An exemplary embroidery accessory for a sewing machine includes a stationary support attached to the sewing machine and a rotating support rotatably attached to the stationary support. A drive mechanism rotates the rotating support relative to the stationary support and a spool supported by the rotating support receives and dispenses a length of embroidery material. The removable guide is removably attached to the rotating support and includes a sewing guide with a needle opening for receiving a needle of the sewing machine, and at least one guide for guiding the length of embroidery material from the spool to the sewing guide.

An upper decoration mechanism and a sewing machine without requiring an operation of detaching the upper decoration mechanism from the sewing machine without reducing workability even when performing a double chain stitch not using a decoration thread. The upper decoration mechanism provided on a sewing machine includes an expansion retraction mechanism configured to switch a spreader between an expanded state where the spreader cooperates with needles for performing an upper decoration sewing and a retracted state where the spreader is separated from the needles.

An exemplary embroidery accessory for a sewing machine includes a stationary support attached to the sewing machine and a rotating support rotatably attached to the stationary support. A drive mechanism rotates the rotating support relative to the stationary support and a spool supported by the rotating support receives and dispenses a length of embroidery material. The removable guide is removably attached to the rotating support and includes a sewing guide with a needle opening for receiving a needle of the sewing machine, and at least one guide for guiding the length of embroidery material from the spool to the sewing guide.

A process for producing a layer of yarns grouped into rovings, via stitches, on a base, in particular for the production of composite material parts, by inclusion of the rovings in a matrix. The process includes carrying out the steps of depositing at least two rovings on the base, and stitching the at least two rovings thus deposited on the base with at least one stitch comprising two stitch holes.

A three-dimensional fabric and a sewing method of making the same are provided. The method includes: providing a first three-dimensional fabric and a second three-dimensional fabric, placing the first fluffy flexible thread between the first inner side of the first three-dimensional fabric and the second inner side of the second three-dimensional fabric, and then stitching the first three-dimensional fabric and the second three-dimensional fabric to form a stitched structure with the first fluffy flexible thread being embedded therein.

The present invention provides a system and method for the application of a functional thread to secure roving or other fibers to a substrate, thereby forming a precursor to a resultant composite component structure having targeted, enhanced structural reinforcement. The functional thread may be comprised of one or more fibrous filaments or have a monofilament structure. The invention encompasses the sewing of this functional thread at varying stitch densities as function of component stress analysis, the mechanical stresses that the component will be subject to when exposed to the forces and loads associated with its intended use, and at least one physical or mechanical property of a functional thread. This variable stitch density serves to provide targeted, localized mechanical enhancement and reinforcement to the resultant composite structure.

The present invention provides an improved fiber precursor, and methods for employing such to enhance the structural reinforcement of composite structures. The precursor is comprised of one or more fibrous filaments positioned within the precursor so that the filaments within each fiber are oriented at an angle offset from the axis of the length of the precursor. The offset of these filaments can be accomplished, for example, by twisting a plurality of filaments into a continuous spiral to form the precursor, or by wrapping a collection of colinear filaments about a central core, or by braiding plurality of filaments to form the precursor. The angle of offset at which the twisted, braided or wrapped fibers are positioned can be varied as a function of the twisting, braiding or wrapping process (angle of wrap, tension upon the twisting or wrapping fibers, degree of rotational twisting applied to the fibers per length of precursor, etc.). The offset angle can be arbitrarily chosen to achieve the desired shear properties based upon the particular composite structure, the manufacturing method(s) being employed, and the environment in which the precursor will be utilized.

The present invention provides a system and method for the application of a functional thread to secure roving or other fibers to a substrate, thereby forming a precursor to a resultant composite component structure having targeted, enhanced structural reinforcement. The functional thread may be comprised of one or more fibrous filaments or have a monofilament structure. The invention encompasses the sewing of this functional thread at varying stitch densities as function of component stress analysis, the mechanical stresses that the component will be subject to when exposed to the forces and loads associated with its intended use, and at least one physical or mechanical property of a functional thread. This variable stitch density serves to provide targeted, localized mechanical enhancement and reinforcement to the resultant composite structure.

An upper decoration mechanism and a sewing machine without requiring an operation of detaching the upper decoration mechanism from the sewing machine without reducing workability even when performing a double chain stitch not using a decoration thread. The upper decoration mechanism provided on a sewing machine includes an expansion retraction mechanism configured to switch a spreader between an expanded state where the spreader cooperates with needles for performing an upper decoration sewing and a retracted state where the spreader is separated from the needles.

A strength member sewing machine is provided which comprises upper and lower feeder spools, a collection spool and idlers positioned on a support structure. A cord supply, a fabric shaper, a speed control and a pressure foot lift are positioned on the structure. Fabric from the spools is kept in tension with the idlers while moving toward the fabric shaper. The fabric from the upper spool is crimped while the fabric from the lower spool remains flat underneath the shaper. Between the fabric layers, pull cords are pulled through from the cord supply thru the fabric shaper. The fabric with crimps and with the pull cords inside the crimps is sewn to the fabric from the lower spool to create casings with a pull cord in the internal space of each casing. The joined fabrics with the pull cords are collected by the collection spool as a finished product.