Automatic quilting machine for specialized quilting of patterns which can be controlled by a remote joy stick and monitored on a video screen

An apparatus for sewing thread into fabric comprising:

• a. a first structure supporting a sewing machine head having a sewing needle and a source of thread;
• b. a second structure supporting the fabric in a position relative to said sewing needle so that thread may be sewn into the fabric;
• c. said second structure capable of horizontal movement in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any combination X-Y direction relative to said sewing needle;
• d. a video camera focused on the location of the intersection of said sewing needle and said fabric;
• e. said video camera connected to a monitor;
• and
• f. a manually operated remote control apparatus for moving said second structure and the fabric retained thereon relative to said sewing needle so that said sewing needle may sew a pattern with said thread into said fabric;
• g. whereby an operator may view the needle sewing thread into the fabric on the video monitor and may control the movement of the second structure and fabric relative to the sewing needle by said remote control apparatus.

The method of sewing a pattern into a fabric having a large surface comprising:

• a. positioning a sewing machine head having a source of thread and a sewing needle relative to said fabric;
• b. retaining said fabric on a movable structure which can be made to move in a horizontal direction relative to the sewing needle and which can cause a portion of the surface of the fabric to be reached by the sewing needle so that thread can be sewn into the fabric;
• c. obtaining an electronically generated video image of the intersection of the sewing needle and fabric;
• and
• d. controlling the movement of the movable structure relative to the sewing needle by a manually operated remote control apparatus and determining the direction of movement based upon the video image of the intersection of the sewing needle and fabric.

A frame quilting machine comprising:

• a. a frame member for retaining a fabric;
• b. said frame member mounted on a structure which can be moved in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any X-Y combination direction;
• c. a first cross beam extending horizontally over said frame member;
• d. a second cross beam aligned parallel to said first cross beam and extending horizontally beneath said frame member;
• e. a remote control apparatus for controlling the movement of said structure and said frame member to enable the frame member and the fabric retained thereon to be moved horizontally in the X-direction, the Y-direction, and any combination X-Y direction between said first cross beam and said second cross beam;
• f. a sewing machine head attached to said first cross beam and having a source of thread;
• g. a sewing needle extending form said sewing machine head and positioned to sew threads into said fabric while the frame member and structure move underneath said first cross beam and above said second cross beam;
• and
• h. a sewing machine plate attached to said second cross beam and aligned with said sewing machine head and sewing needle;
• i. whereby an operator may control the movement of the frame and fabric relative to the sewing needle by said remote apparatus.