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by Brendan Dunne
Nike COO Eric Sprunk's exciting prediction on the future of 3D printing your sneakers at home is already one step closer to coming true, as Nike patented new technology this week that helps automate the process of shoe construction.
The patent, filed in 2012 and granted this week, pertains to automated strobel printing, which removes the human element from strobel lasting in shoe production. Strobel lasting is a specific way of affixing uppers to the footbed of a shoe.
The lengthy technical document breaking down the invention describes a process where "[strobel] printing may be performed by any number of printers, such as a multi-head inkjet with the multiple printer heads working in tandem."
Get a glimpse into the process via the patent drawings below and find the full document here.
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