Motorized thread tensioner for a sewing machine

A motorized thread tensioner for a sewing machine, the motorized thread tensioner comprising:

• a first disk;
• a second disk positioned next to the first disk;
• a spring configured to apply friction to a thread that is positioned between the first disk and the second disk by exerting a force against the second disk;
• an electric motor configured to cause the spring to compress to apply increased friction to the thread, the electric motor further configured to cause the spring to decompress to apply decreased friction to the thread;
• an electronic display device;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more programs that are configured, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to generate and visually present, on the electronic display device, a first graphical user interface (GUI) tension preset control and a second GUI tension preset control, the first GUI tension preset control configured to store a first preset tension and the second GUI tension preset control configured to store a second preset tension that is different than the first preset tension, the first GUI tension preset control configured, upon receipt of a first input from a user, to send a first electronic signal to the electric motor to cause the electric motor to cause the spring to compress or decompress to apply the first preset tension to the thread, the second GUI tension preset control configured, upon receipt of a second input from the user, to send a second electronic signal to the electric motor to cause the electric motor to cause the spring to compress or decompress to apply the second preset tension to the thread.

A sewing machine comprising:

• a needle bar configured to have a needle attached thereto and configured to reciprocate the needle having a thread threaded thereon into and out of a fabric;
• and
• a motorized thread tensioner including:
• a first disk;
• a second disk positioned next to the first disk;
• a spring configured to apply friction to the thread, a portion of which being positioned between the first disk and the second disk, by exerting a force against the second disk;
• a shaft having a head on a proximal end and threads on a distal end, the shaft being positioned through the first disk, the second disk, and the spring;
• a nut threaded onto the threads of the shaft;
• an electric motor coupled to the nut and configured to rotate the nut in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction, the rotation of the nut in the first rotational direction causing the shaft to travel toward the electric motor which causes the spring to compress to apply increased friction to the thread, the rotation of the nut in the second rotational direction causing the shaft to travel away from the electric motor which causes the spring to decompress to apply decreased friction to the thread;
• an electronic display device;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more programs that are configured, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to generate and visually present, on the electronic display device, a first graphical user interface (GUI) tension preset control and a second GUI tension preset control, the first GUI tension preset control configured to store a first preset tension and the second GUI tension preset control configured to store a second preset tension that is different than the first preset tension, the first GUI tension preset control configured, upon receipt of a first input from a user, to send a first electronic signal to the electric motor to cause the electric motor to rotate the nut in the first or second rotational direction to apply the first preset tension to the thread, the second GUI tension preset control configured, upon receipt of a second input from the user, to send a second electronic signal to the electric motor to cause the electric motor to rotate the nut in the first or second rotational direction to apply the second preset tension to the thread.