Abstract: A control circuit applied to a power converter includes a multi-functional pin, a zero-crossing signal generator, and an over-voltage detector. The multi-functional pin is used for receiving an auxiliary current generated by an auxiliary winding of the power converter, and an input current. The zero-crossing signal generator is used for generating a zero-crossing signal according to the auxiliary current. The over-voltage detector is used for generating an over-voltage signal according to the auxiliary current. The control circuit generates a switch control signal to the power switch according to the zero-crossing signal, or generates an over-voltage protection signal to the power switch according to the over-voltage signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for collecting three-dimensional surface data of a lasted shoe upper that is mated with a sole that is configured for the lasted upper. The mated three-dimensional data is used with three-dimensional data of the lasted shoe upper in an unmated configuration with the sole to determine a location of an edge defined by the intersection of the lasted upper and the sole when mated. The bite line identifies an edge where the upper and a sole assembly will intersect on a finished shoe, which may represent a bounding line for application of adhesive to the lasted upper for boding the sole thereto.

Abstract: Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly 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 by an automated manufacturing tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and apparatus for a vacuum tool having a switchable plate, such that a common vacuum tool may be adapted with different plates. A switchable plate may form the entirety of the vacuum tool's material contacting surface or a switchable plate may form a portion of the material contacting surface. The vacuum tool is effective for picking and placing one or more manufacturing parts utilizing a vacuum force.

Abstract: Acquisition or pick-up tools that themselves aid in improving the ease with which images of an acquired substrate may be captured are provided. The pick-up tools may include a pick-up surface adapted to interface with a foreign substrate and a light source integrated with the pick-up tool such that light emitted from the light source passes through the pick-up surface to the foreign substrate when the foreign substrate is temporarily coupled with the pick-up surface to create a silhouette of the foreign substrate. A vision system may be adapted for capturing the silhouette of the foreign substrate when the foreign substrate is temporarily coupled with the pick-up surface. The substrate pick-up surface may be formed of one of a transparent, a semi-transparent, or a translucent material such that light may at least partially pass there through.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the automated cutting of pliable items. More particularly, the present invention relates to the automatic cutting and/or trimming of pliable items, such as a shoe upper that lacks uniformity. An image of the pliable item is captured having image features and a pattern is retrieved having pattern features, such as a proposed cut path. An image feature is compared to distance tolerances associated with pattern features to adjust the proposed cut path such that it satisfies the distance tolerances while providing a consistently sized and shaped trimmed item.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided to enable a vacuum tool to have a switchable plate, such that a common vacuum tool may be adapted with different plates. A switchable plate may form the entirety of the vacuum tool's material contacting surface or a switchable plate may form a portion of the material contacting surface. The vacuum tool is effective for picking and placing one or more manufacturing parts utilizing a vacuum force.

Abstract: A system and method may simultaneously apply a limited visibility bite line to a temporarily assembled shoe upper and shoe sole while also generating a digital bite line. The digital bite line may be used to generate a tool path for the application of adhesives to the shoe upper and/or to the shoe sole assembly to permanently assemble the shoe. The limited visibility bite line may comprise a mark or other indicia observable only under specific viewing conditions and/or only for a limited amount of time or until removal. The limited visibility bite line may be used for quality control check purposes to verify, for example, the proper application of adhesives or the proper assembly of the shoe. The limited visibility bite line may be unobservable to the ultimate purchaser and/or wearer of the shoe.

Abstract: Systems of the present invention relate to apparatus for a multi-aperture vacuum tool that is comprised of a distributed vacuum tool that has a number of apertures distributed across an area for manipulating material portion, such as textile, mesh, cloth, and foam. The multi-aperture vacuum tool is also comprised of a refined vacuum tool. The refined vacuum tool generally has a couple of apertures that allow the refined vacuum tool to manipulate smaller portions of material than that which are handled by the distributed vacuum tool. Further, it is contemplated that an affixing tool, such as an ultrasonic welder, is also incorporated with exemplary aspects of the multi-aperture vacuum tool.

Abstract: Aspects relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for a zoned vacuum tool comprised of independently operable vacuum sources provided a vacuum force to segregated zones. A vacuum force is generated in connection with a first zone independently of an activation or deactivation of vacuum force generation associated with a second zone. Therefore, a single vacuum tool can selectively apply a vacuum force to material portions, which allows for control as to which material portions are manipulated by the vacuum tool.

Abstract: Aspects relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for a manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool is comprised of a vacuum tool and an ultrasonic welder as a unified manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool may be used to pick and position a manufacturing part that is then welded with the associated ultrasonic welder.

Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe is enhanced by creating 3-D models of shoe parts. For example, a laser beam may be projected onto a shoe-part surface, such that a projected laser line appears on the shoe part. An image of the projected laser line may be analyzed to determine coordinate information, which may be converted into geometric coordinate values usable to create a 3-D model of the shoe part. Once a 3-D model is known and is converted to a coordinate system recognized by shoe-manufacturing tools, certain manufacturing steps may be automated.

Abstract: Aspects relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for a manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool is comprised of a vacuum tool and an ultrasonic welder as a unified manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool may be used to pick and position a manufacturing part that is then welded with the associated ultrasonic welder.

Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe is enhanced by creating 3-D models of shoe parts. For example, a laser beam may be projected onto a shoe-part surface, such that a projected laser line appears on the shoe part. An image of the projected laser line may be analyzed to determine coordinate information, which may be converted into geometric coordinate values usable to create a 3-D model of the shoe part. Once a 3-D model is known and is converted to a coordinate system recognized by shoe-manufacturing tools, certain manufacturing steps may be automated.

Abstract: Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly 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 by an automated manufacturing tool.

Abstract: Systems of the present invention relate to apparatus for a multi-aperture vacuum tool that is comprised of a distributed vacuum tool that has a number of apertures distributed across an area for manipulating material portion, such as textile, mesh, cloth, and foam. The multi-aperture vacuum tool is also comprised of a refined vacuum tool. The refined vacuum tool generally has a couple of apertures that allow the refined vacuum tool to manipulate smaller portions of material than that which are handled by the distributed vacuum tool. Further, it is contemplated that an affixing tool, such as an ultrasonic welder, is also incorporated with exemplary aspects of the multi-aperture vacuum tool.

Abstract: A device for detecting an average output current of a power converter includes a current generation unit, a first voltage generation unit, a first current mirror unit, and a second current mirror unit. The current generation unit generates a first charge current according to an intermediate voltage. The first voltage generation unit generates a first node voltage according to the first charge current, a first discharge current, a turning-on time, and an inverse turning-on time. The first current mirror unit generates a first current according to the first node voltage, and generates a second voltage corresponding to the average output current of a secondary side of the power converter according to the first current. The second current mirror unit generates the first discharge current according to the first current.

Abstract: Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly 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 by an automated manufacturing tool.

Abstract: A sport ball may have a plurality of panels that are joined at seams to form a casing. The panels may include a thermoplastic polymer material applied to an interior side of the panels, and the thermoplastic polymer material may be heat-activated to extend across the seams. The ball may further include a bladder within the casing and an intermediate layer located between the casing and the bladder. The thermoplastic polymer material may also be heat-activated to bond with the intermediate layer or casing.

Abstract: An oven may facilitate heating, curing, and/or drying processes for manufactured items, such as shoe parts, using multiple groups of infrared sources. Each group of infrared sources may comprise a plurality of sources having heating parameters, such as a peak wavelength, power, distance from items to be cured, number of infrared sources, etc. By staging different types of sources throughout an oven, different aspects of the curing process may be performed in an efficient fashion. Further, conditions within the oven such as temperature and relative humidity may be monitored and adjusted to optimize curing conditions.