Due to rapid advancement in computing technology of both hardware and software, the labor intensive sewing process has been transformed into a technology-intensive automated process. During an automated process, product materials may become wrinkled or folded, which can slow down the automated process or result in human intervention. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and removal of wrinkles from products. Images of material on a work table can be captured and analyzed to determine if there are wrinkles or folds in the product. The robot can remove the wrinkle or fold by manipulating the material through the use of end effectors such as, e.g., budgers.

A sewing device that, when interposing a workpiece-to-be-sewn between a post head and a pressing mechanism and sewing same by penetrating a machine needle therethrough, shapes the workpiece-to-be-sewn in a prescribed shape and sews same, by seating the workpiece-to-be-sewn in a workpiece holding jig having a plurality of seats arranged along a sewing line for the workpiece-to-be-sewn.

The present application discloses a softening device (200) by which an outer insulating layer of an elongate electrical heating element (121) to be secured onto a cushion, especially a vehicle seat or rest cushion is able to be softened, the softening device (200) comprising: a body (210), wherein the body is provided with a gas passage, a feeding passage (211), and an open cavity (213), wherein hot air is able to be driven through the gas passage, and the elongate electrical heating element (121) is able to be conveyed through the feeding passage (211), wherein the gas passage and the feeding passage (211) are isolated from each other but both of them open into the open cavity (213), wherein after passing through the feeding passage (211) and the open cavity (213), the electrical heating element (121) is able to be discharged out of the body (210). The present application also discloses an electrical heating element (121), a sewing apparatus comprising the softening device, and a method for controlling the softening device.

The present application discloses a softening device (200) by which an outer insulating layer of an elongate electrical heating element (121) to be secured onto a cushion, especially a vehicle seat or rest cushion is able to be softened, the softening device (200) comprising: a body (210), wherein the body is provided with a gas passage, a feeding passage (211), and an open cavity (213), wherein hot air is able to be driven through the gas passage, and the elongate electrical heating element (121) is able to be conveyed through the feeding passage (211), wherein the gas passage and the feeding passage (211) are isolated from each other but both of them open into the open cavity (213), wherein after passing through the feeding passage (211) and the open cavity (213), the electrical heating element (121) is able to be discharged out of the body (210). The present application also discloses an electrical heating element (121), a sewing apparatus comprising the softening device, and a method for controlling the softening device.

Due to rapid advancement in computing technology of both hardware and software, the labor intensive sewing process has been transformed into a technology-intensive automated process. During an automated process, product materials may become wrinkled or folded, which can slow down the automated process or result in human intervention. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and removal of wrinkles from products. Images of material on a work table can be captured and analyzed to determine if there are wrinkles or folds in the product. The robot can remove the wrinkle or fold by manipulating the material through the use of end effectors such as, e.g., budgers.

Due to rapid advancement in computing technology of both hardware and software, the labor intensive sewing process has been transformed into a technology-intensive automated process. During an automated process, product materials may become wrinkled or folded, which can slow down the automated process or result in human intervention. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and removal of wrinkles from products. Images of material on a work table can be captured and analyzed to determine if there are wrinkles or folds in the product. The robot can remove the wrinkle or fold by manipulating the material through the use of end effectors such as, e.g., budgers.

A long arm quilting machine with a batting bin has been developed. The batting bin includes an elongated partially enclosed trough that attaches to the quilting machine and extends, in length, more than 50% of a longest dimension of the quilting machine. The batting bin includes one or more support members to support a position of the trough in relation to the quilting machine. The trough has an open upper portion which allows batting material to be dispensed upward into the quilting machine. The trough has an enclosed lower portion such that batting material within the trough is kept from touching a floor the quilting machine is positioned over.

A long arm quilting machine with a batting bin has been developed. The batting bin includes an elongated partially enclosed trough that attaches to the quilting machine and extends, in length, more than 50% of a longest dimension of the quilting machine. The batting bin includes one or more support members to support a position of the trough in relation to the quilting machine. The trough has an open upper portion which allows batting material to be dispensed upward into the quilting machine. The trough has an enclosed lower portion such that batting material within the trough is kept from touching a floor the quilting machine is positioned over.

A sewing machine includes a support surface for two plies of material to be sewn together and a sewing mechanism that is attached to the support surface and is in operative connection with a machine controller, wherein a plate element positioned between the two material plies is arranged in the material feed area thereof. A vertical adjustment device for the plate element that is actuatable by the machine controller adjusts a vertical distance between the support surface and the plate element, and thus also influences the feed of material to the sewing mechanism. The vertical adjustment device is equipped with an electromagnet for adjusting the position of the plate element. The plate element is equipped with a magnet, which cooperates with the electromagnet.

A sewing machine includes a support surface for two plies of material to be sewn together and a sewing mechanism that is attached to the support surface and is in operative connection with a machine controller, wherein a plate element positioned between the two material plies is arranged in the material feed area thereof. A vertical adjustment device for the plate element that is actuatable by the machine controller adjusts a vertical distance between the support surface and the plate element, and thus also influences the feed of material to the sewing mechanism. The vertical adjustment device is equipped with an electromagnet for adjusting the position of the plate element. The plate element is equipped with a magnet, which cooperates with the electromagnet.