Method and apparatus for automatically manufacturing shoe soles

Abstract

A method for automated manufacturing of shoe soles comprises the steps of: loading a transfer device with at least one outsole element and at least one supporting element, positioning the loaded transfer device adjacent a first part and a second part of a sole mold, transferring the at least one outsole element from the transfer device to the first part and transferring the at least one supporting element from the transfer device to the second part of the sole mold, filling the sole mold with a plurality of individual particles, and applying a medium to bond and/or fuse the particles with each other and with the at least one outsole element.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automated manufacturing of shoe soles, the method comprising:
 loading a transfer device with at least one outsole element and at least one supporting element;   positioning the loaded transfer device adjacent a first part and a second part of a sole mold;   transferring the at least one outsole element from the transfer device to the first part and transferring the at least one supporting element from the transfer device to the second part of the sole mold;   filling the sole mold with a plurality of individual particles; and   applying a medium to bond the particles with each other and with the at least one outsole element to form a shoe sole.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the loaded transfer device comprises positioning the transfer device between a first part and a second part of the sole mold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein loading the transfer device comprises:
 attaching the at least one outsole element to a first side of a transfer device;   rotating the transfer device; and   attaching the at least one supporting element to a second side of the transfer device opposite to the first side.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the attaching steps comprise at least one of suctioning the at least one outsole element and suctioning the at least one supporting element. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring the at least one outsole element comprises placing the at least one outsole element into at least one correspondingly shaped recess provided in the first part of the mold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring the at least one supporting element comprises placing the at least one supporting element in a holding element provided in the second part of the mold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ejecting the shoe sole from the mold with an ejecting device integrated into a holding element for the supporting element. 
     
     
         8 . A sole manufactured according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A shoe comprising a sole manufactured according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for automated manufacturing of shoe soles, the apparatus comprising:
 a transfer device adapted to be loaded with at least one outsole element and at least one supporting element;   a robotic device adapted to position the loaded transfer device adjacent a first part and a second part of a sole mold   and adapted to transfer the at least one outsole element from the transfer device to the first part and adapted to transfer the at least one supporting element from the transfer device to the second part of the sole mold;   a particle supply adapted to fill the sole mold with a plurality of individual particles; and   a medium supply, the medium being adapted to perform at least one of bonding and fusing the particles with each other and with the at least one outsole element.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the robotic device is adapted to position the loaded transfer device between the first and the second part of the sole mold. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the transfer device is adapted to be loaded with the at least one outsole element and the at least one supporting element on opposite sides of the transfer device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the transfer device is adapted to suction at least one of the at least one outsole element and the at least one supporting element. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the robotic device is adapted to place the at least one outsole element into at least one correspondingly shaped recess provided in the first part of the mold. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the robotic device is adapted to place the at least one supporting element in a holding element provided in the second part of the mold.