the outsole comprises:
- printing a first layer of a first three-dimensional material onto the midsole such that the first layer extends above the midsole with a first thickness and such that the first layer has a first width;
- printing a second layer of a second three-dimensional material onto the first layer of the first three-dimensional material such that the second layer extends above the first layer with a second thickness that is equal to or less than the first thickness and such that the second layer has a second width that is less than the first width;
- and
- curing the first layer and the second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.