Abstract: An additive manufacturing system and an input material that overcomes that need to heat and extrude solidifying materials to create a three-dimensional structure. The system arranges subunits of the input material into repeating, interlinked subunits that can be arranged to manufacture a three-dimensional structure that is flexible but also has sufficient structural integrity to retain a desired shape during the additive manufacturing process or post-manufacturing usage. During the additive manufacturing process, the flexible input material can be manipulated and reformed to match the shape and structure of a target three-dimensional structure, upon which the manufactured three-dimensional structure is based. As elongated units of the input material are received by the additive manufacturing machine, the machine assembles the input material into the interlinked, repeating subunits, thereby removing the need to heat and extrude an input material to create a structure.

Abstract: An improved sewing machine, for sewing overlapping materials and making ornamental seams on a single material comprises: a first supplying assembly for supplying a first seaming yarn, arranged under the pieces to be seamed, a second supplying assembly for supplying a second seaming yarn, arranged above the pieces to be seamed, a needle arranged on the top of the seaming region and a needle driving device for driving the needle by a reciprocating movement along a movement axis thereof in order to cause the needle tip to pass through the pieces to be seamed and to engage the first yarn so as to provide a yarn loop traversed by the second yarn, as a seaming stitch is formed. The machine has the main feature that it further comprises a loading device for automatically loading the second yarn, inside a "crochet" of the assembly supplying the second yarn, as well as a cutting device for cutting the second yarn at the end of the second yarn loading operation.

Abstract: A method of forming a stitch and the stitch which includes three needle threads and cooperating looper threads for forming three parallel rows of stitches that are joined by a spreader thread that lies on the upper surface of the work piece. The spreader thread follows a serpentine pattern and is configured to lie both forward of and rearward of the penetrating points of the needle threads such that it connects and covers the three parallel rows of stitches.

Abstract: Overedge crochet stitching provides a whip stitch appearance on both sides of a fabric. Each stitch has (a) two contiguous legs of thread on the upper surface of the fabric, extending from a needle hole to the edge of the fabric; and (b) two contiguous legs of thread on the lower surface of the fabric, extending from the needle hole to the edge of the fabric. Both legs on the upper surface are bent to form a two strand bight at the edge of the fabric. Both legs on the lower surface extend first through the two strand bight of the preceding stitch and then to a one strand bight which loops around the two strand bight of the current stitch. The method and apparatus involve a threaded needle which carries the thread through the fabric, a hook which pulls thread to the fabric edge above and below the fabric, and a retractable spreader which supports a leg of thread which extends up from the needle hole to the preceding stitch.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus for suturing biological tissue including a cassette housing, a continuous loop belt mounted for circulation therein, an arcuate needle mounted within the cassette for 360.degree. rotation having a plurality of closely spaced projecting means for engaging the continuous loop belt, and means for circulating the continuous loop belt. The cassette housing is easily attachable to and detachable from the means for circulating the continuous loop belt.