Automated Production Line

Abstract

An automated production line for transferring and processing multiple shoe members includes multiple transferring rail units aligned along a transferring direction, multiple handoff rail units aligned along the transferring direction and alternately arranged with the transferring rail units, multiple transferring unit each being movably mounted to a respective one of the transferring rail unit for transferring the shoe members onto an adjacent one of the handoff rail units, multiple handling units each being movably mounted to a respective one of the handoff rail units and being adapted to transfer the shoe members onto an adjacent one of the transferring rail units, and multiple processing units disposed beside the transferring rail units for processing the shoe members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated production line adapted to transfer and process a plurality of shoe members, said automated production line comprising:
 a plurality of transferring rail units that are aligned along a transferring direction;   a plurality of handoff rail units that are aligned along the transferring direction and are alternately arranged with said transferring rail units;   a plurality of transferring units, each of which is movably mounted to a respective one of said transferring rail units and is adapted to transfer at least one of the shoe members along the transferring direction onto an adjacent one of said handoff rail units;   a plurality of handling units, each of which is adapted to transfer a corresponding one of the shoe members along the transferring direction onto an adjacent one of said transferring rail units, each of said handling units including a first handling assembly that is movably mounted to a corresponding one of said handoff rail units; and   a plurality of processing units, which are disposed beside said transferring rail units and each of which is adapted to process a corresponding one of the shoe members at a time when the corresponding one of the shoe members is moved on a corresponding one of said transferring rail units.   
     
     
         2 . The automated production line as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said transferring units is movable between an input position, where said transferring unit is at an upstream end of the corresponding one of said transferring rail units and is adapted for receiving the corresponding one of the shoe members, and an output position, where said transferring unit is at a downstream end of the corresponding one of said transferring rail units and is adapted for outputting the corresponding one of the shoe members. 
     
     
         3 . The automated production line as claimed in claim.  2 , each of the shoe members being one of a shoe last sleeved with a shoe vamp and a shoe sole, wherein each of said transferring units is adapted for transferring two of the shoe members, and includes a first supporting assembly provided with a clamp adapted for holding a corresponding one of the shoe members when the corresponding one of the shoe members is configured as the shoe last sleeved with the shoe vamp, and a second supporting member provided with a conveyor adapted to support a corresponding one of the shoe members when the corresponding one of the shoe members is configured as the shoe sole. 
     
     
         4 . The automated production line as claimed in claim  3 , wherein each of said transferring rail units includes a transferring rail that extends in the transferring direction, and two positioning cylinders that are respectively disposed at opposite sides of said transferring rail, each of said positioning cylinders including a telescopic positioning member being operable to fix said first supporting assembly and said second supporting assembly of a corresponding one of said transferring units on said transferring rail when a corresponding one of the shoe members is processed on a corresponding one of said transferring rail units. 
     
     
         5 . The automated production line as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first handling assembly of each of said handling units is movable on a corresponding one of said handoff rail units between a feeding position, where said first handling assembly is adapted to receive a corresponding one of the shoe members, and a discharging position, where said first handling assembly is adapted to transfer the corresponding one of the shoe members onto said first supporting assembly of an adjacent one of said transferring units. 
     
     
         6 . The automated production line as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each of said handling units further includes a second handling assembly that is mounted to the corresponding one of said handoff rail units and that is adapted to transfer a corresponding one of the shoe members onto said second supporting assembly of the adjacent one of said transferring units. 
     
     
         7 . The automated production line as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said transferring rail units are aligned along a straight line that extends along the transferring direction. 
     
     
         8 . The automated production line as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said transferring rail units are arranged in two parallel rows, said processing units being disposed between the rows.