Tilting Sewing Assembly for Deep Throat Quilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quilting machines, both industrial and domestic, face challenges such as large size, limited portability, and inadequate throat depth, making them unsuitable for home use and inefficient in sewing deep into fabric rolls.
Innovation Solution
A quilting machine with a tilting sewing assembly that includes a needle beam and hook beam, configured to pivot and translate, allowing the needle head to move relative to the machine frame, supported by collapsible arms for compact storage and enhanced sewing capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional long arm quilting machine is used, then sewing capability is improved, but machine size increases and portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is divided into separate functional modules: a compact base unit and a detachable long arm assembly. The long arm can be removed when not in use, allowing the base to be stored in typical home spaces while maintaining the capability to perform industrial-level quilting when the arm is attached.
Solution Approach 2:
The long arm assembly is designed to be dynamically configurable - it can be attached or detached based on usage needs, and includes adjustable components that allow adaptation to different quilting projects. This dynamic configuration enables the machine to transition between compact storage mode and full functionality mode.
2Volume of moving object
If a table top quilting frame is used, then portability is improved, but sewing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The machine separates the heavy-duty sewing mechanism (needle, hook, drive units) from the supporting frame. The sewing assembly is mounted on a robust base that provides industrial stability, while the frame can be configured in a compact table-top style when not in use, combining the best features of both approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The long arm assembly includes curved guide rails and articulated joints that enable smooth, precise motion control for the needle and hook, maintaining high sewing performance while allowing the overall structure to be compact when the arm is retracted or stored.
3Length of moving object
If industrial quilting machines are used, then sewing depth is improved, but machine size increases and home suitability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The throat depth functionality is isolated to a detachable long arm assembly that can be removed when not needed for deep fabric penetration. The base unit contains all necessary drive mechanisms and can function with minimal attachments, allowing it to fit in home spaces while providing industrial throat depth when the long arm is installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The long arm assembly provides extended throat depth only in the specific area where it is needed for deep fabric penetration, while the rest of the machine remains compact. The extended reach is localized to the sewing zone, allowing deep stitching capability without requiring the entire machine to be large.
Data Source
AI summary
A quilting machine includes a frame sized and configured to support a sheet of fabric and a tilting sewing assembly. The tilting sewing assembly includes a needle beam defining a needle beam longitudinal axis, and a needle head attached to the needle that translates along the needle beam longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a hook beam defining a hook beam longitudinal axis disposed separate from and parallel to the needle beam longitudinal axis, and an axis of rotation parallel to the needle beam and the hook beam with the hook beam disposed between the needle beam and the hook beam. The needle head is between the needle beam and the hook beam. The tilting sewing assembly is configured to pivot about the axis of rotation with the needle beam and the hook beam translating laterally about the axis of rotation to move the needle head relative to the frame.