Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for automatically binding two or more printed textile panels along a lateral edge of said panels and/or binding a printed textile panel or panels with a flexible material strip along a lateral edge of said panel or panels, said device comprising a sewing head, a puller for pulling the printed textile panel or panels into the sewing head, and a gripper holding system comprising a plurality of grippers for gripping a portion of a lateral edge of the printed textile panel or panels to maintain alignment as the printed textile panel or panels are pulled into said puller.

Abstract: A robot arm processing system includes a robot arm, a processing module, and a control module. The robot arm is for providing a mechanical holding force. The processing module is disposed on the robot arm to process a workpiece. The control module is connected to the robot arm or the processing module. The control module outputs an anti-vibration signal according to the reaction force of the workpiece or the displacement of the robot arm to counteract the reaction force of the workpiece or the displacement of the robot arm.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The sealing component includes a first level and a second lower level. The first level further includes first and second platforms. The first platform can provide a work area for sealing respective first and second sheets of material together to form a sealed edge and the second platform may provide a work area for sealing the second sheet of material and a third sheet of material together. The first, second, and third sheets of material respectively form first, second, and third gores of the balloon envelope. The sealing component may be configured to move along length of the first platform and to apply a heat seal to bond the first sheet of material to the second sheet material and form a sealed edge.

Abstract: A feed mechanism that advances fabric comprises at least one dog that mechanically advances the fabric toward a sewing head and at least one actuator that is coupled to and actuates the at least one dog in a servo controlled motion so that the sewing head sews the fabric at a desirable position.

Abstract: A method for the handling of flexible and/or mat-like workpieces (30, 30a) with a holding device (10) comprising the steps of: picking up the workpiece (30, 30a) from an initial configuration with activated gripping devices (18); and displacing the gripping devices (18) relative to each other to deform the workpiece (30, 30a) into a desired freeform, further wherein the holding force before or during the displacement of the gripping devices (18) is reduced on each gripping device (18) so that the first sections (34) of the workpiece (30, 30a) during its deformation slide along the contact surface (20) and the second sections (36) of the workpiece (30, 30a) are fixed by the gripping devices (18) on the bearing surface (20).

Abstract: A wafer transport system includes a substantially horizontal non-contact support platform for supporting a wafer substantially horizontally at a substantially fixed vertical distance from the platform. A wafer gripping device includes wafer grippers to grip a surface of the wafer that is opposite the non-contact support platform. Each of the wafer grippers is mounted on a vertically flexible holder to enable the wafer gripper to adapt to a height of the wafer above the wafer gripping device while maintaining a substantial horizontal rigidity of the vertically flexible holder so as to prevent horizontal motion of the wafer relative to the wafer gripping device.

Abstract: A trim cover assembly of extremely soft property comprises a surface cover element, a wadding cover, and a thick foam wadding sandwiched therebetween, wherein the thick foam wadding has a compressed thin end surface region sewn with the surface cover element and wadding cover. Sewing method for forming such trim cover assembly involves: pressing and collapsing an end surface of the thick foam wadding in downwardly slantwise direction to provide a compressed thin area, thereby allowing direct access thereto of a conventional sewing machine; operating the sewing machine to sew the compressed thin area with the surface cover element, thereby producing a sewn trim cover having a compressed thin end region therein; and thereafter sewing the wadding cover with such sewn trim cover in correspondence with the compressed thin end region. As such, a trim cover assembly having the thick foam wadding is easily formed by the conventional sewing machine.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for a sewing machine, either separate from the rest of the machine or incorporated as a part thereof, to feed fabric in any direction, that is programmable, and is easily controlled.

Abstract: A curved edge sewing system sews a curved edge of a cloth, such as a curved edge of a fly. The curved edge sewing system has a cloth support table, and a sewing needle located at a sewing position relative to the cloth support table. A cloth presser device moves towards and away from the cloth support table and rotates relative to the sewing needle. A first driver is operatively connected to the cloth presser device and moves the cloth presser device towards and away from the cloth support table. A second driver is operatively connected to the cloth presser device and rotates the cloth presser device relative to the sewing needle. A controller has a first signal supplied to the first driver and actuates the first driver, and a second signal supplied to the second driver and actuates the second driver.

Abstract: A circular stitcher for a sewing machine having a bed and a needle plate, and a feed dog includes a base attachable to an upper surface of the bed or the needle plate; a pin support seized movably in a predetermined direction by the base and having an engagement subject; a pin having an engagement engagable with the engagement subject of the pin support and a needle that pierces a workpiece cloth from an underside of the workpiece cloth at a laterally spaced position from a needle drop point, the needle assuming a center of rotational cloth feed executed by the feed dog during circular stitching; and a lock mechanism provided in the pin support and releasably locking the engagement and the engagement subject together.

Abstract: An edge sewing apparatus for carrying out edge sewing in a curved shape along one side edge of a cloth piece in a strip-like shape while rotating the cloth piece, which includes: a press rotating member rotated in accordance with feeding of the cloth piece while pressing the cloth piece; a rotational angle measuring device that measures a rotational angle of the press rotating member; and a press releasing device that releases the press rotating member from being pressed when the rotational angle measured by the rotational angle measuring device reaches a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An automated sewing device including a stationary guide element and a movable guide element movably provided on said stationary guide element, the movable guide element allowing one base material to be placed thereon. A plurality of movable sections are defined in the movable guide element and movably connected with one another, such that each of the plurality of movable sections is foldable upwardly relative to the movable guide element, thereby avoiding contact of the movable guide element with a worker who operates the sewing device. The movable guide element may include an area recessed toward a sewing machine of the automatic sewing device, thereby allowing the worker to easily move to guide another base material and along the said one base material while in operation.

Abstract: An automated feeding mechanism for sewing machine is comprised of: a rotary support element rotatably mounted on a table in the vicinity of the sewing machine having a feed dog member; and support elements provided on one side of the rotary support element. A trim cover assembly may be attached on the rotary support element, such that the arcuate peripheral cover section thereof is supported on the support elements and also temporarily retained thereon by a clamp element. A hard synthetic resin material may be stored in that mechanism. With this feeding mechanism, upon rotation of the rotary support element, the arcuate peripheral cover section supported on the support elements and the hard synthetic resin material juxtaposed with that peripheral cover section are smoothly and precisely fed to the sewing machine and thereby sewn together.

Abstract: In a trousers-fly-serging apparatus, a fly is fed on and along a feed table by a retaining portion of a linear supply section, and pressing levers attached to lower portions of four corners of a support body move down to press and retain the fed fly with tip ends of the pressing levers. Then, a rod actuated by a pressure cylinder is towed to rotate a rear portion of the support body about a pin as a pivot provided at a front end portion of the support body, so that one corner portion of a leading end portion of the fly is trimmed into an arcuate shape by a cutter and at the same time, the arcuately trimmed edge portion is serged by a needle. According to the apparatus, therefore, the one corner portion of the leading end of the fly can be trimmed into a uniform arcuate shape.

Abstract: A method for sewing a curved edge of first base cover material with a second base material to form a trim cover assembly. The first base cover material is elastically deformed, as by expanding or contracting the same, such as to transform its curved edge into a rectilinear edge, and then, the thus-formed rectilinear edge of first base material is sewn with the second base material, whereby a trim cover assembly can be formed easily, using simple guide and retaining members.

Abstract: A cloth edge control device for a sewing machine includes a pair of rollers, an optical sensor, and controller. The pair of rollers are arranged near a needle location in such a manner that the rollers are rotating about an axis perpendicular to a direction in which a cloth material is fed, so as to be pushed against the cloth material. The optical sensor is adapted for detection of the cloth material at a plurality of points on a line along a direction intersecting with the feed direction before the needle location. The controller detects the position and curvature of the edge of the cloth material according to a light intercept signal from the optical sensor and rotates the rollers independently of each other according to the position and curvature thus detected.

Abstract: A locker patch attachment system (30) for attaching a locker patch (10) having an arcuate edge (12) to a garment (11) by sewing about the arcuate edge of the locker patch as the garment and locker patch are automatically pivoted about a sewing machine (32) by a patch pivot assembly (70) and a body pivot assembly (105). The patch pivot assembly (70) and body pivot assembly (105) rotate at the same angular speed and about the common axis .alpha. which is displaced from the needle (22) of the sewing machine (32). The patch pivot assembly (70) includes a pivot plate (72) that holds the garment and locker patch in a fixed, overlaid relationship and rotates in order to pivot the garment and locker patch about the sewing machine (32).

Abstract: An automated sewing device for sewing at least one base material with two curved corner portions, which includes a sewing machine, a base guide plate and a movable guide plate. The movable guide plate has three guide rollers, each being respectively disposed at the apexes of an equilateral triangle, in the reverse side thereof, and the movable guide plate is formed with a plurality of guide grooves in such a pattern that describes three loci respectively of the three guide rollers required to cause proper displacements of the movable guide plate for guiding at least one side of the base material including the two curved corner portions in a direction to the sewing needle of the sewing machine. With such arrangement, the base material is automatically fed and sewn by the feeding and sewing force of the sewing machine, insuring to precisely sew each of the two curved corner portions of base material along the curvature thereof.

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 device for guiding a cover member to a sewing machine, which basically includes a control arm supported pivotally on the table of sewing machine, a guide roller assembly mounted rotatably to the control arm, and a link assembly supported pivotally on the sewing machine table. The guide roller assembly, which is to retain the cover member therein, may be adjustably displaced in conjuction with the link assembly by a control drive mechanism which is operatively connected to the control arm. With detection of one curved end of the cover member, this guiding device permits even a multilayer-type cover member to be sewn, smoothly and precisely, along its one curved end.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing front panels for men's underwear from continuous bands of web material. The apparatus includes a pay-out mechanism for paying out the continuous bands of web material. A web conveyance system conveys first and second continuous bands of web material along an assembly line to a plurality of stations disposed along the assembly line for fabricating discrete front panel assemblies from the continuous bands of web material. An automatic loader receives the front panel assembly from the web conveyance system and transfers the front panel assemblies to a receiving apparatus where it is bound into bundles for subsequent use.

Abstract: A device for feeding a product to be sewn to a sewing machine includes a guide element having a curved slide surface on which the product to be sewn is guided in a sliding manner in a direction toward a sewing point. The guide element further has a strip-shaped projection, fitted onto the curved slide surface, which includes an elongated unrolling edge arranged transversely or obliquely to a conveying direction of the product to be sewn, and which projects from the curved slide surface. The elongated unrolling edge defines an upper boundary of the strip-shaped projection on the curved slide surface of the guide element.

Abstract: An automatic edge sewing system and method for sewing together the edge of a plurality of parts in which the parts to be sewn are clamped together in a sewing machine having a reciprocating needle; the parts are mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis through the pans and for linear translation along a linear axis between the first rotational axis and the axis of the needle. The pans are steered about a second rotational axis parallel to the needle axis for adjusting the angular position of the linear axis about the needle axis. The parts are fed through the needle axis and the position of the edge of the parts proximate the needle axis is sensed; the steering and the feeding of the parts through the needle axis is controlled in response to the sensing of the edge position while the pans passively float about the first rotational axis and along the linear axis to enable the parts to be sewn accurately, automatically proximate the edges.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the fabric edge position wherein a fabric fed to the needle location of a sewing machine is fed downstream, feeding distances per unit time at two feeding points, which are along a direction almost perpendicular to the fabric feeding direction, are differentiated by detecting the fabric edge position in the vicinity of the needle location, thereby shifting rightward and leftward the fabric edge position in the vicinity of the needle location so as to form a seam at a constant distance from the fabric edge.

Abstract: A base frame driving device of an embroidering machine includes a shaft, a holder mounted on the shaft so as to be movable therealong, a connecting portion mounted rotatably on the holder, a base frame mounted on the connecting portion for holding a work piece to be embroidered, a motor mounted to the holder and operatively connected to the base frame for rotation thereof about the shaft and, a controller for controlling the motor in order that the initial position of the base frame relative to the holder is fixed when operation of the embroidering machine is initiated.

Abstract: A workpiece guide device on a sewing machine serves for the automatically controlled alignment of a workpiece, with respect to its edge, for the purpose of sewing along the edge of the workpiece at the correct distance from that edge. The circumferential side of a motor-driven guide wheel (36) carries wheels (34) which are likewise motor-driven and which guide the workpiece transversely to the direction prescribed by the guide wheel (36).

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically serging a trouser-fly piece initially along an arcuate line of stitching extending across its leading end while tracing and trimming that arcuate line in advance of serging and thereafter continuing to serge along a straight line of stitching extending parallel to one longitudinal substantially straight side edge of the trouser-fly piece. The apparatus incorporates control means including a control counter and a delay counter both operatively associated with the operation of a sewing needle so as to ensure serging of the trouser-fly piece over its full length with accurate and uniform finishing.

Abstract: An embroidering machine comprises a stationary shaft, a sleeve slidably mounted on the stationary shaft, a frame device rotatably mounted on the sleeve and holding a cylindrical portion of a work to be stitched with embroidery, a holder secured to the sleeve, a motor for swinging the frame device and a driving device for moving the holder along the stationary shaft.

Abstract: An improved method of serging a trouser-fly piece on a serging machine having a trimming cutter is disclosed wherein a continuous trouser-fly blank assembly is fed intermittently into a first feed path extending toward the serging unit at a predetermined angle relative to a path of movement of the trouser-fly piece being advanced by the serging unit. Then the continuous trouser-fly blank assembly is cut into a succession of elongate rectangular trouser-fly pieces each of which is subsequently advanced toward the serging unit along the first feed path. Thereafter, at least a corner of a leading end of the trouser-fly piece is trimmed by the trimming cutter and, substantially at the same time, one curved longitudinal edge of the trouser-fly piece including the trimmed corner is serged with a serge stitching.

Abstract: A mass production system for the manufacture of garments comprises a number of gantry robots which move shaped pieces of fabric over a work table between sewing and manipulating positions. In the sewing of scalloped lace to a garment, the sewing direction must always be parallel to the tangent to the undulating edge of the lace. The piece of lace is viewed by a camera, and the position of a notional datum line, such as a line passing through the minima of the undulations, is specified. Displacements of points along the edge of the lace are then determined relative to the datum line. Displacement and orientation values for guiding that particular piece of lace through a sewing position to produce a row of stitches at a constant distance inside the edge are calculated, and the piece of lace is subsequently guided through the sewing position in accordance with those values.

Abstract: A condensing and alignment device for preparing cloth elements to be joined together. The device comprises a base and a support on the base for a row of needle blocks in side-by-side relationship. At least two fabric engaging needles extend vertically upwardly on each needle block. A resilient O-ring is mounted on each needle block facing and abutting an adjacent needle block in the row, the needle blocks of the row being spaced from each other by the O-rings. A condensing cylinder is located at one end of the needle block row and is operatively attached to at least that needle block at the opposite end of the row. The needle blocks of the row are shiftable by the condensing cylinder from their normal position determined by the O-rings to a condensed position against the action of the O-rings. A press is mounted above the needle block row and is shiftable between an upper retracted position above the needle block row and a lower extended position abutting the needle blocks of the row.

Abstract: A sewing method and apparatus is disclosed for preventing raveling of a cut cloth edge in the making of garments such as slacks and skirts. A pair of sewing machines symmetrically arranged with respect to a cloth feeding line are disposed oppositely to each other. Each sewing machine has an auxiliary guide for contacting the upper surface of a cloth, a cloth edge guide and a cloth stopper. Opposite edges of the cloth are simultaneously and automatically guided along respective sewing lines by the guides and serged by the sewing machines without failure. In operating the pair of sewing machines, another additional sewing machine can be operated to serge other edges of the next cloth.

Abstract: An embroidering device for a sewing machine includes an embroidering frame and a first driving member to be connected with the feed dog of the sewing machine for driving the embroidering frame in a direction transverse to lateral swinging and vertical reciprocating directions of a needle bar of the sewing machine. A second driving member is connected with the needle bar support for driving the embroidering frame in the lateral swinging direction of the needle bar.

Abstract: A detachable attachment for mounting on an embroidery machine with a computer controlled X-Y guidance system for the embroidery frame has a support which is mounted on the transverse rail, an axle having its axis in the Y-axis and an arcuate frame element rotatably supported thereon and provided with an aperture above the embroidery station. A drive motor on the support rotates the frame element in either direction of rotation, and a connection is provided to the computer control. A clamping element is releasably engaged on the frame element to clamp the workpiece thereon. In operation, the computer control moves the rail and the attachment in the Y-axis relative to the embroidery station, and the motor of the attachment effects rotation of the frame element about that axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple-needle sewing machine which is capable of making stitch tracings in zigzag, etc. on a cloth by moving up and down a plurality of needles, with the cloth held between a needle plate and a cloth holder and moved right and left. The needle plate has a long hole with such a length that the right and left movement of the needle plate is not hindered by the vertical movement of the plurality of needles. Within the long hole, there is a needle passing plate positioned which has needle holes through which the needles pass. This needle passing plate is formed shorter than the long hole of the needle plate so as not to hinder the right and left movement of the needle plate. Such a structure is effective for making finely a plurality of the same stitches in zigzag, etc.

Abstract: A hemmer seamer assembly comprising an apparatus for positioning a chain of stitches for stitching onto fabric having a needle and a throat plate, including a device for positioning the chain of stitches forwardly of the needle, and a device for moving the fabric to the throat plate for sewing the chain onto the fabric.

Abstract: Sewing apparatus includes a manipulator for manipulating the workpiece comprising a pressure member having a sheet of friction material pressable against the workpiece for sliding it over the work table. The manipulator includes a vertically-mounted stand, three pivotal links, and three rotary drives mounted on the stand and coupled to their respective links. The apparatus further includes an optical detector and a lamp illuminating the workpiece obliquely in order to emphasize its edges by the shadows produced.

Abstract: An automatic sewing apparatus which permits sewing together a curved edge of a first blank material and an edge of a second blank material, precisely and automatically. The construction of the sewing apparatus is such that on the table of sewing machine, a lower guide plate for securing the second blank material is movably mounted, and above the lower guide plate, provided is an upper guide plate having a movable guide piece slidable along a guide groove formed in the upper guide plate, the movable guide piece being for securing the first blank material. The lower guide plate is movable along a guide groove formed on the table. The two guide grooves are respectively formed in a shape conforming to a track required for orienting the relevant edge in a direction identical to the sewing path of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus which permits the automatically sewing of a base blank material in a sinuous or wavy fashion, and for that purpose, it comprises a sewing machine body, a stationary plate fixed of the table of the sewing machine body, the stationary plate having three guide grooves formed thereon, and a movable plate having three guide rollers provided thereunder, the movable plate receiving the base blank material thereon. The guide rollers are slidably fitted in the respective guide grooves so that the movable plate is moved in a manner guiding the blank material for sewing by the sewing machine body in a sinuous or wavy fashion. Also, a supplying guide mechanism and supportive guide mechanism are recited for sewing a rectilinear base blank material to a sinuously-cut base blank material, using the present sewing apparatus.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus which permits the automatic sewing of a base blank material in a sinuous or wavy fashion. The apparatus includes a sewing machine body, a stationary plate fixed on the table of the sewing machine body, the stationary plate having three guide grooves formed thereon, and a movable plate having three guide rollers provided thereunder, the movable plate receiving the base blank material thereon. The guide rollers are slidably fitted in the respective guide grooves so that the movable plate is moved in a manner guiding the blank material for sewing by the sewing machine body in a sinuous or wavy fashion.

Abstract: A hemmer seamer assembly comprising an apparatus for positioning a chain of stitches for stitching onto fabric having a needle and a throat plate, including a device for positioning the chain of stitches forwardly of the needle, and a device for moving the fabric to the throat plate for sewing the chain onto the fabric.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided with a upper and a lower feed device with which a workpiece consisting of several plies can, when making arched and/or corner type seams, be transported in always constant position of orientation without mutual displacement of the plies. For this purpose the feed direction of both feed devices can be varied either by changing their direction of action or by geometric addition of at least two motion components.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the position of a sheet member (e.g., fabric) slidingly supported on a work surface, utilizing a drive train consisting of one or more drive wheels frictionally engaging a spherical ball captively supported within a housing. The drive wheels are preferrably located in spaced, mutually orthogonal relation proximate the great circle of the spherical ball. The spherical ball rests on and frictionally engages the fabric-to-be-positioned. Rotation of one of the drive wheels causes the spherical ball to rotate which, in turn, moves the fabric in a direction dependent on the location and orientation of said one drive wheel. The inventor can be implemented as an active feedback system utilizing the above-described apparatus together with position detectors and a controller.

Abstract: For use with a sewing machine an attachment for guiding fabric in which use is made of a belt laterally displaced to the side of the feed dogs which is in contact with the fabric, and thus does not require to be descended thereagainst, and which also is oriented in the direction of sewing, wherein the speed at which the belt urges the fabric through the sewing station is controlled to be either slower or faster than the speed at which the fabric is urged through movement by the feed dogs, so that the relative difference between the speeds shifts the fabric in opposite directions laterally of the direction of sewing to thereby enable the sewing of varying curvatures in the edge of the fabric.

Abstract: A hemmer seamer assembly comprising an apparatus for positioning a chain of stitches for stitching onto fabric having a needle and a throat plate, including a device for positioning the chain of stitches forwardly of the needle, and a device for moving the fabric to the throat plate for sewing the chain onto the fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a piece of sheet material to a tool utilizes a set of grippers on telescoping arms of a mean trajectory control system for displacing the sheet material in accordance with a predetermined trajectory. Local correction is effected by passing the piece of sheet material between two discs, one of which is rotatable about a horizontal axis but swingable about a vertical axis while the other, on the opposite side of the sheet, is rotatable about a vertical axis coincident with the first vertical axis. A line is marked on the sheet material with a substance stimulated by ultraviolet and emits a wavelength to which photodetectors are responsive to control the local correction device.

Abstract: A workpiece controlling device for a sewing machine comprising, a workpiece feed mechanism which feeds material in a substantially straight line, an alignment device disposed immediately in advance of the point of stitch formation in the region of a needle plate, a device for moving the alignment device transversely relative to the direction of material feed in the sewing machine, with the alignment device acting on the workpiece in synchronism with the stitch formation, and a device for controlling the transverse motion of the alignment device.

Abstract: The invention relates to automatic sewing and/or joining of textiles, high polymer materials, leather and metals. The object of the invention is to automate the sewing opertion system, to improve the quality of the seam and to conserve labor. A self-regulating system has to be created. According to the invention, the sewing operation is carried out as a control process, in which the deviation of the produced seam shape from the stored seam shape serves as a control value for the transporting elements of the sewing goods. For this, one or a plurality of detection heads and light emitters are arranged in the area of the seaming point, and are connected to an information processing system. The seam shape initially arising is transformed into storable data, is stored together with other data of the seam, and the seam path arising from automatic sewing is compared with the stored data. Deviations from the desired seam path are at once automatically corrected.

Abstract: A sewing arrangement is provided with a feed device which comprises a drive device, a pitman drive, and a work holder received by a support. The feed device, designed so as to be subject to little wear, permits the execution of purely translatory movements with great accuracy, in that the pitman drive has associated with it a parallel guiding means which together with the pitman drive is articulated to the support of the work holder.

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.