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US 8,755,925 B2Granted
Automated identification and assembly of shoe parts
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsPatrick Conall Regan, Kuo-Hung Lee, Chih-Chi Chang, Ming-Feng Jean, Chang-Chu Liao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.
Claims20
A method for positioning and assembling a shoe part in an automated manner during a shoe-manufacturing process, the method comprising:
- receiving an image depicting a two-dimensional representation of an attachment shoe part, which is to be attached to a base shoe part, wherein the two-dimensional representation of the attachment shoe part comprises at least one reference feature that is identified;
- determining an identity of the image by substantially matching the image to a reference image, the reference image having at least one pre-determined reference feature;
- determining pixel coordinates of the image that correspond to the at least one pre-determined reference feature;
- converting, by a computer processor, the pixel coordinates of the image to a geometric coordinate of a geometric coordinate system, which maps a three-dimensional space within which the attachment shoe part is positioned and a multi-functional manufacturing tool operates;
- determining another geometric coordinate of the geometric coordinate system by analyzing a different image depicting a two-dimensional representation of the base shoe part to which the attachment shoe part will be attached;
- transferring, by the multi-functional manufacturing tool, the attachment shoe part to the other geometric coordinate, thereby moving the attachment shoe part to a location in the three-dimensional space at which the attachment shoe part is to be attached to the base shoe part;
- and
- attaching, by the multi-functional manufacturing tool, the attachment shoe part to the base shoe part.
5 more elements
A method of positioning and joining a plurality of manufacturing parts utilizing automated identification of manufacturing parts and a manufacturing tool comprised of a vacuum-powered part holder and an ultrasonic-welding horn, the method comprising:
- automatically identifying a three-dimensional space within which a first manufacturing part of the plurality of manufacturing parts is positioned and the manufacturing tool operates;
- automatically identifying a position of a second manufacturing part of the plurality of manufacturing parts;
- based on the identified position of the first manufacturing part, positioning the manufacturing tool such that the vacuum-powered part holder is proximate to the first manufacturing part of the plurality of manufacturing parts;
- generating a vacuum force transferred through a bottom surface of the vacuum-powered part holder;
- temporarily maintaining the first manufacturing part in contact with at least a portion of the vacuum-powered part holder;
- based on the position of the second manufacturing part, transferring the first manufacturing part to the second manufacturing part of the plurality of manufacturing parts;
- releasing the first manufacturing part from the vacuum-powered part holder;
- positioning the manufacturing tool such that the ultrasonic-welding horn is proximate to the first manufacturing part where the first manufacturing part is contacting the second manufacturing part;
- and
- applying ultrasonic energy through the ultrasonic-welding horn, wherein the ultrasonic energy is effective for joining the first manufacturing part with the second manufacturing part.
7 more elements
A system that positions and attaches a shoe part in an automated manner during a shoe-manufacturing process, the system comprising:
- an image recorder that records an image depicting a two-dimensional representation of an attachment shoe part, which is to be attached to a base shoe part;
- computer storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to:
- (A) identify a plurality of reference features of the two-dimensional representation of the attachment shoe part,
- (B) determine pixel coordinates of the image that corresponds to the plurality of reference features,
- (C) convert the pixel coordinates of the image to a geometric coordinate in a geometric coordinate system, which maps a three-dimensional space within which the attachment shoe part is positioned and a manufacturing tool operates, and
- (D) determine another geometric coordinate in the geometric coordinate system by analyzing a different image of the base shoe part;
- and
- the manufacturing tool comprising:
- (A) a vacuum-powered part holder having a bottom surface adapted for contacting the attachment shoe part, and
- (B) an ultrasonic-welding horn coupled to the vacuum-powered part holder, the ultrasonic-welding horn comprised of a distal end adapted for contacting the attachment part such that the distal end extends at least to a plane defined by the vacuum-powered part holder bottom surface, wherein the manufacturing tool is notified of the other geometric coordinate and transfers the attachment shoe part to the other geometric coordinate, thereby moving the attachment shoe part to a location in the three-dimensional space at which the attachment shoe part is to be attached to the base shoe part.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.