Automated Quilting Border Pattern Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated quilting systems lack the ability to easily generate and sew customized border patterns for fabric articles, requiring manual positioning and limited flexibility in pattern selection, orientation, and interconnection.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allows users to select, position, orient, and scale digitized border pattern segments, with options for interconnecting them, using a digital interface to create and sew customized border patterns around the perimeter of fabric articles, including quilts and embroidery pieces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If automated quilting systems use pre-defined digitized patterns, then sewing automation is achieved, but flexibility in border pattern customization is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveborder pattern customization flexibilityVSAvoidpattern selection and configuration system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The border pattern is divided into multiple selectable pattern segments that can be independently chosen, positioned, and configured. This segmentation allows users to create customized border patterns by combining different segments rather than using a single pre-defined pattern, thereby increasing customization flexibility while keeping each individual segment simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides dynamic configuration options for border patterns, including adjustable pattern segment selection, positioning, orientation, and scaling. This dynamic approach allows the border pattern to be adapted to different user preferences and fabric article dimensions, enhancing versatility without requiring a completely new system design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If manual positioning is used for border patterns, then pattern placement precision is achieved, but sewing efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesewing efficiencyVSAvoidpattern placement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary digital configuration and positioning of border pattern segments before actual sewing begins. Users can select, position, orient, and scale pattern segments in a digital interface, and the system automatically calculates the sewing path. This preliminary digital setup eliminates the need for manual positioning during sewing, maintaining high precision while significantly improving sewing efficiency through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple border pattern segments are used, then design versatility is improved, but pattern interconnection and alignment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveborder pattern design optionsVSAvoidpattern segment interconnection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a digital interface as an intermediary between the user and the multiple pattern segments. This interface provides automated tools for selecting, positioning, orienting, and scaling pattern segments, as well as for interconnecting them. The intermediary handles the complexity of coordinating multiple segments, allowing users to achieve versatile border designs without manually managing the complexity of segment interconnection and alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If border patterns are customized for each fabric article, then appearance quality is improved, but setup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance qualityVSAvoidpattern setup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows users to create and save customized border pattern configurations as digital templates. Once a border pattern is customized and configured for a fabric article, it can be copied and reused for future projects. This copying capability maintains high appearance quality through customized designs while significantly reducing setup time for subsequent fabric articles by eliminating redundant configuration work.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10082776B2Method and apparatus for automated generation and sewing of a border pattern

Publication Date: 2018.09.25 GRACEWOOD MANAGEMENT INC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for automated assisted generation, by a user, of a digitized border pattern for a border zone of a fabric article, and automated assisted sewing of the digitized border pattern, the border pattern incorporating a plurality of border pattern segments having one or more pattern lines, the actuator displaying the border zone to the user, presenting available digitized border pattern segments to the user for selection, positioning, orienting, scaling, and selective interconnecting, by the user through interaction with the actuator, for integration of the selected border pattern segments into the digitized border pattern.