A device for use with an embroidery machine holds fabric to be embroidered between upper and lower hoops that are secured to one another by at least one switchable magnet. The switchable magnet is provided on one or more of the upper loop or lower hoop. Multiple switchable magnets may be spaced around a perimeter of the upper loop or lower hoop. One of the hoops may include interchangeable arms for attaching the device to various embroidery machines.

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.

This invention relates to a washable multi-component floor mat. The floor mat contains a textile component and a base component. The textile component and the base component are attached to one another by at least one surface attraction means and at least one edge attachment means. The textile component is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways. The present invention eliminates the need to wash the base component of the floor mat which results in environmental, cost and labor conservation.

A pin cup that may be disposed within a shell, with the shell moving along a vertical axis to accommodate an open or closed position. In an open position the shell may lower, exposing the pins in the pin cup. In a closed position the shell may raise, so as not to disturb the pins in the pin cup, but to allow the lid to cover the pins in a position above the pins. A disclosed embedment (100) may comprise a lid (110) a shell (120) a pin cup (130) and other components. Outer surfaces of a pin cup may interact with inner surfaces of a shell so as to allow the pin cup to lock in a lower position, travel to an upper position, lock in the upper position and be toolessly removed from the shell.

The invention relates to a device (40) and a method for handling fragments (10) of a broken needle (11), for example in the context of a needle exchange of a broken needle (11) for a new needle (17). The fragments (10) of the broken needle (11) are arranged in a container (16) in a predetermined position. An image (32) of the fragments (10) of the broken needle (11) is then recorded with the aid of a camera (23). The recorded image (32) is stored for documentation (32) at at least one storage location and/or analysed as to whether all the fragments (10) of the broken needle (11) are present. After recording the image (32), the container (16) is closed in order to avoid the fragments (10) of the needle (11) being lost away from the sewing workstation.

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.

A sewing machine includes a bed portion, a pillar, an arm portion, a cover, and a thread spool device. The cover is provided on the arm portion and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. The closed position is a position in which a base surface faces an upper side of the arm portion and the base surface covers the upper side of the arm portion. The open position is a position in which the base surface is directed upward and the base surface does not cover the upper side of the arm portion. The thread spool device is provided on the base surface and including at least one thread spool pin, the thread spool device being capable of holding a thread spool on each of the at least one thread spool pin in a state in which the cover is disposed in the open position.

This invention relates to a washable multi-component floor mat. The floor mat contains a textile component and a base component. The textile component and the base component are attached to one another by at least one surface attraction means and at least one edge attachment means. The textile component is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways. The present invention eliminates the need to wash the base component of the floor mat which results in environmental, cost and labor conservation.

Quality assurance in sewing a textile sewn sequentially in a plurality of workstations (11) can be provided using a carriage 14 that can be moved between the workstations (11). Should a needle (12) break off in a workstation (11), the carriage (14) is moved to this workstation (11). The fragments (13) of the needle (12) are arranged in the container (20) and once it has been established that all the fragments (13) have been removed from the workstation (11) a replacement needle is provided for this workstation. The container (20) has an accommodation space (21) delimited by a main body (22) and a lid (23). A retaining magnet (34) is arranged in the region of a base (32) of the main body (22) extending along one axis (A) to retain magnetizable fragments (13) of a needle (12).

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.