METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING FOOTWEAR SOLES

• Main Authors: White, J. Spencer, Mahoney, Christopher J, Paulson, Andrea A, Jessiman, Alexander W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.05.2019
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; FOOTWEAR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A sole component molded with different portions molded from different bead foams where there is a gradual transition between the different bead foams, as well as a method and apparatus for manufacturing the same. The molding system includes a mold cavity that is partially divided into at least two adjacent mold regions by at least one blade. The blade does not fully separate adjacent regions, but instead defines a space allowing beads introduced into adjacent regions to intermingle or overlap at the interface between the mold regions. The size, shape and configuration of the blade and the space may vary from application to application. The molding system may include a blade retractor that allows the blade to be retracted after the beads are loaded and before the beads are joined. The different bead foams may be different expanded thermoplastic polyurethane bead foams that vary in density or hardness or color.