Abstract: An apparatus for orienting sock blanks or the like so that the open toes of the blanks can be sewn closed includes a device for turning the sock inside out, a sock rotation device for grasping the sock and rotating it until sensors detect that the sock is in the proper orientation, a sock transfer device for taking the sock from the sock rotation device toward a sewing machine, and sock guiding and positioning mechanisms for feeding the sock into the in-feed nip of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A tucking attachment for a sewing machine having a tucking blade with one end positioned adjacent material and a tucking blade drive with an output shaft mechanically coupled to the tucking blade. A control, connected to the tucking blade drive, is operable to command the tucking blade drive to move the tucking blade through a programmable displacement to form a tuck in the material adjacent a presser foot of the sewing machine. Thereafter, the sewing machine is operated to sew a number of stitches in the tuck, and the tucking blade is then retracted. Repeating the above cycle of operation permits successive tucks of different lengths to be formed in the material.

Abstract: A method and system for coustom fitting an article to a human being or animal comprising, selecting on the basis of body information about the human being or animal a subset of entries from a database populated with entries, wherein the entries comprise data from which the article is designed.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatically generating embroidery designs from a scanned image. An embroidery data generating mechanism generates accurate embroidery designs. The embroidery data generating mechanism first reads an image data file, which contains bitmapping information generated from a software scanning tool, the information being related to an embroidery pattern that has been scanned. The scanned pattern is broken up into pixels, each pixel in the scanned image having a bitmap associated with the color of the pattern. Each unique color in the scanned pattern has its own unique bitmap. The embroidery generating mechanism also includes a segmentation mechanism and a chain-encoding mechanism which perform operations to enhance the quality of the bitmapped information and to separate regions of the scanned image into objects. A distance transform evaluation mechanism classifies each object as being either a thick object or a thin, predominantly regular object.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatically generating embroidery designs from a scanned image. An embroidery data generating mechanism generates accurate embroidery designs. The embroidery data generating mechanism first reads an image data file, which contains bitmapping information generated from a software scanning tool, the information being related to an embroidery pattern that has been scanned. The scanned pattern is broken up into pixels, each pixel in the scanned image having a bitmap associated with the color of the pattern. Each unique color in the scanned pattern has its own unique bitmap. The embroidery generating mechanism also includes a segmentation mechanism and a chain-encoding mechanism which perform operations to enhance the quality of the bitmapped information and to separate regions of the scanned image into objects. A distance transform evaluation mechanism classifies each object as being either a thick object or a thin, predominantly regular object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the control of the travel movement of at least one service unit at a rotor-spinning machine, whereby the service unit services and/or controls an operating zone assigned to it containing a plurality of processing stations of the textile machine. The service unit is moved in the direction of its assigned operating zone when the detected position is located outside the assigned operating zone. In addition, the size of the operating zones is determined as a function of the workload of the service units and/or of the work efficiency of the service units.

Abstract: A motor system for a sewing machine includes a motor unit rotatable at a first rotation speed; a clutch unit with an output shaft capable of being coupled to or separated from the motor unit; a speed changing unit for switching the first rotation speed to a second rotation speed; a position control unit with a sliding disk being movable to a first position, a second position or a third position, making the sliding disk rotate at the second or first rotation speed or stopped; an auxiliary driving shaft for transmitting the rotation of the sliding disk to the output shaft; a first sensor for detecting the position of the clutch unit; and a second sensor for detecting the position of a sewing mechanism of the sewing machine. Thereby, a first speed control, a second speed control and a stopping position control can be achieved for the sewing mechanism.

Abstract: A method for symmetrically aligning a pattern piece relative to a work material defining a pattern with varying repeat dimensions. The method including selectively capturing first and second images of areal portions of the work material corresponding to respective first and second reference points on said pattern piece, displaying the first and second images adjacent one another, and moving the pattern displayed in one of the first and second images an adjustment distance, such that the pattern defined by the work material is substantially aligned with respect to first and second images. The position of the pattern piece is then moved relative to the work material proportional to the adjustment distance so that the first and second reference points are symmetrically aligned with respect to the repeating pattern. The images can also be rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to or parallel with the plane of the work material.

Abstract: A structure of a glove is disclosed that includes a first material element and a second material element. The material elements are separate from each other and positioned adjacent each other, and the material elements are joined with a stitchless configuration, that may be a stitchless seam. An adhesive element may be secured to each of the first material element and the second material element to form the stitchless configuration. The adhesive element may be a polymer, and more particularly, may be a thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: Swimming goggles includes a pair of lens portions, a peripheral wall portion extending rearward from a periphery of each of the lens portions, a nose belt portion, and a strap. The peripheral wall portion includes an inner peripheral wall portion which comes in contact with a surrounding area of a wearer's eye, and an outer peripheral portion which is formed to surround at least a portion of the inner peripheral wall portion. The outer peripheral wall portion is extended from a portion of a surrounding area of an inner peripheral wall portion positioned on at least upper and lower sides of the lens portion toward a rear side thereof so as to be gradually moved apart from an outer surface of the inner peripheral wall portion.

Abstract: A method and device for creating uniform stitch lengths in an article being sewn by detecting actual feeding increments of the article using a sensor. With this information, the sewing or embroidery machine is controlled to provide generally uniform stitch lengths.

Abstract: An improved quilting apparatus and method for automatically providing a variable sewing area (VSA) independent of the throat depth of the sewing machine used and X/Y carriages on which the sewing machine is mounted, comprising a rotatably-powered take-up roller mounted on laterally movable carriages, a tension system for continuous tension on fabric and batting, arm-mounted or sewing machine-mounted sensors that detect proximity or engage fabric on the take-up roller and cause rotation of the take-up roller so that it is out of the way of the advancing or returning sewing machine. The inventive VSA system includes a microprocessor-based controller for automatic operation, which controller interfaces with PC operated quilting programs that drive powered X/Y carriage systems to allow sewing of quilting patterns much larger than the throat depth of conventional sewing machines.

Abstract: A plurality of stitching machines and a control system used in stitching patterns into a plurality of items is capable of flexible control. The plurality of stitching machines may include one or more clusters of stitching machines, with each cluster able to stitch patterns into items independently of other clusters. Stitching machines within the plurality of stitching machines, or within the clusters of stitching machines, may be set to stitch patterns into items using one of a synchronized mode and an unsynchronized mode. When in the synchronized mode, the stitching machines perform stitching substantially synchronously with other stitching machines, and when in the unsynchronized mode the stitching machines perform stitching independently of the status of other stitching machines.

Abstract: An embroidering system includes at least one embroidering machine having plural needles supplied with threads having different colors, and a control device for transmitting an embroidery data to the at least one embroidering machine so as to selectively drive the plural needles. The embroidery data is generated and memorized in the control device prior to being transmitted to the at least one embroidering machine. The embroidery data is corrected as required. It is preferable that the embroidery data is corrected as the basis for needle numbers for the respective needles and the colors of the threads supplied to the respective needles.

Abstract: A yarn processing system includes a weft yarn feeding device with a control unit and a power loom which consumes weft yarn. In operation, a run-signal is generated by the power loom that initializes the start-up of the weaving operation. A start-signal that is derived from the run-signal is transmitted to the feeding device. The start-signal is generated externally of the feeding device. The drive motor of the feeding device is driven at a predetermined speed, after receiving the external start-signal in order to prevent an undesired reduction of the size of a yarn store by the initial consumption demand of the start-up of the weaving operation of the power loom. A signal transmitting connection is provided in the yarn processing system between the power loom and a control unit of the feeding device for transmitting the start-signal.

Abstract: An overlock sewing machine includes: a main body; a needle bar mounted to reciprocate in an axial direction; plural needles positioned at the needle bar; a main feeding mechanism adjusted to control a cloth feeding amount of a main feed dog; a differential feeding mechanism adjusted to control a cloth feeding amount of a differential feed dog; a memorizing device configured to memorize at least one sewing pattern, the memorizing device being provided at the main body; a pattern selecting device provided at the main body and configured to select the at least one sewing pattern memorized in the memorizing device; and a control device provided at the main body and configured to control the selected at least one sewing pattern.

Abstract: A semirigid swim cap (100) is disclosed, having a unitary construction. The swim cap is generally open at the bottom and includes a forward edge (104), a rearward edge (106), oppositely disposed ear cover portions (108), and a center portion (101). In a preferred embodiment, the swim cap is made from an elastomeric thermoplastic and the center portion is relatively thick, while the peripheral edge portions are relatively thin and therefore less rigid. A pair of sealing ridges (110) extends from an inner surface of the swim cap, near the open bottom.

Abstract: A reversible baseball style cap provides a crown having first and second layers of material that together form a dome shape that enables a user to wear and conform the crown to the user's head, and wherein either layer can be shaped into a concavity that abuts the user's head during use and wherein the outer layer defines an outer exposed surface. A bill of a floating foam material has a first curved edge that is stitched to the crown in between the first and second layers. The bill has a second curved edge defining a front of the cap. An adjustment cord extends through an opening in at least one of the layers at a position opposite the bill. The cord has end portions that are attached to the crown at two positions generally on opposite sides of the cord opening. A sleeve adjustably, slidably attaches to the cord to form an adjustable loop with the cord.

Abstract: An eye protection device is disclosed herein. The eye protection device includes a face frame, a lens frame, and a means for pivotally coupling the lens frame to the face frame, wherein the lens frame is selectively positionable with respect to the face frame.

Abstract: An optical stitch regulator system for efficiently regulating the stitch length and stitch frequency of a sewing machine. The optical stitch regulator system includes at least one optical sensor within or external of the sewing platform of a sewing machine for sensing the motion of the fabric being sewn. The motion data is communicated to a control unit which communicates with the sewing machine for controlling the stitch length and frequency.