Speedfactory 2D

<u>1. Technical field</u>

0001The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method as well as shoes manufactured by such method.

<b>2</b>. <b>Prior art</b>

0002Nowadays, the manufacture and sale of sportswear entails a significant number of new product designs each year for manufacturers, which are essential to keep pace with the latest developments on the market or to promote development itself. Such drafts comprise shoes, textiles and accessories in a plurality of models, designs, production options, coloring, sizing, etc., for example. In this regard, most of the new products are first of all designed, modeled and tested digitally by 3D CAD / FEA (finite element analysis) systems today.

0003In order to bring a new product on the market, first samples are made manually from the digital design drafts first. This is typically done in factories which are located at a different place than the development department which is responsible for the product design. Only after shipment, often via ship containers, and receipt of the real samples are the product designers able to further optimize their digital drafts and return them to the factories, in turn. This process is repeated until the samples have the desired functionality, design, cost and quality and can then be released for serial production in the factories. This often takes several weeks to months until a result is reached, and the entire delivery chain is very inflexible. Thus, a manufacturer is only able to react slowly to fast-living, fashion market trends and demands. The advantage regarding speed gained by the use of CAD / FEA systems throughout is lost by the overall slow production processes on the part of the factories all over the world.

0004The <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US20080257500A1"><text>US 2008/0257500 A1</text></patcit> discloses an apparatus for the manufacture of a contoured insole construction that includes a driving mechanism for moving a sheet of continuous material along a cutting path by a pair of closely spaced apart form factor rollers and then using them to simultaneously deform the sheet of continuous material and to guide a flexible continuous knife belt disposed within the cutting path into cutting engagement with the sheet along a desired contour formed by the pair of rollers to separate a contoured single piece footwear construction from the sheet of continuous material.

0005The <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US8348371B2"><text>US 8,348,371 B2</text></patcit> discloses that customized articles of footwear are produced by providing options and graphics that are selected by a customer when submitting a custom order at a retail facility. The graphics are selected from a catalogue while the options, such as a shoe model or size, are selected at an order interface rendered at a computing device. The computing device processes the order by uploading printing instructions associated with the customer-selected graphic or by converting specifications of the order into printing instructions. The printing instructions are passed to a printer that is configured to move inkjet nozzles in a pattern and, concurrently, control a timed release of coloring agent form the inkjet nozzles based on the printing instructions. Releasing the coloring agent over the article of footwear physically applies a design thereto, which substantially resembles the customer-selected graphic. An oven typically cures the design via infrared heat over a timeframe.

0006The <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5345638A"><text>US 5,345,638 A</text></patcit> relates to a process for the production of a shoe shaped part using a web of material with a plurality of patterns in the form of the layout of a shoe upper, cutting out these layouts from the web of material and stitching the parts of the shoe upper to a top part, and fastening the related part of the sole to the edge area of the cut-open outside edge of the assigned layout and to a shoe shaped part produced according to this process.

0007The <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US3329983A"><text>US 3,329,983 A</text></patcit> relates to a method of manufacturing composite articles and, more specifically, to a unique method of assembling shoe uppers.

0008The <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US20080147219A1"><text>US 2008/0147219 A1</text></patcit> relates to articles of footwear and in particular to a method of making an article of footwear.

0009The <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US1825379A"><text>US 1,825,379 A</text></patcit> relates to a method of assembling rubber footwear elements, more particularly to the assembling of elements which may be superposed while in a substantially flat condition.

0010The <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US2034091A"><text>US 2,034,091 A</text></patcit> relates to footwear of composite rubber and textile fabric construction, particularly shoes of the character known as tennis or sport shoes having a rubber sole and an upper of canvas with trimming parts of rubber composition.

0011The <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="US1956969A"><text>US 1,956,969 A</text></patcit> relates to a method which comprises spreading out flat an assembled shoe upper of stitched, multi-piece, and multi-color design, transferring said design by a photographic process to a flat sheet of shoe upper material, and cutting out from the sheet a one-piece upper blank containing the photographed replica.

0012The <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="US5968297A"><text>US 5,968,297 A</text></patcit> relates to an apparatus and methods for treating a workpiece such as a shoe component. The workpiece treating apparatus preferably includes a transporter for transporting a workpiece along a predetermined path of travel and a storage device for storing a plurality of predetermined parameters of each of a plurality of workpieces. A workpiece identifier is positioned responsive to the storage device for identifying the workpiece during travel along the predetermined path. A workpiece treatment applicator is positioned adjacent the transporter and responsive to the workpiece identifier for applying a treatment to a workpiece being transported along the predetermined path of travel. A workpiece treatment position determiner preferably is positioned responsive to the workpiece identifier for continuously determining the position of the workpiece treatment applicator along a predetermined trajectory during treatment of the workpiece.

0013Taking the prior art as a basis, it is thus an object of the present invention to provide manufacturing methods and production means that allow to promptly, automatically and preferably locally manufacture a plurality of different prototypes and the like in order to proceed from the "idea to the product" more rapidly in this way. Further, the manufacture of individual items, in particular customized individual items, small-scale series or series should preferably be possible in an uninterrupted manner and be freely scalable so that the production of a (small-scale) series is preferably merely x times a single production step.

<u>3. Summary of the invention</u>

0014The claimed invention comprises a method as defined by claim 1 and an apparatus as defined by claim 10. Further embodiments of the claimed invention are described in the dependent claims.

0015Any "aspect", "embodiment", or "example" described in the following and not falling within the scope of the claimed invention thus defined is to be interpreted as background information provided to facilitate the understanding of the claimed invention.

0016It is conceivable that embodiments of the method according to the invention run automatically to a large extent as well as that a certain amount of manual support work is carried out.

0017That is, embodiments of a method according to the invention can be carried out, at least predominantly, by robots, robotic systems or automated systems and/or the embodiments can include a certain amount of human (support) work. The robots, robotic systems or automated systems can further by equipped with hardware and/or software specifically adapted to the respective tasks or they can be general-purpose machines.

0018First of all, the provision of a plurality of first shoe components allows a subsequent individualization of the shoes to be manufactured by a suitable selection of further processing steps and processing parameters, for example from a plurality of the processing options discussed in the following. Taking the provided first shoe components as a basis and without these having to be already specifically manufactured for a corresponding shoe model and manually inserted into a machine, the manufacture of diversely designed shoes is thus possible in a manner that is automated to a large extent. In this regard, manufacture may, for example, be controlled directly via a computer, e.g. taking the CAD shoe models created on the computer as a basis.

0019In particular, the above mentioned further processing steps and processing parameters may be determined based on the computer generated shoe model or models. Herein, the determination of the necessary processing steps/parameters may be performed by the same computer on which the shoe models were generated. In this regard, "computer" comprises computers in the conventional sense as well as laptops, tablets, smartphones and other such portable or stationary devices. Or the data underlying the respective shoe model or models are sent to a control device by the computer, which then determines the necessary sequence of processing steps and the processing parameters to produce such shoes and controls the manufacture accordingly.

0020Such a computer could, for example, be located in some kind of "kiosk", where a potential customer can select or design a computer-generated shoe model and then cause the manufacture of a corresponding pair of shoes. Another possibility would be a fully automatic vending machine which a customer could access also outside shopping hours, create his or her own shoe model, and have the corresponding shoe, or pair of shoes, manufactured at the spot for take away. This would allow selling and production of shoes in all areas outside opening hours, e.g. in cities, at airports, etc.

0021It is furthermore an advantage that the first shoe components form at least a portion of the transport means which is used to move the first shoe components to subject them sequentially to the selected processing steps referred to above, for example. This makes the necessity of a separate transport means, such as a band conveyor, at least partially redundant, on the one hand. On the other hand, the first shoe components can be integrated into the transport means or connected to it such that shifting, distorting, falling down, etc. of the first shoe components can be prevented, which significantly extends the possibilities for automated manufacture. This is the case, for example, because pliable materials, in particular textile pliable materials, which are typically difficult to be grasped or fixated by machine, are often used in the manufacture of shoes.

0022The transport means preferably comprises flat regions, wherein the flat regions comprise one or more of the first shoe components. The transport means particularly preferably comprises a transport belt.

0023Providing the first shoe components as part of one or more flat regions of the transport means allows, in a particularly simple manner, processing the first shoe components, as further described below, by machine/robot/robotic systems and in a manner that is automated to a large extent. In this context, it is possible to manufacture a plurality of different shoe types and models by individually selecting one or more of the processing options described below. In this regard, a transport belt is particularly advantageous with respect to automated, independent, continuous manufacture of shoes.

0024Preferably, the transport belt is rolled off a spool which comprises a plurality of first shoe components.

0025By rolling the transport belt off a spool, manual placement of the first shoe components becomes redundant to a large extent, which promotes automation of the manufacturing method. Only if, for example, a spool runs short and/or a spool with different first shoe components is to be used, does a new spool have to be inserted into a production means. However, this may also be carried out automatically. For example, the respective spool can automatically be taken from a spool stock and then be inserted into a production means. If desired, the transport belt may be supported by a conveyer belt within a production site to further facilitate manufacture.

0026As an alternative, it would also be conceivable that the transport belt be placed in a storage container in a folded manner and is taken from the latter. The manufacture process could, for example, be sheet-based, e.g. when leather or other sheet-based materials are employed that may be taken from a sheet stock. Such a sheet based manufacture process might be beneficial for more rigid materials like polycarbonates or composites, etc., and there may be other benefits for using sheet stock over rolls in smaller scale in-store customized manufacturing, for example. The individual sheets could, for example, be connected by a flexible material like paper and be stored in form of a sheet stock as described above, from which they are taken one after the other.

0027It is moreover conceivable that providing a plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes comprises the joint manufacture of the transport means with the plurality of first shoe components.

0028This allows even greater flexibility of the method, since for example changing or renewing the spool as described above can be omitted. Rather, the transport means together with the first shoe components can be provided directly as desired in each case. This may also entail material reduction since the design of the transport means can be adjusted to the respective shape of the first shoe components.

0029The transport means preferably comprises a textile base material. This particularly applies for the first shoe components. In this regard, the manufacture of the textile base material preferably comprises weft knitting, warp knitting, weaving, felting, needle punching, electro-spinning or cross-plying of a source material.

0030Today, textile materials play an important role in the sporting goods industry. It is thus an advantage if particularly the first shoe components comprise a textile material. Further, if the entire transport means comprises a textile material, e.g. the same or a similar textile material as the first shoe components, the first shoe components can be fixed to the transport means or integrated into it particularly well. This is particularly applicable for the case in which providing a plurality of first shoe components comprises the joint production of the transport means with the plurality of first shoe components. For the manufacture of the textile base material and, if applicable, the entire transport means, the techniques of weft knitting, warp knitting, weaving, felting, needle punching, electro-spinning, or cross-plying of a source material come into consideration, since the textile materials manufactured by these techniques are able to provide particularly advantageous properties for the manufacture of shoes. Examples of such advantageous properties include high stability, low weight and good breathability as well as suitability for printing, suitability for application of markers for handling or post-processing and suitability for post-processing treatment.

0031It is further conceivable that the transport means comprises a base material which comprises a foil, a film, a synthetic composite, a multilayer laminate and/or leather. This particularly applies for the first shoe components.

0032The foil, film, synthetic composite, multilayer laminate and/or leather may serve the purpose of attributing further advantageous properties to the first shoe components or the transport means, such as higher stability, abrasion resistance, increased wear comfort, weight reduction, etc., for example.

0033At this point it is mentioned that whenever the singular (i.e. "a foil", etc.) is used in this application, the plural is always also included, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

0034Preferably, the transport means passes through at least one processing station in which the first shoe components are processed.

0035For example, the first shoe components may automatically be transported to one or more processing stations, in which they are further processed then. It is also conceivable in this regard, for example, that individual first shoe components pass through one or more processing stations without being processed further there, so that an individual sequence of processing steps can be configured for every first shoe component as a result. It is moreover conceivable that a plurality of processing steps be carried out within one processing station, with it also being possible in this regard for the exact sequence of processing steps and processing parameters to be individually adjusted for every first shoe component. All this may happen automatically to a large extent.

0036Preferably, in the at least one processing station, at least one of the following processing steps is performed: screen printing, digital printing, dye sublimation, sublimation printing, pad printing, spraying on color, applying at least one color-changing material, applying at least one foil element, impregnating with a material, coating with a material, applying at least one glue, flocking, laser cutting, laser engraving, embroidering, thermoforming, locally melting, locally fusing, embossing, laser etching, perfing.

0037It is therefore possible to individually impart a plurality of e.g. physical, optical and haptic properties onto the first shoe components, without a modification of a production means or an alteration of the method becoming necessary for this. Furthermore, apertures for shoelaces or better ventilation can be made, for example.

0038Preferably, the at least one processing station adds at least one second shoe component respectively to each of at least a subset of the first shoe components.

0039By adding at least one second shoe component to one or more of the first shoe components, the number of possible manufacture forms which can be manufactured by an embodiment of the present method is increased further. In this regard, the addition of at least one second shoe component and the above-mentioned processing steps which can be carried out in the at least one processing station complement each other, so that the resulting possible selection from different combinations of processing possibilities and processing steps significantly increases the number of producible designs once more.

0040Preferably, the at least one second shoe component comprises one or more of the following shoe elements: eyelets, heel caps, toe caps, decoration elements, decoration stripes, friction elements, abrasion protection elements, rib elements, reinforcement elements, stiffening elements, supporting elements, cushioning elements, fiber elements.

0041On the one hand, such functional and decorating elements can serve the purpose of influencing the wearing properties of a shoe so that the individually controllable addition of such components allows producing a plurality of shoes for the most different purposes by one embodiment of the present method. Moreover, they may further influence the overall shape, anatomical customization to a future wearer and general appearance of the shoes.

0042Preferably, the at least one processing station is provided to connect the second shoe components with the respective first shoe components by one or more of the following steps: gluing, welding, high frequency welding, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, pressing, sewing, screwing, riveting, melting together, clipping together, sealing, subjecting to a heat and pressure treatment, subjecting to a steaming treatment. Depending on the materials of the first and/or second shoe components, one or more of the above-mentioned connecting methods can be used in this regard. This allows optimally adjusting the connecting method(s) to the respective properties of the shoe to be currently manufactured and the materials used and thus guaranteeing good stability.

0043Preferably, the at least one processing station is provided to separate the first and/or second shoe components from the transport means.

0044This allows, if necessary, removing the first and/or second shoe components from the transport means for further processing elsewhere or for packaging for shipping or the like. The separation particularly allows subsequently putting the first and/or second shoe components into a three-dimensional shape.

0045It is possible, for example, that the separation of the first and/or the second shoe components may comprise one or more of the following steps: die cutting, CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, melting out of a connecting element, dissolving a connecting element.

0046These possibilities are particularly suitable for automated production since they may be or are already adjusted to the object that is currently to be separated in a very flexible and individual manner.

0047Furthermore, the at least one processing station is preferably provided to put the first shoe components and/or second shoe components into a three-dimensional shape.

0048This is preferably carried out after the first and/or second shoe components have been separated from the transport means. By three-dimensional shaping, the first and/or second shoe components may already be put into their final shape, which they will also have in the completely manufactured shoe, or they may be given a preliminary shape, which will then be changed in further processing steps.

0049It is moreover conceivable that the first shoe components and/or second shoe components, or at least some of them, comprise a shaping element which is provided to facilitate the generation of the three-dimensional shape.

0050Due to the fact that textile, pliable materials, for example, are difficult to handle automatically or by machine, this offers a further possibility of supporting automated production. For example, the first and/or second shoe components, or some of them, may have a respective rubber-band element or spring element which is under strain before separation from the transport means, which puts the respective first and/or second shoe component into a three-dimensional preliminary shape after separation, and thus facilitates further processing, e.g. a final three-dimensional shaping.

0051The putting into three-dimensional shape can further comprise arranging the first shoe components, together with their respective second shoe components if present (i.e. if previously added), on a respective last each.

0052This ensures that the three-dimensional shaping is carried out in the desired manner, without the occurrence of undesired deformations such as bulges, corners, edges, distortions or warping in the material of the first and/or second shoe component, for example. The arrangement on a last additionally allows further transporting the three-dimensionally shaped first shoe components, together with their potentially added respective second shoe components, in a simple manner, if necessary.

0053The first shoe components preferably comprise at least a part of a shoe upper.

0054Taking at least a part of shoe upper as a basis is particularly beneficial for building the shoe stepwise by further processing steps as described herein.

0055At this point, it is explicitly pointed out that the exact selection of processing steps from the available processing options and their sequence can in a preferred embodiment of the inventive method be controlled individually for every first shoe component provided, and that a further individual selection may additionally be possible within each processing step. It is, for example, possible for the number and type of the second shoe components to be individually selected, for the decoration and optical design to be individually determined, etc.

0056A further aspect of the invention is an apparatus provided for performing an embodiment of an inventive method.

0057With an embodiment of such an apparatus, a plurality of differently designed shoes can be manufactured automatically to a large extent, as already discussed above, starting from the first shoe components provided.

0058The apparatus preferably comprises a control means for the manufacture of different shoes with an embodiment of one of the methods described herein. It is particularly preferable that the control means comprises an interface for interaction with at least one future wearer of one of the plurality of shoes.

0059The control means can, for example, have recourse to one or more computer-generated shoe models, e.g. CAD models, and determine the required sequence of processing steps and processing parameters from these models. Thereafter, the control means can cause the transport means and/or the at least one processing station to move, place or process a given first shoe component such that a shoe corresponding to the computer-generated shoe model is manufactured. In the process, the control means can individually determine the sequence of processing steps and processing parameters for each first shoe component provided, for example in the manufacture of prototypes or whenever a future wearer of the shoe has "tailor-made shoes" manufactured by an input via the interface. Alternatively, the sequence of processing steps and processing parameters is determined for a plurality, e.g. a plurality of successive, first shoe components, for example for production in (small-scale) series.

0060The apparatus is preferably arranged inside a movable container. It is particularly preferable that the container is at least partially transparent.

0061This allows transportation and provision of the apparatus directly "on site", for example at sporting events or in a sales outlet, etc. A purchaser may then, particularly in combination with the aforementioned interface for interaction, "put together" a desired shoe model directly at the site of the apparatus or even beforehand via the internet or the like, this model then being manufactured by the portable manufacturing device. If the container is partially transparent, the customer can even watch the shoes being manufactured. In addition, the process could be captured by video and live broadcasted in digital media networks / channels.

0062A further aspect of the present invention relates to a shoe, the shoe having been manufactured using an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

0063As already repeatedly mentioned, it is possible, in this respect, for each of the plurality of shoes manufactured to be individually customized and modified, for example based on a design of a development designer, a wearer's anatomy or even based on a customer's wishes.

<u>4. Brief description of the drawings</u>

0064Currently preferred examples and embodiments of the present invention are described in the following detailed description, with reference to the following figures: <dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1:</dt><dd>An embodiment of a method according to the invention for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes;</dd><dt>Fig. 2:</dt><dd>An embodiment of a method/apparatus according to the invention for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes;</dd><dt>Fig. 3:</dt><dd>A further embodiment of a method/apparatus according to the invention for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes;</dd><dt>Fig. 4:</dt><dd>An embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, which is arranged inside a transparent container;</dd><dt>Fig. 5:</dt><dd>A portable sales stand comprising an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes;</dd><dt>Fig. 6:</dt><dd>Business premises comprising an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes.</dd></dl>

<u>5. Detailed description of preferred embodiments</u>

0065<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows an embodiment 100 of a method according to the invention for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes 198. The embodiment 100 first comprises the following steps: providing a plurality of first shoe components 110 for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes 198 and moving the plurality of first shoe components 110 with a transport means 120, which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components 110.

0066In the embodiment 100 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, the first shoe components 110 are parts of shoe uppers 190. However, it is also conceivable that other shoe components be concerned, e.g. sole units 192 or the like.

0067The transport means 120 comprises flat regions 122, wherein the flat regions 122 comprise one or more of the first shoe components 110. In the embodiment 100 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, each flat region 122 comprises precisely one first shoe component 110. However, in other embodiments, one or more flat regions 122 may also comprise a plurality of first shoe components 110, with it also being possible for the number of first shoe components 110 per flat region 122 to vary.

0068In the embodiment 100 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, the transport means 120 is further provided as transport belt 120. As can be seen in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, the transport belt 120 is rolled off a spool 125, which comprises a plurality of first shoe components 110. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the transport means 120 and the plurality of first shoe components 110 are manufactured together. Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the transport means 120 and the plurality of first shoe components 110 to be manufactured separately and subsequently joined together and rolled to form a spool 125.

0069In this regard, the transport means 120 and particularly the first shoe components 110 may comprise a textile base material, for example. The manufacture of the textile base material may entail, for example, weft knitting, warp knitting, weaving, as well as felting, needle punching, electro-spinning, cross-plying or other methods for the manufacture of nonwoven material, and both natural and synthetic base materials may be used. It is also conceivable that the transport means 120 and particularly the first shoe components 110 comprise synthetic materials, leather, foils, films, synthetic composites, multilayered laminates, carrier foils or dissolvable materials. Such dissolvable materials could be removed again, e.g. in a later processing step, and thus serve as support material.

0070It is also possible for the transport means 120 and particularly some or all of the first shoe components 110 to comprise a shaping element, which is provided such that it facilitates the subsequent putting into three-dimensional shape. This may involve, for example, a type of rubber, elastic or shape-memory material, which assumes a desired three-dimensional shape under the influence of energy and/or heat, for example. It is further possible for the shaping element to remain in the shoe to be manufactured as a structural element. Alternatively, the shaping element may also be removed again after three-dimensional shaping.

0071When the transport means 120 and particularly the first shoe components 110 comprise a woven, warp-knitted and/or weft-knitted material, different yarns can be used in different regions to influence the functionality of the shoes 198 to be manufactured already at this stage. These yarns may, for example, be yarns comprising thermoplastic material that are thermo-formable, elastic yarns, metallic yarns, rubber yarns, bio-based yarns, etc.

0072It would also be possible to provide different colors, shapes and functions, such as e.g. ventilation apertures at this stage. It is also conceivable that the transport means 120 and the first shoe components 110 be provided in different thicknesses to achieve a cushioning effect, for example. The transport means 120 and the first shoe components 110 may, for example, be weft-knitted, warp-knitted or woven with thicker yarn and/or a more voluminous patterns in places that will eventually form parts of the finished shoes 198 in which the wearer's foot is to be protected from discomfort caused by pressure points at the edge of inelastic materials or the effect of excessively strong force, e.g. when kicking a ball. The spool 125 could further be manufactured in various sizes, depending on the size of the shoes 198 to be manufactured.

0073In the embodiment 100 of a method according to the invention shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, the transport means 120 also passes through at least one processing station in which the first shoe components 110 are processed. <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows three processing stations 130, 140 and 150.

0074In the processing station 130, at least one of the following processing steps is performed: screen printing, digital printing, dye sublimation, sublimation printing, pad printing, spraying on color, applying at least one color-changing material, applying at least one foil element, impregnating with a material, coating with a material, applying at least one glue, flocking, laser cutting, laser engraving, embroidering, thermoforming, locally melting, locally fusing, embossing, laser etching and/or perfing. Thus, for example, it is possible to spray pigments on the first shoe components 110 first and then apply glue in various regions or patterns. In doing so, the glue coalesces with the pigments. Subsequently, a transfer paper, for example, can be applied, which also adheres to the glue, and when this transfer paper is subsequently removed, the glue and the pigments adhering thereto are therefore also removed. In this way, the regions in which no glue was applied are colored. It is also conceivable that a material, e.g. color, be applied all over the first shoe components 110, but only activated locally, e.g. by applying heat or energy. A further possibility involves applying pigments that change color depending on a magnetic field applied. These pigments could be embedded in a plastic carrier, a thermoplastic carrier material or in microcapsules.

0075When processing station 140 is passed through, at least one second shoe component 180 is added to each of at least a subset of the first shoe components 110 in the embodiment 100 of a method according to the invention shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>. It is to be noted here that, in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, each of the first shoe components 110 is shown prior to performance of the respective processing steps at the current processing station. Therefore, the result of each such processing step can only be seen "one station later".

0076Whether one or more second shoe components 180 are added to a given first shoe component 110 can preferably be controlled individually for each first shoe component 110. The at least one second shoe component 180 may comprise one or more of the following shoe elements: eyelets, heel caps, toe caps, decoration elements, decoration stripes, friction elements, abrasion protection elements, rib elements, reinforcement elements, stiffening elements, supporting elements, cushioning elements, fiber elements.

0077It is conceivable firstly that the second shoe components 180 be prefabricated and applied to the first shoe components 110 at the processing station 140. Suction elements, gripping elements or magnetic instruments, for example, may be used for the application. It is also possible for the second shoe components 180 to be at hand on a separate carrier film. However, it is also conceivable that the second shoe components 180 be applied to the first shoe components 110 by a printing method. Alternatively, it is possible to apply glue to the first shoe components 110 in particular regions and subsequently apply fibers or such elements. The superfluous fibers, which have not coalesced with the glue, may subsequently be blown off, for example. It is further conceivable that some or all of the second shoe components 180 also comprise a shaping element, as already mentioned above, which facilitates the putting into three-dimensional shape.

0078Before applying one or more second shoe components 180 to a respective first shoe component 110, the first and second components 110, 180 are aligned relative to each other to achieve a correct placement of the second component(s) 180 on the first component 110. This alignment is aided or performed by using markers, recognition of different material characteristics or pattern recognition. The whole process could furthermore be controlled with digital processing of images. For example, digital cameras could be installed along the manufacturing lane and the images get processed to determine the size and orientation of the different shoe components.

0079The first shoe components 110 of the embodiment 100 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> further pass through a third processing station 150. In the station 150, a consolidating or connecting method is performed to connect the second shoe components 180 with the respective first shoe components 110 by one or more of the following processing steps: gluing, welding, high frequency welding, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, pressing, sewing, screwing, riveting, melting together, clipping together, sealing, subjecting to a heat and pressure treatment, subjecting to a steaming treatment. For example, the first shoe components 110 and the second shoe components 180 can be subjected to pressure and heat so that all adhesive layers present are activated, creating a resilient connection between the various layers. Also, there could be a number of separate heat pressing steps, for example two heat pressing steps or four heat pressing steps or the like, at the same or at different temperatures. For example, the temperature at a first heat pressing step could be higher or lower than the temperature at a second heat pressing second step and so on. It is further conceivable that an uppermost layer of glue be applied or the first and/or second shoe components 110, 180 be covered with a thin coating, e.g. a polymer coating.

0080After this consolidating or connecting step, the first and/or the second shoe components 110, 180 may be separated from the transport means 120. This may take place at a further processing station (not shown) or at the processing station 150.

0081At this point it is noted that a method alternative or complementary to adding second components 180 to some or all of the first shoe components 110 and consolidating the second shoe components 180 with the first components 110 as just described is also conceivable, which comprises fusing and melting the base material of the respective first shoe components 110, thereby changing their properties without adding second shoe components 180.

0082It should generally be noted that the processing stations 130, 140 and 150 may also be a single processing station comprising several substations, for example, or various tools that are selected according to the processing steps to be performed. Moreover, the order of the processing stations 130, 140, 150 and processing steps may also be different than described herein.

0083The separation of the first and/or the second shoe components 110, 180 may comprise one or more of the following steps: die cutting, CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, melting out of a connecting element and/or dissolving a connecting element. Particularly if the first shoe components 110 are produced together with the transport means 120, e.g. by weaving, weft knitting or warp knitting, it is possible for the first shoe components 110 to be, for example, surrounded by a thin fiber or a chemically dissolvable fiber or the like, which is severed or dissolved to separate the components. For this, it is particularly advantageous for the first shoe components 110 to be connected with the transport means 120 by a single fiber, such that this single fiber can be severed or dissolved to separate the first shoe components 110. It is also conceivable that a meltable fiber be used, with the fiber melting at relatively low temperatures, thereby enabling the first shoe components 110 to be separated. A relatively low temperature here means a temperature lower than 100°, lower than 150° or lower than 200°, for example.

0084After separation, the first and/or second shoe components 110, 180 may pass through a further processing station (not shown), which is provided to put the first shoe components 110 and/or second shoe components 180 into a three-dimensional shape. This may again be a separate processing station or one of the processing stations 130, 140, 150, at which one or more previous processing steps were already performed. In the case of a separate processing station, the separated first and/or second shoe components 110, 180 must be moved to this station. This may be done either automatically and mechanically or manually.

0085In order to facilitate the putting into a three-dimensional shape, it is advantageous for the first and/or the second shoe components 110, 180, as already described further above, to comprise a shaping element. As already mentioned, this may be a rubber-band element or a spring element, for example, and, after the putting into a three-dimensional shape, the shaping element may either remain on the workpiece or be removed. In the particularly preferred case, in which the first shoe components 110 constitute at least a partial region of the shoe uppers 190, the putting into a three-dimensional shape could be constituted by closing a seam at the heel, for example, with it also being possible to position the seam elsewhere, of course. The seam could be closed by stitching, gluing, welding or any other method. Alternatively, different parts of the shoe uppers 190 are sewed or welded together for putting into a three-dimensional shape. Strobel boards 195 and/or sole units 192, for example, may also be added at this point.

0086In order to further facilitate the three-dimensional shaping, the putting into three-dimensional shape preferably comprises arranging the first shoe components 110, together with their previously added second shoe components 180 if applicable, on a respective last each (not shown), particularly when the first shoe components are parts of shoe uppers 190. Further parts, for example sole units 192 or Strobel boards 195, can also be added at this stage. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the last is an inflatable last. Thus a single last could be used for shoes 198 of different sizes and shapes. It is also possible, for example, that each or some of the lasts used are milled based on 3D CAD files, to achieve a particularly good customization of the finished products.

0087The steps described here for three-dimensional shaping and, where applicable, for applying further parts like sole units 192 or Strobel boards 195, may be performed manually or mechanically. This can be performed, for example, at a processing station (not shown) comprising a mounting means, with the mounting means comprising a number of needles or the like, which interact with defined apertures in the first and/or second shoe components 110, 180. In this way, the first and/or second shoe components 110, 180 can be correctly arranged on the mounting means before putting into a three-dimensional shape and, for example, before addition of further parts like sole units 192 and/or Strobel boards 195 takes place.

0088<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> shows a further embodiment 200 of a method according to the invention or an apparatus for performing such a method, respectively. For manufacturing a plurality of shoe uppers 290 a plurality of first shoe components 210 is first provided, which in the embodiment 200 shown here are part of a shoe upper.

0089The plurality of first shoe components 210 is moved with a transport means 220, which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components 210. Herein, the transport means 220 comprises a plurality of flat regions 222, which comprise one or more first shoe components 210 each.

0090The transport means 220 also comprises a transport belt 225, with the transport belt 225 comprising a textile base material 225. In the embodiment 200 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>, the transport belt 225 is produced jointly with the first shoe components 210 in an apparatus 228 provided for this purpose. In this regard, manufacturing in the apparatus 228 may comprise weft knitting, warp knitting, weaving, as well as felting, needle punching, electro-spinning or cross-plying of a source material. Further methods for the manufacture of nonwoven materials are also possible. This enables the production and provision of the transport belt 225 and the plurality of first shoe components 210 with precisely the properties that appear to be desirable for the shoe uppers 290 to be manufactured.

0091Herein, the transport means may be solely comprised of the transport belt 225 together with the first shoe components 210. However, the transport means 220 may also comprise further components, e.g. a foil or plastic layer, a film, a synthetic composite material, a multilayer laminate and/or leather or the like (not shown). After manufacture of the transport belt 225 together with the first shoe components 210, these additional elements may, for example, be arranged on the transport belt 225 / shoe components 210 and connected, glued, etc., thereto in the apparatus 228.

0092Incorporating the first shoe components 210 within the transport means 220 allows the first shoe components 210 to be very well positioned and moved along. For this purpose, the transport means 220 and the transport belt 225 may, for example, be laid over a roller table 215 or an air-bearing stage 215, such that the transport means 220 and the transport belt 225 do not sag.

0093In the embodiment 200 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>, the transport means 220 and the first shoe components 210 pass through a series of processing stations 230, 240, 241, 250, 251, 260 and 261.

0094For the processing station 230, the same basic considerations apply as for the processing station 130, which is shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>.

0095The processing stations 240 and 241, for which the same basic considerations also apply as for the processing station 140 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, add one or more second shoe components 280 and 285 to each of at least a subset of the first shoe components 210. In this regard, the second shoe components 280 are preferably provided to the processing station 240 via a transport means 281. Similarly, the second shoe components 285 are preferably provided to the processing station 241 via a further transport means 286.

0096For example, the second shoe components 280 are elements for reinforcement, whereas the further second shoe components 285 may be strip elements for decoration.

0097The statements already made above regarding the design possibilities for the second shoe components will be referred to in the following here.

0098After passing through the processing stations 240 and 241, the transport means 220 and the first shoe components 210, together with any second shoe components 280, 285 possibly added, pass through the processing station 250, which serves the purpose of consolidating and connecting the first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285. The statements already made above regarding processing station 150 also apply analogously here.

0099The first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285 are subsequently separated from the transport belt 225 at the processing station 251. In this context, the first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285 are preferably only separated from the transport belt 225, while an underlying carrier layer of the transport means 220 remains intact and thus assures further conveyance of the shoe components to the processing stations 260 and 261.

0100Alternatively, the first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285 may also be completely separated, e.g. cut out, but will initially remain within the transport belt 225 and the transport means 220 and be further transported, "carried along", as it were, by movement of the latter.

0101Furthermore, the transport means 220 and the separated first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285 pass through the processing stations 260 and 261, which are provided to generate a three-dimensional shape. For this purpose, the shoe components are preferably first removed from the transport belt 225 and the transport means 220. The generation of the three-dimensional shape may then involve finishing stitching or bonding at the heel or the like, for example.

0102<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> shows a further embodiment 300 of a method according to the invention for manufacturing a plurality of shoes or an apparatus for performing such a method. Herein, the embodiment 200 just described can be seen in the left half of the image, first of all. Shoe uppers 290 manufactured thereby are now subjected to further processing steps for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes.

0103For this, the shoe uppers 290 pass through a number of further processing stations 310, 330 and 340 and processing steps, along a further transport means 305, with it also being possible for some processing steps to be performed manually.

0104First, the shoe uppers 290 are mounted on lasts 315 at a processing station 310. This can be done either mechanically or manually, with it also being possible for manual mounting to be supported by mechanical means. In further processing steps, the shoe uppers mounted on the last are provided with an outsole 325. The outsoles 325 may, for example, be provided via a further transport means 326 to the processing station 320, which applies an adhesive layer to the outsoles before the outsoles 325 are arranged on the shoe uppers 290. At a further processing station 330, setting of the adhesive layer, for example, may be effected, resulting in a resilient connection between the shoe upper 290 and the outsole 325. It is also conceivable that the processing station 320 apply a meltable material to the outsoles 325, which is at least partially melted and then cooled, such that connection between the shoe upper 290 and the outsole 325 is thereby achieved.

0105After the connection between the shoe upper 290 and the outsole 325 is produced, the shoe workpiece is further conveyed to another processing station 340, at which the last 315 is removed. This may once again be done either purely by machine or manually, with it also being possible for manual removal to be supported by mechanical means.

0106After removal of the last, shoes laces 360, for example, may be threaded through the shoes, with it being possible for the shoe laces to be provided by a further transport means 361. In <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref>, the shoe laces are threaded manually; however, it also conceivable that they be threaded mechanically.

0107The shoes thus completed can then be placed into the packaging 370, either mechanically or manually, at a further processing station, with it being possible for the packaging itself to be provided via a further transport means 371. The completely manufactured and packaged shoes 380 can then finally be loaded on a further transport means that further conveys the packaged shoes 380 either to a warehouse or directly to a store or sales counter.

0108The packaging 370 could also be customized with each box being individually printed, cut, and formed on demand. The customization could be purely visible in form of names, logos and so on, or be designed perfectly to fit each shoe, or piece of apparel.

0109It should be noted here that the embodiments shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003">Figs. 1-3</figref> are merely examples that are intended to make the invention's potential obvious to the person skilled in the art. In an actually existing embodiment, the precise number, sequence and nature of the individual processing steps may also differ from the examples 100, 200 and 300 shown here.

0110<figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 400 for performing an embodiment of a method according to the invention, e.g. one of the methods shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003">Figs. 1-3</figref>.

0111The apparatus 400 comprises a transport means 420 as well as a plurality of processing stations 430, 440, 450 and 460. Here, the transport means 420 and the processing stations 430, 440, 450 and 460 are arranged in a mobile container 410. The container 410 could be also a combination of multiple containers which be combined into one production unit. As regards the design possibilities for the transport means 420 and the processing stations 430, 440, 450 and 460, reference is made to the corresponding statements above.

0112Here, the mobile container 410 is at least partially transparent. In the present embodiment, the walls of the container 410 consist of glass or Plexiglas or other transparent materials. A shoe 490 which was manufactured with the embodiment of an apparatus 400 can also be seen.

0113The apparatus 400 also preferably comprises a control means (not shown), which facilitates the manufacture of a plurality of different shoes with the apparatus 400 shown. It is particularly preferable that this control means also comprises an interface for interaction with at least one future wearer of one of the shoes to be manufactured. This allows a future wearer to individually adapt the shoe 490 to be manufactured to their needs.

0114<figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> shows an embodiment of a mobile sales stand 500, with the mobile sales stand 500 comprising one or more apparatuses 510 for performing an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention, e.g. one of the apparatuses 200, 300 and 400 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 2-4</figref>. Furthermore, <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> shows a sales or consultancy stand 550. For example, at this consultancy stand 550, a customer can seek advice about suitable shoe models or the customer can individually design a desired shoe model. After designing the desired shoe model, the production apparatus 510 may, via the control means as described above, for example, be prompted to manufacture the shoe model designed by the customer.

0115The mobile sales stand 500 may be used, for example, at trade fairs, major events, sports events, etc. However, it is also conceivable that the mobile sales stand be placed in a department store.

0116Finally, <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> shows an embodiment of a sales room 600 comprising an apparatus 610 for performing an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Apparatus 610 may, for example, be one of the embodiments of an apparatus 200, 300 or 400 discussed in the context of <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 2-4</figref>.