Automated strobel printing

摘要

A machine moves shoe strobels to a camera or scanner where images of the strobels are captured. Using the images, a computing device instructs a printer how to mark guidelines within a threshold distance of each other on the strobels that signify strobel sewing lines for different shoes models and shoe sizes. Cross-sectional lines may also be printed on the strobels to aid in error-checking guideline marking. Unmarked strobels are stacked in a loading compartment, sometimes in pairs—e.g., right and left shoe strobels. The unmarked strobels are transferred to a conveyor that brings the strobels to the camera or scanner and the printer. After guidelines and/or cross-sectional lines are added to the strobels, the marked strobels are stacked in a compartments housing other marked strobels.

主权项

1. A system for marking a strobel, comprising:
a loading area for introducing the strobel onto a conveyor; a camera for capturing an image of the strobel when the strobel is moved by the conveyor to an imaging area; a printer for printing guidelines on the strobel when the conveyor moves the strobel from the imaging area to a printing area, wherein a first guideline of the guidelines is printed within a threshold distance of a second guideline of the guidelines, wherein the printer is adapted to also print one or more cross-sectional lines that extend between one or more portions of the guidelines; and a computing device for determining a position of the strobel from the image, and based on the position, instructing the printer where to print the guidelines on the strobel.