An embroidery frame includes a mounting portion to be mounted on a sewing machine and a frame portion. The frame portion has a first frame, a hinge portion, a second frame, a first clamping portion, and a second clamping portion. The first frame is connected to the mounting portion. The hinge portion is connected to one end of the first frame. The second frame is connected at one end to the hinge portion such that the second frame is able to rotate with respect to the first frame. The first clamping portion is configured to clamp the first sewing object together with the first frame while the second frame is open with respect to the first frame. The second clamping portion is configured to clamp the second sewing object together with the second frame while the second frame is open with respect to the first frame.

Packaging is used to store articles to be customized by methods including embroidery, wherein the packaging includes at least two portions defining a window, and wherein the two portions of the packaging hold a portion of the article, for example a fabric panel, taut across the window so that the portion of the article may be embroidered by an embroidery machine while retained by portions of the packaging. The packaging may be in the form of a box during embroidery, or may be converted into the form of a box after embroidery.

Systems and methods for superimposing an image of a quilt pattern over an image of a quilt to preview what a completed quilt will look like before the quilt pattern is sewn onto the quilt. One method may include selecting an image of a quilt, inputting a first and a second quilt dimension into a controller, selecting a quilt pattern including a thread color to be used over at least a portion of the quilt, selecting the thread color, superimposing the quilt pattern over the at least a portion of the quilt, selectively altering the quilt pattern, and outputting a completed image displaying a final quilt pattern superimposed over the quilt and parameters for a quilting machine to sew the final quilt pattern onto the quilt.

An embroidery frame transport device includes a guide portion, a lever, and a locking portion. The guide portion is configured to prescribe a first direction being a movement direction when the embroidery frame is removed and a second direction being a movement direction when the embroidery frame is mounted. The lever is configured to move between a first restriction position that restricts the movement in the first direction of the embroidery frame and a first release position that does not restrict the movement in the first direction of the embroidery frame. The locking portion is configured to move between a second restriction position that restricts the movement in the second direction of the embroidery frame and a second release position that does not restrict the movement in the second direction of the embroidery frame.

An embroidery frame transport device includes a guide portion, a lever, and a locking portion. The guide portion is configured to prescribe a first direction being a movement direction when the embroidery frame is removed and a second direction being a movement direction when the embroidery frame is mounted. The lever is configured to move between a first restriction position that restricts the movement in the first direction of the embroidery frame and a first release position that does not restrict the movement in the first direction of the embroidery frame. The locking portion is configured to move between a second restriction position that restricts the movement in the second direction of the embroidery frame and a second release position that does not restrict the movement in the second direction of the embroidery frame.

A cap frame includes a body member including an arc-shaped curved wall extending in a particular direction, an attaching portion connected to the body member, and a retaining member including a clamping portion having a plurality of protrusions aligned along the particular direction, and a facing portion. The attaching portion is removably attachable to a moving mechanism of an embroidery machine. In a state where the retaining member is attached to the body member, the clamping portion is elastically deformed in conformance with the curved wall and presses, toward the curved wall, a cap sandwiched between the curved wall and the clamping portion. The facing portion faces the curved wall of the body member. Each protrusion extends toward the curved wall from a leading end of the facing portion in a removing direction and faces a leading end of the curved wall of the body member in the removing direction.

A cap frame includes a body member including an arc-shaped curved wall extending in a particular direction, an attaching portion connected to the body member, and a retaining member including a clamping portion having a plurality of protrusions aligned along the particular direction, and a facing portion. The attaching portion is removably attachable to a moving mechanism of an embroidery machine. In a state where the retaining member is attached to the body member, the clamping portion is elastically deformed in conformance with the curved wall and presses, toward the curved wall, a cap sandwiched between the curved wall and the clamping portion. The facing portion faces the curved wall of the body member. Each protrusion extends toward the curved wall from a leading end of the facing portion in a removing direction and faces a leading end of the curved wall of the body member in the removing direction.

Various examples are provided related to transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. Multiple pieces of layered materials can be transported on a flat planar surface while maintaining the material layer's position and orientation relative to one another during a sewing procedure of these materials along any arbitrary seam shape. In one example, among others, a system includes a sewing machine including a sewing needle, a material holding assembly and a translation system. The material holding assembly can include mechanical fingers that can contact material on a sewing plane adjacent to the sewing needle and a structural grounding system supporting the mechanical fingers. The translation system can reposition the material on the sewing plane via the mechanical fingers. Clearance around the sewing needle can be provided by repositioning individual mechanical fingers around the sewing needle.

A template clamping apparatus is disclosed for clamping a fabric against a quilt making template. The apparatus includes a base which has an upper surface and a lower surface. A turntable is supported by the base, the turntable defining a working surface which is rotatable relative to the base. An arm is rigidly connected to the base, the arm having a first and a second end. A clamp is connected to the second end of the arm such that when the clamp is disposed in a loading disposition thereof, loading of the fabric between the quilt making template and the turntable is permitted. However, when the clamp is disposed in a clamping disposition thereof, the fabric is clamped between the quilt making template and the turntable. The arrangement is such that relative movement between the quilt making template and the fabric is inhibited while permitting the fabric sandwiched between the turntable and the quilt making template to rotate relative to the base so that cutting of the fabric in conformity with the quilt making template is facilitated.

A template clamping apparatus is disclosed for clamping a fabric against a quilt making template. The apparatus includes a base which has an upper surface and a lower surface. A turntable is supported by the base, the turntable defining a working surface which is rotatable relative to the base. An arm is rigidly connected to the base, the arm having a first and a second end. A clamp is connected to the second end of the arm such that when the clamp is disposed in a loading disposition thereof, loading of the fabric between the quilt making template and the turntable is permitted. However, when the clamp is disposed in a clamping disposition thereof, the fabric is clamped between the quilt making template and the turntable. The arrangement is such that relative movement between the quilt making template and the fabric is inhibited while permitting the fabric sandwiched between the turntable and the quilt making template to rotate relative to the base so that cutting of the fabric in conformity with the quilt making template is facilitated.