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US 9,301,576 B2Granted
Method of printing onto an article
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTodd W. Miller, Eli R. Troyke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of printing onto an article includes placing an article on a holding assembly, flattening a portion of the article and printing onto the flattened portion of the article. Flattening can be accomplished using a flattening plate and by controlling the shape of a surface of the holding assembly using a vacuum.
Claims20
A method of printing to an upper of an article of footwear, comprising:
- placing the article of footwear onto a last portion of a holding assembly, the last portion including a first side portion filled with a plurality of bead members and further having a flexible membrane stretched over the plurality of bead members;
- flattening a side portion of the upper and the first side portion of the last portion;
- creating a vacuum within an interior cavity of the first side portion so that the flexible membrane and the plurality of bead members have a substantially rigid geometry;
- and
- printing onto the side portion of the upper.
2 more elements
A method of printing to an upper of an article of footwear, comprising:
- placing the article of footwear onto a last portion of a holding assembly, the last portion including a first side portion and a second side portion connected via a bladder member;
- inflating the bladder member so that the last portion expands and causes the article of footwear to tilt on the last portion;
- flattening a side portion of the upper;
- and
- printing onto the side portion of the upper.
2 more elements
A method of printing to an upper of an article of footwear, comprising:
- placing the article of footwear onto a last portion of a holding assembly, the last portion including a first side portion with an outer surface that is substantially deformable and the last portion including a second side portion;
- placing the holding assembly with the article of footwear on a platform;
- fastening a flattening plate to a plurality of mounting arms such that the flattening plate contacts the article of footwear;
- repositioning the upper on the last portion so that the contact area between the flattening plate and the upper increases;
- temporarily increasing the rigidity of the outer surface of the first side portion;
- removing the flattening plate;
- and
- printing onto the upper.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.