Stitch quality monitoring system

Abstract

A stitcher is provided that includes a needle configured to place stitches in a fabric that is moved therethrough. The stitcher includes a sensor positioned below the fabric to monitor stitches placed in the fabric. A microcontroller is provided configured to receive data from the sensor and, based on such data, to compare one or more attributes of the monitored stitches with one or more predetermined parameters relating at least one attribute of the fabric. The predetermined parameter may be either hardcoded inn the microcontroller or input by a user of the stitcher prior to beginning operation of the machine. When the attributes of the monitored stitches fall outside of the predetermined parameters, the microcontroller initiates notification of the user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE[0001]This application claims the priority of provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 147,517, filed Jan. 27, 2009.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to long-arm stitchers and, more particularly, to a stitch quality monitoring system for long-arm stitchers.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Conventional long-arm sewing machines are generally used for quilting and / or sewing fabrics that are not easily moved through a sewing machine. In particular, quilts generally include two outer layers and a filler material that is sewn between the outer layers. Accordingly, to limit the amount of fabric movement when quilting, long-arm sewing machines are typically mounted on a pair of rails that allow the operator to move the needle of the machine while keeping the quilt stationary.[0006]However, the fabric thickness can cause the fabric to bunch during movement of the needle and / or may cause erratic feeding of the fabric through the n...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the fabric thickness can cause the fabric to bunch during movement of the needle and / or may cause erratic feeding of the fabric through the needle.

Moreover, the filler being stitched into the quilt is often uneven, thereby adding to sewing difficulties and creating difficultly for the operator to follow a stitching pattern, especially when the pattern is not straight.

As such, the stitching in the quilt may become uneven and / or may have variable stitch lengths.

Additionally, the sewing thread may break and / or loop undesirably when the speed of the machine is adjusted.

Unfortunately, such monitoring systems are subject to human error and can often allow undesirable stitching to go undetected and / or slow the sewing process.

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