Automatic quilting machine and method for specialized quilting of patterns which can be controlled by a remote joystick and monitored on a video screen including pattern duplication through a reprogrammable computer

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. means for generating the horizontal movement of said second structure in the X-direction, the Y-direction, or any combination X-Y direction;
• e. a video camera focused on the location of the intersection of said sewing needle and said fabric;
• f. said video camera connected to a monitor;
• g. a 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;
• h. a process controller having an X input and a Y input connected to said remote control apparatus, the process controller also connected to said means for generating horizontal movement of the second structure;
• and
• i. a source of power connected to said remote control apparatus and also connected to said process controller;
• j. whereby an operator may view the needle sewing thread into the fabric on the video monitor and may control the movement of said second structure and fabric relative to the sewing needle by said remote control apparatus through generation of commands input into the process controller which in turn generates commands to said means for generating horizontal movement of the second structure.

The method of repetitively 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;
• d. controlling the movement of the movable structure relative to the sewing needle by a remote control apparatus and determining the direction of movement based upon the video image of the intersection of the sewing needle and fabric;
• and
• e. storing the information on the movement of the movable structure into the memory of a process controller;
• f. whereby the process controller can cause the movement of the movable structure relative to the sewing needle to be subsequently repeated at any multiplicity of locations on the fabric.