Tools (100) are provided for use in uncapping one or more of a plurality of linearly-oriented, spaced-apart tubes; each cap having a cap upper surface with a depression. The tools comprise a body (30) having first portion (40) for engagement by a user and a second portion (50) for engaging a plurality of caps. The second portion comprises a plurality of spaced-apart projections (60). Each projection is configured for releasably engaging a cap. The projection may comprise two or more spaced-apart projection elements (62,64). Optionally, the first portion is configured in a non-coplanar relationship with respect to the second portion. Methods of use are also provided.

A device that automatically actuates the reversing lever of a ratchet mechanism when the radial direction of the motor is changed. The auto-shift mechanism includes a worm gear that rotates with the motor, and a disc coupled to the worm gear that moves laterally as the worm gear rotates. Axial movement of the disc actuates a reversing lever of a ratchet mechanism by either pulling or pushing the reversing lever. A lost-motion mechanism can absorb an initial amount of torque so that the auto-shift mechanism can run its course prior to applying the torque to a fastener.

A wrench includes a body having a working end which has a first toothed portion, a first room, a second room, a third room and a first pivot cavity. The second and third rooms open through the top of the body. A driving unit is pivotably connected to the working end and has a first recess and a second recess for receiving a first pawl and a second pawl therein. The first pawl has teeth engaged with the first toothed portion, and the second pawl has teeth engaged with a second toothed portion of a first teeth disk in the first room. A second teeth disk is pivotably located in the second room and has a forth toothed portion which is engaged with a third toothed portion of the first teeth disk. A shaft is pivotably located in the third room and is connected to the second teeth disk.

A socket wrench with a positioning device contains: a body including an accommodating cavity, a first face, and a second face. A toothed holder is accommodated in the accommodating cavity and has a polygonal groove, a first circular portion, a second circular portion, and a ratchet protrusion between the first circular portion and the second circular portion. The first circular portion is inserted to the first face, the second circular portion is inserted to the second face, and the ratchet protrusion engages with a ratchet device. A positioning device includes at least one retaining element disposed on the first circular portion and horizontally moving in the polygonal groove. The first circular portion has a resilient element and a pressing loop which are fitted on the first circular, and the pressing loop has a recess defined on an inner face thereof to correspond to the at least one retaining element.

A dual-pawl ratchet wrench mechanism is disclosed having a stop mechanism for limiting over-travel of a reversing lever for selecting drive directions. The stop mechanism is formed on a disc is selectively engageable with first and second pawls to move the pawls into and out of engagement with a ratchet gear to determine a torque drive direction, the ratchet gear capable of providing torque to a working piece in the selected drive direction. The design simplifies manufacturing. Additionally, the reversing lever is assembled with the mechanism in a manner to improve sealing.

A ratcheting device includes a handle member including a first end and an opposed second end, a ratchet head pivotably connected to the first end of the handle member, and a ring grip pivotably connected to the second end of the handle member.

An extendable handled tool may include: a shaft; a hollow shaft extension encompassing the shaft and configured to move axially on the shaft so that the shaft moves in and out of the hollow space in the shaft extension; a locking collar attached to the shaft extension, the locking collar configured to rotate on the shaft; a tooth connected to the locking collar such that the tooth rotates with the locking collar; and a locking ring mounted on the shaft, the locking ring configured to fit with the tooth to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position prevents the shaft extension from moving axially with respect to the shaft and the unlocked position permits the shaft extension to move axially with respect to the shaft. A method of exting a handle on a tool may also be provided.

A wrench including a handle having a first yoke at a first end and a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first yoke at a first pivot axis, at least a first tool head of the first plurality of tool heads having a drive cavity. Each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable about the first pivot axis independently of the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads.

An apparatus for stitching an interior component is disclosed herein. The component having an outer skin layer and the apparatus is a single needle chain stitch machine with a rotary looper and wherein a needle of the apparatus descends through the interior component and a hook of the rotary looper engages a thread loop formed during retraction of the needle after it has descended through the interior component; and wherein the apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the interior component relative to the needle and looper to establish a stitch length.

The invention relates to a guiding device for guiding an oblong intermediate element while joining at least two decorative elements by means of this intermediate element.

Pressurized gas for carrying looper thread by gas is generated by gas supply pump operated by changing over a sewing-machine motor, which drives stitch forming device, looper threading is performed through loopers by one-touch operation. Gas carrying threading device of sewing machine, comprising: looper thread introduction mechanism inserts looper thread guided to loopers; hollow looper thread guide extends from looper thread introduction mechanism to looper thread inlets and has looper thread guide outlets; gas supply pump for performing looper threading by carrying looper thread by gas from looper thread introduction area through hollow looper thread guide to looper thread loop-taker point outlets; clutch for transmitting power from sewing machine motor M to drive shaft which drives stitch forming device including loopers at time of stitch formation or to gas supply pump at time of looper threading.

A method and a device for cutting at least an upper thread of a sewing machine provided with a fabric clamping member (20), wherein a length of the thread consumed for a cut can be set within a predetermined interval. The method for cutting at least the upper thread (4) of a sewing machine (1) includes the steps: feeding a predetermined length x of said upper thread (4) utilizing a thread feeder (15), pulling out the upper thread (4) said predetermined length utilizing a displacement of said fabric clamping member (20) from a current position to a second position executing by means of a sewing machine processor (C) program sequences stored in a memory (M) for controlling a thread cutter (10) to perform a cut of at least said upper thread (4).

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a machine for sewing, embroidering, quilting and/or the like. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for sewing, embroidering, quilting and/or the like. In one example, the present invention may be applied (e.g., as a machine and/or method) to a multi-needle machine or method. In another example, the present invention may provide for automatic lower (or bottom) thread cutting. In another example, the present invention may provide for automatic lower (or bottom) thread cutting by utilizing the phase (that is, movement phase) of a return of a looper (or hook) to cut the lower (or bottom) thread.

A wipe structure of stitch bonded construction incorporating one or more substrate layers of an absorbent material with a barrier layer across a face side of the absorbent material and a preformed lightweight loop fabric disposed across the underside of the absorbent layers with loops projecting away from the absorbent layers.

An apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes including acquiring pattern data, specifying an outline of the embroidery pattern based on the pattern data, creating hole data for causing the sewing machine to form a plurality of holes including one or more first holes and one or more second holes, creating first stitch data for causing the sewing machine to sew one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and creating embroidery data for causing the sewing machine to form one or more first holes, and sew the one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and causing the sewing machine to form the one or more second holes, before causing the sewing machine to sew an outline pattern.

A threading device for a sewing machine lower looper is disclosed that can thread a lower looper safely and reliably by reliably preventing a main shaft from rotating when an operation of threading the lower looper is carried out.

A sewing machine accessory includes a plate for attaching to a sewing machine workbed and to be located below a needle, the plate includes an opening and a guiding track, and a positioning device includes a sliding member slidably engaged with the guiding track of the accessory plate, and a pointed member extended from the sliding member for engaging with a cloth material to be stitched and for forming of an arced stitch on the cloth material, and the pointed member is movable close to the needle for stitching or forming a circular or arced stitch that includes a relatively decreased or smaller outer diameter.

A composite material includes a composite body having a composite surface, and a reinforcing element extending through the composite body in a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of stitches. The first plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially similarly to each other. The second plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially dissimilarly to each other.

A process for the production of a textile product includes placing a flat motif template on a textile substrate, sewing the motif template onto the textile substrate in such a way that a perforation defining a desired motif in the motif template is produced, removing the part of the motif template, that is outside the motif defined by the perforation, and permanently fixing the remaining part, having the motif, of the motif template to the textile substrate.

A girdle band for underwear connection and a processing method thereof, the girder band has a baseband with upper and lower overturning edges, a plurality of snap rings, surface cloth and a shaping layer, and the processing method has the following steps: firstly respectively connecting both surfaces of the lower overturning edge of the baseband with the shaping layer and the first strip of the surface cloth; sewing the bottom surface of the second strip of the surface cloth with the shaping layer; forming the upper and the lower overturning edges; and using an ultrasonic wave cutting machine for cutting the long strip-shaped baseband into girdle band units. The girdle band has the advantages of no sewing joints on the back surface and good appearance effect, and can avoid skin injuries.

A thread hook and a looper thread holder are arranged on a rear side of a needle drop position of a sewing machine. When usual sewing is completed, the thread hook and the looper thread holder swing and move close to a looper. A hook part provided at a tip end of the thread hook holds a needle thread loop caught by the looper and positions it on an advance end side of the looper away from the needle drop position, and a thread receiving part provided at a tip end of the looper thread holder holds a looper thread extending from the looper to cloths and positions it on the front side away from the needle drop position. The sewing machine performs sewing for at least one stitch while maintaining positions of the needle thread loop and the looper thread.

One example includes a body formed of body fabric, the body defining a body pocket opening, a body pocket disposed in an interior of the body and coupled to the body pocket opening and body plush disposed in the interior of the body, between the body pocket and the body fabric. The example includes a head formed of head fabric, the head having a posterior portion of the head coupled to the body at an anterior portion of the body, the head defining a head pocket opening disposed on an anterior portion of the head, a head pocket disposed in an interior of the head and coupled to the head pocket opening and head plush disposed in the interior of the head, between the head pocket and the head fabric. The example includes at least one pair of legs formed of leg fabric and fastened to the body.

A sewing machine includes an imaging device, a processor, and a memory configured to store sewing data and computer-readable instructions. The sewing data includes at least first stitch data to form first stitches that indicate a contour of a pattern on a first work cloth, and second stitch data to form second stitches that attach the pattern cut out along the first stitches onto a second work cloth. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform processes comprising causing the imaging device to capture a first image, identifying a position and an angle of a marker in relation to the contour, causing the imaging device to capture a second image, identifying a position and an angle of the contour in relation to the second work cloth, and correcting the second stitch data in accordance with the identified position and angle of the contour in relation to the second work cloth.

The invention comprises using a fabric cut into several pieces which are further assembled together by stitches, the stitches being made using a sewing machine comprising at least two needles (A', B') operating in-line one behind the other so that the sewing stitch of the second needle (B') is made on the threads of the sewing stitch made by the first needle (A') in order to cover the perforation made by the first needle and so that the perforation made by the second needle (B') is made through said thread (11), thereby filling said perforation with said thread (11).

A thread cutting mechanism is mounted on a sewing machine which includes a sewing platform. The thread cutting mechanism includes a driver assembly and a thread cutting assembly. The driver assembly includes a stepping motor, a swing lever pivotally connected to the stepping motor, and a pushing rod connected to the stepping motor and swing lever and driven jointly with the swing lever by the stepping motor to perform a back-and-forth process. The thread cutting mechanism is disposed on the sewing platform, and includes a thread hooking blade connected to and driven by the swing lever to move back-and-forth along a thread hooking path and to hook back a sewing thread, and a thread cutting blade disposed on the thread hooking path and for cutting the sewing thread when the thread hooking blade hooks back the sewing thread.

Provided are improved methods for joining two pieces of fabric along a seam (e.g., curved seam) to form a fabric pattern piece (e.g., quilting block unit) using an embroidery machine. A digitized file instructs an embroidery machine to stitch a perforated guide-line in a stabilizer material secured inside an embroidery hoop for forming an opening having a desired shape in the stabilizing material. A first fabric is temporarily affixed to one side of the stabilizer material, and an opening with a seam allowance margin is cut in the fabric along the desired seam defined by the opening/shape in the stabilizing material. The seam allowance margin is folded through the opening/shape to the reverse side, and a second piece of fabric is affixed to the folded margin. The digitized file instructs the machine to stitch a hidden seam along the desired seam providing esthetic, geometrically precise fabric pattern pieces.

A lower thread ending region detection apparatus prevents problems associated with false stitchings occurring from inability to detect lower thread's exhaustion during sewing operation. The lower thread ending region detection apparatus comprises: light control unit, which contacts a part of lower thread wound on a thread bobbin and activates or inactivates at least one of the functions of emitting light, reflecting light, passing light and blocking light, due to the effect of the physical movement force generated depending on whether the lower thread of the ending region is unwound; light receiving unit, which receives the light transferred out by the light control unit and outputs a detection signal; and control and notification unit, which analyzes the detection signal output from the light receiving unit to determine whether the lower thread has reached the ending region and outputs the result to the user.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for embellishing fabric. In accordance with embodiments, a stitching system for a sewing machine is provided comprising a processor configured to control the sewing machine and a user interface configured to receive a stitch selection corresponding to a set of commands executable by the processor to instruct the sewing machine to sew the stitch selection. The set of commands may comprise a first command to sew a first portion of the stitch selection, a second command to stop sewing after completion of the first portion, and a third command to sew a second portion of the stitch selection after completion of the second command. The systems and methods of the present invention may advantageously allow an operator to create a running sequence of perfectly replicated embellishments.

A sewing machine includes a frame portion, a lid member, and a control portion. The lid member is attached to the frame portion such that the lid member can open and close. The control portion is configured to control a movement speed of the lid member depending on an aperture of the lid member.

An apparatus for thread-stitching a book block includes a thread tensioning device configured to store and tension a binding thread. A single actuator, including a servo drive, drives the thread tensioning device. The method includes storing a length of binding thread; in a separate step, tensioning the binding thread; and thread-stitching the book block.

Systems and methods for creating quilt blocks are provided. In one embodiment, a method for creating a quilt block with a computerized embroidery machine includes sewing placement stitching on a backing according to a placement stitching pattern provided by instructions for at least partially creating a quilt block comprised of one or more pieces, providing directions for placing one or more pieces of the quilt block on a corresponding portion of the placement stitching on the backing, and sewing the one or more pieces to the backing in accordance with the instructions.

A method for manufacturing a strap ring (1), made from a material woven with warp threads (3) and at least one weft thread (4) extending between the warp threads (3). The woven material is a tubular fabric (11) whose warp threads (3) extend parallel to the axis of extension of the tubular fabric (11), the strap ring (1) being made from an axial section (16) of the tubular fabric (11) which is axially cut up by cutting the warp threads (3).

The memory stores computer-readable instructions causing the sewing machine to perform operations including: extracting feature points of a design based on a captured image; extracting feature points of a unit design; generating feature points of a symmetrical design; cross-checking the extracted feature points of the design and the generated feature points of the symmetrical design; determining an arrangement of an embroidery pattern with respect to the symmetrical design; and causing a sewing portion to sew the embroidery pattern.

Disclosed is a two-needle sewing machine that improves strength in a convex curve part by bringing a pair of stitches close together when sewing an item. A two-needle sewing machine includes a bed part; a column part; an arm part; a needle shaft that is disposed on the leading part of the arm part; two sewing needles that are attached to the needle shaft; two horizontal hooks that catch the respective needle thread loops of the two sewing needles; and a conveyor member that conveys a material to be sewn in a direction approximately orthogonal to the bed part. On the two-needle sewing machine, the sewing needle, which is positioned in a location distant from the column part, is disposed closer to the conveyance side of the material to be sewn than the sewing needle that is positioned in a location closer to the column part.

A sewing machine may comprise a needle bar driving mechanism, a cutting needle rotation mechanism, and an embroidery frame movement mechanism configured to move an embroidery frame comprising a protruding portion. A cam member may be fixed to the needle bar and comprise a plurality of cams. A processor of the sewing machine may set a height of the needle bar to a specific position from a plurality of positions. Each of the plurality of positions may represent that each of the plurality of cams is able to contact with the protruding portion. The processor may instruct the needle bar driving mechanism to move the needle bar to the specific position and instruct the embroidery frame movement mechanism to move the embroidery frame to a position where the protruding portion is able to contact with one of the plurality of cams.

A sewing direction control apparatus for sewing machine, comprising: a base plate, a circular ring-shaped transmission element dispose on the base plate and a driving element with a driving unit. During sewing, the driving unit drives the transmission element, rotating a sewing product placed at the center of the transmission element with the driving element, thereby controlling the sewing direction of the sewing product, and thus improving the sewing accuracy. The direction control apparatus has low cost, and is suitable for various types of automatic sewing machines.

A feeder movement compensation algorithm for use within a processor controlled sewing machine. The sewing machine configured with a reciprocating needle and thread, and including a stitch plate upon which fabric to be sewn is positioned beneath the needle and thread. The machine also includes a feeder mechanism driving a feed dog thru a movement. The feed dog movement pushes the fabric along the stitch plate and the reciprocating needle and thread form stitches in the fabric. During the stitch cycle, the feed dog movement completes at least one feeder stroke. The feeder stroke includes a portion of the feed dog extending above the stitch plate and moving along the direction of feed. The feeder stroke thus pushes the fabric along the stitch plate. The compensation algorithm calculates a theoretical feeder stroke length based upon a desired stitch. The compensation algorithm then calculates a modified feeder stroke length using the theoretical feeder stroke length and at least one feeder calibration data element. The modified feeder stroke length is then performed by the feed dog during the stitch cycle to form the stitch.

A system for attaching handles to a workpiece, such as for attaching handles to a border material for a mattress. The system includes a pair of sewing heads movably mounted along a sewing area. The sewing heads can be moved from a first position for sewing the handles to the border in a first orientation, such as a horizontal orientation extending along the length of the border, to a second position for sewing the handles to the border in a different orientation, such as a vertical orientation extending across the width or height of the border.

An overtufting machine/method provides additional yarn per area in an area of design than in areas lacking the overtufted design. Specifically, for many embodiments, a carpet is first tufted, and then run past an overtufting station which preferably moves in a lateral direction relative to the direction of feed to direct at least one needle through the carpet in at least one selectable height option. Rails are preferably used to shuttle the needle supported by a head on at least one carriage to shuttle along the rail(s).

Thread tensioner for a sewing machine. In one example embodiment, a thread tensioner for a sewing machine includes a first disk, a second disk, a spring, a knob, and a sensor. The second disk is positioned next to the first disk. The spring is configured to apply tension to a thread positioned between the first disk and the second disk by exerting a force against the second disk. The spring defines a length between a first end and a second end. The knob is configured, when rotated in one direction, to travel along a threaded shaft toward the spring and thereby cause the length of the spring to shorten. The knob is configured, when rotated in another direction, to travel along the threaded shaft away from the spring and thereby allow the length of the spring to lengthen. The sensor is configured to track a current length of the spring.

A conveyance system that transports fabric comprises a work space having a surface that the fabric can be transports across, and at least one budger that moves and/or provide force to the fabric in a servo controlled motion.

A set of sewing disks for controlling the movement of a piece of fabric over the free arm and under the needle of a sewing or quilting machine. Each disk is flat and has an oval or circular configuration and comprises three registered, stacked adhesively attached layers—a first contact layer made of open cell foam, a semi-rigid intermediate stiffener member, and a second contact layer made of closed cell foam. When each disk is placed over a piece of fabric with the lower contact layer is placed adjacent thereto, the individual's fingers are exposed at all times and placed over the opposite contact layer. The intermediate stiffener layer spreads and evenly dissipates the forces exerted by the fingers to the top contact layer to the lower contact layer. Because the finger tips are not in contact with the fabric, soiling of the fabric by the finger tips is prevented.

A device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a plurality of group information pieces, the number of thread colors to be used in embroidery sewing and computer-readable instructions. Each of the group information pieces is associated with one more thread colors among a plurality of thread colors. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor, when executed, to perform processes that includes acquiring image data including pixels, replacing a color of each of the pixels with a thread color from the thread colors, calculating a frequency of using each of the thread colors, selecting, until the number of thread colors selected from the thread colors is equal the number of thread colors to be used stored in the memory, one thread color from each of the group information pieces sequentially, based on the group information pieces stored in the memory and on the calculated frequency.

An anti-ballistic shelter is provided. The antiballistic shelter includes a frame having two or more support members and one or more wall surfaces. The one or more wall surfaces include a flexible high strength layered anti-ballistic material attached to the frame. The flexible high strength layered anti-ballistic material is layered in at least two directions and is attached to the frame in an inverted T construction including a calculated stretch material portion, one or more breakaway stitches and one or more holding stitches.

A digitizer is operably coupled to a quilting machine controller, wherein an operator can input free hand or traced patterns for regulating operation of a sewing head. The digitizer can be an X-Y encoder wherein the encoder includes a transparent or translucent sensing zone which provides for the operator to input a pattern while simultaneously viewing a portion of a textile, which can itself include a pattern.

Method for creating a crystal/rhinestone template utilizing a sewing/embroidery machine to perforate a medium in a desired pattern. In the case of a multiple-needle sewing/embroidery machine, the machine's needle is replaced by a perforator blade and perforator blade holder which are attached to machine's needle bar. Machine's needle plate is replaced by perforator plate and waste holder. With a single-needle sewing/embroidery machine, machine's needle is replaced by a pressing tool attached to the machine's needle bar. A contact point, a spring, and an arm are attached to machine's presser foot. Machine's needle plate is replaced by perforator plate. A template medium is placed on a work surface of machine. Machine is operated by software that reads a user-specified pattern/motif outline for filling stones in vector form, using innate rules to move machine frame and control hole placement.

A carpet and method for producing same that comprises an enhanced seam suitable for separation of an installation portion of the carpet and sacrificial edge portions of the produced carpet.

To provide a sewing machine that can control tension on a needle thread and tension on a bobbin thread on a per-stitch basis; that enables even heads of a multi-head embroidery sewing machine to form an identical embroidery; and that enables even a plurality of sewing machines to form identical embroidery. A memory device stores for each stitch of embroidery data a needle thread control torque value and a bobbin thread control torque value. In a needle thread torque control zone, an upstream grip section main body is closed, and a downstream grip section main body is opened. A needle thread motor is subjected to torque control in accordance with the needle thread control torque value. In the meantime, in a position control zone, the upstream grip section body is opened, and the downstream grip section body is closed, thereby subjecting the needle thread motor to position control.

A tension release device for compensating mechanical error of a tension device for a sewing machine includes a rotary arm, a tension release shaft, a guiding member, an actuating member, and a micro-adjustment member, the rotary arm is located at one end of the tension release shaft which is inserted through the base, the tension release shaft is coupled to the guiding member, the guiding member is provided with an arc-shaped guiding flange which includes a first end and a second end higher than the first end. On the actuating member is provided a push portion which protrudes toward and is pushed by the guiding flange of the guiding member, a micro-adjustment hole is formed at one end of the actuating member or at the one end of the control shaft, and the micro-adjustment member is screwed in the micro-adjustment hole and extends toward the tension release shaft.

A spool of thread holder and threading device for holding a plurality of spools of thread, made up of a frame and a plurality of spool thread holders, said spool thread holders further comprising a rod, a base and a wing. The wing attaches to the rod along the axial length of said rod and the rod extends from the base. Each of the individual spool thread holders comprising the multiple spool thread holder, allows receipt of a spool of thread and the wing maintains the spool of thread adjacent the base. The frame is configured for attachment to a quilting machine to allow thread to unspool from each non-rotating spool of thread during operation under substantially equal tension.