A sewing frame unit is provided. The sewing frame unit includes a frame support structure; a frame assembly affixed to the frame support structure; a machine carriage assembly mounted on the frame support structure. The machine carriage assembly provides for lateral and longitudinal movement of the sewing machine. A sensor is mounted on the machine carriage assembly or on the frame assembly for detecting a position of the sewing machine.

A sewing frame unit is provided. The sewing frame unit includes a frame support structure; a frame assembly affixed to the frame support structure; a machine carriage assembly mounted on the frame support structure. The machine carriage assembly provides for lateral and longitudinal movement of the sewing machine. A sensor is mounted on the machine carriage assembly or on the frame assembly for detecting a position of the sewing machine.

Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for quilting webs without compressing the webs. A quilting machine includes a needle bar to which needles are attached, needle thread passing through each needle, a looper shaft to which loopers are attached, a looper corresponding to each needle and from which looper thread is provided to form stitches, and a retainer bar to which spreaders are attached to facilitate stitching. A drive pulley powered by a first servo motor rotates cranks to move the needles through a cycle and rotates a belt which rotates an indexer pulley. Rotation of the indexer pulley oscillates the looper shaft and reciprocates the retainer bar. Another drive pulley powered by a second servo motor operates to move an input web through the machine between chain stiches.

Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for quilting webs without compressing the webs. A quilting machine includes a needle bar to which needles are attached, needle thread passing through each needle, a looper shaft to which loopers are attached, a looper corresponding to each needle and from which looper thread is provided to form stitches, and a retainer bar to which spreaders are attached to facilitate stitching. A drive pulley powered by a first servo motor rotates cranks to move the needles through a cycle and rotates a belt which rotates an indexer pulley. Rotation of the indexer pulley oscillates the looper shaft and reciprocates the retainer bar. Another drive pulley powered by a second servo motor operates to move an input web through the machine between chain stiches.

A quilting machine includes a frame sized and configured to support a sheet of fabric and a tilting sewing assembly. The tilting sewing assembly includes a needle beam defining a needle beam longitudinal axis, and a needle head attached to the needle that translates along the needle beam longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a hook beam defining a hook beam longitudinal axis disposed separate from and parallel to the needle beam longitudinal axis, and an axis of rotation parallel to the needle beam and the hook beam with the hook beam disposed between the needle beam and the hook beam. The needle head is between the needle beam and the hook beam. The tilting sewing assembly is configured to pivot about the axis of rotation with the needle beam and the hook beam translating laterally about the axis of rotation to move the needle head relative to the frame.

A quilting machine includes a frame sized and configured to support a sheet of fabric and a tilting sewing assembly. The tilting sewing assembly includes a needle beam defining a needle beam longitudinal axis, and a needle head attached to the needle that translates along the needle beam longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a hook beam defining a hook beam longitudinal axis disposed separate from and parallel to the needle beam longitudinal axis, and an axis of rotation parallel to the needle beam and the hook beam with the hook beam disposed between the needle beam and the hook beam. The needle head is between the needle beam and the hook beam. The tilting sewing assembly is configured to pivot about the axis of rotation with the needle beam and the hook beam translating laterally about the axis of rotation to move the needle head relative to the frame.

Devices and related methods for, among other things, maintaining the warp/weft threads of a backing layer of material (e.g., fabric) in a fixed orientation while being sewed are described and provided.

Devices and related methods for, among other things, maintaining the warp/weft threads of a backing layer of material (e.g., fabric) in a fixed orientation while being sewed are described and provided.

A sewing frame unit is provided. The sewing frame unit includes a frame support structure; a frame assembly affixed to the frame support structure; a machine carriage assembly mounted on the frame support structure. The machine carriage assembly provides for lateral and longitudinal movement of the sewing machine. A sensor is mounted on the machine carriage assembly or on the frame assembly for detecting a position of the sewing machine.

A sewing frame unit is provided. The sewing frame unit includes a frame support structure; a frame assembly affixed to the frame support structure; a machine carriage assembly mounted on the frame support structure. The machine carriage assembly provides for lateral and longitudinal movement of the sewing machine. A sensor is mounted on the machine carriage assembly or on the frame assembly for detecting a position of the sewing machine.