Abstract: A stitching apparatus is disclosed which has at least one active thread feeder and is operable to adjust stitching operation based on the condition of a thread being stitched. The active thread feeder is operable to feed thread from a spool to a needle assembly, where the thread is stitched into fabric. The stitching apparatus includes at least one thread sensor. The thread sensor outputs information related to thread tension, which is received at a control which includes a first controller, and the first controller is used for controlling the thread. The control can calculate a thread feed length, and activate the active thread feeder to feed the appropriate amount of thread to the needle assembly. The control can use information from the thread sensor to adjust thread tension by adjusting the active thread feeder. The control can also detect a break in the thread, or a break in an underthread which is located in a lower arm assembly and is used to lock stitches.

Abstract: A stitching apparatus is disclosed which has at least one active thread feeder and is operable to adjust stitching operation based on the condition of a thread being stitched. The active thread feeder is operable to feed thread from a spool to a needle assembly, where the thread is stitched into fabric. The stitching apparatus includes at least one thread sensor. The thread sensor outputs information related to thread tension, which is received at a control which includes a first controller, and the first controller is used for controlling the thread. The control can calculate a thread feed length, and activate the active thread feeder to feed the appropriate amount of thread to the needle assembly. The control can use information from the thread sensor to adjust thread tension by adjusting the active thread feeder. The control can also detect a break in the thread, or a break in an underthread which is located in a lower arm assembly and is used to lock stitches.

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 stitching apparatus is disclosed which has at least one active thread feeder and is operable to adjust stitching operation based on the condition of a thread being stitched. The active thread feeder is operable to feed thread from a spool to a needle assembly, where the thread is stitched into fabric. The stitching apparatus includes at least one thread sensor. The thread sensor outputs information related to thread tension, which is received at a control which includes a first controller, and the first controller is used for controlling the thread. The control can calculate a thread feed length, and activate the active thread feeder to feed the appropriate amount of thread to the needle assembly. The control can use information from the thread sensor to adjust thread tension by adjusting the active thread feeder. The control can also detect a break in the thread, or a break in an underthread which is located in a lower arm assembly and is used to lock stitches.

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 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: The invention pertains to an embroidery machine with a plurality of embroidery stations provided with corresponding embroidery tools which are attached to shafts that oscillate during the operation of the machine and extend along the embroidery machine. The shafts are actuated via corresponding drives. To reduce the torsion as well as the torsional oscillation of long shafts which leads to a distortion of the movement of the embroidery tools and to a chronological phase displacement between the front and the rear portion of the machine, the drives for the needles and for the other embroidery tools are arranged approximately in the center of the embroidery machine.

Abstract: Embroidery machine including several hundred embroidery locations each of which includes the following tools; a needle, a stiletto, a thread guide and a thread brake with respective drives. At least two actuators for connecting or disconnecting the tools from their respective drives are associated with every embroidery location. No more than one switching element, such as a shuttle spool valve is provided for each embroidery location which is switchable so as to switch all the actuators of said embroidery location jointly. Such a switching arrangement permits efficient switching of the tools enabling selective switching of only the tools of a switching point the embroidering/non-embroidering state of which is to be changed.

Abstract: In a quilting machine for quilting or stitching textile formations of cover-material webs and filler-material webs, the material webs to be stitched together are loosely withdrawn from stock rollers and sewn together along lengthwise edges or marginal portions of the material webs prior to entering a tenter device. Sewing the lengthwise edges or marginal portions includes simultaneously sewing on respective bands or ribbons which laterally extend beyond a workpiece to be quilted and serve for holding or accommodating the latter in the tenter device. It is thus possible to substantially provide the entire width of the cover-material webs and filler-material webs with a quilt pattern. In this manner, the length of waste cuttings of expensive cover material is substantially reduced.