A punching device is provided with a punching head, a vacuum apparatus, a suction flow passage, and a suction switching apparatus. The punching head includes a plurality of hollow rods that move vertically, and punching tools each having an axially extending through hole provided at each front end of the hollow rods. The vacuum apparatus serves to suck punched chips generated during the punching process of the punching head. The suction flow passage selectively communicates the through holes of the punching tools with the vacuum apparatus. The suction switching apparatus changes a path of the suction flow passage so that the suction flow passage communicates only with a hollow rod performing a punching process, among the plurality of hollow rods.

A device (40) and a method is described 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.

The present set of embodiments relate to systems, methods, and apparatuses for sewing and quilting. More specifically, the present disclosure includes embodiments for seam removal from fabric(s) including cutting and removing threads in stitching. The systems, methods, and apparatuses include increasing efficiency of stitch removal by allowing a thread cutter and thread removal tool to be combined in a single tool that can actuate between a first position and a second position allowing for easy storage and customization of the in-use configuration of the tool to each individual sewer or quilter. Additionally, the present set of embodiments creates a tool that can be stored easily when not in use.

A long arm quilting machine with a batting bin has been developed. The batting bin includes an elongated partially enclosed trough that attaches to the quilting machine and extends, in length, more than 50% of a longest dimension of the quilting machine. The batting bin includes one or more support members to support a position of the trough in relation to the quilting machine. The trough has an open upper portion which allows batting material to be dispensed upward into the quilting machine. The trough has an enclosed lower portion such that batting material within the trough is kept from touching a floor the quilting machine is positioned over.

A punching device is provided with a punching head, a vacuum apparatus, a suction flow passage, and a suction switching apparatus. The punching head includes a plurality of hollow rods that move vertically, and punching tools each having an axially extending through hole provided at each front end of the hollow rods. The vacuum apparatus serves to suck punched chips generated during the punching process of the punching head. The suction flow passage selectively communicates the through holes of the punching tools with the vacuum apparatus. The suction switching apparatus changes a path of the suction flow passage so that the suction flow passage communicates only with a hollow rod performing a punching process, among the plurality of hollow rods.

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.

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 long arm quilting machine with a batting bin has been developed. The batting bin includes an elongated partially enclosed trough that attaches to the quilting machine and extends, in length, more than 50% of a longest dimension of the quilting machine. The batting bin includes one or more support members to support a position of the trough in relation to the quilting machine. The trough has an open upper portion which allows batting material to be dispensed upward into the quilting machine. The trough has an enclosed lower portion such that batting material within the trough is kept from touching a floor the quilting machine is positioned over.

A waste catch plate for sewing machine held between a sewing machine and a table, and catching wastes produced by a sewing work by the sewing machine, and the waste catch plate includes a plate main body in a tabular shape. The plate main body includes a placement plane provided in a partial region of the plate main body, and on which the sewing machine is to be placed, and an opening provided in a remaining region of the plate main body continuous and adjacent to the partial region, and to which a bag for collecting the wastes is attached. Provided on a back surface of the region of the plate main body where the placement plane is provided is a thin leg spreading on the back surface so as to cover a region surrounded by multiple legs of the sewing machine being placed on the placement plane.

A system for manufacturing synthetic turf is disclosed that includes an indexing system configured to affix an indexing device to a backing material, a tufting machine configured to receive the backing material and yarn and to fabricate the synthetic turf by tufting the yarn in the backing material and a controller configured to read the indexing device and to post-process the synthetic turf as a function of the indexing device.