Automated identification of shoe parts

摘要

Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated in an automated manner.

主权项

1. A method for positioning a shoe part in an automated manner during a shoe-manufacturing process, the method comprising:
positioning an attachment shoe part which is to be attached to a base shoe part; recording a first image of the attachment shoe part using at least one first camera, the first image depicting a two-dimensional representation of the attachment shoe part; recording a second image of the base shoe part using at least one second camera, the second image depicting a two-dimensional representation of the base shoe part; identifying at least one reference feature of the attachment shoe part in the first image depicting the two-dimensional representation of the attachment shoe part; determining an identity of the attachment shoe part from the first image by matching the at least one reference feature of the first image to at least one pre-determined reference feature of a shoe-part reference image; determining a first geometric coordinate of the attachment shoe part in a geometric coordinate system, which maps a three-dimensional space within which a part-transfer apparatus operates, from the first image; determining an orientation of the attachment shoe part from the first image; determining a second geometric coordinate of the base shoe part in the geometric coordinate system by analyzing the second image depicting the two-dimensional representation of the base shoe part; determining a degree of rotation of the attachment shoe part required for alignment with the base shoe part for attachment; and transferring, by the part-transfer apparatus, the attachment shoe part from the first geometric coordinate to the second geometric coordinate through the degree of rotation so that the attachment shoe part is aligned with the base shoe part for attachment.