Abstract: A modular material supply system for an automated quilting machine having a variety of fill material supply devices, a cover material tick magazine, a fill laminator, and optionally a digital printer. The system is capable of selecting the desired cover and fill materials and supplying them continuously to a laminator to form a layered material, which is then fed to the quilting machine. The flexibility of the modular system reduces the need for system downtime to changeover component materials for producing different quilted products.

Abstract: A quilt segment construction and method for making quilted segments and quilts, the quilt segment of one aspect of the invention comprising a first piece of quilted fabric stitched to a second piece of quilted fabric to define a seam line and a first piece seam allowance and a second piece seam allowance each positioned at a front face of the quilt segment, the first seam allowance double folded and enclosing the second seam allowance, the first seam allowance folded to the seam line and stitched over the seam line through to a back face of the quilt segment.

Abstract: A quilting rack for sewing machines comprising a U-shaped rectangular metal frame supporting a wheeled bottom or queen carriage for side to side translation of a wheeled upper king carriage capable of forward and rearward translation of the sewing machine it is carrying. Three rollers supply, tension and load the quilt for sewing patterns guided by a laser pointer and a template. The quilting rack can be utilized without a sewing machine by mounting on a wall or shelf.

Abstract: A guide for making non-linear patterns using a long arm quilting machine is used to form a variety of different non-linear stitching patterns in a quilt or other workpiece. The mechanism includes a crossmember which locks adjustably between the fixed tracks of a conventional quilting machine bed or table, and an arm adjustably secured to the crossmember. The arm is slotted to provide both radial and linear adjustment relative to the crossmember. The guide attachment end of the arm provides for the selective attachment of any of a series of different templates thereto. The templates include guide slots or passages therein, with a guide pin or stylus engaging the template slots or passages. The stylus is in turn affixed to the sewing machine, causing the machine to form a stitching pattern according to the specific pattern of the selected template as the stylus travels in the selected slot or passage.

Abstract: A modular material supply system for an automated quilting machine having a variety of fill material supply devices, a cover material tick magazine, a fill laminator, and optionally a digital printer. The system is capable of selecting the desired cover and fill materials and supplying them continuously to a laminator to form a layered material, which is then fed to the quilting machine. The flexibility of the modular system reduces the need for system downtime to changeover component materials for producing different quilted products.

Abstract: A quilting apparatus and method for guiding a sewing machine relative to at least one layer of fabric is disclosed in one presently preferred embodiment including an adjustable quilting frame and a carriage assembly configured to mountably support the sewing machine having an arbitrary throat depth. Preferably, the quilting frame is mounted relative to a working surface and supportably retains one or more fabric layers in a substantially planar orientation to accommodate the sewing and stitching of patterns and/or designs into at least a portion of the fabric layers forming the quilt. The carriage assembly may be configured to transport the sewing machine in both lateral and longitudinal directions with respect to the quilting frame.

Abstract: A portable, hand-operated quilting clamp capable of holding multiple layers of quilting material firmly together while being easily grasped by the user. A manually openable clamp body comprises top and bottom portions hingedly connected together and moveable between a clamping position and an open position and defining a fabric receiving gap. At least one spring is connected to the clamp body and biases the clamp closed. The clamp top portion has a handle extending away therefrom to aid in both opening the quilting clamp and gripping the quilting clamp by the user. With the clamp bottom portion supported from underneath, pressing on the handle urges the clamp top portion towards the open position. A cushion material, such as felt, is disposed on all or part of the bottom side of the bottom portion. The quilting clamp is ≧2 inches wide, but not more than about 4 inches.

Abstract: A quilting machine has at least one needle and looper set for forming chain-stitched patterns on a thick multilayered material such as a mattress ticking, preferably a panel of the continuous web clamped stationary on a frame. The stitch forming elements are mounted on separate heads that move independently transversely relative to the panel on a bridge that moves longitudinally relative to the panel. The bridge is longitudinally moved by a servo and the heads are transversely moved on the bridge by separate linear servos. The needle and looper are each driven by a linear servo having an armature to which the element is directly fixed to reciprocate without intervening mechanical linkage assemblies. A controller drives the servos to chain-stitch patterns, differentially move the heads transversely to account for transverse needle deflection and to phase the needle and looper to compensate for longitudinal needle deflection.

Abstract: A method for forming convexities and/or concavities on cloths for a garment at almost entire portions of the garment or any desired portion of the garment without any substantial limitation from a design point of view. The method for forming a garment having convexities and/or concavities which can expand and contract in both the weft and wrap directions like a knitted fabric. Cloths including thermoplastic fiber are cut into parts of the garment, the parts are sewn in a shape of the garment. The garment is overlaid on a thermo-shrinkable cloth. They are sewn together with stitches of water-soluble threads. The sewn cloths are heated under dry heat and without applying any pressure to the cloths so as to permit the thermo-shrinkable cloth to shrink and form convexities and/or concavities on the cloths of the garment. The water-soluble threads are solved and removed, and the cloths of the garment are separated from the thermo-shrinkable cloth.

Abstract: It is determined whether a quilt design is applicable to paper piecing by determining whether all pieces of the quilt design are finally separated by separating each piece one after another by one straight demarcation line. When it is determined that the quilt design is applicable to paper piecing, demarcation lines that do not intersect other demarcation lines and that divide the quilt design into two blocks that each include a plurality of the pieces are selected. The quilt design is modified by extending the arbitrarily selected demarcation line, and deleting all demarcation lines that exist in one of blocks divided by the extended demarcation line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a kit of parts for quilting a border, a border pattern, and a method of making a quilted border.

Abstract: A quilting machine (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) is provided with a printing station (20, 125, 225, 325, 425, 525, 611, 626, 631) and a quilting station (44, 127, 227, 327, 427, 527, 627, 632). The printing station is located either in line and preferably upstream of the quilting station, with a conveyor (520) extending through each of the stations to convey a web of quilting material through the machine, or is off of the quilting line such that the material with a pre-applied pattern thereon is transferred, preferably in web form, to the line of the second station for the application of a pattern in registration with the first applied pattern. At the quilting station, registration longitudinal and transverse registration is measured and skewing or rotation of the material is determined. Opposite transverse sides of the material are differently adjusted to orient and register the material.

Abstract: A portable, hand-operated quilting clamp capable of holding multiple layers of quilting material firmly together while being easily grasped by the user. A manually openable clamp body comprises top and bottom portions hingedly connected together and moveable between a clamping position and an open position and defining a fabric receiving gap. At least one spring is connected to the clamp body and biases the clamp closed. The clamp top portion has a handle extending away therefrom to aid in both opening the quilting clamp and gripping the quilting clamp by the user. With the clamp bottom portion supported from underneath, pressing on the handle urges the clamp top portion towards the open position. A cushion material, such as felt, is disposed on all or part of the bottom side of the bottom portion. The quilting clamp is ≧2 inches wide, but not more than about 4 inches.

Abstract: A CPU selects a line segment, whose both endpoints constructing a part of a quilt design are on a periphery, and then selects a line segment, which separates a piece from the quilt design on a piece-by-piece basis so that the separated piece will not have a line segment to become a separation line, from the selected line segments, after separation. When the line segment can be selected, a piece is separated from the quilt design at the selected line segment on a piece-by-piece basis. Then, the CPU determines that the quilt design, whose one piece has been separated, is the object to be determined, and separates pieces from the quilt design on a piece-by-piece basis. When all line segments are used for the separation, an applicability determination flag is set, because all pieces in the quilt design are separated into pieces on the piece-by-piece basis.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically changing a bobbin case on a quilting machine having a hook drive operatively supporting the bobbin case during a stitching operation. The apparatus includes a staging station adapted to support at least one bobbin case normally having a full spool of thread, and a carriage movable between the staging station and the hook drive. A finger is movably mounted on the carriage, and the finger moves a release lever on the bobbin to an unlock position and clamps the release lever at the unlock position. A method of using the above apparatus in an automatic bobbin changing operation is also provided. A controller determines the need for a bobbin change, for example, by counting stitches and calculating the thread remaining on the bobbin. The bobbin change can be carried out between patterns or during a pattern by cutting the bobbin thread or both the top and bottom threads. The sewing of tacking stitches may also be done in sequence with the thread cutting and bobbin changes.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a thread tail from a hole in a presser foot on a quilting machine. The apparatus has an orifice providing a stream of pressurized air that applies a force against a section of the thread tail extending between the needle and the hole in the presser foot. The pressurized air stream pulls the thread tail through the hole in the presser foot and gathers the thread tail on an upper side of the presser foot. In another embodiment, the present invention includes a method of automatically applying a generally transverse force to a portion of the thread tail extending between the needle and the hole in the presser foot for a duration sufficient to remove the thread tail from the hole in the presser foot.

Abstract: Ticking for the production of mattress covers is preprinted with a plurality of different patterns by a computer controlled printer that prints in response to pattern data communicated from a control computer. The pattern data is organized and communicated by the computer so that a print head, for example, can scan the ticking material, such as in rows across the width of a web, and print different patterns. For example, different border panels can be oriented along a web and positioned side-by-side across a web and each printed with a different pattern. Top and bottom panels having corresponding patterns can be printed on the same or a different web. Identifying data for matching the panels of a mattress product can be provided in data files in the same or a different computer or can be printed on the fabric along with the patterns on the panels.

Abstract: A method of making a quilt includes a batting including a heat activated adhesive coating each side or faces of the batting. The quilt covers are attached to the batting by sequentially placing the covers onto the respective batting faces and heating each cover and adjacent adhesive by moving a hot iron over each cover. The covers are connected to each by a plurality of spaced yarn or other suitable decorative connecting means which extend through the covers and batting to secure the batting in place and may form a desired decorative pattern. The inactive adhesive remains in the quilt or is removed by washing of the quilt. The batting with the inactive adhesive is provided as a commercially available product.

Abstract: A clamp for use in quilting that includes a top and a bottom quilt clamp portion that are forced together by a pair of springs to hold multiple layer of quilting materials, such as fabric and batting, firmly together while stitching the quilt pattern. To facilitate movement of the multiple layers in the desired quilt pattern, the quilt clamp is provided with a handle. The bottom surface of the quilt clamp is covered with felt to enhance the slidableness of the clamp on quilting tables and sewing machines.

Abstract: A quilting machine which comprises a frame composed of a first beam arranged horizontally above a cloth to be quilted and a second beam arranged below the cloth, the beams being provided with respective guides for the carriages for supporting sewing heads and, respectively, a hook assembly of at least two stitchers, one of which is provided with means for moving one of the sewing heads and the hook assembly synchronously and along the same path and with the same orientation, the carriages that support the sewing head and the hook assembly of a first stitcher supporting respective motor elements for the synchronous movement of the carriages that support the sewing head and the hook assembly of the second stitcher.

Abstract: A quilting machine is provided having at least one set of single needle stitch forming elements for forming chain stitched patterns on a thick multilayered material such as a mattress cover. The machine is preferably web-fed, with a panel of the continuous web being clamped and held stationary on a frame. The stitch forming elements include a needle and a looper mounted on separate heads that are independently moveable on a bridge transversely relative to the panel, which is moveable longitudinally relative to the frame. The bridge is longitudinally moved by a servo and the heads are transversely moved on the bridge by separate servos. The stitching elements on each head are driven by separate servos. A controller drives the servos to chain stitch patterns and differentially move the heads transversely to account for transverse needle deflection. The drives of the needle and looper are phased to compensate for longitudinal needle deflection. The controller determines or predicts needle deflection.

Abstract: A quilting apparatus is provided with a computer controlled presser plate adjusting mechanism. A presser plate rocker shaft is separate from and mechanically connected to a needle rocker shaft and imparts a reciprocating motion to the presser plate. The presser plate rocker shaft is adjustable to vary the range of its output link to the presser plate, thereby changing the endpoints of its reciprocating path of travel. Certain embodiments have an output end of the presser plate rocker shaft adjustable relative to the input end through a coupling to different angular positions relative to an input end in order to change the upper and lower ends of the range of reciprocation of the pressure plate relative to the needle plate. Alternatively, the length of a link between the needle and pressure plate rocker shafts is variable to make the presser plate adjustment.

Abstract: A quilting machine is provided having a first station and a second station, one being a printing station and one being a quilting station. The printing station is located either in line and preferably upstream of the quilting station, with a conveyor extending through each of the stations to convey a web of quilting material through the machine, or is off of the quilting line such that the material with a pre-applied pattern thereon is transferred, preferably in web form, to the line of the second station for the application of a pattern in registration with the first applied pattern. At the second station, for example, registration of a plurality of transversely spaced points is detected to determine longitudinal and transverse registration as well as skewing or rotation of the material, and the opposite transverse sides of the material are differently adjusted to orient and register the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for stitching fabric to produce a quilted fabric having a needle plate for supporting the fabric, a presser plate located at a first position above the needle plate and a needle located above the presser plate. A needle rocker shaft is mechanically connected to the needle and imparts a reciprocating motion to the needle in response to the angular displacements of the needle rocker shaft. Further, a presser plate rocker shaft is mechanically connected to the needle rocker shaft and imparts a reciprocating motion to the presser plate in response to the angular displacements of the presser plate rocker shaft. The presser plate rocker has an output shaft movable to a different relative angular positions with respect to an input shaft in order to locate the presser plate at a second position with respect to the needle plate.

Abstract: The disclosed stitching machine has fabric handling structures, including a rack and rack support structures suited for allowing rack movement between spaced loading/unloading and stitching stations, and clamps on the rack suited for holding fabric for stitching. Flooring structure provided at the loading/unloading station is suited to be shifted between a loading configuration to underlie the rack and support fabric laid thereon until it can be gripped and held by the rack clamps upon such being closed, and an unloading configuration out of the way of an overlying stitched fabric yet held on the rack suited to allow such fabric to fall from the machine upon the rack clamps being opened. Power devices shift such flooring between the loading and unloading configurations, and the rack between the loading/unloading and stitching stations. A sewing machine mounted at the stitching station is controlled to trace out and stitch the fabric as desired.

Abstract: A quilt manufacturing facility having a plurality of quilting machines is provided with an automated scheduling system which automatically generates and distributes schedules for the making of quilted products listed in input customer orders. The generated schedules are distributed in the form of computer files downloaded to the controllers of the machines. The generation of schedules is carried out by a programmed central scheduling computer which considers stored data identifying each of the machines and their capabilities, the materials available for production of the products and the product specifications, and determines the machine setting and material requirements for each product on the customer order list as well as the required completion times for each of the ordered products.

Abstract: A quilting machine which comprises a frame composed of a first beam, arranged horizontally above the cloth to be quilted, and of a second beam arranged below the cloth, the beams being provided with respective guides for the carriages that support the sewing head and respectively the hook assembly of at least one stitcher, characterized in that in order to move the sewing head and the hook assembly of the stitcher there are respective linear motors, in which the inductor elements are arranged on the upper beam and lower beam, respectively, and the armature windings are arranged on the carriages that support the sewing head and the hook respectively.

Abstract: The disclosed stitching machine has perimeter clamps to grip the edges of flexible sheet(s): the leading edge clamps being carried on a conveyor to pull the sheet(s) to the stitching area, and the side edge clamps at the stitching area being positioned initially within the area of the sheet(s) and then separated until reaching the respective side sheet(s) edge and being closed, and then being shifted to square the side edges relative to the leading edge. Separation of the opposed clamps stretches the sheet(s) to a flat stitchable condition. The sewing machine can be moved from its home start position until positioned accurately proximate the trailing and side edges of the flat sheet(s), for centering or otherwise locating the stitching pattern relative to the sheet(s).

Abstract: An apparatus for temporarily storing products at the exit of a quilting machine comprising an inclined guiding element along which at least one carriage, provided with an element for gripping the product manufactured by the quilting machine, can slide by gravity, a first and a second stop elements for the carriage being arranged along the guiding element, and actuation elements, which act on the grip element to release the removed product, being associated with the stop elements. The carriage released by the second stop element is transferred onto a vertical lifting unit, which is provided with retention and release elements for retaining the carriage at the lower stroke limit and releasing it at the upper stroke limit to insert the carriage on the guiding element.

Abstract: A reversible patchwork having patterns in the surface and the reverse thereof. It is constructed by continuously stitching together units of motif M. Each of the units of motif M is constructed so that a circular or polygonal foundation cloth 1 is folded to the surface of the unit of motif M and encloses a domett core 3 therein and is stitched to an upper cloth 2. One of the foundation cloth 1 and the upper cloth 2 or both of them consist of different patterned cuttings for making diverse designs of the unit of motif M.

Abstract: A quilting machine is provided having a quilting station and a printing station located upstream of the quilting station, with a conveyor extending through each of the stations to convey a web of quilting material through the machine. At the printing station a top layer is printed with a multi-colored design under the control of a programmed controller, which may vary the design from section to section of the web so that individual or small quantities of panel sections of the web may be decorated with a different pattern. The conveyor preferably moves the quilting material relative to stationary heads, but the conveyor may alternatively stop at various stations and the printing or quilting heads moved relative to the stationary web on the conveyor. Precise longitudinal position information is maintained of the location of the printed pattern. The conveyor then conveys the top patterned layer web through a drying station.

Abstract: A quilted border winder apparatus, a quilted border system and a method of making quilted borders that includes two machine halves in which a number of independent wind-up stations are radially mounted and longitudinally spaced about the axis of a main shaft for each half and in which each wind-up station is connected to the shaft by an arm. Each machine half contains an identical shaft and the two shafts are parallel, but are laterally offset one from the other. Each wind-up station is driven by an electric motor utilizing a gear box and a chain/sprocket assembly that is connected to the wind-up station through the interior of the connecting arm.

Abstract: Multi-needle quilting knotted-stitch machine with lower stitching elements having rotating hooks, the machine comprising an inlet assembly for the controlled feed of the textile material (11) to be quilted, a stitching assembly including upper stitching elements (12) and lower stitching elements and an outlet assembly for the collection and possible measurement and cutting of the quilted product (19). The upper stitching elements including at least two parallel bars (13) arranged lengthwise and supporting, in a position separated lengthwise, the relative stitching needles (24), the lower stitching elements of rotating hooks (17) being organized in longitudinal rows mating with the position of the relative needle-carrier bar (13), the position of each needle (24) corresponding to the position of a respective rotating hook (17).

Abstract: A high-security fabric for use in high-security applications comprising an inner layer of nylon having top and bottom surfaces, two inner layers of polyester, one of the inner layers of polyester extending on the top surface of the inner layer of nylon, the other inner layer of polyester extending on the bottom surface of the inner layer of nylon, and two outer layers of a fireproof synthetic fabric, each outer layer of fireproof synthetic fabric extending on one of the inner layers of polyester opposite to the inner layer of nylon. All of the layers form a 5-ply assembly having a top and a bottom and in which the inner layer of nylon is centrally positioned. The assembly is stitched together with a nylon thread in a pattern.

Abstract: A quilting machine is provided having a quilting station and a printing station located upstream of the quilting station, with a conveyor extending through each of the stations to convey a web of quilting material through the machine. At the printing station a top layer is printed with a multi-colored design under the control of a programmed controller, which may vary the design from section to section of the web so that individual or small quantities of panel sections of the web may be decorated with a different pattern. The conveyor maintains precise longitudinal position information of the location of the printed pattern and conveys the top patterned layer web through a drying station. Then, after combining the top layer web with webs of filler and backing material, it conveys the multi-layered web to the quilting station where a quilted pattern is caused by the controller to be sewn on the printed pattern bearing material in registration with the printed pattern.

Abstract: A quilting machine is provided having at least one set of single needle stitch forming elements for forming chain stitched patterns on a thick multilayered material such as a mattress cover. The machine is preferably web fed, with a panel of the continuous web being clamped and held stationary on a frame. The elements include a needle and a looper mounted on separate heads that are independently moveable transversely on a bridge, which is moveable longitudinally on the frame. The bridge is longitudinally moved by a servo and the heads are transversely moved on the bridge by separate servos. Each head is driven by a separate servo. A controller drives the servos to chain stitch patterns and differentially moves the heads transversely to account for transverse needle deflection. The drives of the needle and looper are phased to compensate for longitudinal needle deflection.

Abstract: The disclosed stitching machine and method orients cooperating needle and hook components of a sewing machine in spaced horizontal alignment, and suspends flexible sheet(s) to be stitched in a generally vertical orientation between these sewing machine components, and tensions the sheet(s) to a flat stitchable condition whereby the sewing machine components might stitch interior seams through the flexible sheet(s). Horizontal and vertical slides support the cooperating sewing machine components to move along horizontal and vertical axes parallel to the suspended flexible sheet(s), and controlled drives shift them in unison along these axes as needed to trace out an intended seam pattern relative to the flexible sheet(s). A conveyor is provided with a substantially vertical run of a height in excess of the sheet(s) to be stitched when vertically oriented, to pass the sheets between the sewing machine components and hold them in the vertical orientation for stitching, and to remove them after being stitched.

Abstract: Multiple-needle sewing machines are equipped with at least one needle bar and with fixing device for the individual needles as well as with at least one looper shaft to which the looper holder with the loopers is fixed. In order to obtain quick and easy changeover of a multiple-needle sewing machine to different sewing patterns on a large area sewing material it is proposed that manually operated quick-locking means are provided between each needle or a needle holder for each needle and the needle bar and/or between the looper holder of each looper or each looper and the looper shaft.

Abstract: An accessory (10) for a professional quilting machine (12) includes a fence unit (85) which is mounted in an adjustable manner onto a platform (30). The platform (30) has a plurality of grooved rim wheels (34) that ride on lower rails (14) of the quilting machine (12). A brake assembly (38) is on one side (40) of the platform (30), to retain the platform (30) in a stationary position on the lower rails (14). The fence unit (85) will allow an operator to guide the quilting machine (12) to make diagonal quilting sewing lines through layers of fabric with little effort. The fence unit (85) can be substituted with a circle transfer unit (101), so that the operator using the quilting machine (12) can now make circular quilting sewing lines of varying sizes through the layers of the fabric with little effort.

Abstract: A multi-needle stitching machine having a presser foot associated with each needle is provided. The presser foot is displaceably supported on a vertically disposed guide bar and downwardly displaceable by the force of a spring. The presser foot is liftable by the needle bar from the stitching material and lowerable onto the latter with an adjustable force during pricking. The presser head of the presser foot leads the needle when pricking the stitching material until the stitching material is firmly clamped on the sewing material table, and remains there until the needle has again exited from the stitching material.

Abstract: A multi-needle border machine having folders employable, for example, in mattress manufacturing. A multi-needle quilter for sewing mattress top pieces can be converted to sew one or many border pieces or a smaller version employing the same multi-needle technology can be made which can sew simultaneously, for example, one to three border pieces. For example, the machine is used to sew a mattress border piece including a ticking and a filler such as foam, the border having a des mired sewn pattern thereon. The border is the piece which goes around the sides of the mattress. By folding the edges of the ticking before sewing and by sewing so that the pattern sews into the folded areas, the need for a separate border serger is eliminated. By balancing machine components, the weight of the machine can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A quilting method and apparatus in which ticking or facing material changes are effected, preferably under the control of a programmed computer or controller, by automatically retrieving, and preferably also splicing onto a web, selected materials from a facing material supply. The controller preferably also controls a quilter in the stitching of selected patterns along a web, and coordinates the positions of the patterns and material splices between the patterns, in response to measurements and calculations of dimensional changes between infeed webs, quilted tensioned web and cut untensioned panels. Storage compartments are provided for a variety of facing materials, preferably rolls thereof. A retrieval mechanism moves webs selected by the programmed controller to a feed position adjacent the quilter.

Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine used, for example, to sew mattress ticking, filler such as foam, and backing together, the top having a desired sewn pattern thereon. The ticking/filler/backing are pulled straight through the quilter. A front needle bar and parallel rear needle bar spaced therefrom, the bars having needles at preselected locations, are moved left and right, with respect to the movement of the ticking/filler/backing, to create the desired pattern. The front and rear needle bars are operated in an out of phase relationship, that is, when the front needle bars are moving down, the rear needle bars are moving up. Also, movements of the needle bar cranks can be set such that the cranks for the front needle bars rotate in one direction and cranks for the rear needle bars rotate in the opposite direction. In sewing, loopers are moved left and right and, also, rocked front and back to create an oblong path. A spreader rotating shaft has a looper rotating shaft transverse thereto.

Abstract: A multiple needle double lock chain stitch quilting machine is provided with an adjustment or calibrating system by which the positions of loopers relative to the corresponding needles of each of a plurality of sets of stitching elements of a ganged array are capable of being precisely set. A control actuator is provided by which an operator, after observing the quality of the product and stopping the machine, actuates an adjustment control system. In response to the a signal from the actuator, a motor precisely advances the stitching mechanism. A sensor monitors the stitching mechanism position, for example, by reading indicia on the needle drive shaft, and generates a position signal when the stitching mechanism precisely in the loop-take-time position of its cycle. A controller stops the motor and activates a brake in response to the position signal locking the mechanism, including the needles and loopers, in the loop-take-time position.

Abstract: An interlining of multiple plies the plies of which may be dissimilar, is made by joining fabric from respective rolls, gathering the stitched-together fabric as roll goods, and die cutting the stitched-together fabric from the roll goods before sewing the interlinings into neckwear.

Abstract: A shaping-material or filler for textiles such as bedspreads, garments or the like is disclosed consisting of a large number of fiber aggregates of a maximum length of 50 mm each. The fiber aggregates are smaller and softer than down in nature and essentially all the fibers are crimped with the fibers of the individual fiber aggregates being arranged randomly inside each aggregate.A filler is created thereby which is especially suitable for textiles such as bedspreads, or garments such as jackets, coats or the like with, the filler being enclosed in an envelope. This filler can be made to vary in thickness with surface distribution, in the manner known for fiber balls and down. However, the filler has little shift, even if the textile is vigorously shaken, and nevertheless, is very soft.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sewing machine for a large-surface, frame-clamped material.Sewing machines for large-surface materials 39 clamped in a frame 38, 50 are known, wherein the material 39 is held in place in stationary manner in a sewing-machine structure 1, the sewing head together with the gripper box being displaceable longitudinally and transversely and frame-exchanging equipment being provided.In order to create a sewing machine with a much simplified design for the frame-exchanging equipment, the invention proposes that the frame-exchanging equipment be mounted in the vicinity of the sewing-machine structure 1 and comprise a conveyor of such design that following sewing, the frame 38 with the processed material 39 be forced out of the sewing-machine structure 1 and simultaneously the frame 50 with the material to be processed be pulled-in and be moved into the sewing position, and in that the two frames 38, 50 be moved overlapping one with the other during the exchange.

Abstract: A sewing machine for sewing stationary large surface material (13) includes at least two units (14, 16 and 15, 17) of which includes a sewing head (14, 15) and an associated shuttle box (16, 17) which are displaceably mounted for movement in the first (x) and second (y) directions substantially normal to each other. A common drive mechanism (18, 19, etc.) displaces the unit simultaneously in the first direction (x) while spaced a predetermined distance (D) from each other while an associated disengaging mechanism (35) can controllably disengage one of the units (14, 16 or 15, 17) from the common drive (18, 19, etc.) while the other unit is displaced by the common drive to thereby change the predetermined distance (D) after which the one unit is re-engaged.

Abstract: An electronically controlled multi-needle quilting machine including linking cylinder arranged between an eccentric integral with a rotating spindle and a lever, to drive in an oscillating motion a number of loopers which, in combination with a number of corresponding needles, perform stiching operations by double chain stitches on a layered material interposed between said members, said linking cylinder comprising a pneumatic cylinder controlled to change the extension of its rod during the various operational steps, whereby the link length is changed and the loopers may reach a position in which, by being provided with a blade they perform a cutting operation on thread of respective needle.

Abstract: A pair of left and right guide rails and a pair of left and right supporting rails which support the supporting frame of a quilt or the like, are provided with a pivot on one side of the sewing machine to permit circular movement. These rails are parallel to each other. A moving member is provided along the guide rails, and this moving member is moved by a moving apparatus. An anchoring member is also provided to anchor the member to the supporting frame. Furthermore, an apparatus for moving up and down, which allows the guide rails and the supporting rails to move in a circular manner using the pivot as a fulcrum, is provided to anchor the anchoring members of the supporting frame or to release the anchoring.