FIELD

[0001] This disclosure relates to sewing and embroidery components, and more particularly relates to features and functionality of an embroidery apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventional embroidery machines are generally configured to form stitches of thread on a workpiece, such as a textile material, to produce designs thereon. In some circumstances it may be difficult for users to create designs on a workpiece due to various challenges associated with using these conventional machines. For example, users may have a difficult time handling (e.g., changing, replacing) needles or spools of thread, and/or users may have a difficult time cleaning or otherwise performing maintenance on various mechanisms and components of conventional embroidery machines. Accordingly, there are a number of disadvantages in the art that can be addressed.

SUMMARY

[0003] The subject matter of the present disclosure has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available sewing and embroidery systems and apparatuses. Accordingly, the present disclosure has been developed to provide an embroidery apparatus and related methods and systems that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0004] Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus that includes a needle bar and a needle collet detachably coupleable to the needle bar. The needle collet may be configured to retain a needle.

[0005] In various embodiments, the needle collet comprises a magnetic member configured to facilitate at least one of retention and alignment of the needle relative to the needle collet. For example, the needle collet may define a needle channel configured to receive at least a portion of the needle, the needle channel may comprise an open end and a closed end, and the magnetic member may be disposed adjacent the closed end of the needle channel.

[0006] In various embodiments, the needle collet comprises a flange. In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus further includes a securement device extending from the needle bar, and the securement device is configured to reversibly secure the needle collet to the needle bar. In various embodiments, the flange at least partially defines a shoulder configured to abut a surface of at least one of the needle bar and the securement device.

[0007] In various embodiments, the securement device is configured to reversibly secure the needle collet to the needle bar. For example, the securement device may include a set screw, the set screw may include a toolless head, and the set screw may comprise a tip configured to reversibly engage at least one of the needle collet and the needle. In various embodiments, the securement device comprises a clamp assembly configured to selectively and reversibly exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet and the needle. The clamp assembly may include a clamp collar and a clamp fastener. In various embodiments, the clamp assembly comprises a cam clamp arm. The cam clamp arm may be a second clamp arm of the clamp assembly, with the clamp assembly further comprising a first clamp arm. In various embodiments, the second clamp arm is configured to overlap at least a portion of the first clamp arm to exert the clamping force on the at least one of the needle collet and the needle via the first clamp arm.

[0008] In various embodiments, the securement device extends from the needle bar. In various embodiments, the securement device is also configured to reversibly secure the needle to the needle collet. In response to a single actuation of the securement device, the securement device may be configured to reversibly secure both the needle collet to the needle bar and the needle to the needle collet. The securement device may extend from the needle collet and may be a component thereof.

[0009] In various embodiments, the needle collet defines a needle channel configured to receive at least a portion of the needle and the needle collet defines a needle bar channel configured to receive at least a portion of the needle bar. The securement device may be configured to enable non-axial loading of the needle collet relative to the needle bar. For example, the securement device may define a collet channel having an open side to enable the needle collet to be moved laterally through the open side into the collet channel and into alignment with a longitudinal axis of the needle bar during a loading operation.

[0010] In various embodiments, the needle collet and the securement device comprise alignment features that guide users to load the needle collet into the securement device in the lateral manner mentioned above. In various embodiments, the alignment features preclude users from loading the needle collet in an axial manner.

[0011] In various embodiments, the needle bar comprises a longitudinal axis, the securement device comprises a trough structure defining a collet channel having an open side, the longitudinal axis extends through the collet channel, and the securement device is configured to enable the needle collet to be loaded by moving the needle collet laterally through the open side into the collet channel to be intersected by the longitudinal axis during a loading operation. In various embodiments, the securement device comprises a clamp door hingedly coupled to the trough structure and the clamp door is configured to selectively and reversibly extend across the open side of the collet channel to exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet and the needle when the needle collet is positioned within the collet channel. In various embodiments, at least one of the needle collet and the securement device comprises a magnetic member configured to facilitate at least one of securement and alignment of the needle collet relative to the securement device. The needle collet and the securement device may comprise alignment features that facilitate at least one of proper positioning, seating, alignment, and engagement of the needle collet relative to the securement device.

[0012] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a needle mechanism for an embroidery apparatus. The needle mechanism may include a needle bar and a needle collet detachably coupleable to the needle bar. The needle collet may be configured to retain a needle.

[0013] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus that includes a body housing and a quick-release needle plate. The body housing may have a base having a bed portion and the quick-release needle plate may be releasably coupled to the bed portion of the base of the body housing.

[0014] In various embodiments, the quick-release needle plate comprises a bobbin window. Said differently, the bobbin window may be a portion of the larger quick-release needle plate. That is, release/removal of the quick-release needle plate may enable sufficient user access to the underlying components such that the user can clean, repair, and/or replace various components of the shuttle mechanism. In various embodiments, the quick-release needle plate is free of threaded fasteners.

[0015] The embroidery apparatus, according to various embodiments, comprises a shuttle mechanism housed within the base of the body housing of the embroidery apparatus. In response to the quick-release needle plate being in an installed state, the quick-release needle plate extends over and at least partially covers an opening defined by the bed portion of the base of the body housing such that the shuttle mechanism is disposed below the quickrelease needle plate, according to various embodiments. Further, in response to the quickrelease needle plate being in a released state, the quick-release needle plate is removed from covering the opening such that the shuttle mechanism is accessible via the opening, according to various embodiments.

[0016] The quick-release needle plate may be at least one of slidably coupled, magnetically coupled, and hingedly coupled to the base of the body housing. In various embodiments, at least one of the quick-release needle plate and the base of the body housing comprises a magnetic member configured to facilitate at least one of securement and alignment of the quick-release needle plate relative to the base of the body housing.

[0017] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus comprising a spool post, wherein the spool post comprises a resiliently flexible feature configured to accommodate and be engageable with different inner diameters of different spools of thread. In various embodiments, the resiliently flexible feature comprises at least one of a spring structure and a bristle structure.

[0018] In various embodiments, the spool post comprises a base platform and the resiliently flexible feature comprises a curved finger extending from the base platform. The base platform may be configured to support a flange of a spool of thread and the curved finger is configured to engage an inner diameter of the spool of thread. In various embodiments, the curved finger comprises a radially outward convex surface and a radially inward concave surface. In various embodiments, the curved finger is a first curved finger of a plurality of curved fingers, wherein the plurality of curved fingers are circumferentially distributed about a post axis of the spool post.

[0019] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus that includes a body housing having a base, a pillar, and an arm. The embroidery apparatus also includes a spool post pivotably coupled to at least one of the pillar and the arm of the body housing, according to various embodiments. The spool post may be pivotable between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. The spool post may be pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation. In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus further includes at least one biasing member configured to reversibly bias the spool post to either the first orientation or the second orientation. In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus further includes at least one retention feature configured to reversibly hold the spool post in either the first orientation or the second orientation. In various embodiments, at least one of the spool post and the body housing adjacent the spool post comprises at least one magnetic member configured to facilitate reversible retention of the spool post in either the first orientation or the second orientation. [0020] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus that includes a base extending in a horizontal direction, a pillar extending in a vertical direction from a lateral end of the base, an arm extending in the horizontal direction from a top end of the pillar, a head disposed at an unsupported end of the arm, and a quickrelease end cap releasably coupled to at least one of the head and the arm. In various embodiments, the quick-release end cap is free of threaded fasteners.

[0021] In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus comprises needle movement elements housed within the head. In response to the quick-release end cap being in an installed state, the quick-release end cap may cover the needle movement elements. In response to the quick-release end cap being in a released state, the quick-release end cap may be removed from covering the needle movement elements such that the needle movement elements are accessible to a user. In various embodiments, the quick-release end cap is at least one of slidably coupled, magnetically coupled, and hingedly coupled to at least one of the head and the arm.

[0022] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus that includes workpiece movement elements configured to operably effectuate controlled movement of a carriage and a frame detachably coupled to the carriage. The frame may be configured to releasably hold a workpiece.

[0023] In various embodiments, the carriage of the embroidery apparatus comprises a latch mechanism configured to interface with the frame to provide the detachable coupling between the carriage and the frame. The latch mechanism may be configured to be actuated between a loaded state, in which the frame is secured to the carriage via the latch mechanism, and a loadable state, in which the frame is removed from the latch mechanism but is ready to be reloaded in response to reinsertion of the frame.

[0024] In various embodiments, the latch mechanism comprises a lever configured to be manipulated by a user to trigger at least one of unlocking and at least partial ejection of the frame relative to the carriage, thereby enabling transition of the latch mechanism from the loaded state to the loadable state. In various embodiments, in response to ejection/removal of the frame from the latch mechanism, the latch mechanism automatically reverts to the loadable state without requiring subsequent manipulation by the user at the lever. In various embodiments, the lever is in a default position both when the latch mechanism is in the loaded state and when the latch mechanism is in the loadable state. In various embodiments, the lever is in a manipulated position after manipulation by the user of the lever to trigger the at least one of unlocking and at least partial ejection of the frame relative to the carriage, but the lever is configured to automatically revert back to the default position during removal of the frame from the carriage.

[0025] In various embodiments, the latch mechanism of the carriage comprises a first track configured to slidably engage with a second track of the frame. At least one of the latch mechanism and the second track of the frame may have a magnetic member configured to facilitate reversible securement of the frame relative to the latch mechanism. In response to manipulation of the lever by the user, the lever actuates sliding displacement of the second track of the frame relative to the first track of the latch mechanism to a sufficient extent that magnetic attraction of the magnetic member is overcome, thereby enabling removal of the frame and corresponding transition of the latch mechanism from the loaded state to the loadable state, according to various embodiments.

[0026] In various embodiments, the latch mechanism comprises a lever configured to be manipulated by a user to reversibly lock the frame in a loaded position relative to the carriage. The lever may have a cam surface that is configured to exert a locking force on the frame in response to manipulation of the lever by the user to reversibly lock the frame in the loaded position.

[0027] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a method of using an embroidery apparatus. The method may include coupling a needle to a needle collet and, after coupling the needle to the needle collet, coupling the needle collet to a needle bar of the embroidery apparatus. In various embodiments, coupling the needle collet to the needle bar comprises non-axially loading the needle collet relative to the needle bar. In various embodiments, coupling the needle collet to the needle bar comprises securing the needle collet to the needle bar via a securement device.

[0028] In various embodiments, the securement device defines a collet channel having an open side such that securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device comprises inserting the needle collet laterally through the open side of the securement device, into the collet channel, and into alignment with a longitudinal axis of the needle bar. In various embodiments, the securement device comprises a clamp door hingedly coupled to a trough structure such that securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device comprises closing the clamp door across the open side of the collet channel to exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet and the needle when the needle collet is positioned within the collet channel.

[0029] In various embodiments, securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device comprises engaging respective complementary alignment features of the needle collet and the securement device to facilitate at least one of proper positioning, seating, alignment, and engagement of the needle collet relative to the securement device. In various embodiments, the securement device comprises a clamp assembly such that securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device comprises actuating the clamp assembly to exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet and the needle.

[0030] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a method of using an embroidery apparatus, the method comprising toollessly releasing a quick-release needle plate from a bed portion of a base of a body housing of the embroidery apparatus. Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a method of using an embroidery apparatus that includes inserting a frame of the embroidery apparatus into a latch mechanism of movable a carriage. Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a method of using an embroidery apparatus that includes manipulating a lever of a latch mechanism of a movable carriage of the embroidery apparatus to unlock a frame of the embroidery apparatus from the latch mechanism and removing the frame from the latch mechanism, wherein in response to removing the frame from the latch mechanism the latch mechanism automatically reverts to a loadable state. In various embodiments, the method further includes inserting the frame into the latch mechanism, wherein inserting the frame into the latch mechanism does not require separate manipulation of the latch mechanism.

[0031] Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus that includes a body housing comprising a base having a bed portion, a needle plate releasably coupled to the bed portion of the base of the body housing, and a quick-release bobbin window releasably coupled to the needle plate. In various embodiments, the quickrelease bobbin window comprises at least one magnetic member configured to facilitate at least one of retention and alignment of the quick-release bobbin window relative to the needle plate.

[0032] In various embodiments, the quick-release bobbin window is free of threaded fasteners. In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus comprises a bobbin housed below the needle plate. In response to the quick-release bobbin window being in an installed state, the quick-release bobbin window extends over and at least partially covers an opening defined by the needle plate such that the bobbin is disposed below and is visible through the quick-release bobbin window, according to various embodiments. In response to the quickrelease bobbin window being in a released state, the quick-release bobbin window is removed from covering the opening such that the bobbin is accessible via the opening, according to various embodiments. [0033] The needle plate of the embroidery apparatus may be a quick-release needle plate. For example, the needle plate may be detachably magnetically coupled to the base of the body housing.

[0034] In various embodiments, the needle plate defines a recess for receiving the quick-release bobbin window. The needle plate may also define a finger scoop region adjacent the recess, wherein the finger scoop region is configured to facilitate a user’s ability to at least one of grasp and lift the quick-release bobbin window to remove/detach the quickrelease bobbin window.

[0035] The forgoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In order that the advantages of the disclosure will be readily understood, a more particular description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Thus, although the subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification, a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the subject matter of the present application will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0038] FIG. IB is a schematic front perspective view of an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0039] FIG. 2A is perspective view of a spool post in a first orientation (e.g., a vertical orientation), in accordance with various embodiments;

[0040] FIG. 2B is perspective view of a spool post, with a spool of thread supported thereon, in a second orientation (e.g., a horizontal orientation), in accordance with various embodiments; [0041] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show views of a spool post having a resiliently flexible feature, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0042] FIG. 3D shows a bristle structure that may be incorporated as a spool post, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0043] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show various components of a needle mechanism, including a needle, a needle collet, and a needle bar having a set screw, and show various steps/stages using the needle mechanism to detachably couple the needle to the needle bar, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0044] FIGS. 4D and 4E show various components of a needle mechanism, including a needle, a needle collet, a securement device having a set screw, and a needle bar, and show various steps/stages using the needle mechanism to detachably couple the needle to the needle bar, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0045] FIGS. 5 A and 5B show an example of loading a needle into a needle collet of a needle mechanism, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0046] FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show various components of a needle mechanism, including a needle, a needle collet, a securement device having a clamp assembly, and a needle bar, and show various steps/stages using the needle mechanism to detachably couple the needle to the needle bar, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0047] FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E show various components of a needle mechanism, including a needle, a needle collet, a securement device having a clamp assembly that includes a cam clamp arm, and a needle bar, and show various steps/stages using the needle mechanism to detachably couple the needle to the needle bar, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0048] FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show various components of a needle mechanism, including a needle, a needle collet, a securement device having a clamp assembly that includes a clamp door, and a needle bar, and show various steps/stages using the needle mechanism to detachably couple the needle to the needle bar, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0049] FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F show various components of a needle mechanism, including a needle, a needle collet, a securement device having a clamp assembly that includes a first clamp arm and a second clamp arm, and a needle bar, and show various steps/stages using the needle mechanism to detachably couple the needle to the needle bar, in accordance with various embodiments; [0050] FIGS. 10A, 10B, IOC, and 10D show various components of a needle mechanism, including a needle, a needle collet, and a securement device having a trough structure, and show various steps/stages using the needle mechanism to retain (e.g., reversibly retain) the needle within the needle collet, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0051] FIGS. 11 A and 11B show a head of a body housing of an embroidery apparatus having a quick-release end cap, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0052] FIGS. 12A and 12B show a quick-release needle plate slidably coupled to a base of a body housing of an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0053] FIGS. 13A and 13B show a shuttle mechanism being accessible in response to release/removal of a quick-release needle plate, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0054] FIG. 14 shows a plurality of support datums configured to support a quickrelease needle plate in an installed state, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0055] FIG. 15 shows a plurality of magnetic members configured to facilitate alignment and/or retention of a quick-release needle plate in an installed state, in accordance with various embodiments;

|0056| FIG. 16 shows a quick-release needle plate hingedly coupled to a base of a body housing of an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0057] FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D show various components of a workpiece mechanism, including a frame (for releasably holding a workpiece) and a latch mechanism (of a carriage) having a release lever, and show various steps/stages using the workpiece mechanism to detachably couple the frame to the latch mechanism of the carriage, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0058] FIGS. 18 A, 18B, and 18C show various components of a workpiece mechanism, including a frame (for releasably holding a workpiece) and a latch mechanism (of a carriage) having a locking lever, and show various steps/stages using the workpiece mechanism to detachably couple the frame to the latch mechanism of the carriage, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0059] FIGS. 19A and 19B show various components of a workpiece mechanism, including a frame (for releasably holding a workpiece) and a latch mechanism (of a carriage) having a lever, and show various steps/stages using the workpiece mechanism to detachably couple the frame to the latch mechanism of the carriage, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0060] FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F show various components of a workpiece mechanism, including a frame (for releasably holding a workpiece) and a latch mechanism (of a carriage) having a release lever, and show various steps/stages using the workpiece mechanism to detachably couple the frame to the latch mechanism of the carriage, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0061] FIG. 21 is schematic block diagram of an example computing system that may be used to control various components and assemblies of an embroidery apparatus and that may be utilized in various systems and methods described herein, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0062] FIGS. 22 and 23 show schematic flowchart diagrams of methods of using an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments; [0063] FIG. 24A shows a top view of a quick-release bobbin window releasably coupled to a quick-release needle plate of an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments; and

[0064] FIG. 24B shows a front perspective view of a quick-release bobbin window removed a distance from a quick-release needle plate of an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein refers to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, other embodiments may be realized and logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

[0066] Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an embroidery apparatus. The embroidery apparatus, which may also be referred to herein as a sewing machine, a sewing apparatus, and/or an embroidery machine, is generally configured to create sewing embellishments, such as user-selected patterns and/or designs, on workpieces (e.g., textiles and fabrics). In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus generally includes a needle mechanism and a workpiece mechanism. A needle (e.g., a threaded needle) may be coupled to the needle mechanism and a workpiece may be coupled to the workpiece mechanism. The needle mechanism, according to various embodiments, is generally configured to move the needle up and down (e.g., in a controlled reciprocating motion) in a substantially vertical direction such that the needle moves into and out of the workpiece. The workpiece mechanism is generally configured to controllably move the workpiece relative to the reciprocating needle, thereby enabling the embroidery apparatus to create sewing embellishments on the workpiece.

100671 In various embodiments, and with reference to the schematic depictions of FIGS. 1A and IB, the embroidery apparatus 100 generally includes a body housing 110 which defines the overall structure/framework of the embroidery apparatus 100. The body housing 110, according to various embodiments, includes a base 112, a pillar 114, an arm 116, and a head 118. The base 112 and the arm 116 generally extend in a substantially horizontal direction and the pillar 114, which extends between and interconnects the base 112 and the arm 116, extends in a substantially vertical direction. The pillar 114 may be situated to extend between respective lateral ends/sides of the base 112 and the arm 116. Said differently, the arm 116 may have a cantilevered configuration in which a first end (e.g., the right end) of the arm 116 is connected to the pillar 114 and a second opposing end (e.g., the left end) of the arm 116 is unsupported (i.e., may only be supported via the first end). The depictions of FIGS. 1A and IB are schematic in nature, and are thus not necessarily representative of actual shape, size, and/or dimensions of the embroidery apparatus, but instead are included to show an exemplary general architecture and/or to show relative positioning of various components of the embroidery apparatus.

[0068] The terms “horizontal” and “vertical,” as well as other positional terms used herein, such as “top,” “upper,” “bottom,” “lower,” “front,” “forward,” “back,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “interior,” “exterior,” and the like, are used to describe various components and/or various sections, segments, and/or portions of components and structures. These terms are not intended to describe absolute positions, but instead these terms are used to describe orientations, shapes, and geometries of various components relative to a user’s perspective and/or experience during standard engagement and utilization of the disclosed embroidery apparatus 100. To provide further clarity, various figure views may include axes that are labeled with these relative positional terms, such as a top and bottom axis (e.g., an upper and lower axis) and/or a front and back axis (e.g., a forward and rear axis) to depict this ‘standard’ perspective relative to which the components of the embroidery apparatus 100 are described. For example, FIG. 1A shows a vertical axis (e.g., a Z-axis) labeled top/bottom and a first horizontal axis (e.g., an X-axis) labeled left/right. For clarity, a second horizontal axis (e.g., a Y-axis) is also contemplated herein, with a front direction defined as coming out of the page and a rear direction going into the page of FIG. 1A, according to various embodiments.

[0069] In various embodiments, the body housing 110 also includes a head 118 at the unsupported end of the arm 116. The head 118 may be defined as the region or portion of the arm 116 where the needle mechanism 140 is located. Said differently, the head 118 may comprise the various actuating components, such as a reciprocating needle bar 141 of the needle mechanism 140 for operably driving a needle 145 connected thereto into and out of a workpiece 165. The embroidery apparatus 100 also includes various motors, drive shafts, actuators, linkages, controllers, etc. to provide/create the vertical reciprocating motion, according to various embodiments. These components, generally referred to herein as the needle movement elements, may be components of the needle mechanism 140 and/or may be operably coupled to the needle mechanism 140 (e.g., coupled to the needle bar 141). In various embodiments, and as described in greater detail below, the needle mechanism 140 may include a needle collet 142 intermediate the needle bar 141 and the needle 145. Said differently, the needle 145 may be detachably coupled to the needle collet 142, and the needle collet 142 may be detachably coupled to the needle bar 141, as described in greater detail below. Additional details regarding the needle mechanism 140 are included below with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F, 10A, 10B, IOC, and 10D.

[0070] The embroidery apparatus 100 may also include a spool post 115 configured to support a spool of thread. The spool post 115 is described in greater detail below, but the thread on the spool that is supported by the spool post 115 may be referred to herein as an upper thread or a first thread, and this first thread may be routed from the spool to the needle 145. This first thread may be the thread that ultimately forms the visible sewing embellishment on the workpiece. Additional details regarding the spool post 1 15 are included below with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D.

[0071] In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus 100 includes a shuttle mechanism 122. The shuttle mechanism 122 is generally situated at a bed portion 113 of the base 112 of the body housing 110. The bed portion 113 may be defined as the top/upper surface of the base 112, and the shuttle mechanism 122 may define a section of this top/upper surface and/or may include various components housed within the base 112 of the body housing 110. For example, embroidery apparatus 100 may include a needle plate 120 that defines a section of the bed portion 113. The needle plate 120 generally defines one or more apertures into which the needle 145 may pass during operation of the embroidery apparatus 100. Housed below the needle plate 120 may be various components of the shuttle mechanism 122, such as a shuttle 124 and a bobbin 125. The needle plate 120 may also include a bobbin window through which the user is able to view/see at least a portion of the bobbin. Thus, the shuttle mechanism 122 may be generally configured to entwine the first/upper thread of the needle 145 (e.g., from a spool on the spool post 115) with a second thread (also referred to herein as a lower thread) spooled on the bobbin 125. Said differently, the shuttle 124 of the shuttle mechanism 122 may be configured to loop and/or entwine the first thread with the second thread to thereby form stitches on the workpiece. Accordingly, the needle plate 120 may provide a cover for the components of the shuttle mechanism 122, and the needle plate 120 may be releasably (e.g., detachably, slidably, hingedly) coupled to the bed portion 113 of the base 112 of the body housing 110 of the embroidery apparatus 100 to allow periodic access (e.g., maintenance access) to the shuttle mechanism 122, as described in greater detail below. Additional details regarding the needle plate 120 are included below with reference to FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 14, 15, 16, 24A, and 24B.

[0072] In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus 100 includes a workpiece mechanism 160. The workpiece mechanism 160 is generally configured to reversibly/detachably retain a workpiece (e.g., a textile and/or a fabric material) during an embroidery operation, according to various embodiments. Further, as mentioned above, the workpiece mechanism 160 is generally configured to controllably and operably move the workpiece 165 relative to the location of the needle 145, according to various embodiments. For example, the workpiece mechanism 160 may be configured to controllably and operably move the workpiece 165 left and right as well as forward and backward across the bed portion 113 of the base 112, thus allowing different regions of the workpiece to be positioned below the needle 145 for receiving the sewing stitches during the creation of the sewing embellishment on the workpiece 165. In other words, the workpiece mechanism 160 may be generally configured to move the workpiece 165 in an XY plane (e.g., a horizontal plane) and the needle mechanism 140 may be generally configured to move the needle up and down along a vertical Z-axis (e.g., which may be perpendicular to the XY plane.

[0073] In various embodiments, and with continued reference to FIGS. 1A and IB, the workpiece mechanism 160 may include a frame 162. The frame 162 may be configured to hold/secure a sheet-shaped workpiece (a work cloth, for example). That is, the frame 162 may include securement features that are configured to engage and/or detachably retain the workpiece 165 during the embroidery operation (e.g., as the needle 145 is driven into and out of the workpiece 165 to create the sewing embellishment). For example, the frame 162 may include a first frame portion and a second frame portion, and these frame portions may be configured to clamp the workpiece therebetween.

[0074] The frame 162 may be detachably coupled to one or more actuating/driving components for operably moving the frame 162 relative to the needle location. For example, the embroidery apparatus 100 may include one or more rails (e.g., an X rail and a Y rail) and the frame 162 may be movably coupled to said rails to enable movement of the frame 162 along the one or more rails to achieve the motion of the frame 162 relative to the needle mechanism 140. Accordingly, the embroidery apparatus may include various actuating components, such as motors, drive shafts, linear translators, carriages, actuators, linkages, controllers, etc. to provide/create the lateral motion of the frame 162 and mounted workpiece 165 within the XY-plane. These components, generally referred to herein as the workpiece movement elements, may be components of the workpiece mechanism 160 and/or may be operably coupled to the workpiece mechanism 160. For example, the workpiece mechanism 160 may include a carriage 161 intermediate the workpiece movement elements and the frame 162, and the carriage 161 may enable detachable connection of the frame 162 to the workpiece movement elements. Additional details pertaining to the workpiece mechanism 160, specifically the frame 162 and the carriage 161, are included below with reference to FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F.

[0075] The embroidery apparatus may include other components not explicitly described herein. Said differently, the present disclosure is not intended to present an exhaustive list of the features and components of the embroidery apparatus (e.g., various details pertaining to conventional features and components may be omitted). Instead, the present disclosure provides details for various improvements that may be generally implemented and/or adapted for the sewing/embroidery industry.

[0076] The embroidery apparatus may also include, or may at least be operably and communicatively coupled to, a computing system for controlling operation of the embroidery apparatus. Accordingly, the process of creating the sewing embellishments on a workpiece using the embroidery apparatus may include controlling various components of the embroidery apparatus using a computing system 3000, as described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 21. For example, the needle mechanism 140 and/or the workpiece mechanism 160, including their associated movement elements, may be configured to receive actuation/control signals from the computing system 3000. The present disclosure also includes various details and steps pertaining to methods of using an embroidery apparatus. Various exemplary methods of using an embroidery apparatus are described in greater detail below with reference to the schematic flow chart diagrams of FIGS. 22 and 23, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0077] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 2 A and 2B, the spool post 215 of the embroidery apparatus 200 is pivotably coupled to the body housing (e.g., the pillar 214 and/or the arm 216 of the body housing). Said differently, the spool post 215 may be configured to be rotated and/or pivoted to different orientations, thereby enabling a spool 295 of thread supported thereon to have corresponding orientations. By having a pivotable spool post 215, a user may select a desired position of the spool post 215 (and a supported spool 295) based on various factors, such as size and/or type of thread 246, size and/or type of spool 295, expected operating speed of the embroidery apparatus 200, and/or desired or expected tension of the thread 246, among other factors. In various embodiments, the thread 246 from the spool 295, which may be referred to as a first thread or an upper thread, is routed from the spool 295 on the spool post 215 to the needle mechanism 240.

[0078] In various embodiments, the spool post 215 is pivotable between a first orientation (e.g., a vertical orientation, see FIG. 2A) and a second orientation (e.g., a horizontal orientation, see FIG. 2B). The embroidery apparatus 200 may be configured such that the spool post 215 is secure in either of these positions but is unsecured in positions/orientations therebetween. Said differently, the embroidery apparatus 200 may be configured to reversibly bias the spool post 215 toward either of the first orientation and the second orientation, and/or the embroidery apparatus 200 may be configured to reversibly retain/hold the spool post 215 in either of these orientations. During operation/use of the embroidery apparatus, this biasing and/or retention may be overcome by the user physical manipulating the spool post 215 to switch the orientation of the spool post. In other words, the spool post 215 may be bi-stable in either of these two orientations, and thus the embroidery apparatus 200 may be configured to preclude or at least mitigate the spool post 215 from being positioned in partially rotated positions, but instead the embroidery apparatus 200 may be configured to predispose the spool post 215 to either of the first orientation and the second orientation.

[0079] In various embodiments, and in order to provide the aforementioned bistability, the embroidery apparatus 200 may include at least one biasing member configured to reversibly bias the spool post 215 to either the first orientation or the second orientation. For example, the embroidery apparatus 200 may include one or more springs configured to force the spool post 215 to either orientation. In various embodiments, if a user is not actively holding/manipulating the spool post 215, the biasing member may be configured to force the spool post 215 to either of the stable orientations. In various embodiments, the embroidery apparatus 200 has at least one retention feature configured to reversibly hold the spool post 215 in either the first orientation or the second orientation. For example, detent arrangements may be incorporated in the embroidery apparatus 200 to reversibly secure the spool post 215 in either of the stable orientations. In a further example, the embroidery apparatus 200 may include one or more magnetic member that are configured to facilitate reversible retention of the spool post 215 in one of the stable orientations. In various embodiments, the body housing (e.g., the arm 216 of the body housing) may define a spool post cavity 217, which may be a recess or groove, that is configured to at least partially receive the spool post 215 in the second orientation. The at least one retention feature may be a lip or other feature of the spool post cavity 217, according to various embodiments.

[0080] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, the embroidery apparatus includes a spool post 315 having a resiliently flexible feature 392 configured to accommodate and be engageable with different inner diameters of different spools 395 of thread. For example, the resiliently flexible feature 392 of the spool post 315 may be configured to provide a resistive and/or interference fit with different spools having different inner diameters. In other words, while different spools of thread may have different inner diameters, the resiliently flexible feature 392 of the spool post 315 may be configured to collapse radially inward to allow the resiliently flexible feature 392 to extend through the inner diameter of different spools 395 while also providing substantially constant contact with the inner surface of said spools 395, thereby maintaining friction contact with the spools 395 to thereby facilitate retention of the spool 395 on the spool post 315.

[0081] The resiliently flexible feature of the spool post 315 may comprises at least one of a spring structure and a bristle structure 392’ (FIG. 3D), according to various embodiments. For example, the resiliently flexible feature 392 of the spool post 315 may include a curved finger (e.g., a spring finger) extending from a base platform 391 of the spool post 315, and/or the spool post may comprise a bristle structure 392’, with the bristles configured to deflect to accommodate different sizes of inner diameters while also providing substantially constant contact to the inner diameter of the spool to facilitate retention of the spool on the spool post.

[0082] In various embodiments, the base platform 391 of the spool post 315 may be configured to support a flange of a spool 395 and the resiliently flexible feature, such as a curved finger, may extend at least partially through and engage an inner diameter of the spool 395. The spool post 315 may include multiple curved fingers (e.g., FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C), and these multiple curved fingers may be circumferentially distributed around/about a post axis of the spool post 315. For example, the spool post may include two curved fingers (FIG. 3B), three curved fingers (FIG. 3C), or more than three curved fingers. In various embodiments, the spool post may include a central finger around/about which the curved fingers are positioned (see, for example, FIGS. 3A and 3B). In various embodiments, the spool post only includes curved fingers and does not include a centerline finger/post (FIG. 3C). In various embodiments, each curved finger comprises a radially outward convex surface (configured to engage the inner diameter of the spool) and a radially inward concave surface.

[0083] With momentary reference to FIGS. 1A and IB, the needle mechanism 140 of the embroidery apparatus 100 generally includes a needle collet 142 configured to retain (e.g., reversibly retain) a needle 145, in accordance with various embodiments. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D show various structural implementations of a needle collet and corresponding steps/stages of using a needle collet with the other components of a needle mechanism of the embroidery apparatus. The needle collet, as defined herein, refers generally to an intermediate component that facilitates attachment of the needle to the needle movement elements. As a reminder, the term “needle movement elements” as used herein refers to the various motors, drive shafts, actuators, linkages, controllers, etc. that provide/create the vertical reciprocating motion of the needle bar. These needle movement elements may be components of the needle mechanism and/or may be operably coupled to the needle mechanism. In various embodiments, the needle collet is configured to provide two primary benefits, namely, reversibly retaining a needle and detachably coupling to the needle bar. Said differently, the needle bar, as defined herein, is the interface between the needle movement elements and the needle collet.

[0084] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, various stages of installing a needle are provided and shown. FIG. 4A shows the needle 445 before being inserted into the needle collet 442, FIG. 4B shows the needle 445 fully seated and retained by the needle collet 442, and FIG. 4C shows the needle collet 442 coupled to the needle bar 441.

[0085] In various embodiments, and with continued reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the needle collet 442 of the needle mechanism 440 defines a needle channel 447 configured to receive at least a portion of the needle 445. For example, the needle collet 442 may have a shaft/barrel portion, and the shaft/barrel portion of the needle collet 442 may define the needle channel 447. The needle channel 447 may have an open end (through which the needle 445 is inserted) and a closed end (opposite the open end). The needle channel 447 may have a size and shape (e.g., a cross-sectional shape) that corresponds to the size and shape of the needle 445. For example, the needle 445 may have a tip at one end and a hub at the end opposite the tip. The hub may be comparatively wider than the tip (i.e., may have a comparatively larger cross-sectional dimension and the tip), and the hub may be the portion of the needle 445 that is inserted into the needle channel 447 of the needle collet 442. The hub of the needle 445 may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape and size that corresponds (e.g., complements) the cross-sectional shape and size of the needle channel 447, thus facilitating a secure fit between the needle collet 442 and the needle 445. In various embodiments, the fit between the needle 445 and the needle channel 447 of the needle collet 442 is tight enough to prevent excessive play of the needle 445.

[0086] In various embodiments, the needle collet defines one or more kerf cuts. The one or more kerf cuts may extend longitudinally at least partially along a barrel/shaft of the needle collet, and the one or more kerf cuts may be configured to enable the shaft of the collet to bend and/or deflect inward in response to a compressive force. The inward compression of the needle collet may facilitate secure (and yet reversible) retention of the needle. For example, the needle mechanism may include a set screw 443, and the set screw 443 may be actuated to compress the needle collet 442 to facilitate retention of the needle 445. The set screw 443 may be a component of the needle bar 441, or the set screw 443’ may be an element of a securement device 444 (FIGS. 4D and 4E; see corresponding description below). Accordingly, a set screw or other securement device may facilitate retention of the needle within the needle collet, may facilitate attachment of the needle collet to the needle bar, or may facilitate both retention of the needle and attachment of the needle collet, as described in greater detail below.

[0087] In various embodiments, the needle collet 442 includes a magnetic member (e.g., 555 of FIG. 5B) configured to facilitate retention and/or alignment of the needle 445 relative to the needle collet 442. For example, the magnetic member may be disposed adjacent the bottom/closed end of the needle channel 447. As a user inserts the needle 445 into the needle channel 447 of the needle collet 442, the magnetic attraction between the magnetic member and the hub of the needle 445 may cause the needle to ‘snap’ into retained engagement with the needle collet 442. In various embodiments, the needle collet and the magnetic member may be configured to ensure proper seating and orientation of the needle 445 relative to the needle collet 442.

[0088] In various embodiments, the needle collet 442 comprises a flange 449. The flange 449 may be adjacent the open end of the needle channel 447. Said differently, the flange portion of the needle collet 442 may define the open end of the needle channel 447. The flange 449 of the needle collet 442 may at least partially define a shoulder configured to abut a surface of the needle bar 441 and/or a securement device. Accordingly, the flange of the needle collet 442 may promote proper attachment of the needle collet 442 to the needle bar 441. Indeed, in various embodiments the needle collet may be configured to enable easy, repeatable, and accurate attachment of the needle collet to the needle bar. In other words, the needle collet may be configured to ensure that, as the user proceeds to couple the needle collet to the needle bar, the needle collet is installed/attached at the proper position relative to the length of the needle bar.

[0089] In various embodiments, and with specific reference to FIGS. 4D and 4E, the needle mechanism 440 of the embroidery apparatus may also include a securement device 444. The securement device 444 may be configured to reversibly secure the needle collet 442 to the needle bar 441. The securement device may be a component that is integrated with (i.e., permanently attached or permanently extending from) the needle bar (e.g., see FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C), or the securement device may be a separable component from the needle bar (e.g., see FIGS. 4D and 4E). As mentioned above, the securement device 444 may comprise a set screw 443’. The set screw 443’ may have a toolless head. That is, the set screw 443’ may include surface features that are easily graspable and actuatable (i.e., rotatable) by a user without requiring tools. The opposing end of the set screw 443’ may comprise a tip that is configured to reversibly engage the needle collet 442 and/or the needle 445 itself. Accordingly, as mentioned above, the securement device may not only facilitate reversible attachment of the needle collet to the needle bar but may also facilitate retention of the needle within the needle collet.

[0090] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 5 A and 5B, one benefit of the needle collet 542 is the ability to load a needle 545 into the needle collet 542 without having to work within the confines of the working region. In other words, the working area/region, which is defined as the area above working bed but below the needle bar 541, may have limited space and thus restricts or at least reduces a user’ s ability to handle and install needles on a conventional machine. By using the needle collet 542, the user can load the needle 545 into the needle collet 542 while the needle collet is removed a distance from the confines of the working region, thus allowing the user freedom to properly seat the needle within the needle collet.

[0091] FIG. 5B shows an exemplary location for the magnetic member 555. As mentioned above, the magnetic member 555 may be housed within and/or attached to the needle collet 542, and the magnetic member 555 may facilitate orientation, alignment, and/or retention of the needle 545 within the needle collet 542. In various embodiments, the needle collet 542 also includes a flange 549, and the flange 549 may provide a graspable surface for the user, thereby further enabling easy manipulation of the needle collet 542. In various embodiments, the flange 549 of the needle collet 542 may also include on or more magnetic members or other alignment features configured to facilitate retention, alignment, and/or orientation of the needle collet 542 relative to the needle bar and/or the securement device, as described in greater detail below.

[0092] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the securement device of the needle mechanism 640 may have a clamping structure. Said differently, the securement device that is configured to reversibly secure the needle collet 642 to the needle bar 641 may be a clamp assembly 644. The clamp assembly 644 may be configured to selectively and reversibly exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet 642 and the needle 645. In various embodiments, the clamp assembly 644 includes a clamp collar 650 that is configured to extend at least partially around the needle collet 642 and that can be actuated to reversibly exert a compressive clamping force around/about the needle collet 642 to provide securement of the needle collet 642 to the needle bar 641 and/or to provide retention of the needle 645 reversibly received within the needle collet 642. For example, the clamp assembly 644 may include a clamp fastener 651 that can be actuated by a user to control the clamping force exerted by the clamp collar 650. The clamp collar 650 may have a horseshoe shape, and the clamp fastener 651 may extend between the ends of the horseshoe shape and may be configured to actuate opening and/or closing of the distance between the ends of the horseshoe shape, thereby controlling the level of clamping force exerted by the clamp collar 650.

[0093] In various embodiments, the clamp assembly 644 further includes a clamp arm 652. The clamp arm 652 may be pivotably/hingedly coupled to the clamp fastener 651, and rotation of the clamp arm 652 may lock and/or release the clamping force exerted by the clamp collar 650, depending on the direction of rotation of the clamp arm 652. For example, the clamp arm 652 may have a cam feature/surface such that rotation of the clamp arm 652 in a first direction tensions the clamp fastener 651 while compressing the clamp collar 650 and rotation of the clamp arm 652 in second direction (e.g., opposite the first direction) releases tension in the clamp fastener 651 and also releases compression in the clamp collar 650. In various embodiments, with continued reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the needle collet 642 may have a flange 649 that includes one or more magnetic members 649’ .

[0094] The one or more magnetic members 649’ may be configured to facilitate proper positioning of the needle collet 642 relative to the clamp assembly 644. Said differently, the one or more magnetic members 649’ of the flange 649 of the needle collet 642 may be magnetically attracted to magnetic material on the clamp assembly 644 (e.g., the clamp collar 650), and this magnetic attraction may guide the user during loading of the needle collet 642 into the clamp assembly 644. For example, the one or more magnetic features 649’ may facilitate angular alignment between the needle collet 642 and the clamp assembly 644. In various embodiments, the one or more magnetic members that are configured to facilitate alignment between the needle collet and the securement device may be components of the needle collet, may be components of the securement device, and/or may be components of both (e.g., magnetic members may be incorporated into both the needle collet and the securement device).

[0095] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E, the securement device of the needle mechanism 740 may have a clamping structure and/or may be a clamp assembly 744. In various embodiments, the clamp assembly 744 extends from the needle bar 741 and may be integrated with the needle bar 741 (e.g., the clamp assembly 744 may be non-removably attached to the needle bar 741). Note, to avoid obscuring aspects of the clamp assembly 744, FIGS. 7 A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E only show a section/portion of the needle bar 741. In other words, in actual use/implementation the needle bar 741 may be mechanically linked to the needle movement elements mentioned, but the full extent of the needle bar 741 and its interconnection to the needle movement elements are omitted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E to allow for the features of the securement device/clamp assembly 744 to be clearly depicted.

[0096] The clamp assembly 744 may have a clamp arm 752 pivotably coupled to a housing 744’, and the clamp arm 752 may have a cam surface 752’ that is configured to exert a compressive force on the needle collet 742 and/or the needle itself 745. For example, the cam surface 752’ may directly engage the needle collet 742 and/or the needle 745 itself to provide the securement/retention between these components. Indeed, in response to rotation of the clamp arm 752, the cam surface 752’ may also correspondingly rotate, thereby causing the compression force applied to the needle collet 742 and/or the needle 745 to be modulated. For example, FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7E show the clamp arm 752 in a first position and FIG. 7D shows the clamp arm 752 in a second position. With the clamp arm 752 being in the first position (e.g., a locked state), the cam surface 752’ of the clamp arm 752 may transmit a compression force on the needle collet 742 that is received within the housing 744’ of the clamp assembly, thereby facilitating retention of the needle collet 742 relative to the housing 744’. With the clamp arm 752 being in the second position (e.g., a released state), the cam surface 752’ may no longer be in force-transmitting contact with the needle collet 742, thus allowing the needle collet 742 to be released/removed from the securement device/clamp assembly 744.

[0097] The securement device, which according to various embodiments may also be referred to herein as a clamp assembly, may be configured to enable non-axial loading of the needle collet relative to the needle bar. Said differently, the securement device may be structurally configured such that the needle collet can be front loaded into secure engagement with the needle bar. In such a configuration, the user would not need to load the needle collet into the securement device in an axial direction (as defined relative to the axis of the needle bar and/or relative to the vertical axis of the substantially reciprocating motion of the needle mechanism), but instead the user would be able to move the needle collet laterally (e.g., horizontally) into the working region to detachably couple the needle collet (with the needle reversibly retained thereto) to the needle bar.

[0098] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, the securement device 844 of the needle mechanism 840 comprises a trough structure 853 that defines a collet channel configured to receive the needle collet 842. The trough structure 853 may have an open side, thus allowing the non-axial (e.g., front-loading) of the needle collet 842 into the securement device 844 (i.e., into the collet channel defined by the trough structure 853 of the securement device 844). The open side of the trough structure 853 may be configured to allow the needle collet 842 to be moved laterally (e.g., horizontally) through the open side, into the collet channel, and into alignment with a longitudinal axis of the needle bar 841 during a loading operation. Accordingly, the securement device 844 may be affixed to the needle bar 841 in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the needle bar 841 extends through the collet channel defined by the trough structure 853 of the securement device 844.

[0099] In various embodiments, the securement device 844 includes a clamp door 856 that is configured to pivot/hinge open and closed. The clamp door 856 may be hingedly and/or pivotably coupled to the trough structure 853 and may be configured to selectively and reversibly extend across the open side of the collet channel/trough structure 853 to exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet 842 and the needle 845 when the needle collet 842 is positioned within the collet channel/trough structure 853. As described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D, one or both of the needle collet and the securement device may comprise alignment features that are configured to guide users to load the needle collet into the securement device in the lateral manner mentioned above.

[0100] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F, the securement device 944 of the needle mechanism 940 is separable from needle bar 941. For example, the securement device 944 of the needle mechanism 940 may be detachably coupleable to the needle bar 941 and the securement device may also be configured to reversibly secure the needle collet to the needle bar. In various embodiments, the securement device extends from the needle collet and is a component thereof. However, in various embodiments, the securement device 944 can function as both the needle collet and as the securement device. In other words, the securement device 944 may be configured to provide both for the reversible retention of the needle 945 and for the detachably coupling to the needle bar 941. [0101] In various embodiments, the securement device 944 includes a first clamp arm 952 and a second clamp arm 954. Similar to the clamp door described above, one or both of these clamp arms 952, 954 may be pivotably and/or hingedly coupled to a channel or trough structure of the securement device 944 and may be configured to reversibly open and close to provide for loading and securement, respectively, of the needle 945 relative to the needle bar 941. In various embodiments, the second clamp arm 954 is configured to overlap at least a portion of the first clamp arm 952 to exert the clamping force on the at least one of the needle collet and the needle 945 via the first clamp arm 952. Said differently, the first clamp arm 952 may be pivoted to close an open side of a trough structure of the securement device, and the second clamp arm 954 may be pivoted to extend over the first clamp arm 952. The pivoting movement and securement of the free end of the second clamp arm 954 may provide the clamping force on at least one of the needle 945 and the needle collet via the first clamp arm 952. For example, the second clamp arm 954 may have a cam surface 954’ that is configured to contact and/or engage the free end 952’ of the first clamp arm 952 (see FIGS. 9C, 9E, and 9F), thus forcing the first clamp arm 952 radially inward to thereby clamp the needle 945 and/or the needle collet in response to pivoting of the second clamp arm 954. In various embodiments, the second clamp arm 954 is coupled to a trough/collet structure at a first pivot point/axis 954” and also comprises a second pivot point/axis 954’ ” (FIG 9E).

[0102] In various embodiments, in response to a single actuation of the securement device, the securement device is configured to reversibly secure both the needle collet to the needle bar and the needle to the needle collet. Said differently, a single pivoting movement of a clamp arm of the securement device may create a clamping force that both facilitates reversible retention of the needle within the needle collet and also facilitates detachably securement of the needle collet to the needle bar. For example, the needle collet or the securement device may define a needle channel configured to receive at least a portion of the needle, but the needle collet or securement device may also define a needle bar channel configured to receive at least a portion of the needle bar itself (see, for example, FIGS. 9 A, 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E). That is, the needle collet or the securement device may be configured to receive (e.g., into respective channels) the needle and the needle bar, and actuation of a clamp assembly may result in the application of a reversible clamping force on both the needle and the needle bar that are received within respective channels of the needle collet or securement device.

[0103] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and

10D, the securement device 1044 of the needle mechanism 1040 includes a trough structure 1053 configured to receive the needle collet 1042 with the needle 1045 reversibly received within the needle collet 1042. The securement device 1044 may also include a securement fastener 1043 that is configured to be selectively and reversibly actuated to close the open side of the trough structure to secure the retained needle collet in place. Note, to avoid obscuring aspects of the needle mechanism 1040, FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D only show a section/portion of the needle bar 1041. In other words, in actual use/implementation the needle bar 1041 may be mechanically linked to the needle movement elements mentioned, but the full extent of the needle bar 1041 and its interconnection to the needle movement elements are omitted in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D to allow for the features of the securement device and/or needle collet to be clearly depicted.

[0104] As mentioned above, the needle collet 1042 and the securement device 1044 may comprise alignment features 1057, 1058 that are configured to guide a user to load the needle collet 1042 into the securement device 1044 (e.g., in the lateral manner previously described). That is, alignment features on one or both of the needle collet and the securement device may be configured to facilitate proper positioning, seating, alignment, and/or engagement of the needle collet relative to the securement device. For example, the needle collet 1042 may include one or more protrusions 1057 that are configured to be received into one or more groove defined by the securement device 1044. In various embodiments, the securement device may include one or more tabs 1058, and the needle collet 1042 may be configured to seat in a specific orientation/manner relative to these one or more tabs 1058. For example, the needle collet 1042 may include one or more protrusions 1057 extending from a top side of the needle collet 1042 and the needle collet 1042 may include a flange 1049 extending from a bottom side of the needle collet 1042. In response to insertion of the needle collet 1042 into the trough structure 1053 (i.e., the collet channel) of the securement device 1044, the one or more protrusions 1057 may be positioned above the tabs 1058 while the flange 1049 may be positioned below the tabs 1058. In various embodiments, these alignment features 1057, 1058 may not only provide a visual indication (e.g., a guide) to the user as to how the needle collet 1042 is to be received into the securement device, but these alignment features 1057, 1058 may preclude users from improperly loading the needle collet. For example, the alignment features may preclude the user from loading the needle collet in an axial manner, thus requiring/guiding the user to install/load the needle collet in the frontloading, horizontal movement manner described herein.

[0105] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 11A and 11B, the head 1118 of the body housing of the embroidery apparatus may have a quick-release end cap 1119. The quick -release end cap 1119 may be releasably coupled to at least one of the head 1118 and the arm 1116 of the body housing of the embroidery apparatus. The quick-release end cap 1119 may be generally configured to provide easy and quick access the various needle movement elements that are disposed/housed within the head 1118 of the embroidery apparatus. For example, the quick-release end cap 1119 may be free of threaded fasteners, and instead may be pivotably and/or hingedly coupled to the body housing of the embroidery apparatus. In various embodiments, in response to the quick-release end cap 1119 being in an installed/attached state (FIG. 1 1 B), the quick-release end cap 11 19 at least partially covers the needle movement elements while in response to the quick-release end cap 1119 being in a released state (FIG. 11 A), the quick-release end cap 1119 is removed from covering the needle movement elements such that the needle movement elements are accessible to a user.

[0106] The quick-release end cap 1119 and/or the body housing of the embroidery apparatus may include one or more hinges and/or locks (referred to generally as attachment mechanisms) that facilitate the reversible securement of the quick-release end cap 1119. For example, the embroidery apparatus may include spring-loaded sliding buttons that are configured to engage corresponding surfaces, grooves, or slits. The embroidery apparatus may also include one or more magnetic members that facilitate proper locating, alignment, and securement of the quick-release end cap relative to the body housing of the embroidery apparatus. In various embodiments, the quick-release end cap is at least one of slidably coupled, magnetically coupled, and hingedly coupled to at least one of the head and the arm of the embroidery apparatus.

[0107] Turning now to the portion/region of the embroidery apparatus disposed below the needle and the needle mechanism (e.g., the lower working region of the embroidery apparatus), FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 14, 15, 16, 24A, and 24B show various components and implementations of the quick-release needle plate and a shuttle mechanism of the embroidery apparatus. The quick-release needle plate of the embroidery apparatus is releasably/detachably coupled to the bed portion of the base of the body housing. With the quick-release needle plate being in an installed state, the quick-release needle plate extends across/over an opening defined by the bed portion of the base such that the shuttle mechanism housed/disposed within the base of the embroidery apparatus is at least partially covered by the quick-release needle plate, according to various embodiments. With the quickrelease needle plate being in a released state, the quick-release needle plate is removed from covering the opening such that the shuttle mechanism is accessible via the opening, according to various embodiments. [0108] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the quick-release needle plate 1220 of the embroidery apparatus 1200 is releas ably /detachably coupled to the bed portion 1213 of the base 1212 of the body housing. For example, the quick-release needle plate 1220 may be slidably coupled to the bed portion 1213 and may thus be easily and quickly removed/released by a user (FIG. 12A). In various embodiments, quick-release needle plate 1220 is free of threaded fasteners. The quick-release needle plate 1220 may include a bobbin window 1221 and/or a stitch plate. The quick-release needle plate 1220 is not the same thing as a conventional bobbin window and/or stitch plate, hut the quick-release needle plate 1220 may include a bobbin window and/or stitch plate. Said differently, the quick-release needle plate 1220 is larger than the bobbin window 1221 and the stitch plate and generally occupies a substantial section of the bed portion of the base that is below the needle mechanism 1240 (FIG. 12B shows the quick-release needle plate 1220 in the installed state, but most portions of the body panels surrounding the quick-release needle plate are removed).

[0109] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the quickrelease needle plate has been removed and the shuttle mechanism 1322 is visible and accessible by a user via an opening defined in the bed portion 1313 of the embroidery apparatus. The shuttle mechanism 1322 may include a shuttle 1324 and a bobbin 1325 and, as mentioned above, is generally configured to intertwine a lower/second thread with the upper/first thread from the needle mechanism, thereby forming the stitching that produces the sewing embellishment on the workpiece. In various embodiments, the quick-release needle plate is also configured to cover, in the installed state, a thread guide 1327 and/or a cutter 1328. Accordingly, in response to the quick-release needle plate being in the removed/released state, the thread guide 1327 and/or the cutter 1328, together with the shuttle mechanism 1322, may be visible and/or accessible to allow for cleaning and/or maintenance of said components. As shown in FIG. 13B, the thread guide 1327 and/or the cutter 1328 may be pivotably and/or detachably coupled to the bed portion 1313 below the quick-release needle plate.

[0110] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 14, the base of the embroidery apparatus may include an internal base chassis 1412’ having one or more support datums 1420’. The one or more support datums 1420’ may be surfaces and/or features of the base chassis 1412’ that are configured to directly support the quick-release needle plate in the installed state. That is, the one or more support datums 1420’ may be surfaces that are at a controlled height, thereby ensuring the quick-release needle plate is properly seated/positioned during use of the embroidery apparatus.

[0111] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 15, the embroidery apparatus includes one or more magnetic members 1529 that are configured to facilitate alignment and/or retention of the quick-release needle plate in the installed state. The one or more magnetic members 1529 may be mounted to the base chassis 1512’ of the embroidery apparatus, may be mounted to the quick-release needle plate itself, or magnetic members may be affixed to both.

[0112] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 16, the embroidery apparatus may include body panels 1612’ in the vicinity of the quick-release needle plate 1620 that are configured to wrap around to a bottom portion of the base chassis to facilitate retention of the bed portion that defines the opening for the shuttle mechanism. That is, the structural casing that surrounds and defines the opening for the shuttle mechanism may be susceptible to being lifted away from the base chassis in response to removing/release the quick-release needle plate. For example, if magnetic members are utilized to secure the quick-release needle plate, the magnetic attraction of the magnetic members may cause the surrounding panels to lift to meet the plate. By having body panels that wrap at least partially around to a lower shelf, the body panels are further inhibited from lifting. In various embodiments, the quick-release needle plate 1620 is hingedly coupled to the base of the embroidery apparatus.

[0113] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 24 A and 24B, the embroidery apparatus may include a quick-release bobbin window 2421. The quick-release bobbin window 2421 of the embroidery apparatus may be releasably/detachably coupled to the 2420 needle plate (e.g., to the quick-release needle plate). Said differently, the bobbin window 2421 may configured to be detachably, releasably, slidably, and /or hingedly coupled to the needle plate 2420, which in turn is also detachably, releasably, slidably, and/or hingedly coupled to the base 2422 (e.g., a bed portion) of the body housing of the embroidery apparatus. With the quick-release bobbin window 2421 being in an installed state (e.g., FIG. 24A), the quick-release bobbin window 2421 extends across/over an opening 2481 defined by the needle plate 2420 such that the bobbin housed/disposed within the base of the embroidery apparatus is at least partially covered by the quick-release bobbin window 2421, according to various embodiments. The quick-release bobbin window 2421 may be configured to allow sufficient light transmission such that the bobbin housed/disposed below is visible to the user. With the quick-release bobbin window 2421 being in a released state (e.g., FIG. 24B), the quick-release bobbin window 2421 is removed from covering the opening such that the bobbin is accessible via the opening 2481, according to various embodiments.

[0114] In various embodiments, and with continued reference to FIGS. 24A and 24B, the quick-release bobbin window 2421 of the embroidery apparatus is magnetically coupled to the needle plate 2420 may thus be easily and quickly removed/released by a user. Said differently, and according to various embodiments, the quick- release bobbin window 2421 is free of threaded fasteners. The quick-release bobbin window 2421 may include one or more magnetic members 2484 (schematically depicted in FIGS. 24 A and 24B) that are configured to facilitate alignment and/or retention of the quick-release bobbin window 2481 relative to the needle plate 2420 (in the installed state). The one or more magnetic members 2484 may be mounted to the needle plate 2420 of the embroidery apparatus, may be mounted to the quick-release bobbin window 2421 itself, or the magnetic members 2484 may be affixed to both the needle plate 2420 and the quick-release bobbin window 2421. Thus, the quickrelease bobbin window 2421 may be described as being magnetically attachable to the needle plate of the embroidery apparatus. As mentioned above, the needle plate may also be configured for quick-release, and thus the needle plate may include its own magnetic members (or other quick-detaching configuration) for detachably securing the needle plate to the base of the body housing of the embroidery apparatus. That is, both the needle plate and the bobbin window may be configured for quick-release.

[0115] In various embodiments, the quick-release bobbin window 2421 has a frame portion 2482 and a window portion 2483. The frame portion 2482 defines a border or a rim of the quick-release bobbin window 2421 and the window portion 2483 is the substantially transparent portion that provides visibility to the underlying bobbin when the quick-release bobbin window 2421 is in the installed position. In various embodiments, the frame portion 2482 has greater opacity (less transparency and/or less translucence) than the window portion 2483. For example, the frame portion 2482 may be opaque and the window portion 2483 may be substantially transparent and/or substantially translucent. With the frame portion 2482 being opaque and the window portion 2483, the user is able to keep track of the quick-release bobbin window 2421 when removed from the needle plate and is thus less likely to misplace or lose the detached bobbin window. In various embodiments, the quick-release bobbin window has an ovular or obround shape.

[0116] In various embodiments, the needle plate 2420 defines a recess or an indentation within which the quick-release bobbin window 2421 is seated when in the installed state. Said differently, the needle plate 2420 may comprise one or more shoulders or shelf surfaces against which the quick-release bobbin window 2421 rests when in the installed state. For example, the quick-release bobbin window 2421 may include magnetic members 2484 embedded within and/or coupled to the frame portion 2482 (e.g., at opposing ends of an obround shape), and these magnetic members 2484 may be magnetically attracted to corresponding regions/areas the shoulders or shelf surfaces of the needle plate 2420, thus facilitating proper orientation, alignment, and/or retention of the quick-release bobbin window 2421 relative to the window recess of the needle plate 2420. The recess may be configured such that the top surface of the quick-release bobbin window 2421 is substantially flush with the surrounding/adjacent top surfaces of the needle plate 2420.

[0117] In various embodiments, the needle plate 2420 also defines a finger scoop region 2485. The finger scoop region 2485 may be a defined groove or gap that allows a user to at least partially grasp or engage with an underside of the bobbin window to facilitate removal/release of the quick-release bobbin window 2421. In various embodiments, the needle plate 2420 also defines a thread path 2486. The thread path 2486 may facilitate routing of bobbin thread. The needle plate 2420 may be configured such that at least a portion of the thread path 2486 is defined in the shoulder/shelf surfaces of the recess that receives the quick-release bobbin window 2421, and thus the quick-release bobbin window 2421, in the installed state, may extend over and cover these portions of the thread path 2486. In various embodiments, needle plate 2420 comprises a larger plate portion and a smaller insert portion, and this smaller inset portion may define the thread path 2486 and may define the recess that is configured to receive the bobbin window 2421.

[0118] Turning now to the workpiece mechanism of the embroidery apparatus, FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F, show various implementations and components of the workpiece mechanism. As mentioned above, and with momentary reference to FIGS. 1A and IB, the workpiece mechanism 160 is generally configured to reversibly/detachably retain a workpiece (e.g., a textile and/or a fabric material) during an embroidery operation, according to various embodiments. Further, the workpiece mechanism 160 is generally configured to controllably and operably move the workpiece 165 relative to the location of the needle 145, according to various embodiments. For example, the workpiece mechanism 160 may be configured to controllably and operably move the workpiece 165 left and right as well as forward and backward across the bed portion 113 of the base 112, thus allowing different regions of the workpiece to be positioned below the needle 145 for receiving the sewing stitches during the creation of the sewing embellishment on the workpiece 165.

[0119] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D, the workpiece mechanism 1760 includes a carriage 1761 and a frame 1762 for releasably holding a workpiece, with the frame 1762 being detachably coupled to the carriage 1761. The carriage 1761 may be coupled/mounted to the workpiece movement elements, such as the linear slides/rails, motors, actuators, etc., and thus the carriage 1761 is generally referred to as the output of the workpiece movement elements. By having the frame 1762 detachably coupleable to the carriage 1761, a user can detach the frame 1762 from the embroidery apparatus, thus allowing the user to easily manipulate (attach and/or detach) the workpiece relative to the frame 1762 without having to work within the confines of the working region of the embroidery apparatus.

[0120] In various embodiments, the carriage 1761 of the workpiece mechanism 1760 includes a latch mechanism 1764 configured to interface with the frame 1762 to provide the detachably coupling between the carriage 1761 and the frame 1762. The latch mechanism 1764 may be actuated between a loaded state, in which the frame 1762 is secured to the carriage 1761 via the latch mechanism 1764, and an unloaded state, in which the frame 1762 is removed from the latch mechanism 1764. In various embodiments, as described in greater detail below, the unloaded state may be referred to herein as a loadable state. That is, in the unloaded state the latch mechanism may be ready and able to receive the frame without needing further actuation input from the user, and thus the unloaded state may be a loadable state.

[0121] In various embodiments, the latch mechanism comprises a lever configured to be manipulated by a user to trigger locking and/or unlocking of the frame relative to the carriage. That is, the lever may be grasped by a user, and the user may manipulate the lever to lock the latch mechanism to secure the latch mechanism in the loaded state and/or the user may manipulate the lever to unlock the latch mechanism to release the latch mechanism to allow the frame to be removed therefrom to transition the latch mechanism to the unloaded/loadable state. In various embodiments, the latch mechanism may be configured to automatically lock the frame in the loaded position in response to insertion of the frame (i.e., without requiring a manual locking actuation by the user).

[0122] In various embodiments, and with continued reference to FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D, the latch mechanism 1764 may have a first track 1771 configured to slidably engage with a second track 1772 of the frame 1762. The respective tracks 1771, 1772 may comprise corresponding and/or complementary shapes to promote robust and secure engagement (e.g., force transmitting engagement) between the carriage 1761 and the frame

1762, thus allowing the frame 1762 (and the attached workpiece) to be carried on/with the carriage 1761 throughout its controlled movement so the embroidery apparatus can create the sewing embellishments on the workpiece supported by the frame 1762.

[0123] In various embodiments, the lever 1763 of the latch mechanism 1764 is configured to trigger at least one of unlocking and/or partial ejection of the frame 1762 relative to the carriage 1761. That is, the lever 1763 may he a release lever that is configured to at least initialize ejection of the frame 1762 from the latch mechanism 1764. In various embodiments, the lever 1763 includes a graspable end 1766, a pivot point/axis 1767, and a cantilevered end 1768. The graspable end 1766 may the portion of the lever 1763 that can be grasped by a user, which allows the user to rotate the lever 1763 about the pivot point/axis 1767 to cause a corresponding angular movement of the cantilevered end 1768 of the lever

1763. In various embodiments, the cantilevered end 1768 is configured, in response to manipulation at the opposing end (graspable end 1766) by the user, to push and/or pull against the second track 1772 of the frame 1762, thus unlocking and/or at least initializing an ejection of the frame 1762 from the latch mechanism 1764.

[0124] In various embodiments, at least one of the latch mechanism 1764 and the second track 1772 of the frame 1762 comprises a magnetic member configured to provide securement of the frame 1762 relative to the latch mechanism 1764. For example, the first track 1771 of the latch mechanism 1764 may have a first magnetic member (which may be a magnet or a magnetic material) affixed thereto, and the second track 1772 of the frame 1762 may have a second magnetic member (which may be a magnet or a magnetic material) affixed thereto. In various embodiments, the first track 1771 of the latch mechanism 1764 comprise a metallic portion (such as upstand tab 1771’) and the second track 1772 of the frame 1762 may comprise a magnetic member 1773 that is magnetically attracted to the metallic portion of the first track 1771. The manipulation of the lever 1763 by the user may cause the second track to move to a sufficient extent such that the magnetic members 1773 are no longer aligned or are at least displaced relative to each other beyond a magnetic threshold, thus allowing the frame to be easily removed from the latch mechanism. Said differently, in response to manipulation of the lever 1763 by the user, the lever 1763 actuates sliding displacement of the second track 1772 of the frame 1762 relative to the first track 1771 of the latch mechanism 1764 to a sufficient extent that magnetic attraction of the magnetic member(s) are overcome, thereby enabling removal of the frame 1762 and corresponding transition of the latch mechanism 1764 from the loaded state to the unloaded/loadable state. In various embodiments, the frame comprises a printed circuit board 1774 or other circuitry configured to indicate to the embroidery apparatus one or more properties of the frame. For example, the embroidery apparatus may be configured to detect and/or receive from a printed circuit board 1774 frame property data, such as frame size.

[0125] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C, the lever 1863 of the latch mechanism 1864 is a locking lever. That is, as opposed to the lever unlocking the latch mechanism, the lever 1863 of the latch mechanism 1864, in response to manipulation by the user, may cause the latch mechanism 1864 to lock to reversibly secure the latch mechanism in the loaded state (i.e., thereby reversibly securing the frame to the carriage). For example, the lever 1863 of the latch mechanism 1864, in response to manipulation by the user, may be configured to exert a retaining/locking force against the second track 1872 of the frame 1862 to hold the second track 1872 in place relative to the first track 1871 of the latch mechanism 1864. In various embodiments, the latch mechanism may include a tension pad 1875, and the lever 1863 may be configured to exert a force on the tension pad 1875, and the tension pad 1875 may be the component that directly engages the second track 1872 of the frame 1862 to lock the frame 1862 in the loaded position. In various embodiments, the lever 1863 may include a locking tab that overlaps a front end/surface of the second track 1872 to facilitate securement of the frame within the latch mechanism. In various embodiments, the lever 1863 may be cam-actuated, and thus a cam surface of the lever 1863 may produce the locking force on the frame to lock the frame in place. In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 19 A and 19B, another implementation of a locking lever is provided.

[0126] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F, the lever 2063 of the latch mechanism 2064 is a release lever. The lever 2063 may be generally configured to be manipulated by a user to unlock the frame 2062 from the latch mechanism 2064. For example, in response to manipulation of the lever 2063 by the user, the latch mechanism 2064 may be configured to at least one of release the frame 2062 and/or initialize an ejection of the frame 2062. Note, to avoid obscuring aspects of the latch mechanism 2064, FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F only show a section/portion of the frame 2062. In other words, in actual use/implementation, the frame 2062 would not terminate as shown in these figures, but would extend around to form a hoop shape, according to various embodiments. The full extent of the frame 2062 is omitted in FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F to allow for the features of the latch mechanism 2064 and the steps of loading unloading (e.g., removing/installing) the frame 2062 relative to the latch mechanism 2064 to be clearly depicted. The same is true for the carriage, which is not shown in these figures.

[0127] With the frame 2062 loaded into the latch mechanism 2064, the frame 2062 is locked/secured in place. If the user wishes to release and remove the frame 2062 from the latch mechanism, the user may manipulate the lever 2063, for example as shown in FIG. 20A, to trigger at least one of unlocking and at least partial ejection of the frame 2062 relative to the carriage (i.e., relative to the latch mechanism 2064 of the carriage). Once unlocked, the user may grasp the frame 2062 to begin removing the frame 2062 from the latch mechanism 2064, as shown in FIG. 20B, according to various embodiments.

[0128] In response to the frame 2062 (i.e., the second track 2072 of the frame 2062) having been displaced at least a certain distance relative to the first track 2071 of the latch mechanism 2064, the lever 2063 may automatically revert to a default a position, for example as shown in FIG. 20C. In this condition, the latch mechanism 2064 may be in a loadable state, even though the second track 2072 of the frame 2062 has not been completely removed from the latch mechanism 2064, according to various embodiments. Said differently, with the frame 2062 in the position shown in FIG. 20C, the user may reverse direction and may begin to reinsert the frame 2062 into the latch mechanism 2064, and the latch mechanism 2064 would be able to receive, retain, and lock the latch mechanism 2064 back in the loaded state without requiring further/subsequent user manipulation at the lever 2063, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, FIGS. 20D, 20E, and 20F show an example of loading the frame 2062 into the latch mechanism 2064.

[0129] During the process of inserting/loading the second track 2072 of the frame 2062 into the latch mechanism 2064, the user is not required to perform further actuation at the lever 2063, according to various embodiments. Said differently, and according to various embodiments, the lever 2063 of the latch mechanism 2064 may be configured to be in a default position (e.g., FIGS. 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F) both when the latch mechanism 2064 is in the loaded state (e.g., FIG. 20F) and when the latch mechanism 2064 is in the loadable state (e.g., FIGS. 20C, 20D, and 20E). Further, the lever 2063 may be in a manipulated position (e.g., FIGS. 20A and 20B) after the user manipulates the lever 2063 to trigger the unlocking and/or at least partial ejection of the frame 2062 relative to the carriage (i.e., the latch mechanism 2064 of the carriage), but the lever 2063 is configured to automatically revert back to the default position during and/or after removal of the frame 2062 from the latch mechanism 2064 of the carriage. Accordingly, the latch mechanism 2064 may include a biasing member, such as a spring-loaded axis or other spring mechanism, configured to bias the lever 2063 toward the default position.

[0130] FIG. 21 is schematic view of an example computing system 3000 that may be used to implement the systems and methods described in this document. The computing system 3000 is intended to represent various forms of digital computers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and/or other appropriate computers. The components of the computing system 3000, such as 3010, 3020, 3030, 3040, 3050, and 3060, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the inventions described and/or claimed in this document. Further, the various features and functionality of the computing system 3000 may be implemented in one or more standalone computer and/or one or more controllers, may be integrated within the embroidery apparatus itself, and/or may be implemented with various other computing devices, as described below.

[0131] The computing system 3000 may include a processor 3010, memory 3020, a storage device 3030, a high-speed interface/controller 3040 connecting to the memory 3020 and high-speed expansion ports 3050, and a low-speed interface/controller 3060 connecting to a low-speed bus 3070 and a storage device 3030, according to various embodiments. Each of the components 3010, 3020, 3030, 3040, 3050, and 3060, may be interconnected using various busses, and may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as appropriate. The processor 3010 can process instructions for execution within the computing system 3000, including instructions stored in the memory 3020 or on the storage device 3030. The instructions may include operations to display graphical information for a graphical user interface (GUI) on an external input/output device, such as display 3080 coupled to highspeed interface 3040. In various implementations, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and types of memory. Also, multiple computing devices may be connected (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers, multiple controllers, or a multi-processor system), with each device providing portions of the operation/functionality of the computing system 3000.

[0132] The memory 3020 stores information non-transitorily within the computing system 3000. The memory 3020 may comprise a computer-readable medium, a volatile memory unit(s), and/or non-volatile memory unit(s). The non-transitory memory 3020 may be physical devices used to store programs (e.g., sequences of instructions) or data (e.g., program state information) on a temporary or permanent basis for use by the computing system 3000. Examples of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, flash memory and read-only memory (ROM) / programmable read-only memory (PROM) / erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) / electronically erasable programmable readonly memory (EEPROM) (e.g., typically used for firmware, such as boot programs). Examples of volatile memory include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), phase change memory (PCM) as well as disks or tapes.

[0133] The storage device 3030 may be capable of providing mass storage for the computing system 3000. In some implementations, the storage device 3030 is a computer- readable medium. In various implementations, the storage device 3030 may be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a tape device, a flash memory or other similar solid state memory device, and/or an array of devices, including devices in a storage area network or other configurations. In various implementations, a computer program product is tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product may contain instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods, such as those described herein. The information carrier may be a computer- or machine-readable medium, such as the memory 3020, the storage device 3030, and/or memory on processor 3010.

[0134] The high-speed controller 3040 may manage bandwidth-intensive operations for the computing system 3000, while the low-speed controller 3060 may manage lower bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of duties is exemplary only. In some implementations, the high-speed controller 3040 is coupled to the memory 3020, the display 3080 (e.g., through a graphics processor or accelerator), and to the high-speed expansion ports 3050, which may accept various expansion cards (not shown). In some implementations, the low-speed controller 3060 is coupled to the storage device 3030 and a low-speed expansion port 3090. The low-speed expansion port 3090, which may include various communication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, wireless Ethernet), may be coupled to one or more input/output devices, such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a scanner, and/or a networking device such as a switch or router, e.g., through a network adapter.

[0135] The computing system 3000 may be implemented in various forms. For example, the computing system 3000 may be implemented in one or a combination of the embroidery apparatus, a laptop computer 3000a, a mobile device 3000b, a tablet device 3000c, and/or the following components. In various implementations of the systems, operations, functionality, and techniques described herein can be realized in digital electronic and/or optical circuitry, integrated circuitry, FPGA (field programmable gate array), specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof.

[0136] The processes, functions, operations, and/or logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors, also referred to as data processing hardware, executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry. Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data.

[0137] Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Computer readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

[0138] These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications, and/or code) include machine instructions for a processor and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms "machine-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" refer to any computer program product, non-transitory computer readable medium, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor.

[0139] The term “non-transitory” is to be understood to remove only propagating transitory signals per se from the claim scope and does not relinquish rights to all standard computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory signals per se. Stated another way, the meaning of the term “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and “non- transitory computer-readable storage medium” should be construed to exclude only those types of transitory computer-readable media which were found in In Re Nuijten to fall outside the scope of patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101.

[0140] A software application (i.e., a software resource) may refer to computer software that causes one or more computing devices (e.g., a computing system) to perform a task. In some examples, a software application may be referred to as an “application,” an “app,” or a “program.” Example applications include, but are not limited to, system diagnostic applications, system management applications, system maintenance applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, messaging applications, media streaming applications, social networking applications, and gaming applications.

[0141] To provide for interaction with a user, one or more aspects of the disclosure can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, or touch screen (e.g., a display of a user device) for displaying information to the user and optionally a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with a user by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is used by the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user's client device in response to requests received from the web browser.

[0142] FIGS. 22 and 23 show schematic flowchart diagrams of methods 2290, 2390 of using an embroidery apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 22, a method 2290 of using an embroidery apparatus includes coupling a needle to a needle collet at step 2292 and, after step 2292, coupling the needle collet to a needle bar of the embroidery apparatus at step 2294. By performing step 2292 before step 2294, the user is able to handle and manipulate the needle outside of the confines of the working space of the embroidery apparatus, thus making the needle handling process easier and safer. In various embodiments, coupling the needle collet to the needle bar (step 2294) includes non-axially loading the needle collet relative to the needle bar. In various embodiments, coupling the needle collet to the needle bar (step 2294) comprises securing the needle collet to the needle bar via a securement device. The securement device may define a collet channel having an open side, securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device may include inserting the needle collet laterally through the open side of the securement device, into the collet channel, and into alignment with a longitudinal axis of the needle bar.

[0143] In various embodiments, the securement device includes a clamp door hingedly coupled to a trough structure, and securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device includes closing the clamp door across the open side of the collet channel to exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet and the needle when the needle collet is positioned within the collet channel (which may be a groove defined by the trough structure). In various embodiments, securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device comprises engaging respective complementary alignment features of the needle collet and the securement device to facilitate at least one of proper positioning, seating, alignment, and engagement of the needle collet relative to the securement device. In various embodiments, the securement device comprises a clamp assembly sch that securing the needle collet to the needle bar via the securement device comprises actuating the clamp assembly to exert a clamping force on at least one of the needle collet and the needle.

[0144] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a method of using an embroidery apparatus that includes toollessly releasing a quick-release needle plate from a bed portion of a base of a body housing of the embroidery apparatus. Another method of using an embroidery apparatus includes inserting a frame of the embroidery apparatus into a latch mechanism of movable a carriage.

[0145] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 23, a method 2390 of using an embroidery apparatus includes manipulating a lever of a latch mechanism of a movable carriage of the embroidery apparatus to unlock a frame of the embroidery apparatus from the latch mechanism at step 2392. The method 2390 further includes removing the frame from the latch mechanism, wherein in response to removing the frame from the latch mechanism the latch mechanism automatically reverts to a loadable state at step 2394. Still further, the method may include inserting the frame into the latch mechanism, wherein inserting the frame into the latch mechanism does not require separate manipulation of the latch mechanism at step 2396

[0146] Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a method of using an embroidery apparatus that includes toollessly releasing a quick-release needle plate from a bed portion of a base of a body housing of the embroidery apparatus. Another method of using an embroidery apparatus includes inserting a frame of the embroidery apparatus into a latch mechanism of movable a carriage.

[0147] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure.

[0148] Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all the features and advantages that may be realized with the present disclosure should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

|0149| Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present application may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the disclosure. Further, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure. No claim element is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

[0150] As used herein, the terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to” unless expressly specified otherwise. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0151] Further, in the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “various embodiments,” “one example,” “an example,” “some examples,” “various examples,” “one implementation,” “an implementation,” “some implementations,” “various implementations,” “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “some aspects,” “various aspects,” etc., indicate that the embodiment, example, implementation, and/or aspect described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment, example, implementation, and/or aspect may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, example, implementation, or aspect. Thus, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, example, implementation, and/or aspect, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, examples, implementations, and/or aspects, whether or not explicitly described. Absent an express correlation to indicate otherwise, features, structure, components, characteristics, and/or functionality may be associated with one or more embodiments, examples, implementations, and/or aspects of the present disclosure. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement the disclosure in alternative configurations.

[0152] The scope of the disclosure is to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” It is to be understood that unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and/or “the” may include one or more than one and that reference to an item in the singular may also include the item in the plural. Further, the term “plurality” can be defined as “at least two.” As used herein, the phrase “at least one of’, when used with a list of items, means different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used and only one of the items in the list may be needed. The item may be a particular object, thing, or category. Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, and C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B, and C. In some cases, “at least one of item A, item B, and item C” may mean, for example, without limitation, two of item A, one of item B, and ten of item C; four of item B and seven of item C; or some other suitable combination. [0153] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher- numbered item.

[0154] All ranges and ratio limits disclosed herein may be combined. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are “about” or “approximately” the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise defined herein. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a stated value.

[0155] Different cross-hatching may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials. Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts or areas but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials. In some cases, reference coordinates may be specific to each figure. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

[0156] Any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. In the above description, certain terms may be used such as "up," "down," "upper," "lower," "horizontal," "vertical," "left," "right," and the like. These terms are used, where applicable, to provide some clarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. But, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an "upper" surface can become a "lower" surface simply by turning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object.

[0157] Additionally, instances in this specification where one element is “coupled” to another element can include direct and indirect coupling. Direct coupling can be defined as one element coupled to and in some contact with another element. Indirect coupling can be defined as coupling between two elements not in direct contact with each other but having one or more additional elements between the coupled elements. Further, one element being “coupled” to another may refer to two separate components that are connected or joined together, or may refer to different sections, segments, or portions of an integrated/monolithic structure that extend relative to each other or that have some other contrasting features, shapes, properties, or the like. Also, as used herein, securing one element to another element can include direct securing and indirect securing. Additionally, as used herein, “adjacent” does not necessarily denote contact. For example, one element can be adjacent another element without being in contact with that element.

[0158] The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one or more embodiments of the presented method. The steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Elements and steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method.

[0159] Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.

[0160] Further, the schematic flow chart diagram(s) presented in the figures may show exemplary methods for using, making, repairing, and/or otherwise interacting with the various apparatuses, devices, systems, features, and components (the “structural details”) described herein. The methods depicted in the schematic flow chart diagram(s) are not exhaustive lists of the methods and steps that may be performed in association with the structural details disclosed herein, but instead the depicted methods merely represent exemplary steps. Indeed, the depicted methods may include additional and/or alternative steps than those explicitly shown in the schematic flow chart diagrams, and these additional and/or alternative steps may be gleaned from various sections of the present disclosure, even sections that are primarily focused on the structural details.

[0161 ] Also, the terms utilized herein to describe the methods may be similar to or the same as terms utilized above in conjunction with the structural details. As appropriate, these structural details may be inferred in the methods to provide clarity to the methods. However, the methods and steps disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the structural details mentioned above, as the utility and novelty of the method steps may stand independent of the contemplated structural details. Said differently, the methods/steps may be implemented in association with structures that are not explicitly disclosed herein, and such methods/steps fall within the scope of this disclosure.

|01621 The subject matter of the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.