Improved apparatus, system and method for forming custom-made shoe inserts.

摘要

A foot impression unit (10) is provided with an array of gauging elements (34), a control mechanism (36) for urging the gauging elements (34) into contact with the undersurface of a person's foot (12) to form an impression of the undersurface of the foot, a locking mechanism (38) for releasably locking and gauging elements in place to retain that impression, and a sensing mechanism (102) for scanning the gauging elements (34) to produce digital signals indicative of the positions of the gauging elements. These digital signals are stored and processed by a computer to provide a stored data record serving as a digital representation of the impression of the undersurface of the foot (12). The computer may also be employed to provide stored additional information for modifying that data record to compensate for a perceived defect of the foot (12). In response to the stored data record and any stored additional information for modifying that data record, a shaping unit shapes an insert blank to form a custom-made shoe insert conforming to the undersurface of the foot (12) and compensating for any perceived defect of the foot.