Abstract: The incorporation of digitally-printed assembly instructions and notations into textile product assembly processes is described. In one embodiment, an order to purchase a textile product having a number of panels is received. The panels are arranged and placed into a template for printing on a textile printer. Seams among the panels are identified and, with reference to the seams, assembly tasks are compiled to assemble the textile product. The assembly tasks are ordered according to at least one assembly factor directed to efficiency, quality, or other factors. The assembly tasks are associated with a set of assembly notations according to an assembly notation syntax. The assembly notations are incorporated into the template for printing, and the textile printer is instructed to print the panels along with the assembly notations. Sewing workers can refer to the assembly notations to determine how the textile product should be assembled using the panels.

Abstract: Aspects of on demand apparel manufacturing are described. A system of on demand apparel manufacturing includes a textile cutter and a computing device. The computing device is configured to perform a process including capturing an image of a textile sheet on the textile cutter, where the textile sheet includes a panel for a product. The process further includes identifying cut control factors using the image of the textile sheet, to account for a textile thread, weave, nap, or knit pattern of the textile sheet, a textile print pattern alignment on the textile sheet, or panel deformation of the textile sheet on the textile cutter. The process also includes generating cut control instructions to cut the textile sheet based in part on the image and the cut control factors, and instructing the textile cutter to cut the panel out from the textile sheet based in part on the cut control instructions.

Abstract: Aspects of automated fabric picking are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a textile cutter including a tabletop upon which textile panels can be cut out from a textile sheet, a textile panel picker, and a computing device. The textile panel picker includes a flexible transport tube, a transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the tabletop and the textile panels, a textile hopper to collect the textile panels, and a pneumatic pump assembly to evacuate air from the textile hopper and through the flexible transport tube. The computing device identifies and tracks the textile panels on the tabletop, directs the transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the textile panels, and directs the pneumatic pump assembly to generate suction to pull the textile panels through the flexible transport tube and into the textile hopper.

Abstract: Aspects of continuous feed fabric cutting are described. In one example, a system includes a textile cutter having a cutting table and a laser cutting assembly. The laser cutting assembly includes a set of laser cut modules arranged in a row to provide a combined laser cutting span across at least a portion of the cutting table. The laser cut modules provide respective laser cutting spans which, collectively, form the combined laser cutting span across the cutting table. As a textile sheet is fed across the cutting table of the textile cutter, one or more textile panels or pieces of fabric can be cut out from the textile sheet using laser beams along the region where the textile sheet intersects or crosses the combined laser cutting span. The laser cutting assembly can provide continuous cutting as a sheet is being fed across the cutting table.

Abstract: Aspects of fluorescent ink printing, cutting, and apparel assembly are described. In one example, a system includes a textile printer, a textile cutter, and a computing device that arranges panels and develops print features related to textile products. The computing device can assign certain print features to be printed using fluorescent inks. The computing environment can then instruct a textile printer to print textile panels, for example, along with the print features, using the fluorescent inks. Once the panels are printed, ultraviolet (UV) light sources can be used to create a fluorescent reflection from the fluorescent inks. The fluorescent reflection can be captured by image sensors to generate instructions to cut the panels out from the textile sheet. The reflection can also be used as assembly notations for reference by sewing workers or automated sewing systems.

Abstract: Aspects of on demand apparel manufacturing are described. A system of on demand apparel manufacturing includes a textile cutter and a computing device. The computing device is configured to perform a process including capturing an image of a textile sheet on the textile cutter, where the textile sheet includes a panel for a product. The process further includes identifying cut control factors using the image of the textile sheet, to account for a textile thread, weave, nap, or knit pattern of the textile sheet, a textile print pattern alignment on the textile sheet, or panel deformation of the textile sheet on the textile cutter. The process also includes generating cut control instructions to cut the textile sheet based in part on the image and the cut control factors, and instructing the textile cutter to cut the panel out from the textile sheet based in part on the cut control instructions.

Abstract: Aspects of automated fabric picking are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a textile cutter including a tabletop upon which textile panels can be cut out from a textile sheet, a textile panel picker, and a computing device. The textile panel picker includes a flexible transport tube, a transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the tabletop and the textile panels, a textile hopper to collect the textile panels, and a pneumatic pump assembly to evacuate air from the textile hopper and through the flexible transport tube. The computing device identifies and tracks the textile panels on the tabletop, directs the transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the textile panels, and directs the pneumatic pump assembly to generate suction to pull the textile panels through the flexible transport tube and into the textile hopper.

Abstract: The incorporation of digitally-printed assembly instructions and notations into textile product assembly processes is described. In one embodiment, an order to purchase a textile product having a number of panels is received. The panels are arranged and placed into a template for printing on a textile printer. Seams among the panels are identified and, with reference to the seams, assembly tasks are compiled to assemble the textile product. The assembly tasks are ordered according to at least one assembly factor directed to efficiency, quality, or other factors. The assembly tasks are associated with a set of assembly notations according to an assembly notation syntax. The assembly notations are incorporated into the template for printing, and the textile printer is instructed to print the panels along with the assembly notations. Sewing workers can refer to the assembly notations to determine how the textile product should be assembled using the panels.

Abstract: Aspects of on demand apparel manufacturing are described. A system of on demand apparel manufacturing includes a textile printer, textile cutter, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to perform a process including aggregating orders for products, organizing the orders according to a productivity factor, and arranging panels for products in the orders into an aggregated textile panel template. Arranging the panels can include aligning the panels among each other to reduce scrap in a textile sheet or orienting the panels with a thread, weave, nap, or knit pattern in the textile sheet, for example. The process can further include instructing the textile printer to print a plurality of panels for the products on the textile sheet based on the aggregated textile panel template, and instructing the textile cutter to cut the plurality of panels out from the textile sheet.