Multiple Machines Patents (Class 112/155)
-
Patent number: 12031253Abstract: A sewing machine detects a sewing status after a change, when the sewing status changes. When the sewing machine receives a status request requesting the sewing status, from an information terminal via a LAN, the sewing machine transmits, to the information terminal, sewing status information that accords with the detected sewing status. When the detected sewing status satisfies a predetermined condition, the sewing machine transmits a notification request, which includes identification information identifying the information terminal, to a server, in order to cause the server to transmit, to the information terminal, a notification command instructing a push notification in the information terminal.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuta Kamihira, Tomotaka Katano
-
Patent number: 11891739Abstract: A sewing data editing device includes a processor and a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquisition processing of acquiring coordinate data representing a position of each of a plurality of points along a predetermined pattern, corner portion detection processing of detecting, based on the coordinate data, a corner portion having an angle smaller than a predetermined angle, and editing processing of editing sewing data, based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and on a detection result of the corner portion detection processing, using editing conditions that are mutually different for a plurality of first needle drop points corresponding to the corner portion and for a plurality of second needle drop points corresponding to a non-corner portion not detected as the corner portion, in the predetermined pattern.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuta Kamihira, Chiyo Koga
-
Patent number: 11698626Abstract: A system and method for producing products based upon demand are disclosed. In some cases, the products include containers and the contents therein. The containers are disposed on vehicles and are independently routable along a track system and are deliverable to at least one unit operation station. A control system: receives demand for finished products; determines a route for vehicles based upon the status of one or more unit operation stations; and causes a vehicle to progress along a determined route to create one or more of the demanded finished products. The system may be used to produce the same fluent products, different fluent products, and other types of products including assembled products.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ryan Andrew Burkhard, Nathan E Moore, Elizabeth Marie Fikes, Daniel Richard Royce, Kyle Christopher Ballman, Julie Elizabeth Tysen
-
Patent number: 11548181Abstract: A separating system for detaching containers from a thermoformed plastic web including a first row of containers. The system includes a stamp plate and a cutting plate. The stamp plate includes a first row of stamps associated with a first set of containers from the first row of containers and a second row of stamps associated with a second set of containers from the first row of containers. The cutting plate includes a first row of cutting openings associated with the first set of containers and a second row of cutting openings associated with the second set of containers.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Inventors: Abouzar Altafi, Mokhtar Abbasi
-
Patent number: 10995438Abstract: An integrated system for treating a thread and using the treated thread, comprising: a thread treatment machine for treating a thread or portions thereof; a thread applicator configured for using the treated thread such as a stitching machine of 3D printer; at least one mechanism for collecting and trimming thread portions; and a control unit, configured for controlling at least the thread treatment machine, the thread applicator and the collecting and trimming mechanism and for coordinating the treatment of the thread with the operation of the thread applicator, wherein the control unit is further configured for controlling the collecting and trimming mechanism for collecting untreated thread edge portions for allowing using only treated thread portions.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Twine Solutions Ltd.Inventors: Moshe Alon, Erez Moshe, Alon Navon, Yoram Zilberberg
-
Patent number: 10889928Abstract: A production management system includes a sewing machine and a production management device. The sewing machine records chronological operation data. The production management device communicates with the sewing machine, and acquires and stores the operation data. The sewing machine includes a time acquisition unit that acquires a time at the time of the communication from a clock of the production management device at the time of the communication with the production management device and grants time information based on the time at the time of the communication to the operation data recorded at the time of the communication.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: JUKI CORPORATIONInventors: Mio Fujimoto, Satomi Hara
-
Patent number: 10350708Abstract: A method and apparatus for direct writing of single crystal super alloys and metals. The method including heating a substrate to a predetermined temperature below its melting point; using a laser to form a melt pool on a surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate is positioned on a base plate, and wherein the laser and the base plate are movable relative to each other, the laser being used for direct metal deposition; introducing a superalloy powder to the melt pool; and controlling the temperature of the melt pool to maintain a predetermined thermal gradient on a solid and liquid interface of the melt pool so as to form a single crystal deposit on the substrate. The apparatus configured to generally achieve the aforementioned method.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Jyotirmoy Mazumder, Jeongyong Choi
-
Patent number: 10349685Abstract: Clothing articles, e.g., aquatic “board” shorts, are generally comprised of at least one unitary woven fabric panel having multiple seamlessly adjacent different fabric weave sections. These seamlessly adjacent different fabric weave sections may be selected from plain fabric weaves, twill fabric weaves and/or Dobby fabric weaves. Aquatic activity shorts are provided which include a one piece rear fabric panel providing a seamless back rise.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: BOARDRIDERS IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Aaron M. Romero, Brad Lancaster, Dustin Pettit
-
Patent number: 8185878Abstract: The present invention includes program storing unit 11 for storing a program, parsing/dependence-information generating unit 12 for generating dependence information and a syntax tree for a program, dependence-information storing unit 13 for storing dependence information, syntax-tree storing unit 14 for storing a syntax tree, dependence-information tracking unit 17 for extracting interface information on a program fragment according to specifying-information specifying the program fragment and extracting a part of a program fragment associated with interface information according to selection information for selecting the interface information, and information input/output unit 15 for passing specifying-information and selection information to dependence-information tracking unit 17 and outputting interface information and a part of a program fragment passed from dependence-information tracking unit 17.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Hideaki Shinomi
-
Patent number: 8180475Abstract: An embroidery data processor that processes embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern comprising a plurality of subset patterns on a workpiece cloth with different needle thread colors by using a plurality of multi-needle embroidery sewing machines each provided with an embroidery frame drive mechanism that moves an embroidery frame holding the workpiece cloth in two predetermined directions, the embroidery data processor including a sew-time calculator that calculates required sew time for sewing each subset pattern based on subset pattern data being classified by thread color; and an allocator that produces an allocation schedule for allocation of the subset patterns to the multi-needle embroidery sewing machines based on the sew time calculated by the sew-time calculator, the allocation schedule being arranged to distribute equal or minimally-different sew time for each multi-needle embroidery sewing machine.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Taguchi, Motoshi Kishi, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Masayuki Iwata, Yoshio Sugiura
-
Patent number: 8096251Abstract: A balancer is fixedly attached to a rotary input shaft of a crank mechanism that converts rotary drive of a needle bar drive source to up-and-down motion of a needle bar. The balancer is caused to rotate at substantially an opposite phase with respect to up-and-down motion of the needle bar with the rotary drive of the needle bar drive source. When the balancer is driven at substantially the opposite phase with respect to the up-and-down motion of the needle bar, inertia force in an up-and-down direction of the needle bar, generated due to the up-and-down motion of the needle bar is negated, whereby it is possible to reduce vibration generated in the up-and-down direction. Sewing heads paired with each other by being arbitrarily combined are controlled so as to be rotationally driven to cause rotational directions of the needle bar drive sources to become opposite directions to each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Satoru Suzuki
-
Patent number: 7918170Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Terrance L. Myers, James Bondanza, Roland Bulnes, Jeff Kaetterhenry, James T. Frazer, Glenn E. Leavis
-
Publication number: 20110048299Abstract: A sewing machine that is included in a sewing system includes a transfer device, a sewing device, an image capture device, a condition acquisition device, a data acquisition device, a computation device, a correction device, and a sewing control device. The data acquisition device acquires pattern data based on a pattern condition acquired by the condition acquisition device. The computation device computes, as a positioning condition, at least one of a reference position and a reference angle of at least one marker in relation to the carriage based on image data generated by the image capture device. The correction device sets a position and an angle of the partial pattern in relation to the carriage and corrects the pattern data. The sewing control device performs sewing of the partial pattern by controlling the transfer device and the sewing device in accordance with the corrected pattern data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masashi TOKURA
-
Publication number: 20090126610Abstract: A balancer is fixedly attached to a rotary input shaft of a crank mechanism that converts rotary drive of a needle bar drive source to up-and-down motion of a needle bar. The balancer is caused to rotate at substantially an opposite phase with respect to up-and-down motion of the needle bar with the rotary drive of the needle bar drive source. When the balancer is driven at substantially the opposite phase with respect to the up-and-down motion of the needle bar, inertia force in an up-and-down direction of the needle bar, generated due to the up-and-down motion of the needle bar is negated, whereby it is possible to reduce vibration generated in the up-and-down direction. Sewing heads paired with each other by being arbitrarily combined are controlled so as to be rotationally driven to cause rotational directions of the needle bar drive sources to become opposite directions to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Satoru SUZUKI
-
Patent number: 7191718Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2000Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Terrance L. Myers, James Bondanza, Roland Bulnes, Jeff Kaetterhenry, James T. Frazer, Glenn E. Leavis
-
Patent number: 6983192Abstract: A plurality of stitching machines and a control system used in stitching patterns into a plurality of items is capable of flexible control. The plurality of stitching machines may include one or more clusters of stitching machines, with each cluster able to stitch patterns into items independently of other clusters. Stitching machines within the plurality of stitching machines, or within the clusters of stitching machines, may be set to stitch patterns into items using one of a synchronized mode and an unsynchronized mode. When in the synchronized mode, the stitching machines perform stitching substantially synchronously with other stitching machines, and when in the unsynchronized mode the stitching machines perform stitching independently of the status of other stitching machines.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2004Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: MELCO Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Block, Robert Bruce Ton, Peter Kern, Donald Grayson
-
Patent number: 6935258Abstract: An embroidering system includes a central control device and a plurality of embroidering machines. The plural embroidering machines are synchronously operated by a command from the central control device. The central control device individually adjusts embroidering speeds of the plural embroidering machines.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Seiichiro Hagino
-
Patent number: 6880471Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2003Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kakushiki KaishaInventors: Ikuo Taijima, Terutada Kojima
-
Publication number: 20040210336Abstract: A plurality of stitching machines and a control system used in stitching patterns into a plurality of items is capable of flexible control. The plurality of stitching machines may include one or more clusters of stitching machines, with each cluster able to stitch patterns into items independently of other clusters. Stitching machines within the plurality of stitching machines, or within the clusters of stitching machines, may be set to stitch patterns into items using one of a synchronized mode and an unsynchronized mode. When in the synchronized mode, the stitching machines perform stitching substantially synchronously with other stitching machines, and when in the unsynchronized mode the stitching machines perform stitching independently of the status of other stitching machines.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey T. Block, Robert Bruce Ton, Peter Kern, Donald Grayson
-
Patent number: 6796253Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for driving an embroidery frame of a multi-headed embroidery machine having a plurality of heads. Linear motors, for driving the embroidery frame in a direction of X-axis or Y-axis, are subdivided by their capacities so that they can be wired externally to prevent the deflection of the embroidery frame. The plurality of linear motors can be controlled simultaneously by means of a driver and a linear scale.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Sunstar Precision Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tae Gun Kwon
-
Patent number: 6729255Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Melco Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert Bruce Ton, Peter Kern, Jurg Henz, Jeffrey T. Block, Dean Gerald Pearson
-
Publication number: 20040055520Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Applicant: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ikuo Taijima, Terutada Kojima
-
Patent number: 6698369Abstract: An embroidery machine includes a plurality of heads installed above a working table and spaced apart from each other. A needle holder inside each head is slidingly movable up and down and includes a plurality of hooks at a lower part vertically opposite to the needle holder. A plurality of embroidery frames are installed between the needle holder and the hook. A guide rail is disposed in the X direction with respect to each embroidery frame, and an X-axis driver linear motor moves the embroidery frame in the X direction. A guide rail is disposed in the Y direction with respect to each embroidery frame, and a Y-axis driver linear motor moves the embroidery frame in the Y direction. A controller controls a plurality of X-axis and Y-axis driver linear motors and actuates or stops only one of the plurality of embroidery frames.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Sunstar Precision Co., Ltd.Inventor: Su Moon Kwak
-
Patent number: 6694211Abstract: A control system for a group of fiber processing machines includes a superordinate control console; and separate machine-specific control consoles connected to each respective fiber processing machine. The superordinate control console and the machine-specific control consoles are connected to one another by control and regulating devices via a network. The superordinate control console is utilized for all and only for those inputs and displays which require no personal control and display acknowledgment at the machines and the machine-specific control consoles are utilized for all and only for those inputs and displays which, for the operation of the machines require a personal control and display acknowledgement at the machines.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Fritz Hösel
-
Patent number: 6571833Abstract: A conduit sleeve structure for use with fiber optic cables, coaxial cables and the like includes a pair of adjacent strip-shaped layers of flexible material that are joined along their longitudinal edges to define a channel through which the cable can extend longitudinally through the innerduct structure between the layers. The adjacent layers have differing widths between their longitudinal edges, whereby the wider layer bulges away from the narrower layer to impart an open configuration to the channel. It has been found that the conduit sleeve structure may be manufactured more efficiently and inexpensively if multiple sheets and pull cords are stacked and arranged in such a way that multiple conduit sleeve structures may be manufactured simultaneously in a parallel arrangement. The method of manufacturing the conduit sleeve structures includes feeding several stacked sheets through a folding machine or mechanism, a stitching machine, and then a slitting machine.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2000Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: George C. McLarty, III, Derek S. Kozlowski, Robert M. Smith, J. Robert Reynolds
-
Patent number: 6556885Abstract: A control system for a group of fiber processing machines includes a superordinated control console; and separate machine-specific control consoles connected to each respective fiber processing machine. The superordinated control console and the machine-specific control consoles are connected to one another by control and regulating devices via a network. The superordinated control console includes a stationary unit having arrangements for supplying current, for communicating with said network, for storing and administering data, and a computer. The superordinated control console further includes a mobile unit having an operating and displaying unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Fritz Hösel
-
Patent number: 6330864Abstract: A sewing machine includes a frame for supporting a fabric to be sewn and a drive device for moving the frame. The drive device includes an X-drive mechanism for moving the frame in X-direction and a Y-drive mechanism for moving the frame in Y-direction that is perpendicular to the X-direction. Each of the X-drive mechanism and the Y-drive mechanism preferably includes a linear motor as a drive source. A machine table is positioned below the frame. The linear motor of each of the X-drive mechanism and the Y-drive mechanism is disposed below the machine table.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2000Date of Patent: December 18, 2001Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ikuo Tajima
-
Patent number: 6293213Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically cutting notches at specific locations on a web which are separated by predetermined lengths which are the outer dimensions of a pillowtop mattress. The web is pulled through a sewing station with a traction drive. Slack is induced in the web downstream of the traction drive. Predetermined lengths are drawn out of the slack bin in a single motion through a linear measuring device. A knife disposed in close proximity to the measuring device cuts the notches at the specific locations and subsequently severs the notched portion from the remainder of the web.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2000Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Galkin Automated Products Corp.Inventors: Paul Block, Michael Lydick
-
Publication number: 20010010199Abstract: A machine for cutting cloths and for applying borders thereto, particularly for manufacturing mattresses starting from at least one component sheet which is wound in a roll, which comprises a framework, means for moving the cloth in an advancement direction and along a horizontal plane of arrangement, two sewing machines which are arranged upstream of the movement means and are adapted to form longitudinal stitch lines along the lateral edges of the cloth, a cloth finishing assembly which is arranged downstream of the movement means and comprises a sewing machine which is adapted to produce at least two parallel stitch lines which lie transversely to the advancement direction of the cloth, and a cutting element which is adapted to produce an intermediate separation cut between the two stitch lines, so as to separate the portion of cloth that lies downstream of the assembly from the one that lies upstream thereof, the sewing machines of the pair being each provided with a support for a roll of a strip of fabriType: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2001Publication date: August 2, 2001Applicant: RESTA S.r.l.Inventor: Roberto Resta
-
Patent number: 6216618Abstract: An embroidery system having an embroidery machine for automatically stitching embroidery stitch patterns on a garment and a machine controller for selectably controlling the operation of the embroidery machine in response to user provided selections, the improvement involves the use of a Windows CE based graphical user interface, such as a PDA, which is located between the user and the machine controller to provide user selections through the graphical user interface for directing the machine controller. The embroidery system has an associated embroidery functionality and the graphical user interface has a defined system architecture which may selectably enhance the embroidery system functionality by selectably adding software modules to the graphical user interface, such as to control the creation of embroidery lettering, to provide maintenance monitoring either locally or over the Internet, or to enable communication with the embroidery machine over a network.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Pulse Microsystems Ltd.Inventors: Brian Goldberg, Anastasios Tsonis, Ben Chia, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6202001Abstract: Disclosed is an embroidery data creating device for creating embroidery stitch data representative of cyclically repeated embroidery patterns to be formed on an embroidery area. The embroidery data creating device includes a first memory in which data related to the embroidery area is stored. The embroidery area has at least one embroidery block. Further, the embroidery data creating device is provided with a second memory in which reference pattern data indicative of a unit pattern of the cyclically repeated embroidery patterns is stored. A data generating device which is also included in the embroidery data creating device, creates the embroidery stitch data for the embroidery area stored in the first memory in accordance with the reference pattern stored in the second memory. In particular, the data generating device generates the embroidery stitch data by arranging the reference pattern data repeatedly within the embroidery area.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1998Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yukiyoshi Muto
-
Patent number: 6148749Abstract: A work-sheet feed apparatus in which an X carriage is coupled integrally with a coupling member. A rear end portion of a holder support is coupled to the coupling merber via a coupling mechanism that supports the holder support pivotally about an axis parallel to the X direction, while a work-sheet holding frame that holds a work sheet is attached only at one side thereof to a frame holder secured to the holder support.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1999Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Hayashi
-
Patent number: 6142089Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing machine motor, a main shaft driven by the sewing machine motor, a sewing needle driven by the main shaft, a shuttle for capturing a thread loop in cooperation with the sewing needle, the shuttle having a hook shaft, a shuttle driving motor for driving the hook shaft of the shuttle independent of the sewing machine motor, a drive control device for controlling the sewing machine motor and shuttle driving motor so that the shuttle is rotated in synchronism with the main shaft, a thread jamming detecting device for detecting a thread jamming in the shuttle, and a releasing device for controlling the shuttle driving motor so that the shuttle is released from the thread jamming, when the thread jamming is detected by the thread jamming detecting device.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1998Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Harada, Koichi Akahane, Motonari Nakano, Yoshihisa Nozaki
-
Patent number: 6123037Abstract: A multi-head embroidery machine includes a plurality of embroidery machines each of which includes thread cutting means, sewing means, thread breakage detecting means, needle bar jumping means and a cloth holder frame, a sewing motor for driving the sewing means of the embroidery machines in common, a frame holder for holding the cloth holder frames of the embroidery machines in common, cloth feeding means for moving the frame holder, stop control means for stopping the sewing motor to interrupt a sewing operation of the sewing means, step-back control means for stepping back via the cloth feeding means the frame holder to an actual or estimated position of occurrence of a thread breakage, re-sewing control means for executing a re-sewing operation approximately to a sewing interruption position in the embroidery machine in which thread breakage has occurred, while the cloth feeding means is being operated, thread-cutting command means for commanding to cut at least one of a needle thread and a bobbin threadType: GrantFiled: March 24, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaki Shimizu
-
Patent number: 6105520Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: James T. Frazer, Von Hall, Jr., M. Burl White
-
Patent number: 6019053Abstract: A curved workpiece fabric holder device which holds a cup-shaped or cylindrical workpiece at a position around a cylinder bed. The cylinder bed contain therein a loop taker which co-operates with a sewing needle. The holder device includes a base frame movable in an extending direction of the cylinder bed, a rotary frame rotatably supported by the base frame and positioned around the cylinder bed, a retainer retaining therein the workpiece and detachably installed over the rotary frame. The holder device also include a translation mechanism for translating the movement of a fabric feed frame in an X-direction into a rotational movement of the rotary frame. The translation mechanism includes a wire looping around the rotary frame, and having one end fixed to a first wire attaching portion and having another end fixed to a second wire attaching portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuhiko Kawaguchi
-
Patent number: 6012402Abstract: Provided is an embroidery sewing machine for forming an embroidery pattern in accordance with embroidery data. The embroidery data includes position data indicative of a portion of a working fabric on which the embroidery pattern is to be formed, and color change data indicative of change of needle bars of the sewing machine. The sewing machine is provided with a thread color assigning system which assigns a thread collor to each of the needle bars, an order assigning system which assigns order of the needle bars to be used, a display device which displays the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data and the order of the needle bars to be used change by the order changing system, and a sewing system which forms the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data and the order of the needle bars to be used changed by the order changing system.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1997Date of Patent: January 11, 2000Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kiyokazu Sekine
-
Patent number: 5974992Abstract: A lot sewing time required for sewing a lot of embroidery patterns is calculated based on data of the embroidery pattern to be sewn and on data indicating the number of times the embroidery pattern is to be sewn in the lot. After data for the calculated lot sewing time is received, the lot is allotted to one of a plurality of sewing machines. The lot time for each of a plurality of lots allotted to the plurality of sewing machines is displayed on a display.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1999Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Fumiaki Asano
-
Patent number: 5964168Abstract: There is provided an embroidery data selecting system for selecting an embroidery pattern from a plurality of embroidery patterns. The system includes: a recording medium which stores the plurality of embroidery patterns; a display having at least a first display area and a second display area; a first display controller which displays the plurality of groups in the first area, the plurality of embroidery patterns being categorized into a plurality of groups, the plurality of groups having a hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure of the plurality of groups being visually recognizable in the first area; a manually operable member to be operated to select one of the plurality of groups displayed in the first area; and a second display controller which displays embroidery patterns included in a group in the second area in response to selection by the manually operable member.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kyoji Komuro
-
Patent number: 5957069Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-head multi-needle sewing machine system adapted to change threads by horizontally moving sewing heads, which system provides for space savings and further increase in the number of sewing heads and colors of threads to be employed. For this purpose, needle-bar support frames 6 are each guided in the horizontal movement thereof by one guide rail 31 horizontally extending over the whole length of a sewing machine system 1. A thread take-up positioning piece 63 for maintaining undriven needle thread take-ups 5 at a raised position is secured to place as extending substantially between the centers of adjacent arms 3. In this multi-head multi-needle sewing machine system 1, the movement ranges of the needle-bar support frames 6 of the respective sewing heads partially overlap with each other but there is no fear of interference therebetween because the needle-bar support frames 6 horizontally travel for the same amount in the same direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Kabushikikaisha BarudanInventor: Masanori Shibata
-
Patent number: 5954005Abstract: A pattern sewing system having at least one pattern sewing machine which has a plurality of sewing heads, an operation status setting device which is electrically connected to the at least one pattern sewing machine, the operation status setting device setting operation status of each of the plurality of sewing heads such that each of the plurality of sewing heads is operative or inoperative, and a controlling device which makes the operation status set by the operation status setting device effective.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Brother kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyokazu Sekine, Fumiaki Asano
-
Patent number: 5937774Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a work-sheet holder which holds a work sheet, to a feed member which is fed by a feeding device of a sewing machine, so that a stitch-forming device of the sewing machine forms stitches on the work sheet held by the work-sheet holder, the apparatus including a position adjusting device which adjusts at least one of a position of the work-sheet holder relative to the feed member in a first direction, a position of the work-sheet holder relative to the feed member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and an angular position of the work-sheet holder relative to the feed member about an axis line parallel to a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and a holder fixing device which fixes the work-sheet holder at the adjusted one position thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Hayashi
-
Patent number: 5921194Abstract: A sewing machine control device that is capable of controlling a plurality of sewing machines, and that includes a display unit having a screen; an operability determination unit that determines operable ones of the plurality of sewing machines; and a window displaying unit that displays, on the screen of the display unit, a window for each operable sewing machine.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kyoji Komuro, Xiao Ming Zheng
-
Patent number: 5915316Abstract: An embroidering and laser processing machine including at least one sewing head, one laser head and one laser generator, a work holder mounted on a machine table capable of movement in an X-axis and Y-axis direction according to predetermined movement data, the laser generator being on-off controlled according to laser cut codes which are included in the predetermined movement data.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1996Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ikuo Tajima, Takashi Ito, Takashi Shibata
-
Patent number: 5915317Abstract: A stitching system includes a gantry that is movable along a material support table. Mounted to the gantry are a plurality of stitching heads and bobbins. The stitching heads are individually controllable in a z-direction, and the bobbins are individually controllable in the z-direction. Each stitching head is paired with a bobbin. Each pair of stitching heads and the bobbins is controlled synchronously in the z-direction. The stitching system is well-suited for stitching preforms of aircraft wing covers and other preforms having variable thickness and compound, contoured three-dimensional surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1997Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Inventors: Patrick J. Thrash, Jeffrey L. Miller, Kenneth G. Pallas, Robert C. Trank, Rhoda Fox, Mike Korte, Richard Codos, Aleksandr Korolev, William Collan
-
Patent number: 5913276Abstract: A multihead sewing machine includes a sewing machine motor, a main shaft rotated by the sewing machine motor, a plurality of sewing needles driven by the main shaft, a plurality of shuttles for capturing thread loops in cooperation with the sewing needles respectively, each shuttle having a hook shaft, and a plurality of shuttle driving motors for rotating the hook shafts of the shuttles independent of the sewing machine motor respectively. The sewing machine motor and the shuttle driving motors are controlled so that the sewing machine motor and each shuttle driving motor are rotated in synchronism with each other. Loss of synchronism of each shuttle relative to the corresponding sewing needle is detected. Rotation of the main shaft is stopped in an abnormal condition in which the loss of synchronism has been detected with respect to at least one of the shuttles.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: June 22, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Kurono, Masaki Shimizu, Hirokazu Hirose
-
Patent number: 5904109Abstract: A color switch setting data processing apparatus for a multi-needle embroidery machine is provided by a personal computer or other data processing device. The apparatus causes a display unit to display a stitching sequence and needle bar numbers for color switch setting data. If an insert instruction is produced by indicating the place of insertion by using a cursor and a needle bar number to be inserted is inputted to the place, then the color switch setting data is rewritten by shifting the needle bar number data from the place of insertion and the subsequent places in the stitching sequence, by one place to a later side in the stitching sequence. If a deletion instruction is produced by indicating the place of deletion by using the cursor, the color switch setting data is rewritten by shifting the needle bar number data in the places subsequent, on the later side, to the place of deletion, by one place to an earlier side in the stitching sequence.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1998Date of Patent: May 18, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Fumiaki Asano
-
Patent number: 5884572Abstract: A curved workpiece fabric holder device which holds a cup-shaped or cylindrical workpiece at a position around a cylinder bed. The cylinder bed contains therein a loop taker which co-operates with a sewing needle. The holder device includes a base frame movable in an extending direction of the cylinder bed, a rotary frame rotatably supported by the base frame and positioned around the cylinder bed, a retainer retaining therein the workpiece and detachably installed over the rotary frame. Normally, the rotary frame is rotated in accordance with a movement of a fabric feed frame. A fixed segment is fixed to the fabric feed frame, and a movable segment is movably and position-fixably supported to the fixed segment. A wire is looped around the rotary frame and each end of the wire is fixed to each end of the movable segment. By unfastening the movable segment from the fixed segment, the movable segment is disconnected from the fabric feed frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuhiko Kawaguchi
-
Patent number: 5873317Abstract: Disclosed is a sewing system including a plurality of sewing machines and a controlling device which is electrically connected with the plurality of sewing machines for transmitting control commands to the plurality of sewing machines. The controlling device includes a memory device which stores identification data for identifying each of the plurality of sewing machines, a data registering device, which is used for registering arbitrarily registered data in relation to the identification data stored in the memory device for identifying each of the plurality of sewing machines, and a displaying device having a display screen. The controlling device displays the arbitrarily registered data on the display screen for identifying each of the plurality of sewing machines, and the control commands are transmitted to sewing machines identified by the arbitrarily registered data displayed by the displaying device.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kyoji Komuro, Xiao Ming Zheng
-
Patent number: 5862766Abstract: A convertible sewing machine utilizes plain-seaming and closed-seaming head assemblies to provide both plain-seaming and closed-seaming functions in a single integral package. The convertible sewing machine includes a housing having opposing ends, a plain-seaming head-assembly disposed at one end of the housing, a closed-seaming head-assembly disposed at the other end of the housing, a drive motor and a drive-coupling assembly for mechanically coupling the drive motor and at least one of the plain-seaming and closed-seaming head-assemblies. The drive-coupling assembly is capable of selectively engaging either, or both of, the head-assemblies. A turntable mechanism can also be included for rotating the convertible sewing machine into several positions of operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1997Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Inventor: Man Kit Fung