US4876976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic quilting machine and method for specialized quilting of patterns which can be controlled by a remote joystick and monitored on a video screen including pattern duplication through a reprogrammable computer
Assignee: TD QUILTING MACHINERY A CA CORP
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Filing: 1988-09-22
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Granted: 1989-10-31
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Expires: 2008-09-22
Abstract
Abstract An automatic quilting machine for use in stitching individual selected patterns into a large fabric such as a bedspread or quilt. The bedspread or quilt is stretched on a large metal frame which is mounted on a table which can be moved in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any X-Y combination direction through an automatic joystick. The sewing machine head is mounted on a cross beam which is aligned at the approximate center point of the metal frame on which the fabric is stretched. The needle of the sewing machine head can stitch a pattern into any location in the fabric and the metal frame is moved in any direction relative to the fixed sewing machine head in order to bring the desired stitch location on the fabric into alignment with the sewing machine head. The precise location of the sewing machine needle and fabric is illuminated and a color video camera which is mounted on the cross beam holding the sewing machine head is also focused on this location. The color video camera is connected to a television monitor so that a visual image of the sewing machine needle and fabric as a stitch is being made can be delivered to the monitor. A machine operator can control the movement of the metal frame through positioning by a remote joystick and can see the stitch being made by viewing the monitor.
Inventors
- 👤 David Brower
- 👤 Thomas K. Jernigan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:21
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05C; D05C5/00; D05C5/02; D05B; D05B11/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/406; G05B19/4069; G05B19/42; G05B19/4202; G05B19/4205; G05B19/427; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/34; G05B2219/34242; G05B2219/35; G05B2219/35436; G05B2219/35438; G05B2219/36; G05B2219/36226; G05B2219/36383; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37572; G05B2219/45; G05B2219/45195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
418 words
A frame quilting machine comprising: a. a frame member for retaining a fabric; b. said frame member mounted on a structure which can be moved in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any X-Y combined direction; c. a first cross beam extending horizontally over said frame member; d. a second cross beam aligned parallel to said first cross beam and extending horizontally beneath said frame member; e. a first motor to generate movement of said frame member in the X-direction; f. an X axis controller connected to said first motor; g. a second motor to generate movement of said frame member in the Y-direction; h. a Y axis controller connected to said second motor; i. a remote control apparatus for controlling the movement of said structure of said frame member to enable the frame member and the fabric retained thereon to be moved horizontally in the X-direction, the Y-direction, and any combination X-Y direction between said first cross beam and said second cross beam; j. said remote control apparatus connected to a source of power; k. a sewing machine head attached to said first cross beam and having a source of thread; l. a sewing needle extending from said sewing machine head and positioned to sew threads into said fabric while the frame member and structure move underneath said first cross beam and above said second cross beam; m. a sewing machine plate attached to said second cross beam and aligned with said sewing machine head and sewing needle; n. a source of illumination focused on the intersection of said sewing machine needle and fabric; o. a video camera movably secured to said first cross beam and focused on the intersection of said sewing machine needle and fabric; p. said video camera connected to a monitor; q. a process controller having an X input and a Y input connected to said remote control apparatus, the process controller also connected to said X axis controller through an X input and to said Y axis controller through a Y input; and r. said process controller connected to said source of power; s. whereby an operator may view the needle sewing thread into the fabric on the video monitor and may control the movement of the frame and fabric relative to the sewing needle by said remote control apparatus through generation of commands input into the process controller which in turn generates commands to the first motor through the X axis controller and to the second motor through the Y axis controller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
418 words
A frame quilting machine comprising: a. a frame member for retaining a fabric; b. said frame member mounted on a structure which can be moved in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any X-Y combined direction; c. a first cross beam extending horizontally over said frame member; d. a second cross beam aligned parallel to said first cross beam and extending horizontally beneath said frame member; e. a first motor to generate movement of said frame member in the X-direction; f. an X axis controller connected to said first motor; g. a second motor to generate movement of said frame member in the Y-direction; h. a Y axis controller connected to said second motor; i. a remote control apparatus for controlling the movement of said structure of said frame member to enable the frame member and the fabric retained thereon to be moved horizontally in the X-direction, the Y-direction, and any combination X-Y direction between said first cross beam and said second cross beam; j. said remote control apparatus connected to a source of power; k. a sewing machine head attached to said first cross beam and having a source of thread; l. a sewing needle extending from said sewing machine head and positioned to sew threads into said fabric while the frame member and structure move underneath said first cross beam and above said second cross beam; m. a sewing machine plate attached to said second cross beam and aligned with said sewing machine head and sewing needle; n. a source of illumination focused on the intersection of said sewing machine needle and fabric; o. a video camera movably secured to said first cross beam and focused on the intersection of said sewing machine needle and fabric; p. said video camera connected to a monitor; q. a process controller having an X input and a Y input connected to said remote control apparatus, the process controller also connected to said X axis controller through an X input and to said Y axis controller through a Y input; and r. said process controller connected to said source of power; s. whereby an operator may view the needle sewing thread into the fabric on the video monitor and may control the movement of the frame and fabric relative to the sewing needle by said remote control apparatus through generation of commands input into the process controller which in turn generates commands to the first motor through the X axis controller and to the second motor through the Y axis controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said process controller further comprises a memory to receive and store information of a pattern traced through the remote control apparatus, whereby the remote control apparatus can be used to trace a pattern to be sewn into the fabric, cause the structure and the frame member to move relative to the sewing needle to trace the selected pattern and further to mark locations where the pattern is to be sewn into the fabric, and the pattern and locations can be stored in the memory of the process controller to have the process controller subsequently cause the apparatus to sew the desired pattern at each marked location on the fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of power is an alternating current source which is connected to an alternating current to direct current transformer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said remote control apparatus is a joystick and a joystick controller, wherein the joystick is connected to the source of power and is also connected to the joystick controller which in turn is connected to the process controller through the X input and Y input of the process controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of illumination is attached to said first cross beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said video camera is a color video camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said monitor is a color monitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said video camera is equipped with a wide angle lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fabric is a bedspread.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fabric is a quilt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sewing machine head and said frame member are aligned such that said sewing needle is at the approximate center point of said fabric and said frame member can move relative to said sewing machine head and said sewing needle so as to permit the sewing needle to reach any portion of the surface area of the fabric.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the speed of said sewing needle is controlled by said remote control apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sewing machine head is equipped with a computer to control the sewing and stitching functions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein an operator can trace a straight-line pattern into the process controller and a software program in the process controller combined with the computer on the sewing machine head will enable the pattern to be automatically modified into a zig-zag or any other desired pattern.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
271 words
An apparatus for sewing thread into fabric comprising: a. a first structure supporting a sewing machine head having a sewing needle and a source of thread; b. a second structure supporting the fabric in a position relative to said sewing needle so that thread may be sewn into the fabric; c. said second structure capable of horizontal movement in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any combination X-Y direction relative to said sewing needle; d. means for generating the horizontal movement of said second structure in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any combination X-Y direction; e. a video camera focused on the location of the intersection of said sewing needle and said fabric; f. said video camera connected to a monitor; g. a remote control apparatus for moving said second structure and the fabric retained thereon relative to said sewing needle so that said sewing needle may sew a pattern with said thread into said fabric; h. a process controller having an X input and a Y input connected to said remote control apparatus, the process controller also connected to said means for generating horizontal movement of the second structure; and i. a source of power connected to said remote control apparatus and also connected to said process controller; j. whereby an operator may view the needle sewing thread into the fabric on the video monitor and may control the movement of said second structure and fabric relative to the sewing needle by said remote control apparatus through generation of commands input into the process controller which in turn generates commands to said means for generating horizontal movement of the second structure.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
271 words
An apparatus for sewing thread into fabric comprising: a. a first structure supporting a sewing machine head having a sewing needle and a source of thread; b. a second structure supporting the fabric in a position relative to said sewing needle so that thread may be sewn into the fabric; c. said second structure capable of horizontal movement in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any combination X-Y direction relative to said sewing needle; d. means for generating the horizontal movement of said second structure in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any combination X-Y direction; e. a video camera focused on the location of the intersection of said sewing needle and said fabric; f. said video camera connected to a monitor; g. a remote control apparatus for moving said second structure and the fabric retained thereon relative to said sewing needle so that said sewing needle may sew a pattern with said thread into said fabric; h. a process controller having an X input and a Y input connected to said remote control apparatus, the process controller also connected to said means for generating horizontal movement of the second structure; and i. a source of power connected to said remote control apparatus and also connected to said process controller; j. whereby an operator may view the needle sewing thread into the fabric on the video monitor and may control the movement of said second structure and fabric relative to the sewing needle by said remote control apparatus through generation of commands input into the process controller which in turn generates commands to said means for generating horizontal movement of the second structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for generating horizontal movement of the second structure further comprises: a. a first motor to generate movement of said frame member in the X-direction; b. an X axis controller connected to said first motor and also connected to an X input in said process controller; c. a second motor to generate movement of said frame member in the Y-direction; and d. a Y axis controller connected to said second motor and also connected to a Y input in said process controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
118 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said process controller further comprises a memory to receive and store information of a pattern traced through the remote control apparatus, whereby the remote control apparatus can be used to trace a pattern to be sewn into the fabric, cause the second structure and the fabric thereon to move relative to the sewing needle to trace the selected pattern and further to mark locations where the pattern is to be sewn into the fabric, and the pattern and locations can be stored in the memory of the process controller to have the process controller subsequently cause the apparatus to sew the desired pattern at each marked location on the fabric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said source of power is an alternating current source which is connected to an alternating current to direct current transformer which in turn is connected to the remote control apparatus and to the process controller.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said remote control apparatus is a joystick and a joystick controller, wherein the joystick is connected to the source of power and is also connected to the joystick controller which in turn is connected to the process controller through an X input and Y input of the process controller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a source of illumination focused on the intersection of said sewing needle and said fabric.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said source of illumination is attached to said first structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said video camera is movably attached to said first structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said video camera is a color video camera.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monitor is a color monitor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said video camera is equipped with a wide angle lens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said fabric is a bedspread.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said fabric is a quilt.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said first structure and said structure are aligned such that said sewing needle is at the approximate center point of said fabric and said second structure can move relative to said first structure and said sewing needle so as to permit the sewing needle to reach any portion of the surface area of the fabric.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein the speed of said sewing needle is controlled by said remote control apparatus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said sewing machine head is equipped with a computer to control the sewing and stitching functions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 30 wherein an operator can trace a straight-line pattern into the process controller and a software program in the process controller combined with the computer on the sewing machine head will enable the pattern to be automatically modified into a zig-zag or any other desired pattern.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
188 words
The method of repetitively sewing a pattern into a fabric having a large surface comprising: a. positioning a sewing machine head having a source of thread and a sewing needle relative to said fabric; b. retaining said fabric on a movable structure which can be made to move in a horizontal direction relative to the sewing needle and which can cause a portion of the surface of the fabric to be reached by the sewing needle so that thread can be sewn into the fabric; c. obtaining an electronically generated video image of the intersection of the sewing needle and fabric; d. controlling the movement of the movable structure relative to the sewing needle by a remote control apparatus and determining the direction of movement based upon the video image of the intersection of the sewing needle and fabric; and e. storing the information on the movement of the movable structure into the memory of a process controller; f. whereby the process controller can cause the movement of the movable structure relative to the sewing needle to be subsequently repeated at any multiplicity of locations on the fabric.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
188 words
The method of repetitively sewing a pattern into a fabric having a large surface comprising: a. positioning a sewing machine head having a source of thread and a sewing needle relative to said fabric; b. retaining said fabric on a movable structure which can be made to move in a horizontal direction relative to the sewing needle and which can cause a portion of the surface of the fabric to be reached by the sewing needle so that thread can be sewn into the fabric; c. obtaining an electronically generated video image of the intersection of the sewing needle and fabric; d. controlling the movement of the movable structure relative to the sewing needle by a remote control apparatus and determining the direction of movement based upon the video image of the intersection of the sewing needle and fabric; and e. storing the information on the movement of the movable structure into the memory of a process controller; f. whereby the process controller can cause the movement of the movable structure relative to the sewing needle to be subsequently repeated at any multiplicity of locations on the fabric.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in accordance with claim 32, further comprising illuminating the intersection of said sewing needle and said fabric.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method in accordance with claim 32, further comprising controlling the sewing and stitching functions through a separate computer in said sewing machine head.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method in accordance with claim 34 comprising tracing a straight-line pattern into the process controller and automatically creating a modification of the pattern into a zig-zag or any other desired pattern through a software program in the process controller combined with the computer on the sewing machine head.
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-30 | 1997-05-01 | 1997-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-30 | 2001-05-01 | 2001-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |