KR20140079731A - Machine and method for shoe assembly operations - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine (10) for assembling an upper of shoes on a liner comprises; a tensioning and fixing unit (13) including grasping and tensioning grippers (14) which are arranged to grasp and pull an edge portion of the upper to be folded over the liner and be fixated; and manual operation units (15, 16) to control tension force of the grippers. The machine additionally comprises; a recording television camera (19) facing to the shoes which is arranged on the tensioning and fixing unit (13) and is grasped by the grippers; a monitor (20) which displays an image of an area recorded by the television camera; and a control unit (21) having an electric overlapping unit which overlaps a reference image for centering the upper with the image of the area recorded by the television camera on the monitor. A method which provides a reference system for assembling the upper of the shoes on the liner with an assembling machine is described also.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001]

The present invention relates to a method and a machine for performing assembly of shoes.

[0002] In the art relating to the assembly of shoes, there are known, for example, "preassembly / assembly" types of machines which perform fixing of at least a first part of the upper part of the insole. Between the toe region of the shoe and the toe region and which is arranged in a semicircular manner to grasp the edge portion of the upper which is used for the initial assembly of the upper and arranged on the assembly head or the appropriate mold, A unit is provided that includes a number of grippers, wherein the drawn portion is still folded by the same machine and secured to the insole to secure the upper in a warnered configuration.

Therefore, the relative position of the grippers relative to the form on which the upper is placed and the force the grippers pull the material determines the accuracy and centering of the assembly operation. Errors during this operation result in defects in the assembled shoes that must be discarded later.

Although the position and tension of the grippers in recent machines can be programmed in the machine itself by the sample assembly operation, manual adjustments by the operator can be used to determine the properties of the material (often of a natural origin and therefore not standardizable ) ≪ / RTI > and the upper is only placed on the top of the mold for the first time and therefore travels during handling by the operator.

Therefore, during each assembly operation, the machine operator must perform adjustments of the grippers to achieve the desired end result. In addition, the shoe manufacturer is also confronted with the problem of ensuring, for at least a given pair, exactly mirror-symmetrical shapes of the right and left shoes for the same pair of shoes.

In terms of its delicate properties, the adjustment operation must be performed by a highly specialized person, and in particular the assembly accuracy depends on the skill of the operator or the manual measurement of the reference points. All of which are complicated by today's manufacturing requirements, including work on a large number of different models on the same day. The roughly efficient completion of this extremely delicate operation can basically determine the productivity of the shoe factory.

Nowadays it is often difficult for shoe factories to find a skilled person to perform the assembly operation of the toe area of the shoe and a suitable system to assist and provide assistance during such operation is beneficial to less specialized and costly people And / or allow the operation to be performed more quickly.

In order to provide assistance during this operation, machines have been proposed in which luminous reference crosses and / or optics for projecting points on the shoe onto the shoe are provided, Varying in size, requiring continuous manual adjustment of the projection devices. Alternatively, the projectors have to be automated and programmed to be positioned dependent on the model, which is expensive to move the projector and detect the location of the machine and the shoe.

Moreover, these luminus reference systems are difficult to use, and it is difficult for the operator to remember which portion of the shoe, each projected to the luminus reference point, is referenced correctly. With these systems, the operator must have a substantial degree of experience in any case basically in order to be able to properly center the shoe using some of the projected lumenus reference points.

Another problem is that, in terms of machine complexity and costs, if the number of reference points, and therefore the number of luminous projectors, is not increased beyond the actual acceptable level, It is inevitable that the general form of the shoe does not reliably correspond to a given model, especially with respect to fashionable shoes with surface patterns.

Moreover, it should be considered that the space available for the aiming devices is limited due to the need to keep the structure itself of other parts of the assembling machine and the footwear properly within the visible range of the operator and allow him / her to work on it do.

In any case, none of the systems shown above intended for a single pair of shoes, in any case, satisfy the problem of left / right mirror symmetry, i.e. two pairs of shoes in the same pair mirror- Can not be solved.

EP0499423 discloses an automated assembly in which the electronic control system receives the image of the shoe by the camera and controls the motion of the grippers to automatically improve positioning. Such a system does not help the operator, on the contrary, the system is intended to completely eliminate it. However, attempts to automate the function of locating the clamps inevitably make the electronic control system very complex and expensive. Notwithstanding this, the automation system can not have the same sensitivity and intelligence of the human operator, and the results are not always satisfactory or reliable.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a method of providing an assembly reference point that allows an operator of the assembly machine and shoe assembly operations to perform satisfactory adjustments of the grippers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the idea that has been developed in accordance with the present invention is to provide a method of gripping and pulling grippers comprising gripping and pulling grippers arranged to grip and pull the upper edge portion to be folded and secured over the insole, And a manual operating means for adjusting the tension of the grippers, characterized in that it comprises a machine for assembling the upper part of the shoe above the insole, characterized in that it records the image of the shoe which is arranged in the tensioning and fixing unit and gripped by the grippers A television camera; A monitor for displaying an image of a region recorded by the television camera; Characterized in that on the monitor there is provided a machine for assembling the upper of the shoe above the insole, characterized in that it comprises control means having an electronic superposing means for superimposing a reference image over the image of the region to be recorded by the television camera for centering the upper .

According to the principles of the present invention, the generated idea also includes a tensioning and adjusting unit comprising gripping and tensioning grippers arranged to grip and pull the edge portion of the upper to be folded and secured over the insole, A method of assembling an upper of a shoe on an insole with an assembling machine comprising manual operating means for engaging the shoe with a television camera arranged in a tensioning and fixing unit and gripped by grippers for assembly, The method comprising the steps of displaying a recorded image of a shoe to be assembled on a monitor overlaid on a reference image of the shoe to be assembled so as to allow comparison of the two images of the shoe to be assembled .

The comparison of the images advantageously allows for checking both the positioning of the upper on the form and the accurate arrangement of the grippers, and the machine's upper presser and other means perform the operation correctly.

In order to more clearly illustrate the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared to the prior art, examples of embodiments that apply these principles will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a schematic perspective view of an assembling machine according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the assembly area of the machine according to figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a block diagram of a reference checking system in a machine according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an assembling machine according to the present invention, indicated generally at 10 in the specification. It is a so-called "pre-assembly / assembly" type designed to perform the assembly of the upper part of the shoe above the insole. Usually with this machine, the initial assembly of the toe area of the shoe above the insole is performed.

The machine 10 has a loading and loading area 11 for positioning the shape in which the operator upper is located and for performing centring operations before the machine starts its cycle for fixing the upper on the insole ). The general structure of the machine and the work cycle it performs are basically known per se and will not be described or described in detail herein and can be easily imagined by those skilled in the art based on this description.

Basically, the machine comprises a tensioning and fixing unit 13, which is known in the region 11.

2, the tension and fastening unit 13 is also advantageously mounted on opposite sides of the mount 12 for gripping and tensioning of the edge portion of the upper to be folded and secured on the insole And a plurality of gripper grippers (14) arranged in an arcuate shape. Usually these grippers are arranged around the toe area of the shoe to grip a portion of the upper extending from the toe to the beginning of the shoe's toe area.

The grippers are connected in at least a known manner to the adjustment means to allow the operator to adjust their operation relative to the upper. Basically, the known electromechanical system 15 controls the position of grippers relative to both their distance and their height around the support.

The movement follows the command from the operator after anticipating the adjustment step, where the operator is presented with a series of known manual control devices 16 (see FIG. 1) which are suitably connected to the actuators of the electromechanical system 15 to form manually operated adjustment means ) (E.g., joystick and / or push buttons).

The tensioning and fixing unit 13 also includes known glue dispensers 17 (e.g., heating nozzles that emit a thermoplastic adhesive) that are normally located between the grippers 14 and the mount 12, And known motor-driven stretching plates 18.

As is known, by manual control devices of the adjustment means, the operator can intervene to center the upper on a form before starting the auto-assembly cycle. This cycle is repeated until the upper is centered and tensioned onto the mold, then the distribution of the proper glue over the edge area of the shoe insole and the part of the upper part released by the grippers, , Expecting a subsequent folding over the bonded edge.

In general, it is also possible to provide further operational components known as machines, for example fixed components (not shown and including, for example, upper pressers), which press the upper into a mold , The upper by the grippers themselves does not allow the upper to shrink or move for a period of time that elapses between release and closure of the stretching plate. Known pressing components (also not shown) may be provided to press the edge folded over the adhesive to an appropriate pressure.

According to the invention, the machine 10 also comprises a television camera 19 arranged on the assembly area so as to be able to record the image of the shoes arranged in the unit 13 and gripped by the grippers. As will be described below, a "television camera" is understood herein to mean an apparatus for recording moving images, as well as an apparatus for recording fixed images or pictures at appropriate time intervals.

The television camera is properly aimed vertically against the shoe so that it can be recorded from above the shoe during assembly.

The machine further comprises a monitor (20) for displaying images of the area recorded by the television camera (19) and control means (21) having electronic means for superimposing the images.

As will become apparent below, the control means 21 can advantageously receive commands via the machine's command system 22 or can receive commands from, for example, a monitor 20 or a stand- Lt; / RTI >

The circuits of the means and control means, which will be described and explained below in the form of blocks in block diagram form, may be realized by both hardware components suitably connected to the computer and appropriate programming software of a suitable microprocessor controller. Advantageously, the control means may be a microprocessor system of its own, which is suitably programmed, together with the appropriate video image processing means as a whole.

3 shows in a schematic form an assembly comprising a television camera 19, a monitor 20 and a control means 21. Fig.

The overlapping means is advantageously formed by an adder electronics circuit 29 which can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art based on the information provided here, It can be displayed superimposed on the monitor and the corresponding composite image can be transmitted to the monitor.

Advantageously, the control means 21 comprise a memory 30 for storing at least one reference image. The electronic image signals supplied by the television camera 19 and the memory 30 are added together by the circuit 29 which outputs the signals 31 of the composite image to be sent to the monitor for observation.

Basically, as shown schematically in Figure 3, because of the television camera, advantageously on the monitor, the image-upper 26 recorded from above the shoe 25 during assembly is moved between the mold 27 and the grippers Arranged on the edge 28 to be gripped-and to view both the corresponding pre-stored reference images.

Advantageously, advantageously, the plurality of reference images can be stored in the memory 30 and the control means 21 can include a command input 32 for selecting a reference image associated with the shoe to be assembled from among a plurality of images in the memory . The association may depend on the model and / or size of the shoe and on whether the shoe is the right or left shoe.

Preferably, the control means 21 also includes means 33 for introducing, in operation, the image recorded by the television camera 19, into the memory 30, by a reference image.

During the preparation of the machine for manufacturing, the reference images of the shoe that should be created are inserted into the machine, for example, using shoes that are accurately assembled to be recorded and stored by a television camera and placed sequentially in the assembly area of the machine .

In addition, during manufacture, the control means 21 can, if the control means can find a reference image associated with the shoe to be assembled in the plurality of stored reference images, then the image of such assembled shoe supplied by the television camera precisely As an additional reference image included in the stored reference images of the system 100, in operation. Thus, the operator performs the storage of the image as a sample image for subsequent assembly operations, which can manipulate the grippers with care until the upper is correctly aligned on the mold, and then repeatable faster.

In addition, advantageously, the electronic superimposing means 29 comprise inversion means 34 which, in operation, can mirror-symmetrically (with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoe) a reference image from the memory 30 . The inversion operation may be activated depending on the input command signaling the right or left shoe. In this way, the memory 30 may store, for example, images of only one pair of shoes (e.g., images of just the right shoe), and the other images of the pair may be stored in a simple inversion ≪ / RTI > In this way the mirror-symmetry of the right and left shoes of the pair of shoes is also ensured.

The inversion instruction (which generally forms part of the instructions 32 arriving at the control means 21) presets the machine to process the right or left shoe and sets the mirror-symmetrical shape of the two shoes Quot; DX / SX shoes ", which are generally required to perform proper lateral movement of the grippers and adhesive dispensers in order to accommodate the grippers.

The reversal operation can also be performed by the input means 33 to record only one sample shoe for each pair of shoes of each model to be produced, and the memory 30 can be implemented by an image of the right shoe, It will store both mirror-symmetric images. Thus, in this case also the mirror-symmetry of the shoes produced as the right and left shoes is guaranteed.

For example, when setting up a machine, that is when the operation of the machine is programmed with parameters for each model, a reference shoe (e.g., the right shoe) for a given model is placed on the machine and the grippers are positioned Adjusted, they pull the upper in the correct way, the image of the shoe is recorded, and then associated with the machine program for these shoe models. The software and / or circuits of the control means then automatically generate a mirror image corresponding to the other pair of shoes.

During manufacture, when an operator calls for a program for a shoe being assembled, an image of the reference shoe is suggested on the display and the directly recorded image of the shoe during assembly is superimposed thereon so that the operator can see the display and properly position the grippers To achieve the final mold as closely as possible to the shape of the reference shoe. Based on the reference system of the superimposed images, the operator can also make settings for other operating elements of the machine, e.g., the pressers. All this can help achieve satisfactory centering of the upper on the mold.

When the operator performs the assembly of the second shoe of the pair (right or left shoe), the machine shows the exact mirror-image generated by the unit 21 on the display. At this moment, the operator performs the assembly with the correct reference image of the predicted result.

As already mentioned above, since the reference image must be stored dependent on the model or size, the system can determine that if a reference image for a particular combination is not found, then the first pair of each particular combination corresponds to the next Such as a shoe, such as < RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI >

In order to assist the operator to distinguish the reference image from the directly recorded image on the monitor and facilitate the recognition of the correctly superimposed state, one or both of the images (preferably the reference image) And may be electronically processed to provide better visual differentiation between the resulting image and the reference image. For example, a semitransparent effect can be used for one of the two images so that they can be distinguished from each other, or its color, contrast, brightness, etc. can be modified.

Finally, there is an idea to show a series of additional information 35 on the control monitor. First, it is possible to show an indication of the degree of compositing of the image achieved by the operator, which is preferably a reference symbol or indicator of a numerical, graphical or visual form calculated by the control means 21 for processing the images, Or by a percentage indicator or a graphical indicator (e.g., scale). In addition, it is possible to view the machine's main settings and operating parameters in a graphical or descriptive form to achieve the expected assembly results to provide additional assistance to the operator. All of these elements can be calculated by the control means 21 provided with a microprocessor which is advantageously programmed, advantageously in a manner that is readily imaginable by the person skilled in the art now.

In this respect it is clear how the predefined objectives are achieved.

The system according to the present invention provides the advantage of simplicity and extreme cost in terms of certain reductions in the cost of the associated device and allows the user to obtain optimal reference parameters for each shoe (aperture, stitches, The position of the main operating mechanisms, grippers, pressers, etc. of the machine). So that their position can be repeated uniformly throughout the manufacturing process. It also allows highly unspecialized personnel to perform assembly operations and thus greatly simplifies the management and manipulation activities of shoe-makers. In addition, the mirror-symmetry of the right and left shoe in a single pair is guaranteed.

The total size of the reference device is minimized, the assembly area remains substantially unobstructed thereby (the television camera can be arranged at a convenient distance from this area and can also have very small dimensions) It does not.

Obviously, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovative principles of the present invention is provided as an example of these innovative principles, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the rights claimed herein. For example, the machine for assembling shoes may be in a different form from that described and also depending on the shape of the shoe and the selected anchoring system (adhesive, thermoplastic adhesive, nailing, etc.) Devices.

10: Assembly machine 11: Assembly area
12: mount 13: tension and fixing unit
14: grip grippers 15: electromechanical system
16: Manual control devices
17: glue dispensers
18: motor-driven stretching plates
19: Television camera 20: Display
21: control means 22: command system
25: Shoes 26: Upper
27: mold 28: edge
30: memory 31: signal
32: command input unit 33: input means
34: inversion means

Claims (16)

A tension and adjustment unit (13) comprising gripping and pulling grippers (14) arranged to grip and pull the edge portion of the upper which is to be folded and fixed over the insole, A machine (10) for assembling the upper of a shoe above an insole, comprising manual operating means (15, 16) for adjusting the tension,
- a recording television camera (19) oriented towards the shoes arranged in the tensioning and fixing unit and gripped by the grippers;
A monitor (20) for displaying an image of a zone recorded by the television camera;
On the monitor, control means (21) having electronic superimposition means for superimposing a reference image on the image of the region to be recorded by the television camera for centering the upper , A machine for assembling the upper part of the shoe above the insole. The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that the control means (21) comprises a memory (30) for storing at least one reference image. 3. The method of claim 2,
Characterized in that the control means comprises a command input (32) for selecting a reference image associated with the shoe to be assembled from among a plurality of reference images stored in the memory (30) Machines for assembly. 3. The method of claim 2,
Characterized in that the control means comprises means (33) for introducing the image recorded by the television camera into the memory (30) by a reference image. The method of claim 3,
If the control means is not able to find a reference image associated with the shoe to be assembled in the plurality of stored reference images, then it is possible that the image of such shoes to be assembled, supplied by the television camera, Characterized in that it is stored as an additional reference image to be included in the images. 3. The method of claim 2,
The electronic superimposing means is operable, in operation, for mirror-symmetrical inversion of the reference image stored in the memory (30), depending on an input instruction (32) for signaling the right or left shoe A machine for assembling the upper of a shoe over an insole, characterized in that it comprises means (34). A tensioning and adjusting unit (13) including gripping and tensioning grippers (14) arranged to grip and pull the edge portion of the upper to be folded and fixed on the insole, and a manual operating means 1. A method for providing a reference system for assembling an upper of a shoe over an insole with an assembling machine (10)
Recording on the reference camera an image of the shoe to be assembled to allow comparison of the two images during the adjustment of the grippers and recording the shoes arranged in the tensioning and fixing unit and gripped by the grippers for assembly with a television camera Comprising the step of superimposing said recorded image of said shoe to be assembled on a monitor. ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > 18. < / RTI > The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the reference image is an image of a sample shoe being recorded and stored by the television camera. 8. The method of claim 7,
A plurality of images of sample shoes are stored in the machine and, in operation, an image associated with the shoes to be assembled is used as a reference image for these shoes to be selected and assembled therefrom, / RTI > 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the association of the shoe with the image to be assembled is performed depending on the model and / or size of the shoe. 8. The method of claim 7,
If there is no reference image associated with the shoe to be assembled into the plurality of stored reference images, the image of such shoe to be assembled supplied by the television camera may be stored as an additional reference image to be included in the plurality of stored reference images Wherein the upper part of the shoe is mounted on the insole. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the reference image is inverted or non-mirror symmetrical along a longitudinal axis depending on whether the shoe to be assembled is right or left. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the reference image and / or the recorded image of the shoe to be assembled is processed to provide a visual distinction between the reference image and the recorded image of the shoe to be assembled on the monitor, A method for providing a reference system for assembling an upper. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the visual differentiation comprises a semitransparent effect of one of the two images and / or a change of color and / or contrast and / or brightness. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the first shoe of the model assembled by the machine is used as a reference image for a shoe model. 8. The method of claim 7,
As an indicator of the numerical, graphical or visual form of the percentage of superimposition in which the percentage representing the degree of superimposition between the reference image and the image of the shoe to be assembled is calculated and preferably achieved, A method for providing a reference system for assembling an upper of a shoe over an insole.

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