Automated Shoe Assembly

Abstract

A method for assembling a shoe upper and a bottom unit includes digitally determining a bite line on the shoe upper. The method further includes storing a set of data representing the bite line in a computing device. The method also includes utilizing the set of data to automatically indicate the location of an actual physical bite line on the shoe upper.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assembling a shoe upper and a sole unit, the method comprising:
 digitally determining a bite line on the shoe upper;   storing a set of data representing the bite line in a computing device;   utilizing the set of data to automatically indicate a location of an actual physical bite line on the shoe upper.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the digitally determining step includes:
 mating the shoe upper and sole unit temporarily; 
 taking a first three dimensional representation of the mated shoe upper and sole unit; 
 separating the shoe upper from the sole unit; 
 taking a second three dimensional representation of one of the shoe upper and the sole unit; and 
 determining the digital bite line by comparing the first three dimensional representation and the second three dimensional representation. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the location of the physical bite line is indicated by automatically drawing a line on the shoe upper based on the set of data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the location of the physical bite line is indicated by automatically buffing a region of the shoe upper based on the set of data such that an edge of the resulting buffed region indicates the location of the physical bite line.