A hopping foot guide device for use with a longarm quilting machine to guide the longarm machine's hopping foot sewing needle mechanism across material in an intricate pattern without the need to reset at every turn or otherwise move as the stitching progresses, and capable of accurate repetition.

The invention relates to a quilting machine for fabrics, including at least three pairs of drive rollers between which the fabric can pass, one pair of rollers being the master pair and the other pairs of rollers being the slave pairs, generating a sewing area and a post-sewing area. Each pair of rollers consists of two opposing rollers associated with a set of chains and sprockets allowing the rollers to rotate in opposite directions to one another. The machine also includes pneumatic cylinders, associated with the pairs of drive rollers, for varying the distance between paired rollers, stabiliser bars for maintaining paired rollers parallel to one another, a sewing head, and a controller for controlling all of the pairs of drive rollers and the sewing head independently, exerting tension on the fabric in the sewing and post-sewing areas.

The invention relates to a quilting machine for fabrics, including at least three pairs of drive rollers between which the fabric can pass, one pair of rollers being the master pair and the other pairs of rollers being the slave pairs, generating a sewing area and a post-sewing area. Each pair of rollers consists of two opposing rollers associated with a set of chains and sprockets allowing the rollers to rotate in opposite directions to one another. The machine also includes pneumatic cylinders, associated with the pairs of drive rollers, for varying the distance between paired rollers, stabiliser bars for maintaining paired rollers parallel to one another, a sewing head, and a controller for controlling all of the pairs of drive rollers and the sewing head independently, exerting tension on the fabric in the sewing and post-sewing areas.

A sewing machine comprising a sewing machine body, a needle bar, and a handlebar vibration dampener is disclosed. The sewing machine body includes a sewing machine head and a handlebar assembly coupled to the sewing machine head. The needle bar is attached to the sewing machine head and configured to linearly reciprocate relative to the sewing machine head along a needle bar axis. The handlebar vibration dampener is located between the handlebar assembly and the sewing machine head to reduce vibrations transmitted by the sewing machine head to the handlebar assembly during use of the sewing machine.

Implementations of a pattern practicing apparatus for longarm quilting machines are provided. In some implementations, the pattern practicing apparatus comprises a base, a first handle, and a second handle.

In some implementations, a method for using the pattern practicing apparatus comprises positioning the pattern practicing apparatus on top of a piece of paper or other surface, inserting a writing instrument tip into an opening through the base of the pattern practicing apparatus, holding the handles of the pattern practicing apparatus, and moving the pattern practicing apparatus by the handles across the paper to simulate using a longarm quilting machine free-hand.

Implementations of a pattern practicing apparatus for longarm quilting machines are provided. In some implementations, the pattern practicing apparatus comprises a base, a first handle, and a second handle.

In some implementations, a method for using the pattern practicing apparatus comprises positioning the pattern practicing apparatus on top of a piece of paper or other surface, inserting a writing instrument tip into an opening through the base of the pattern practicing apparatus, holding the handles of the pattern practicing apparatus, and moving the pattern practicing apparatus by the handles across the paper to simulate using a longarm quilting machine free-hand.

Dual-motor sewing machine with automatic timing adjustment. In some embodiments, a sewing machine may include a frame, a needle bar configured to have a needle, a first motor configured to cause the needle bar to linearly reciprocate the needle with respect to the frame and into and out of a fabric, a first sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the needle, a bobbin hook configured to function in connection with a bobbin, a second motor configured to cause the bobbin hook to rotate with respect to the frame, a second sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the bobbin hook, and one or more motor controllers. The one or more motor controllers may be configured, based on the current positions sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor, to continuously and automatically adjust and synchronize timing of the first motor and/or the second motor.

Dual-motor sewing machine with automatic timing adjustment. In some embodiments, a sewing machine may include a frame, a needle bar configured to have a needle, a first motor configured to cause the needle bar to linearly reciprocate the needle with respect to the frame and into and out of a fabric, a first sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the needle, a bobbin hook configured to function in connection with a bobbin, a second motor configured to cause the bobbin hook to rotate with respect to the frame, a second sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the bobbin hook, and one or more motor controllers. The one or more motor controllers may be configured, based on the current positions sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor, to continuously and automatically adjust and synchronize timing of the first motor and/or the second motor.

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 stitches.

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 stitches.