Abstract: A sewing apparatus such as a household sewing machine includes a needle bar on which a sewing needle is mounted, a needle bar vertically moving mechanism vertically moving the needle bar, a thread cassette having a thread accommodating section accommodating a supply of thread, a cassette mount to which the thread cassette is detachably attached, a threading mechanism operated in synchronization with attachment of the thread cassette to the cassette mount when the needle bar is stopped at a predetermined position, the threading mechanism passing the thread drawn from the thread cassette through an eye of the needle mounted on the needle bar, and a threading limiting unit limiting the threading mechanism so that the threading mechanism is inoperative in a case where the thread cassette is attached to the cassette mount when the apparatus is disconnected from a power supply.

Abstract: A method of stitching one work piece to another or for stitching a decorative stitch line along a work piece. In one embodiment the method includes providing a first work piece having a first edge along which a stitch is to be made and providing a template having an edge that corresponds generally to at least a portion the first edge of the first work piece. The template is made from a material having a color selected to contrast with a color of the first work piece. The first work piece is then placed against the template so that the work piece's first edge abuts at least a portion of the edge of the template. Next, a computer-controlled sewing machine that has a machine-vision capability is used to stitch along a path that corresponds generally to a boundary between the first edge of the first work piece and the edge of the template. If necessary or appropriate, the computer-controlled sewing machine can adjust its stitching path in response to detecting the template.

Abstract: The information display apparatus is characterized by storing at least plural pieces of loom information, by comprising: data control means capable of outputting the stored loom information; display means for displaying in a screen the loom information outputted from data control means; and distinction means for distinguishing a kind of a person engaged in weaving and outputting a distinction result in the data control means, and by presetting in the data control means the item for display corresponding to the distinction result, thereby outputting the loom information relative to the item for display corresponding to the distinction result from the data control means to the display means.

Abstract: A patterned cloth is made by which a pattern is formed on a surface of a work cloth by passing a thread through the work cloth a number of times and forming a plurality of free loops on the reverse side of the work cloth. A double-sided adhesive tape is provided to fix the free loops on the reverse side of the work cloth. The work cloth has an elastic film member, the elastic film member allowing the free loops to be retained on the reverse side of the work cloth.

Abstract: A method of producing a textile product, including the steps of: receiving order information from a customer over a network, the order information including an image to be reproduced on the textile product; processing the order information to create an order record readable by an automated weaving machine; and causing the weaving machine to weave the textile product according to the order record so as to have a representation of the image on a face of the textile product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling feed quantity and direction in a sewing machine, in which feed quantity and direction of a workpiece is controlled by a motor, thereby not only allowing various patterns to be produced by stitches made up of upper and lower threads, but also allowing a speedy sewing operation. The apparatus comprises an operator interface means for inputting the feed quantity and direction of a workpiece according to an operator's plan, a motor driving control means for outputting a motor driving control signal according to feed information on the feed quantity and direction of the workpiece inputted through the operator interface means, and a workpiece feed control means for controlling rotation direction and speed of the motor according to the motor driving control signal from the motor driving control means.

Abstract: A sewing machine with needle threading device is disclosed, wherein the thread passed through the needle eye of a needle of the sewing machine by operation of a threading hook may be released from the threading hook during a process of the threading hook moving up to the upper initial position after the threading operation is finished.

Abstract: A management method for fiber-processing and a management apparatus thereof, which can detect the occurrences of the selected monitoring events by monitoring the occurrences, can investigate the causes of the occurrences of the events by treating the events so that the factors of the occurrences of the problems can be easily determined whether they are attributable to the problem of the fiber-processing machine itself or the problem of supplied yarn, and can promptly accurately present countermeasures against the problems.

Abstract: A sewing machine and is connected to an external environment device having a display such that additional pattern information transmitted to the external environment device may be confirmed at the display irrespectively of internal and external information, the sewing machine having a memory for storing data which may be rewritten therein and an information input/output device for inputting and outputting external information into and from the memory such that the sewing machine may be operated under control of the external information while machine control information is outputted through the information input/output device.

Abstract: A real time design, development and delivery collaborative apparel solution digital platform is provided. The platform includes a virtual design library module, a technical designer network module, an eCAD module for facilitating design collaboration between a label owner and one or more approved designers, a production/distribution source network module, a collaborative web portal module for translating designs in a plurality of different CAD software applications to one or more of a plurality of unrelated production software applications, and a pre-production engineering resources module for facilitating the selection of pre-production engineers and engineering methods for various production processes.

Abstract: A presser foot assembly is disclosed which is operable to adjust the pressure applied to a fabric by a presser foot in a stitching machine. The presser foot assembly includes an adjustment element, a linkage and a presser foot. A connecting end of the presser foot is connected to the linkage. The adjustment element is operable to be adjusted while the stitching machine is operating, and adjusts the linkage such that the travel distance of a foot end of the presser foot changes. The adjustment element can include an adjustment eccentric, which adjusts the location of a cam. The linkage can include a cam follower, the height of a second end of which is changed when the cam is adjusted. The connecting end of the presser foot engages with the second end of the cam follower, and thus the height of the foot end is adjusted, allowing for more or less pressure to be applied to the fabric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for indicating stitching position in a stitching machine. The apparatus includes a laser assembly which emits laser light. The laser assembly is mounted to an upper arm assembly of the stitching machine, and is operable to indicate a location of at least a portion of a pattern to be stitched using the stitching machine. The laser assembly is mounted such that the laser light is unobstructed prior to hitting fabric which is to be stitched. The stitching machine may include a user interface which can be used to activate the laser assembly. The stitching machine may also trace an outline of a pattern to be stitched while the laser assembly is activated in order to verify that the pattern does not overlap a hoop which holds the fabric.

Abstract: A software program and system for assisting an operator in analyzing an embroidery design which will be used by an embroidery machine to create an embroidered fabric. Grid software divides the embroidery design to be analyzed into a plurality of grid sections. Value software assigns a value to each particular grid section. The assigned value corresponds to a density of the embroidery design within the particular grid section. Display software provides a display of the grid sections of the divided embroidery design wherein each grid section has a parameter corresponding to its assigned value. The grid size may be proportionally adjusted to accommodate thread stretch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed which provide a plurality of stitching machines which may be synchronized without mechanical coupling of the stitching machines. Each of the plurality of stitching machines are connected to a control, which coordinates operations of the stitching machines, including the download of patterns to be stitched by the stitching machines. A master stitching machine is selected by either the control, or the stitching machines. Each of the stitching machines, during stitching operations transmits a heartbeat signal to the master stitching machine. The heartbeat signal can include information related to stitching operations, which the master can use to determine that each stitching machine is operating properly. Several clusters of stitching machines may also be present, with each cluster having a master stitching machine.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus includes a thread cutting mechanism that cuts a thread connected to a work cloth. In response to an operation of an operating member and detachment of a sewing cartridge from a sewing apparatus body, the thread cutting mechanism is actuated. The thread cutting mechanism includes a thread cutting lever, a link mechanism, cutting blades, and an engagement mechanism.

Abstract: A thread winder unit, which is capable of winding thread of spools set on spool bars, is removably attached to a machine body. The sewing machine includes a feed motor for feeding the thread during sewing, an upper thread state detecting sensor disposed between the feed motor and the thread winder unit for detecting tensed thread, and a CPU for controlling thread winding operations based on a signal from the upper thread state detecting sensor. The sewing machine intermittently drives the feed motor in a reverse direction to that in the sewing to feed the thread toward the thread winder unit, every time the upper thread state detecting sensor detects the tensed thread, and the thread winder unit winds the fed thread around the spool. The CPU, recognizing the thread wound by a given amount, stops winding.

Abstract: A needle deployment device is provided. The needle deployment device comprises a body, a plurality of medical needles displaceably mounted on the body and an actuator on the body. The actuator is actuatable in response to pressurizing a fluid so as to cause the needles to displace relative to the body. It has been found that the device can be used advantageously as a suture placement device for placing suture elements through walls of vessels, and the like, during, for example, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)surgery, or the like. Furthermore, a medical system comprising at least two bodies, a plurality of needles displaceably mounted on each body and an actuator on each body is provided. Each actuator is selectively actuatable in response to pressurizing a fluid so as to cause the needles to be displaced relative to their associated bodies. A method of performing a medical procedure is also provided.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus performs sewing operation on a work piece that moves along an X-Y plane perpendicular to an axial direction of a hollow needle having an inclined opening that is formed by angular cutting a portion of an end portion of the hollow needle that penetrates the work piece with respect to the axial direction of the hollow needle, by reciprocating the hollow needle in a penetrating direction, using a thread threaded in the hollow needle. In the sewing apparatus, Tatami stitches are formed on the work cloth with a plurality of stitches. First, a plurality of stitches are formed in a first stitching direction along a line angled between 20° and 160° with respect to a needle tip opening direction.

Abstract: A system for analyzing fabric surface appearance includes a feed mechanism for running a fabric over a crest including a frame for holding the fabric bent to form a crest, an image capturing device for capturing profile images of the fabric surface at the crest, and a computer system for manipulating the images. The computer system produces a three-dimensional representation of the fabric surface and identifies characteristics in the three-dimensional representation. The information is compared to reference data to identify a grade for the fabric.

Abstract: A placket sewing machine attaches a placket patch to a fabric part of a garment in overlying relation to form a multiple layer placket assembly. The placket sewing machine includes a base defining a working surface of the sewing machine. A reciprocating needle chuck has first and second needle openings formed in a staggered forward and rearward arrangement. First and second sewing needles are positioned within respective needle openings of the chuck. The sewing needles are adapted for carrying respective ends of thread into and through the overlaid placket patch and fabric part to form first and second parallel lines of stitches in the placket assembly. The first line of stitches extends a greater distance along the length of the overlaid placket patch and fabric part than the second line of stitches. A sewing motor is operatively connected to the needle chuck for actuating the chuck during operation of the sewing machine.