Abstract: An apparatus at a weaving machine serves for the protection of persons in danger regions which extend about a beat-up edge along a weaving width and beyond the latter. In this apparatus, monitoring means which emit and register light beams are arranged about the danger regions. Signals which arise as a result of an encroachment into the danger regions and through which an operating stop of the weaving machine can be triggered can be produced in the monitoring means by means of the light beams. First monitoring means are associated with a more comprehensive region and second monitoring means are associated with a central region, the actual danger region. During a normal operation of the weaving machine the first monitoring means are in an active state which ensures the protection. An activation of the second monitoring means is provided for use during activities which are occasionally to be carried out at the weaving machine within the more comprehensive region.

Abstract: An automated sewing device capable of neatly feeding a material(s) of easily contractible property to a sewing machine, without the material(s) being curled. In the automated sewing device, blower tubes are arranged so as to allow air to be blown therefrom to the material(s), thereby applying an appropriate degree of air pressure thereto at desired angles. With such blower tube arrangement, air pressure is effectively used for stretching the material(s) outwardly and neatly so as to prevent the same from curling, and also for automatically feeding the material(s) toward the sewing machine.

Abstract: A quilting apparatus for enabling a user to freely move a stack of fabric layers across a planar bed relative to an actuatable stitch head. The apparatus includes a motion detector which detects the movement of the stack and controls the actuation of the stitch head. Consequently, the apparatus functions to synchronize the delivery of stitch strokes by the head with the manually controlled movement of the quilt material stack. This frees the user to move the stack over a wide range of speeds, to start or stop movement at will, and to guide the stack in any direction across the planar bed.

Abstract: Computer-aided design and manufacture software and hardware automate garment and fashion definition and production. Configurable garment includes ornamental element, pattern display, and personal identifier and wireless sensor electronics.

Abstract: A baseball protector for protecting the arm of a user, having a forearm protector and a bicep protector connected to each other by a linking member. The forearm protector has an elastic sleeve having an impact absorption pad covering the inside of the user's forearm. The elastic sleeve has a contracted elastic band at its upper end to prevent the forearm protector from slipping down or off the forearm. The bicep protector has an impact absorption pad for covering the bicep of the user's arm and an elastic band at an upper end. The linking member is formed of elastic strips or a sheet member which does not restrict the throwing and/or catching motion of the user.

Abstract: A pair of ergonomic swimming goggles worn at the head to cover eye sockets has two lens bodies, two linings, a bridge component and a goggles band. The linings have firm joint portions annularly disposed at peripheries of the lens bodies. The region of the firm joint portions corresponding to deeper portions of the eye sockets is thicker, while the region of the firm joint portions corresponding to shallower regions of the eye sockets is thinner. Elastic portions extend from the firm joint portions. The extension width of the elastic portions corresponding to the thicker region of the firm joint portions is narrower, while the extension width of the elastic portions corresponding to the thinner region of the firm joint portions is wider. Thereby, the pair of ergonomic swimming goggles can fully seal and comfortably cover the peripheries of the eye sockets.

Abstract: A head control device and its control method for a multi-head embroidery machine having a plurality of heads are disclosed. The present invention provides a head control device and its control method for a multi-head embroidery machine having a plurality of heads. The head control device comprises a central control unit controlling a whole system, the central control unit outputs a control signal for controlling a drive state of the respective head in response to an operation of an operator, so that the plurality of heads are selectively driven, and a embroidery task is performed by the selected head; and at least one head control unit for controlling the drive state of the respective head in response to the control signal from the central control unit.

Abstract: The shed of a fluidic weaving loom is not changed simultaneously for all warp threads, but rather continuously starting at the weft entrance and continuing helically, so to speak, to the exit of the warp shed. This sequential shed closure takes place with a so-called domino effect along a helical line curved in space, whereby additional time is gained for stretching the inserted weft thread and temporarily stopping the shed formation or shedding is avoided.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing mechanism including a needle bar, a thread take-up lever and a shuttle, a picker capable of holding a needle thread extending from an eye of a sewing needle near the shuttle located below a needle plate, and a picker driver driving the picker between a first stop position where the picker is capable of holding the needle thread and a second stop position spaced farther away from the shuttle than the first position. The picker is movable to a third position spaced farther away from the shuttle than the second position.

Abstract: A method and system for designing circularly knitted garments are provided. The method includes designing a model of the circularly knitted garment, stretching the model from a first size to a second size, and governing the stretching with one or more user definable rules. The system includes a circular knitting machine, a controller for controlling the circular knitting machine with a machine code, a tool for saving a model of the circularly knitted garment as a first output, and a conversion program for converting the first output into the machine code. The tool has a stretching function for changing a size of the first output using one or more user selected rules.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a gusset to a panel includes a gusset folder that receives and folds a gusset material to form the gusset. The panel is supported by a sewing table. A sewing machine is positioned relative to the sewing table so as to be able to sew the gusset to the panel. A gusset guides the gusset toward a selected edge of the panel so that the gusset is held in substantial alignment with the edge of the panel. An edge detector detects when a next edge of the panel is approaching the sewing machine. A turning mechanism is positioned along the sewing table and is moveable into engagement with the panel. The turning mechanism turns the panel relative to the sewing machine when the edge detector detects the next edge of the panel is approaching the sewing machine.

Abstract: A supply spool supplies a weft thread through an adjustable actuated thread brake and a thread tension sensor to a weft thread accumulator, from which an accumulated insertion length of the thread is provided to a weft insertion device. The tension sensor provides a measured actual thread tension signal to a control arrangement, which compares the actual tension to a selected rated tension, and, dependent on the deviation therebetween, provides a control signal to an actuator of the thread brake, so that the actual thread tension constantly corresponds to the selected rated tension. Another sensor provides a signal indicating a change from an empty spool to a full spool. Responsive thereto, the control arrangement actuates the thread brake to an adjustable starting brake setting as a coarse adjustment. Then the self-regulating fine adjustment is continued. A constant winding tension and thread accumulation length are achieved in the thread accumulator.

Abstract: In a method of pulling the free end of a needle thread from the top to the bottom of at least one work piece upon a first stitch of a seam that is to be sewn, use is made of a sewing machine with at least one presser which can be placed on, and lifted off, the work piece. The needle thread is held tight while a needle-thread loop is extended by the tip of the hook so that the free end is pulled through the work piece. While the needle thread is held tight, the presser is at least partially relieved. The relief time increases as the thickness of the work piece grows.