Automatic stitching of footwear parts

Abstract

A method and a system for manufacturing footwear. The footwear including at least two footwear parts. The footwear parts are at least partly connected together by stitching for forming at least part of an upper part of the footwear. The method includes providing a base layer and providing the at least two footwear parts. The at least two footwear parts are positioned on the base layer. The at least two footwear parts are fixated on the base layer in respective relative positions corresponding to predefined connected positions. The at least two footwear parts are connected with each other by an automated stitching. The at least two footwear parts in connected form to provide the footwear.

1 . A method of manufacturing footwear, said footwear comprising at least two footwear parts, which are shoe parts, and which footwear parts are at least partly connected together by stitching for forming at least part of an upper part of said footwear, said method comprising:
 providing a base layer,   providing said at least two footwear parts and positioning said at least two footwear parts on said base layer,   fixating said at least two footwear parts on said base layer in respective relative positions corresponding to predefined connected positions,   connecting said at least two footwear parts with each other by an automated stitching, and   processing the at least two footwear parts in connected form to provide said footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least two footwear parts is a leather footwear part. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a fixture for said base layer; and   arranging the base layer to be held by said fixture.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a reference is provided for positioning said at least two footwear parts on said base layer. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said fixating said at least two footwear parts on said base layer in respective positions comprises adhering the at least two shoe parts on said base layer with an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said adhesive is provided as a non-activated adhesive on said base layer, which is activated when fixating the at least two footwear parts on the base layer. 
     
     
         8 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning of said at least two footwear parts on said base layer is performed by a robotic pick and place apparatus by sequentially picking each shoe part and placing each shoe part on the base layer at a predefined position. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning of said at least two footwear parts on said base layer is performed using input from a visual detection system including using a camera or a vision system. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two footwear parts subsequent to being positioned on said base layer, are transportable by moving said base layer. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an identifier is provided for identifying at least one of the base layer, the fixture, and at least one of the at least two footwear parts. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the automated stitching includes stitching at least part of one of said at least two footwear parts to the base layer. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the base layer is a lining of the footwear. 
     
     
         20 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A system for manufacturing footwear, said footwear comprising at least two footwear parts, which are shoe parts, and which footwear parts are at least partly connected together by stitching for forming at least part of an upper part of said footwear, said system comprising:
 a base layer holding device configured for holding a base layer,   a positioning device for positioning at least two footwear parts on said base layer,   an adhering activating device configured for fixating said at least two footwear parts on said base layer in respective relative positions,   an automated stitching device configured for connecting said at least two footwear parts with each other, and   at least a further processing device for facilitating further processing of the at least two footwear parts in connected form to provide said footwear.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein said base layer holding device configured for holding said base layer is a fixture. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein said fixture comprises conveyance arrangements configured for transport of said fixture. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein said positioning device comprises a robotic apparatus including a robotic pick and place apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein said positioning device comprises a visual detection system including one or more of a camera or a vision system. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein said adhering activating device configured for fixating said at least two footwear parts on said base layer in respective relative positions comprises an arrangement for activating non-activated adhesive using at least one of friction, pressure, ultrasonic radiation, infrared radiation, or heat transfer. 
     
     
         33 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein said robotic pick and place apparatus comprises a vacuum gripper. 
     
     
         42 .- 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein an identifier is provided for identifying at least one of the base layer, a fixture, and at least one of the at least two footwear parts. 
     
     
         48 .- 51 . (canceled)