A sewing machine that includes a sewing bed on which a plurality of cloth pieces are placed in a manner of being overlaid on each other; a felting needle; a woolen yarn guide provided at a lower end of a safety cover for covering the felting needle; and a device configured to raise and lower the felting needle toward the plurality of overlaid cloth pieces, and the woolen yarn guide is configured to guide a woolen yarn from a bobbin or a woolen yarn ball to a sewing location, and the device is configured to raise and lower the felting needle so that needle felting in which the felting needle is thrusted into the plurality of cloth pieces and the woolen yarn is performed, and thereby the plurality of cloth pieces are sewn together.

A sewing machine that includes a sewing bed on which a plurality of cloth pieces are placed in a manner of being overlaid on each other; a felting needle; a woolen yarn guide provided at a lower end of a safety cover for covering the felting needle; and a device configured to raise and lower the felting needle toward the plurality of overlaid cloth pieces, and the woolen yarn guide is configured to guide a woolen yarn from a bobbin or a woolen yarn ball to a sewing location, and the device is configured to raise and lower the felting needle so that needle felting in which the felting needle is thrusted into the plurality of cloth pieces and the woolen yarn is performed, and thereby the plurality of cloth pieces are sewn together.

An automated system that can be used for prosthetic heart valve manufacturing or suturing procedures. The system can include a first automated fixture that includes an articulating arm and a target device holder. The system can also include one or more additional automated fixtures, which can be configured as one or more suturing arms that include another articulating arm and a needle holder. The first automated fixture can be configured to rotate a target device held by the holder to allow the one or more additional automated fixtures to perform operations such as form sutures on the target device without intervention of a human operator. The system can include a display system configured to display status information of a suturing procedure.

A sewing apparatus for applying a stitch of thread to a piece of fabric is provided. The apparatus housing includes a platform for supporting a piece of fabric, and contains a grasping member that is moved to grasp and release a thread segment fed through the housing by a needle holder. The needle holder is positioned to hold a needle that has a needle aperture for pass-through, therethrough of the thread segment, and is movable between a withdrawn position, and an advanced position in which the needle holder drives the needle through the piece of fabric to bring the thread segment into position for grasping by the grasping member. The sewing apparatus also including a needle holder driver for driving the movement of the needle holder and a thread puller for pulling the thread segment to an exterior of the housing for a user to cut.

An automated system that can be used for prosthetic heart valve manufacturing or suturing procedures. The system can include a first automated fixture that includes an articulating arm and a target device holder. The system can also include one or more additional automated fixtures, which can be configured as one or more suturing arms that include another articulating arm and a needle holder. The first automated fixture can be configured to rotate a target device held by the holder to allow the one or more additional automated fixtures to perform operations such as form sutures on the target device without intervention of a human operator. The system can include a targeting system configured to provide positioning feedback to the system.

An automated system that can be used for prosthetic heart valve manufacturing or suturing procedures. The system can include a first automated fixture that includes an articulating arm and a target device holder. The system can also include one or more additional automated fixtures, which can be configured as one or more suturing arms that include another articulating arm and a needle holder. The first automated fixture can be configured to rotate a target device held by the holder to allow the one or more additional automated fixtures to perform operations such as form sutures on the target device without intervention of a human operator. The system can include a targeting system configured to provide positioning feedback to the system.

A forming device for forming links in the shape of a Möbius strip includes a rotation module with an inner path. The forming device has a widening for 180° rotation of a strip introduced into the rotation module. The rotation module has an inlet suitable for one end of a strip, an outlet suitable for the strip and the inner path extends from the inlet to the outlet. The widening is adapted for rotation of the end of the strip 180° about its longitudinal axis. The device also includes a gas injector positioned at the inlet of the rotation module intended to drive the strip through the inner path of the rotation module.

A forming device for forming links in the shape of a Möbius strip includes a rotation module with an inner path. The forming device has a widening for 180° rotation of a strip introduced into the rotation module. The rotation module has an inlet suitable for one end of a strip, an outlet suitable for the strip and the inner path extends from the inlet to the outlet. The widening is adapted for rotation of the end of the strip 180° about its longitudinal axis. The device also includes a gas injector positioned at the inlet of the rotation module intended to drive the strip through the inner path of the rotation module.

A semi-automatic precision positioning robot apparatus and method for use of the same to hold, position, orient and/or move a workpiece are provided. The positioning apparatus utilizes an actuator system of a given configuration to manipulate a workpiece holding unit with multiple degrees of freedom to achieve various positions and orientations. An associated tool may further be provided to interact with the workpiece in various positions and orientations. The positioning apparatus enables an operator to obtain high degrees of maneuverability while maintaining precision and consistency in the manufacture and production of various products and components.

A felt composite (10) comprises at least one first felt layer (12), a multi-element second felt layer (14) disposed on the first felt layer (12) and comprising at least one first felt form element (16a) and one second felt form element (16b), wherein the first felt form element (16a) has a first edge (20a) and the first felt form element (16a) is sewn up with the first felt layer (12) by means of a first seam (18a) along the first edge (20a), and wherein the second felt form element (16b) has a second edge (20b) running along the first edge (20a) of the first felt form element (16a) and the second felt form element (16b) is sewn up with the first felt layer (12) by means of a second seam (18b) along the second edge (20b).