Abstract: A conditionally visible bite line may be demarcated on a shoe upper using one of a fluorescent material and an Infrared (IR) material. Such a conditionally visible bite line may be observable only under particular conditions, such as when illuminated by an ultraviolet light source or an IR light source, as appropriate. A light may be projected to intersect the conditionally visible bite line under conditions rendering the conditionally visible bite line detectable. The intersection(s) of the projected light and the conditionally visible bite line may be used to create a virtual bite line for use in generating a tool path to process the surface of a shoe upper bounded by the conditionally visible bite line.

Abstract: A steam press for steaming the toe region of a footwear upper, that includes a contoured activator to receive the toe portion of the upper and operable to heat and apply steam to moisturize the toe portion. The contoured activator includes a contoured silicone cushion and a felt-covered contoured steam pad to engage the top part of the upper and a lower heated activator housing contoured to the contour of the contoured steam pad and positioned to mate with the contoured steam pad and press the upper therebetween. The contoured steam pad is mechanically interconnected to move away from and toward the heated activator pad respectively to receive the upper and then press the upper between the contoured steam pad and the heated activator housing. A steam generator is connected to receive water in the liquid state and is operable to convert the water to steam.

Abstract: The method of aligning and loading a substrate onto a powder reinforcement machine wherein a guide pin arrangement is adjusted with respect to settings on a portion of the machine frame and then adjusted distancewise from the machine frame, the guide pins themselves then adjusted with respect to the guide pin support, to facilitate alignment of substrates on the machine, the settings being repeatable for differently contoured substrates if desirable. The guide pin support being shiftable for removal from the path of a substrate transport cube, permitting rapid alignment of successive substrates of a particular configuration.