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 on the strobels that signify one or more 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 for particular a shoe model on the strobel when the conveyor moves the strobel from the imaging area to a printing area, wherein the guidelines comprise lines, printed by the printer, that are between 0.4 mm and 1.1 mm thick; 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 for the particular shoe model on the strobel.