Abstract: A system for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device is provided. The system includes a treatment unit including at least one discharge device being configured to dispense one or more coating substances onto the at least one thread when activated; and a drive unit being configured to move said at least one discharge device between an idle position and an operational position being arranged along an axis of movement.

Abstract: A sewing assembly to make a seam along a determined path on a surface of a part. The sewing assembly includes a mask adapted to be fixed to the part and a sewing machine, the mask having a guide groove adapted to be superimposed on the path. The sewing machine includes a base and a head. The head has at least one needle, a part support foot and a guide, the guide including a front guide and a rear guide arranged to interact with the mask and spaced apart from each other along the guide groove. The at least one needle and the support foot are engaged in the groove between the front guide and the rear guide.

Abstract: A computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device (50), and positioning method thereof, fixedly disposing at least one processing device (50) at one side of the sewing head (41) of a computer-controlled sewing machine (40); movement of the processing device (50) is controlled by a processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine (40); a relative distance is provided between the processing head (51) of the processing device (50) and the sewing head (41) to give the movement range of a conveying mechanism (20) to extend to covered positions below the sewing head (41) and the processing head (51), such that a fixing mechanism (30) is moved and feeds below the sewing head (41) and the processing head (51); and presetting a positioning distance between two positioning parts (33, 34) of the fixing mechanism (30) and the relative distances in the processing program, thus automatically determining the feed distance of the fixing mechanism (30) between the sewing h

Abstract: An embroidery frame includes a lower holding member, an upper holding member, and a first adjustment mechanism. The lower holding member is configured such that a sewing workpiece is placed on the lower holding member. The upper holding member is configured to press from above on the sewing workpiece that is placed on the lower holding member. The first adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a distance between the lower holding member and the upper holding member in a state in which the upper holding member is pressing from above on the sewing workpiece that is placed on the lower holding member.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing machine bed on which a workpiece cloth is to be placed and a cloth feed mechanism located in the bed to move the workpiece cloth in a predetermined feed direction, an imaging unit located in the bed for imaging an underside of the workpiece cloth, the imaging unit including a first imaging unit which images a first range of the underside of the workpiece cloth and a second imaging unit which differs from the first imaging unit and images a second range of the underside of the workpiece cloth, an image synthesis unit which synthesizes the images obtained by the first and second imaging units, obtaining a synthesized image, and a display unit which displays the synthesized image obtained by the image synthesis unit.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine including a plurality of needle bars including a specific needle bar allowing detachable attachment of a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of a punch workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes; a transfer mechanism that allows detachable attachment of a punch workpiece holder a detector that detects the attachment of the punch workpiece holder on the transfer mechanism; and a controller that when the attachment of the punch workpiece holder is detected by the detector, executes a punch engraving operation on the punch workpiece with the punch needle by selecting the specific needle bar and by controlling a needle-bar selector/driver mechanism and the transfer mechanism based on punch engraving pattern data which is pre-stored or given by external components.

Abstract: An embroidery frame transfer device including an embroidery frame holding a workpiece cloth; a carriage supporting the embroidery frame by detachable attachment; a Y-direction transfer mechanism having a first and second ends that moves the carriage in a first direction represented as a Y-direction; an X-direction transfer mechanism that supports the first end from below and that transfers the Y-direction transfer mechanism in a second direction represented as an X-direction orthogonal to the Y-direction; a cover element containing the X-direction transfer mechanism and having an upper surface situated below the Y-direction transfer mechanism; a support structure provided at the second end and that is placed in contact with the upper surface of the cover element to support the Y-direction transfer mechanism; and an elastic element pressing the support structure against the cover element such that the support structure maintains contact with the upper surface of the cover element.

Abstract: A sewing machine executing a free-motion capable of sewing while a workpiece cloth is manually moved by an operator includes a needlebar having a lower end to which a sewing needle is attached, a needlebar driving mechanism vertically driving the needlebar via a main shaft, a presser foot pressing the workpiece cloth manually moved by the operator, an imaging device imaging at least an area of the workpiece cloth near to the sewing needle, a movement amount operating device obtaining by operation a movement amount of the workpiece cloth based on image data from the imaging device, a setting device setting a stitch pitch on the workpiece cloth, a comparing device comparing the obtained movement amount of the workpiece cloth and the set stitch pitch, a cloth movement limiter limiting movement of the workpiece cloth by the manual operation, and a control device controlling the cloth movement limiter according to a result of comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sewing arm mechanism of an embroidery machine. Within the sewing arm mechanism, there are provided a needle bar vertical drive unit and a cloth pressing member vertical drive unit for vertically moving a needle bar and a cloth pressing member, respectively, by using the rotational driving force of an upper shaft. The sewing arm mechanism is configured in such a manner that the needle bar drive reaction force exerted on the upper shaft by the driving of the needle bar vertical drive unit, and the cloth pressing member drive reaction force exerted on the upper shaft by the driving of the cloth pressing member vertical drive unit act in opposite directions of each other, whereby the magnitudes of the reaction forces exerted on the upper shaft can be cancelled with each other.

Abstract: A multi-head sewing machine includes a machine table (10) and a plurality of sewing heads (12). The sewing heads are disposed to oppose to the machine table and arranged in a row in a first direction substantially parallel to a surface of the machine table. A workpiece setting frame (20) serves to releasably hold a long workpiece (40) and is movable within a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the machine table. A feeding mechanism (W1, 30, W2) serves to feed the workpiece relative to the workpiece setting frame in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for free form sewing in which the workpiece is being sewn on a sewing machine having a plastic sheet or panel secured to the sewing machine work surface which has a coefficient of friction in any of several ranges which are all considered to be low friction coefficients. Depending upon the plastic material used, the coefficient of friction of any particular material may be in the range of 0.02 to 0.20, or in smaller ranges of coefficients of friction. The objective in using the method or mechanism is to permit the workpiece being sewn by free form sewing to be moved more easily with less frictional resistance by the hands of the sewing machine operator. Various plastics usable include various types of Teflon.

Abstract: An apparatus for embroidering surface-shaped sewing material includes an embroidery device which is connected, via an intermediate insertion of a distance adapter, to the column or free arm of a sewing machine. By inserting the distance adapter between the embroidery device and the sewing machine the distance between the embroidery device and the free arm or the column of the sewing machine is increased, which makes it possible to use an embroidery frame having a cross-sectional surface which is significantly greater than an embroidery frame which is able to be used if there was simply a direct connection between the embroidery device and the free arm or column of the sewing machine.

Abstract: An embroidery machine having a stationary stitching free arm, a pattern transfer element, and a frame having an edge and adapted to hold a workpiece to be embroidered, is used with a holding system having a support coupled longitudinally to the transfer element and movable on the frame in a longitudinal direction relative to the station. A pair of outer wheels on the support flanking the station are rotatable about respective axes generally parallel to the longitudinal direction. A center wheel on the support vertically offset from and generally between the outer wheels is rotatable about a respective axis generally parallel to the longitudinal direction. The frame edge can be engaged on one side by the outer wheels and on the other side by the center wheel to hold it in the station. A drive rotates one of the wheels, normally the center wheel, and thereby displaces the workpiece and frame held by the wheels in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A rectangular molded plastic body includes three heart-shaped clamping portions each of which defines an opening and has resilient inwardly extending arcuate portions terminating in ends spaced from one another. Each arcuate portion carries L-shaped members with upwardly extending conical portions. The outer end of one arcuate portion of each clamping portion has a sloping cam surface thereon which joins with a downwardly facing locking surface, and a handle is also formed on this outer end. Three clamping members are pivotally connected to the body by hinges and are pivotable into and out of the openings of the clamping portions. The clamping members engage the cam surfaces as they pivot into clamping position and are locked in place by the locking surfaces. The clamping members are released by pulling on the handles.

Abstract: An apparatus for flat seaming together a panti-hose half and a gusset has first and second carriers (16,18). The first carrier is moved from a loading station where a body portion of the panti-hose half is drawn on to the carrier, through an opening station where the body portion is opened along a preselected line extending from the waistband, into a seaming station. The second carrier is moved from the loading station where a gusset is loaded on to the carrier, to the seaming station. Each carrier has respective clamps (24,38), including an array of needles, which serve to grip the body portion and the gusset to their respective carriers. At the seaming station the free edges of the body portion, formed when the latter is opened at the opening station, and the free edge of the gusset are seamed together.

Abstract: A method of sewing along a marginal edge of a fabric piece wherein the fabric piece in a flat state is gripped between a stationary low friction surface and a movable high friction surface, so that movement of the high friction surface relative to the low friction surface will slide the fabric piece over the low friction surface, while maintained in the flat state. The fabric piece is gripped so that the marginal portion to be sewn is exposed, and as the fabric piece is moved over the low friction surface the marginal portion of the fabric piece is moved along a path through a sewing machine head so a sewing operation may be performed thereon.

Abstract: A sewing device having a sewing head including a rotary housing and a control device for controlling the rotary movement of the housing and for generating a two-axis-relative movement between the workpiece to be sewn and the rotary housing. The latter is tiltable about the needle axis and pivoted by means of a hollow shaft. Within the rotary housing there are arranged a needle bar with a needle reciprocatingly driven by a crank, a thread take-up lever for handling a needle thread and drive means for operably moving up and downwardly a presser foot and occasionally a thread tensioner. In order to supply the required drive means inside of the rotary housing with energy without obstruction of the rotatability of the rotary housing there is provided a rotary coupling concentrically arranged with respect to the hollow shaft, at which the rotary coupling is also formed with an coaxial bore for the needle thread.

Abstract: A sewing machine in which a frame which is moved by to-and-fro feed device is provided to be movable forwards and backwards along a guide mechanism provided to a base; an arm unit and a base unit of sewing machine body are provided to the frame in such a manner that the arm unit and the base unit are respectively supported and guided by a pair of horizontal upper and lower guide members, which are provided to the frame and disposed vertically, to be laterally movable, the arm unit having a head and the base unit having a rotating hook complete and being separated from the arm unit; the arm unit and the base unit are moved by a lateral feed mechanism laterally and synchronously with each other along the guide members; and a supporting bed for supporting an article to be sewed is disposed between the arm unit and the base unit of the sewing machine body so that the supporting bed passes between the guide members.

Abstract: In a quilting machine two or more series of stitches are applied to the product, the product to which stitches have already been applied being moved forward and/or backward, even over a considerable distance, while the exact superposition of the fabrics is maintained.One embodiment of the machine comprises cylindrical containers (10, 11), in which are disposed the rolls (8, 9) of fabric (2, 3) which are to be quilted. During the backward rotation the cloth is wound over the constant diameter of these containers and in this way the tension applied is also constant.In another embodiment, return or loose rollers (160, 170) are provided, which take up a portion of fabric (102, 103) already unwound.The process also permits continuous embroidery, even very complicated embroidery.

Abstract: A shuttle embroidery machine having an embroidery frame which is displaceable in accordance with a predetermined program with respect to the machine frame both in vertical and in horizontal directions at its two ends by separate respective drives each, each drive having a motor whose rotation can be transmitted via a transmission as a vertical or a horizontal displacement, respectively, to the embroidery frame and cross guides permitting independent movement of the embroidery frame in the horizontal or vertical directions. In order to increase the precision of positioning of the embroidery frame and at the same time to make its drives simpler and less expensive, at least one additional drive, controlled jointly with the end drives, is arranged between the ends of the embroidery frame for the vertical displacement of the embroidery frame.

Abstract: In a computer-controlled sewing machine for performing a joining operation, e.g. on shoe uppers, a workpiece holder comprises three clamp members one of which is fixed, defining a reference plane, and the others are movable. Two members are provided with workpiece component locating means for locating components in relation to one another and to the sewing instrumentalities of the machine. In use, a first component is located on the first member and is then clamped between the second and third members and, with the first member retracted, a second component is located by the second, fixed, member and then clamped by the first and third members. This facilitates work-handling and improved output of the machine. For selecting a desired sewing pattern, sensing means is provided which detects the particular workpiece components clamped and signals the computer control means of the machine accordingly.

Abstract: In a sewing machine adapted to stitch a garment panel held in or on a jig which is to be passed through the machine and turned in its own plane at a corner thereof, means are provided for detecting the approach of the corner and auxiliary means operative to assist in the turning of the jig at the corner.

Abstract: A tufting method and apparatus for tufting yarn to a backing layer, including individual tufting elements, comprising, means to control forward and lateral displacement of successive needle strokes. A preferred embodiment includes means to select particular yarns for tufting from a plurality of yarns and means to select the length of yarn to be tufted. In a further preferred embodiment a reduced number of tufting elements is contemplated with the elements spaced so as to enable the production of a full sized tufted product by lateral shifting of the backing layer to provide for intermediate tufting positions.

Abstract: Continuous unseamed lengths of embroidered fabric are produced by a special process and apparatus therefor. Fabric to be embroidered upon is pulled off a vertical bolt and engaged at its upper edge by pins on an endless belt which is actuated to advance the fabric across the face of an embroidery apparatus. Then the lower edge of the fabric is tensioned transversely. Embroidery proceeds and then the embroidery yarns are cut. A release member disengages the lower edge of the fabric, the belt is actuated to advance the fabric, disengage its upper edge from its pins, to move the embroidered fabric onto a collection bolt and to position a new section of the fabric in the embroidery area. The upstream rear end of the embroidered section of fabric is registered so the new embroidery will be continuous with that just completed, and the operation is repeated.

Abstract: A gauging attachment for machines utilizing a pantograph mechanism including a gauging assembly having a master gauge plate adapted to be coupled to the pantograph mechanism. A series of gauges are selectively engageable with the gauge plate to correctly position the workpiece. A clamping plate secures the workpiece to the master plate and in engagement with the gauge. The entire gauging assembly moves in response to motion imparted to the pantograph at a stylus. The stylus is traced along templates selectively interchangeable in a removable template tray. The attachment is adjustable and once set maintains a predetermined position with respect to the workpiece to facilitate repetitive operations without further adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing the feed frame of an automatic embroidery machine of the type incorporating two stepping motors which are drivingly connected with the feed or embroidery frame, each stepping motor bringing about a feed or advance of the feed frame in one direction. A control mechanism generates control pulses for each stepping motor as a function of the momentarily required feed displacement of the feed frame in each direction. The control mechanism embodies two switching circuits each of which is operatively associated with one of the stepping motors, and such switching circuits generate output pulses, the number of which is proportional to the number of pulses delivered to each switching circuit by a program storage and by means of which there is determined the magnitude of the momentarily required feed displacement in the corresponding direction.