A sewing machine includes at least one needle bar, a threading motor, a threading mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The threading mechanism is configured to pass an upper thread through an eye of a sewing needle. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include making one of a setting that prohibits operation of the threading mechanism and a setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism. The processes include switching the operation of the threading mechanism by prohibiting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that prohibits the operation of the threading mechanism is made, and permitting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism is made.

A sewing machine includes at least one needle bar, a threading motor, a threading mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The threading mechanism is configured to pass an upper thread through an eye of a sewing needle. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include making one of a setting that prohibits operation of the threading mechanism and a setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism. The processes include switching the operation of the threading mechanism by prohibiting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that prohibits the operation of the threading mechanism is made, and permitting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism is made.

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

Disclosed is a sewing machine which evaluates sewing quality using a stitch tightness index. During sewing operation, a used length of an upper thread per stitch is detected, and a stitch tightness index per sewn stitch is calculated on the basis of a stitch length per stitch defined by sewing pattern data, a fabric thickness of a sewing workpiece, and detected data of the used length of the upper thread. Then, notification is made which corresponds to the calculated stitch tightness index per sewn stitch (such as a visual display of the stitch tightness index). After that, acceptability/non-acceptability of the thread tightness per sewn stitch can be determined by comparing the calculated stitch tightness index per sewn stitch against a reference value, and a result of the determination can be notified.

Disclosed is a sewing machine which evaluates sewing quality using a stitch tightness index. During sewing operation, a used length of an upper thread per stitch is detected, and a stitch tightness index per sewn stitch is calculated on the basis of a stitch length per stitch defined by sewing pattern data, a fabric thickness of a sewing workpiece, and detected data of the used length of the upper thread. Then, notification is made which corresponds to the calculated stitch tightness index per sewn stitch (such as a visual display of the stitch tightness index). After that, acceptability/non-acceptability of the thread tightness per sewn stitch can be determined by comparing the calculated stitch tightness index per sewn stitch against a reference value, and a result of the determination can be notified.

A sewing machine includes an image capture portion, a conveyance portion, a processor and a memory. The conveyance portion is configured to convey an object to be captured relative to the image capture portion. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include identifying a target range that is wider than an image capture range and calculating a minimum number of times of conveyance in a first direction. The processes include setting a specified range and the relative position corresponding to the specified range, on the basis of color information of reference image data representing a reference image. The processes include controlling the image capture portion and the conveyance portion and synthesizing the plurality of generated partial image data to generate composite image data representing the whole of the target range.

A sewing machine includes an image capture portion, a conveyance portion, a processor and a memory. The conveyance portion is configured to convey an object to be captured relative to the image capture portion. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include identifying a target range that is wider than an image capture range and calculating a minimum number of times of conveyance in a first direction. The processes include setting a specified range and the relative position corresponding to the specified range, on the basis of color information of reference image data representing a reference image. The processes include controlling the image capture portion and the conveyance portion and synthesizing the plurality of generated partial image data to generate composite image data representing the whole of the target range.

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

The present disclosure generally relates to a clamping system. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a clamping system for holding material to be sewn/embroidered by a sewing machine.