Abstract: A method is provided for indicating a fitting condition of a garment on a virtual model of a person. One or more fitting points and corresponding measurements of the garment relevant for examining the fitting condition of the garment on the virtual model are identified first. One or more fitting preferences for the garment are also indicated. Poor fit locations on the virtual model are then highlighted after examining the person's fitting preferences against the measurements of the fitting points. The person can use the virtual model for examining whether the garment fits well in order to make a purchase decision in an interactive remote shopping session.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated system, method and article of manufacture for determining the most appropriate fit and size of a garment, based on either or both customer preference or/and set objective criteria, for a particular garment dimension or a plurality of garment dimensions as they relate to a consumer body dimension or dimensions and the ideal body dimension or dimensions for that garment or for a range of garments.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention is to drive a slave axis (S_A) with a value which indicates to said slave axis that the guide axis (L_A) has already rotated further than is actually the case. This can be achieved by adding a correction angle (&phgr;corr) to the measured angle (&phgr;L—meas) of the guide axis. In order to configure the virtual onward rotation in such a way that a lag error of the slave axis is just compensated as a result, guide axis angles (&phgr;L—meas) are increased by respective correction angles (&phgr;corr) which are proportional to the angular velocity (&phgr;L) of the guide axis and weighted with the data propagation time (TT) of the position measured value (&phgr;L—meas) of the guide axis and the delay (TR) of the position control system of the slave axis, said correction angles (&phgr;corr) preferably being dimensioned in accordance with &phgr;corr=&ohgr;L*(TT+TR).

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically presenting a generally pre-needled textile sheet coming from an upstream module and intended to feed a cross-layer module, the apparatus comprising means for measuring the positions of the longitudinal edges of the textile sheet, means for adjusting the width of said textile sheet, means for adjusting the position of said textile sheet, and processor means responsive to the position measuring means to control the adjustment means in real time in such a manner that the textile sheet presents determined width and position.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically controlling the spreading of a textile sheet made up of a plurality of tows coming from a tow feed module and serving to feed a drive module, the apparatus comprises means for measuring the positions of the longitudinal edges of each tow, means for individually adjusting the width of each tow, means for individually adjusting the position of each tow in a direction perpendicular to a tow advance direction, and digital processor means responsive to said position measuring means to control the adjustment means in such a manner that the textile sheet presents determined width and position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: To optimize the cleaning of cotton in a spinning milk, there is entered into a control original data concerning fiber characteristics and proportions of different types of contamination inherent to the origin of fiber cotton bales. Also there is entered into the control a desired degree of cleaning and a throughput quantity of the carded fiber sliver. The control delivers predetermined control signals based upon the entered original data, the throughput quantity of the carded sliver and the desired degree of cleaning. These control signals set adjustable operating members governing the rate of opening of the cotton bales by bale opening machines, the degree of cleaning of the cotton fibers by cleaning machines and the rate of processing of the cotton fibers by at least one carding machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for facilitating the sale and distribution of handmade rugs. High resolution images are obtained of rugs in the inventories of many rug merchants. The rugs are classified based on their age, size, color, condition, layout, pattern, the type of pile and foundation materials, the knot, their overall design, and where they were made. Then the images and attribute data are stored in a database. The database may be searched based on the attributes. Alternatively, searches may be performed graphically.

Abstract: In a method and a device for clearing yarn, properties of the yarn are acquired and used to determine a yarn defect density profile. Yarn defects to be removed are defined by means of an adjustable clearing limit which is based on the density profile. In order to provide an optimum adjustment as frequently as possible, the clearing limit is automatically adjusted on the basis of the acquired properties in a control loop.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for creating custom-fitted garments wherein the customer provides critical information which is known to or easily ascertainable by the customer without assistance. Using this critical information, a controller applies rules contained in a model to estimate other critical dimensions necessary for the production of a selected garment, and which are not easily ascertainable directly by the customer without assistance. Using the actual and estimated critical dimensions, the controller determines the pattern data which is used to produce custom-made clothing which provides a superior fit to that which a customer would typically experience from the retail purchase of a similar mass-produced garment.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for controlling components of individual work stations of a textile machine wherein the textile machine includes a plurality of adjacent such work stations. The work station components are run at a first speed during normal operation. A time period is established at the start of a voltage loss to the components. At the conclusion of this time period, the components are shut down. The components assume a second set speed as they run down during the time period beginning at the start of the voltage loss. Upon the voltage loss, an auxiliary current source is activated and the speed of the components which are supplied with auxiliary voltage from the current source is reduced in a controlled manner with the aid of a control program.

Abstract: A monitor and malfunction detector for the thread feed of a textile machine. The monitor combines electronic information and mathematical analysis of the movement of the thread, including speed, tension and fiber and consistency, thereby permitting the determination of: 1) presence of knots and inconsistencies in the thread 2) the operating status of the textile equipment and thread feed; 3) the prediction of problems based upon the change of operating characteristics including speed, tension, draw and duty cycle patterns; 4) the control of the textile machine being monitored; 5) the diagnosis of mechanical faults; 6) production accounting; and 7) needle burr detection. The monitor also employs a unique signal comparison incorporating differential circuitry, pattern recognition, and averaging functions to achieve these goals efficiently and reliably as well as means to reduce or eliminate the effect of undesirable electromagnetic transients on the operation of the textile machine.

Abstract: A part identification system for non-intrusively identifying a subset of parts cut from a sheet material. The part identification system includes a visual signal generator for projecting an identifying image associated with a given subset of cut parts. A labelling program accesses a database, generates a control signal including the part location and identifying image and sends the signal to a controller. The controller directs the identifying image from the visual signal generator to identify the cut parts.

Abstract: A device for the simulation of spinning machines with a view to their optimum economic use and operation. Starting from material properties of a preproduct (1) determined by measurement, as well as from configuration and setting parameters (3) of such a spinning machine, material properties (2) of the intermediate or output products which are being produced, which properties can be determined by measurement, are predicted using a process model describing the behavior of the spinning machine, by a simulation device. The process model on which a method being based is presented by a neural network. The coefficients determining the actual behavior of this neural network area calculated from a set of sample data in a training phase. This sample data and/or from otherwise conclusively predicted properties of the behavior of such a spinning machine.

Abstract: A tension apparatus having a mechanical section, storage unit, output torque calculation section, and exciting current calculation section is disclosed. The mechanical section has an electromagnetic brake driven by an exciting current to generate an output torque and applies a tension to a material in continuous form, which is being wound and stretched, in accordance with the output torque of the electromagnetic brake. The storage unit stores actually measured characteristics between an exciting current value and the output torque of the electromagnetic brake in advance. The output torque calculation section obtains the output torque of the electromagnetic brake in correspondence with an input tension instruction value. The exciting current calculation section obtains an exciting current value of an exciting coil, which is necessary to generate the output torque of the electromagnetic brake, by looking up the storage unit.

Abstract: A computer controlled die system which includes a plurality of sub-dies, and an input system. The die system also includes a motion system, and an air driven cam system. Furthermore, the die system includes a clamping system and an airlift system. The entire computer controlled die system is automatic. No manual adjustments have to be made in between different stampings for various parts in a manufacturing setting. Additional subsystems may be added to meet criteria of part.

Abstract: A fashion design and production supporting method which makes the processing steps from the fashion design to the creation of block copy films for plates used in the actual production efficient, which allows a trial sample to be made without making block copy films or templates for the actual production and which allows an amount of dyes used in the actual production to be reduced. After creating original data having data of a coloring boundary line and color data and applying a specified color in a color chart to the color data of each part, the specified color is converted into network points represented by the four fundamental colors and a color pattern is printed on a standard sheet by inks by using drawing means to evaluate it. After that, a cloth used for the actual production is dyed as a trial sample by the network points represented by the four fundamental colors and the block copy films are made after making and evaluating the trial sample.

Abstract: A monitor and malfunction detector for the thread feed of a textile machine. The monitor combines electronic information and mathematical analysis of the movement of the thread, including speed, tension and fiber and consistency, thereby permitting the determination of: 1) presence of knots and inconsistencies in the thread 2) the operating status of the textile equipment and thread feed; 3) the prediction of problems based upon the change of operating characteristics including speed, tension, draw and duty cycle patterns; 4) the control of the textile machine being monitored; 5) the diagnosis of mechanical faults; 6) production accounting; and 7) needle burr detection. The monitor also employs a unique signal comparison incorporating differential circuitry, pattern recognition, and averaging functions to achieve these goals efficiently and reliably.

Abstract: A computer system automatically generates CNC code for a stitching machine. The computer determines the locations of a present stitching point and a next stitching point. If a constraint is not found between the present stitching point and the next stitching point, the computer generates code for making a stitch at the next stitching point. If a constraint is found, the computer generates code for changing a condition (e.g., direction) of the stitching machine's stitching head.

Abstract: A cheese-producing textile machine 1 with a central control unit 37 and a plurality of winding stations 2 which are serviced by an autonomously operating service unit 23. The central control unit 37 of the textile machine 1 is connected via a machine bus 40 with individual winding station computers 39 as well as with a control device 38 of the service unit 23. Control programs A, B, C, D, etc. are stored in the control device 38 of the service unit 23, and are specially adapted to various respective structural configurations of the service unit 23. It is possible in a simple manner to activate the control programs A, B, C, D, etc. in correspondence to the particular prevailing structural configuration of the service unit 23 by means of appropriate software encoding via an input element 41 on the central control unit 23.