Abstract: Systems and methods for interactive guidance of sewing activities are described herein. Many sewing activities such as threading media, conducting general machine maintenance, and sewing using a pattern can be difficult and may require multiple steps to be performed correctly. Through the use of augmented reality (AR), the technologies disclosed herein provide interactive guidance to a user in order to perform one or more sewing activities. The performance of these activities is further enhanced using sensor feedback which can reduce common errors associated with each activity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a guiding apparatus for use with a machine to facilitate performing an action along a self-guided path on a substrate. The guiding apparatus may include a support member configured to be attached to at least a portion of the machine. Further, the guiding apparatus may include one or more of lighting units, optical sensors, controllers, and user interface components, mounted on the support member, configured to identify an object, obtain position of the object on a substrate and perform an action along a self-guided path in association with that object on the substrate.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed, a feed unit, a sewing unit, a projector, and a controller. The projector is configured to project a projection image to the bed. The controller is configured to, where the feed unit and the sewing unit do not perform sewing, execute a first control in which the controller causes the projector to project a first image to the bed, the first image including a first object and a second object, the first object indicating a planned sewing position, the second object indicating a reference position to position the workpiece. The controller is configured to, where the feed unit and the sewing unit perform sewing, execute a second control in which the controller causes the projector to project a second image to the bed, the second image including the first object and not including the second object.

Abstract: An uplight assembly for a sewing machine is provided, wherein the assembly is adapted to provide a light source along the bed of the sewing machine and adjacent to the throat plate thereof for projecting light from beneath a material work piece being sewn. The assembly comprises a transparent or translucent surface having at least one light source disposed thereunder, wherein the light source is controllable by the user. The activation of the light sources or the intensity of the light is adjustable by the user. The assembly is provided as an aftermarket assembly for existing sewing machines or as a new and novel uplight assembly adapted to be incorporated into a sewing machine bed design.

Abstract: An illumination device for a multineedle sewing machine includes an illuminating member which has a light source and located at a lateral side of a needle bar case and is disposed so as to open portions of needle bars and portions of needles, a light amount adjusting unit which adjusts an amount of light of the light source, and a control unit which controls the light amount adjusting unit with movement of the needle bar case by the needle bar case moving mechanism together with the illuminating member so that a predetermined illuminance is maintained at least in part of an illuminated area which is illuminated by the light source. The part of the illuminated area is located near the needle drop position.

Abstract: An illumination device for a multineedle sewing machine is disclosed. The sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars having lower ends to which needles are attached respectively and a needle bar case supporting the needle bars so that the needle bars are movable upward and downward. The illumination device includes an illuminating member having a light source, and a support unit located in the needle bar case for supporting the illuminating member so that the illuminating member is switchable between an illuminating position where the illuminating member is located in front of the needle bars or the needles to illuminate a periphery of a needle point of the needle location point of the needle by the light source and a storage position where the illuminating member opens a front side of the needle bar or the needle and is located laterally with respect to the needle bar case.

Abstract: A multi-needle type embroidery sewing machine includes a laser marker for irradiating a needle drop point of one of a plurality of needles attached to one of a plurality of needle bars being indexed to a sewing position with a laser beam. The laser marker is attached to an arm unit to be arranged just behind of the one of the plurality of needle bars indexed to the sewing position. The angle of inclination of the laser beam irradiating the needle drop point with respect to an axis of the one of the plurality of needle bars indexed to the sewing position is in a range of 5 degrees to 25 degrees.

Abstract: An illumination device for a multineedle sewing machine includes an illuminating member which has a light source and located at a lateral side of a needle bar case and is disposed so as to open portions of needle bars and portions of needles, a light amount adjusting unit which adjusts an amount of light of the light source, and a control unit which controls the light amount adjusting unit with movement of the needle bar case by the needle bar case moving mechanism together with the illuminating member so that a predetermined illuminance is maintained at least in part of an illuminated area which is illuminated by the light source. The part of the illuminated area is located near the needle drop position.

Abstract: An illumination device for a multineedle sewing machine is disclosed. The sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars having lower ends to which needles are attached respectively and a needle bar case supporting the needle bars so that the needle bars are movable upward and downward. The illumination device includes an illuminating member having a light source, and a support unit located in the needle bar case for supporting the illuminating member so that the illuminating member is switchable between an illuminating position where the illuminating member is located in front of the needle bars or the needles to illuminate a periphery of a needle point of the needle location point of the needle by the light source and a storage position where the illuminating member opens a front side of the needle bar or the needle and is located laterally with respect to the needle bar case.

Abstract: Invention is freestanding, therefore, is not attached to the sewing machine and provides two lights 6 that illuminate the sewing area, one to the left side of the sewing area and another at the back right of the sewing area. The result is an enhanced view of the fabric sewing area; shadows are greatly reduced while providing additional lighting for threading the needle. Once your work is through at the sewing machine you can move the light to your serger, embroidery machine or craft table to work on other projects. An on/off switch 8 is provided for easy shut-off of power to the lights 6.

Abstract: A threading device of a sewing machine includes a thread inserting base formed with a thread path hole having a thread inserting port opened toward an outer side of a sewing machine frame, and further formed with an air path hole which joins the thread path hole in the vicinity of the thread inserting port, an air supply device coupled to the air path hole to supply compressed air, and illuminating means provided on the sewing machine frame to irradiate a joining portion of the thread path hole and the air path hole. The thread inserting base includes a transparent member through which at least the joining portion of the thread path hole and the air path hole can be visually recognized.

Abstract: A machine according to the present teachings can include a machine housing and a drive mechanism disposed in the machine housing and driving an output member. An input member can be associated with the machine housing for activating the drive mechanism. A working member can be driven by the output member. A light source can be coupled to the machine housing that projects UV light onto an area proximate to the working member. According to additional features, the light source can comprise a UV light source. According to other features, the light source can collectively define a light emitting device and a filter. The filter can allow black light to pass therethrough. The light emitting device can comprise an incandescent bulb, a light emitting diode, or a fluorescent bulb according to various examples.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight unit which illuminates a display panel from a rear surface thereof, including at least: tubular lamps arranged in parallel to the panel; and a reflecting member which reflects light from the lamps toward the panel, wherein the reflecting member is divided into a first region opposed to an area near an electrode provided in an end portion of the lamp and a second region nearer to a middle area than the first region, the first region having a higher reflectance than the second region. In another backlight unit, a reflecting member is divided, with respect to the arrangement direction of the lamps, into an end lamp near region which is opposed to a lamp arranged in end portion and a middle region which is nearer to a middle area than the end lamp region, the end lamp region having a higher reflectance than the middle region.

Abstract: A threading device of a sewing machine includes a thread inserting base formed with a thread path hole having a thread inserting port opened toward an outer side of a sewing machine frame, and further formed with an air path hole which joins the thread path hole in the vicinity of the thread inserting port, an air supply device coupled to the air path hole to supply compressed air, and illuminating means provided on the sewing machine frame to irradiate a joining portion of the thread path hole and the air path hole. The thread inserting base includes a transparent member through which at least the joining portion of the thread path hole and the air path hole can be visually recognized.

Abstract: A miter saw including a base, a turntable, a cutting unit rotatably supporting a circular saw blade, and a support unit movably supporting the cutting unit at a position above the turntable. The support unit has a hinge formed with a recess in which a laser oscillator is accommodated. The laser oscillator emits a projected beam line on a surface of a workpiece W. The line indicates the position of a circular saw blade tip and its extension in a diametrical direction of the circular saw blade. The opening of the recess is closed with a cover that has an opening for allowing the laser beam to pass therethrough. The cover is positioned in confrontation with a fence on which the workpiece abuts for positioning. One surface of the cover is finished into a mirror surface which reflects a cutting line marker already marked on the workpiece and reflects a projected beam line.

Abstract: A workpiece cloth positioning guide device for a sewing machine includes a projector which projects a sewing reference mark onto an upper side of workpiece cloth placed on a sewing bed of the sewing machine. The projector projects light emitted from the light source onto a needle drop reference point of the sewing needle of the sewing machine from obliquely above so that a sewing reference mark including a circle having a center at the needle drop reference point on the upper side of the workpiece cloth and the sewing reference mark guides the workpiece cloth when the workpiece cloth is positioned in sewing.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing bed on which cloth to be sewn is placed, a pillar extending upward from the bed, a sewing arm extending horizontally from the pillar so as to be located over the bed, a high brightness LED lamp including a lens, a lamp cover provided to cover and support the LED lamp and made from a material which can transmit light emitted by the LED lamp, and a supporting member provided on the arm for supporting the lamp cover further supporting the LED lamp.

Abstract: A sewing machine lighting equipment comprises light emitting diodes, which are arranged on at least two sides of the needle bar and which are disposed in at least one lighting device.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing bed on which cloth to be sewn is placed, a pillar extending upward from the bed, a sewing arm extending horizontally from the pillar so as to be located over the bed, a high brightness LED lamp including a lens, a lamp cover provided to cover and support the LED lamp and made from a material which can transmit light emitted by the LED lamp, and a supporting member provided on the arm for supporting the lamp cover further supporting the LED lamp.

Abstract: A sewing machine with a light barrier used to detect the edge of a workpiece has an optical light guide (17) connected to the light source (15). The optical guide (17) is arranged in the thread guide hook (12). The thread guide hook (12) is fastened to the front side of the head (4) of the housing and is designed as a small tube for this purpose.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a sewing machine having a lamp holder, which retains at least one lamp, is arranged on the underside of the head of a sewing machine, and within the range of the needle bar and the presser foot bar. The lamp is constructed to loop around the needle bar and the presser foot bar over an angular range of more than 180°. The type of lamp used is, preferably, a cold-light-cathode florescent lamp, which radiates little, if any, heat, while emitting a pleasant light.

Abstract: A lamp, which has a light source and a fiber-optic light guide that is led, over part of its length, in the housing of a sewing machine, and whose end piece projects from the housing, is to be arranged on the sewing machine such that a desired machine part can be illuminated without the work area and the field of view of the sewing machine operator being disadvantageously affected by the lamp. To achieve this, the end piece of the fiber-optic light guide is adjusted to the shape of a housing part and is received on the housing part, hidden by the side of the housing part facing away from the housing.

Abstract: An accessory device, such as a lamp, includes a mounting mechanism adapted for attachment to various machines. A mount ring is supported by the machine, preferably concentrically to the machine head, through a plurality of attachment assemblies maintaining the ring in a fixed plane but allowing angular displacement thereof to permit selective adjustment of an elongated, flexible accessory-equipped arm.

Abstract: A lighting device for a sewing machine which has a housing with a base and an upright portion mounted on the base and an arm carried by the upright portion which overlies the base in which there is positioned a movable thread needle which operates below the arm to sew materials and which comprises a light source carried in the housing and a flexible sheath supported in the arm of the housing and extends outwardly of the arm in the vicinity of the needle. The sheath carries at least two light guides which have first ends exposed to the light source mounted on the sewing machine housing and an opposite second ends which extend out of the sheath in the vicinity of the needle. The sheath and the light guides are bendable so as to arrange the second ends of the light guide in a selected manner for illuminating selective areas in the vicinity of the needle.

Abstract: Viewing apparatus is disclosed for use with an automatic sewing machine in digitizing patterns that are to be sewn. The viewing system includes a high intensity light projection device mounted close to the head of the sewing machine. The mounting of the projection device includes adjustment capabilities which allow a projected image to be centered on a point having a predefined relationship with respect to the sewing needle of the automatic sewing machine.

Abstract: A planar electroluminescent light forms at least the upper surface of the throat or slide plate of a sewing machine to provide a light directed upwardly toward the area adjacent the foot and needle of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided with a slidable bulb carrying bracket like member and a bulb cover with which the member may be moved between: (1) an elevated position wherein the bulb is protected both by the bulb cover and surrounding structure of the head end portion of the machine; and (2) a lowered position wherein the bulb is accessible for removal and replacement.

Abstract: A light assembly for a sewing machine includes a housing of a generally half shell configuration having an open side adapted to mount in a vertical position on a vertical planar face at the head of a sewing machine and includes an opening at the lower end of the housing with a light disposed inside the housing and adapted to project light on the foot and needle of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A lighted display device having an array of discrete reflective surfaces each of which is associated with a visual display. The reflectivity of each of the surfaces is established so that the light reflected to, and illuminating, each associated visual display is of equal intensity independent of the distance of the reflective surface from the light source.

Abstract: A magnifying device for a sewing machine includes a clamp engaging onto a head of the sewing machine. A joining bar is affixed onto the clamp member. A pair of extension rods are hingably joined to the joining bar by a hinge element. A rectangular shaped frame member has a magnifying lens mounted therein. A pair of bearing blocks are mounted on the frame, wherein each extension rod is journaled within one of the bearing blocks. A light shade member is mounted on the frame, wherein a light socket and light are mounted within the shade member.