Saurer Sticksysteme Ag

Melco Industries, Inc.

Sauer Sticksysteme Ag

Jurg Henz

Manfred Zesch

Hans Abegglen

Peter Kern

Dean Gerald Pearson

Jeffrey T Block

Dale Alan Zoetewey

Victor Justin Rhodes

Michael E Dickeson

Robert Bruce Ton

Max Schreiber

Livio Selm

Xueliang Yu

Yueliang Yu

A stitching apparatus is disclosed which has at least one active thread feeder and is operable to adjust stitching operation based on the condition of a thread being stitched. The active thread feeder is operable to feed thread from a spool to a needle assembly, where the thread is stitched into fabric. The stitching apparatus includes at least one thread sensor. The thread sensor outputs information related to thread tension, which is received at a control which includes a first controller, and the first controller is used for controlling the thread. The control can calculate a thread feed length, and activate the active thread feeder to feed the appropriate amount of thread to the needle assembly. The control can use information from the thread sensor to adjust thread tension by adjusting the active thread feeder. The control can also detect a break in the thread, or a break in an underthread which is located in a lower arm assembly and is used to lock stitches. The thread sensor is located more adjacent to the thread than to the underthread.

Computerized stitching including embroidering

A method and apparatus are disclosed which provide a plurality of stitching machines which may be synchronized without mechanical coupling of the stitching machines. Each of the plurality of stitching machines are connected to a control, which coordinates operations of the stitching machines, including the download of patterns to be stitched by the stitching machines. A master stitching machine is selected by either the control, or the stitching machines. Each of the stitching machines, during stitching operations transmits a heartbeat signal to the master stitching machine. The heartbeat signal can include information related to stitching operations, which the master can use to determine that each stitching machine is operating properly. Several clusters of stitching machines may also be present, with each cluster having a master stitching machine.

Synchronizing independent stitching machines

An embroidering machine includes a machine stand with a substantially U-shaped cross-section that is open at the top, and has at least two substantially vertical U-shaped frames (16) that are open at the top and are connected by longitudinal supports (3, 3a) and form a channel (14) that runs in the longitudinal direction of the machine and is open at least at the side ends. Shafts of a fabric stretching frame (10) are positioned in movable fashion in this channel. A further U-shaped frame, open at the bottom, may be arranged on top of the vertical U-shaped frames that are open at the top to form a substantially rectangular frame.

Stand for an embroidering machine

A cutting apparatus for embroidery machines that facilitates the positive cutting of the threads at the end of each embroidery operation. Large-scale embroidery machines may provide several hundred embroidery positions, and each position is provided with an individually-actuable cutting and gripping device. These individual cutting mechanisms are in turn collectively mounted on one or more feeder bars that permit the pivotal movement of the cutter/grippers into and away from a position in close proximity to the embroidery needle stitch points. This pivotal movement permits the close cutting of the thread when required, yet otherwise locates the thread cutter/grippers at a position away from the stitch points during the embroidery operation itself.

Cutting and nipping apparatus for the front yarn for embroidery machines

An embroidery machine having horizontally parallel fabric shafts for the vertically arranged embroidery fabric. A plurality of upper and lower horizontal guides are distributed over the length of the machine. One upper and one lower horizontal guide are each connected to a horizontal guide element by vertical connection elements, the horizontal guide elements and the fabric shafts each being vertically adjustable by a positioning drive in guides mounted on the machine.

Tenter frame, guide and drive for embroidery machines

The invention pertains to an embroidery machine with a plurality of embroidery stations provided with corresponding embroidery tools which are attached to shafts that oscillate during the operation of the machine and extend along the embroidery machine. The shafts are actuated via corresponding drives. To reduce the torsion as well as the torsional oscillation of long shafts which leads to a distortion of the movement of the embroidery tools and to a chronological phase displacement between the front and the rear portion of the machine, the drives for the needles and for the other embroidery tools are arranged approximately in the center of the embroidery machine.

Embroidery machine with center drive

Embroidery machine including several hundred embroidery locations each of which includes the following tools; a needle, a stiletto, a thread guide and a thread brake with respective drives. At least two actuators for connecting or disconnecting the tools from their respective drives are associated with every embroidery location. No more than one switching element, such as a shuttle spool valve is provided for each embroidery location which is switchable so as to switch all the actuators of said embroidery location jointly. Such a switching arrangement permits efficient switching of the tools enabling selective switching of only the tools of a switching point the embroidering/non-embroidering state of which is to be changed.

Growing community of inventors

Amriswil, Switzerland

Jurg Henz