US 11,718,937 B2
Adaptive apparatus for transporting and sewing material along arbitrary seam shapes
Michael Baker, Acworth, GA (US); and Wael Saab, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to SOFTWEAR AUTOMATION INC., Cumming, GA (US)
Filed by SoftWear Automation Inc., Cumming, GA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/146,722.
Application 17/146,722 is a continuation of application No. 16/918,803, filed on Jul. 1, 2020, granted, now 10,889,929.
Prior Publication US 2022/0002925 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. D05B 21/00 (2006.01); D05B 35/02 (2006.01)
CPC D05B 21/00 (2013.01) [D05B 35/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for transporting and sewing material, comprising:
a sewing machine including a sewing needle;
a material holding assembly comprising mechanical fingers configured to contact material on a sewing plane adjacent to the sewing needle thereby securing a relative orientation and position of the material during sewing of the material; and
a translation system configured to transport the material on the sewing plane via the material holding assembly, where the mechanical holding assembly is configured to individually reposition one or more mechanical finger to avoid the sewing needle during transport of the material while maintaining contact of the mechanical fingers with the material.