Patent Publication Number: US-10307926-B2

Title: Automated fabric picking

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/970,874, filed Dec. 16, 2015, titled “On Demand Apparel Manufacturing” (“the &#39;874 application”) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/970,840, filed Dec. 16, 2015, titled “On Demand Apparel Panel Cutting” (“the &#39;840 application”), the entire disclosure of each of which related applications is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/069,855, filed on Mar. 14, 2016, titled “Continuous Feed Fabric Cutting”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/069,867, filed on Mar. 14, 2016, titled “Organized Assembly Instruction Printing and Referencing”, the entire disclosure of each of which related applications is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The apparel manufacturing, retailing, and fitting industries include a diverse range of parties, such as designers, fabric manufacturers, apparel cutting and sewing workers, apparel retailers, tailors, and cleaners. The apparel manufacturing industry relies upon various resources, processes, and equipment to produce finished garments, accessories, footwear, etc. Generally, a process to manufacture a garment includes garment design, fabric production and/or printing, and panel cutting and sewing. Although automation has been applied to many apparel manufacturing processes, workers are still heavily relied upon to cut, pick, and sew together pieces of fabric to produce finished garments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a networked environment for automated panel printing, cutting, and picking according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed view of a computing environment shown in  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example tech pack according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example textile cutter and textile panel picker according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another view of the textile cutter and textile panel picker shown in  FIG. 4  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates an example cross-section of a flexible transport tube bundle according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates an example identification of leading pickup regions, pickup paths, and trailing pickup regions for textile panels according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates an example automated panel printing, cutting, and picking process according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  further illustrates the example automated panel printing, cutting, and picking process in  FIG. 7A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example automated panel picking process used in the process in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example schematic block diagram of the computing environment employed in the networked environment shown in  FIG. 2  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of automated fabric picking using a system and method for printing, cutting, and assembling textile products are described herein. In one embodiment, the system includes a textile printer that prints patterns for textile panels on a textile sheet, a textile cutter including a tabletop upon which the textile panels can be cut out from the textile sheet, a textile panel picker to pick the textile panels off the tabletop, a textile production line, and a computing device that coordinates the operations of the system. 
     In one example, the computing environment is configured to receive one or more orders to purchase textile products, where each textile product is formed of one or more panels or pieces of fabric defined in a tech pack. The computing environment arranges the panels for the textile products onto a textile panel template for printing on a textile sheet using the textile printer. The panels can include print patterns, graphics, or other print features based on the designs for the textile products. Once the features for the panels are printed onto a textile sheet by the textile printer, the computing device directs the textile cutter to cut the textile panels out from the textile sheet. 
     Before the cut-out textile panels can be assembled on the textile production line, they are placed into one or more totes using the textile panel picker. The textile panel picker embodiments described herein facilitate the automated picking of cut-out textile panels off the textile cutter. The textile panel picker includes a flexible transport tube, a transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the tabletop of the textile cutter, a textile hopper to collect the textile panels, and a pneumatic pump assembly to evacuate air from the textile hopper and through the flexible transport tube. The computing device identifies and tracks the textile panels on the tabletop by capturing images of them on the tabletop, for example, and directs the transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the textile panels. The computing device also directs the pneumatic pump assembly to generate suction to pull one or more of the textile panels through the flexible transport tube and into the textile hopper. 
     As the textile panels are pulled through the flexible transport tube and into the textile hopper, the computing device can also coordinate the movement of one or more totes along a conveyor line, for example, and open the textile hopper at the appropriate time to drop the textile panels into the totes. In turn, the totes can be routed along a system of conveyor belts to various assembly stations where the textile panels can be assembled into finished textile products. 
     Automated fabric picking using the textile panel picker described herein can be more reliable than other ways of picking textile panels. Additionally, the textile panel picker can pick textile panels with less chances of damaging them as compared to other mechanical picking structures. Overall, the concepts described herein facilitate the automated manufacturing of various types of textile products by providing an automated, reliable, and careful way to pick and collect various sizes, shapes, and types of textile panels for assembly into finished textile products. 
     Before turning to the figures, it is noted that the embodiments are not limited to the manufacture of any particular type(s) of textile, fabric, or clothing products from any particular type(s) of materials. Instead, the concepts described herein can be applied to the manufacture of a wide array of products, including clothing or fabric products, accessories (e.g., scarves, gloves, hats, bags, belts, etc.), footwear, bedding, curtains, towels, etc., in a wide variety of materials, including but not limited to paper, plastic, leather, rubber, and other materials. Thus, references to panels, sheets, textile panels, and textile sheets, among other terms, are not intended to be limiting as to the types of materials that can be printed upon, cut, and picked using the concepts described herein. 
     Turning to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates a networked environment  100  for automated panel printing, cutting, and picking. The networked environment  100  includes a computing environment  110 , a network  150 , and one or more client devices  160 . At facility  170 , the networked environment  100  also includes a textile printer  172 , a textile dryer  174 , a textile cutter  176 , a textile panel picker  177 , and a textile production line  178 . 
     The locations of the computing environment  110 , the client devices  160 , and the facility  170  are representative in  FIG. 1 , and the embodiments can be organized and/or distributed in other ways than that shown. For example, the computing environment  110  can be geographically located, in part or in its entirety, at the facility  170 . Alternatively, the computing environment  110  can be geographically dislocated from the facility  170  while controlling and/or directing the operation of certain equipment in the facility  170  via the network  150 , including one or more of the textile printer  172 , a textile dryer  174 , a textile cutter  176 , a textile panel picker  177 , and a textile production line  178 . In either case, the network  150  can facilitate two-way data and control communications between the computing environment  110  and certain equipment in the facility  170 . 
     The computing environment  110  includes an apparel manufacturing data store  120 , a print engine  132 , a cut engine  134 , and an assembly engine  136 . In the networked environment  100 , the computing environment  110  is configured to direct certain textile printing, cutting, picking, and assembly processes at the facility  170  through communications with and control of one or more of the textile printer  172 , textile dryer  174 , textile cutter  176 , textile panel picker  177 , and textile production line  178  via the network  150 . 
     The computing environment  110  is configured to collect orders for products, such as products that incorporate textile, paper, plastic, leather, rubber, and/or other materials, from the client device  160 . The orders can be received over time via the network  150  in the form of (or along with) tech packs  180 , for example. Once received, the orders can be stored in the apparel manufacturing data store  120  for further processing by the computing environment  110 . The tech packs  180  can be embodied as various types of digital files, such as job definition format (JDF) or other types of files that define instructions to manufacture one or more textile products at the facility  170 , for example, among other facilities. The tech packs  180  can specify one or more fabrics, one or more panels (e.g., pieces of fabric that can be sewn together into textile products, items of apparel, etc.), fabric colors, print patterns, or graphics, fabric weaves, naps, knits, or embroidery patterns, product assembly instructions, fastener locations and/or specifications, product quantities, price and/or cost limitations or requests, and other specifications of textile or other products to be manufactured. 
     Once received, the print engine  132  of the computing environment  110  is configured to aggregate or collect orders defined in one or more of the tech packs  180 . After the orders are aggregated, the print engine  132  generates one or more textile panel templates  190  including various arrangements of panels  192  for the products in the orders. Any number of panels  192  can be defined in the textile panel templates  190  along with print patterns and other features related to the panels  192 . The textile panel templates  190  comprise computer-readable files that define computer-readable instructions for the textile printer  172  to print certain panel outlines, print patterns, and other features on one or more textile sheets. Once the panels  192  are printed on a textile sheet, the cut engine  134  of the computing environment  110  can instruct the textile cutter  176  to cut the panels  192  out from the textile sheet. 
     After the panels  192  are cut out from the textile sheet using the textile cutter  176 , the assembly engine  136  is configured to identify and track the cut-out panels  192  or pieces of fabric as they are moved along a tabletop of the textile cutter  176 . The assembly engine  136  also directs the textile panel picker  177  to pick or pull those panels  192  off the tabletop of the textile cutter  176  using pneumatic evacuation or suction through a flexible transport tube as described herein. The assembly engine  136  tracks the panels  192  as they are picked, pulled, or moved off the tabletop of the textile cutter  176 , through the flexible transport tube, and into a textile hopper of the textile panel picker  177 . Thus, one or more panels  192  are collected into the textile hopper of the textile panel picker  177  before they are dropped into a container or tote  194  for transport to an assembly station  196  on the textile production line  178 . Thus, the textile panel picker  177  is designed to pick the panels  192  off of the textile cutter  176  and place them into containers or totes  194  for assembly by sewing workers on the textile production line  178 . 
     The assembly engine  136  can also generate assembly schemes with instructions for the assembly of the panels  192  into one or more textile products. The assembly schemes can be based, at least in part, on information provided in the tech packs  180 . Once generated, the assembly schemes can be stored in the apparel manufacturing data store  120  for later reference. The generation of the assembly schemes, printing instructions related to those assembly schemes on textile sheets, and referencing those instructions are described in further detail in the &#39;1640 application. 
     The textile printer  172  can be embodied as any suitable type of printer for printing on textile fabrics or other materials. Textile printing is related to textile dyeing but, rather than uniformly dyeing a fabric sheet in its entirety, textile printing involves applying one or more colors to only certain parts or areas of a textile sheet, often in sharply defined patterns. In that context, the textile printer  172  may be embodied, for example, as a digital textile printer, digital garment printer, or direct-to-garment printer. The textile printer  172  can use specialized inkjet technologies, for example, to apply ink directly on fabrics. The textile printer  172  can apply water-based, acid, reactive, or other types of inks depending upon the type of fabric or other material being printed upon. The textile printer  172  can print on fabrics that are woven, non-woven, knitted, netted, technical, etc., without limitation. The textile printer  172  can also print on other types of materials, such as paper, plastic, leather, rubber, and other materials. In some embodiments, the textile printer  172  can print on both sides of a textile sheet. As noted above, the textile printer  172  receives printing instructions from the print engine  132  over the network  150 . 
     The textile dryer  174  can be embodied as any suitable type of dryer for drying ink printed on textile fabrics or other materials. The textile dryer  174  can include adjustable infrared or heat panels, for example, to dry or cure ink applied by the textile printer  172 , as needed. In some embodiments, the textile dryer  174  may not be necessary based on the printing/ink technology used by the textile printer  172 . Thus, the textile dryer  174  may be omitted and/or incorporated with the textile printer  172  in some embodiments. The operation of the textile dryer  174  can be controlled by the print engine  132  over the network  150 , as needed. 
     The textile cutter  176  can be embodied as any suitable type of cutter, cutting table, or cutting machine having a cutting table or tabletop and a cutting assembly. For cutting and manipulating various types of fabrics and other materials, the cutting assembly of the textile cutter  176  can include one or more drag knives, wheel knives, lasers, pneumatic and/or electric oscillating cutting knives, lasers, and/or other tools, pneumatic and/or electric rotary cutting knives and/or tools, scoring tools, v-cutting (e.g., scissor-type) tools, partout tools, creasing tools, routing and/or engraving tools, water-cutting jets or related cutting tools, and other types of tools. The textile cutter  176  can include adjustable vacuums, rollers, clips, hold-downs, etc., to hold and/or maneuver textile sheets and other materials fed into the textile cutter  176 . As noted above, the cut engine  134  is configured to generate cut control instructions for the textile cutter  176 , and the cut control instructions can be communicated to the cut engine  134  as part of two-way control communications over the network  150 . 
     In one embodiment, textile sheets can be fed directly from the textile printer  172  into the textile dryer  174  and, subsequently, the textile cutter  176 . In other embodiments, the textile sheets can be manually moved and fed from the textile printer  172 , to the textile dryer  174 , and to the textile cutter  176 . 
     As described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the textile panel picker  177  includes a flexible transport tube (or bundle of tubes), a transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the tabletop of the textile cutter  176 , a textile hopper to collect the panels  192 , and a pneumatic pump assembly to evacuate air from the textile hopper and through the flexible transport tube. The cut engine  134  and/or the assembly engine  136  are configured to identify and track the panels  192  on the tabletop of the textile cutter  176  by capturing images of them before, during, and/or after they are cut out using the textile cutter  176 . The assembly engine  136  then directs the transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the panels  192 . The assembly engine  136  also directs the pneumatic pump assembly to generate suction that pulls the panels  192  off the textile cutter  176 , through the flexible transport tube, and into the textile hopper of the textile panel picker  177 . 
     The textile production line  178  can be embodied as an arrangement of one or more conveyors, totes, sewing or assembly stations  196 , and associated drive and control systems. Once the panels  192  are cut out from the textile sheets by the textile cutter  176 , the panels  192  can be placed into one or more totes of the textile production line  178  for routing along its conveyor system to the sewing or assembly stations  196 . Depending upon the type of orders being processed, the assembly engine  136  can generate instructions for placing the panels  192  into the totes. The assembly engine  136  is further configured to generate instructions for directing the totes along the conveyor system of the textile production line  178 . Other aspects of the textile production line  178  are described in further detail in the &#39;1640 application. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed view of the computing environment  110  shown in  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The computing environment  110  may be embodied as one or more computers, computing devices, or computing systems. In certain embodiments, the computing environment  110  may include one or more computing devices arranged, for example, in one or more server or computer banks. The computing device or devices may be located at a single installation site or distributed among different geographic locations. The computing environment  110  may include a plurality of computing devices that together embody a hosted computing resource, a grid computing resource, and/or other distributed computing arrangement. In some cases, the computing environment  110  may be embodied as an elastic computing resource where an allotted capacity of processing, network, storage, or other computing-related resources varies over time. 
     The computing environment  110  may also be embodied, in part, as various functional and/or logic (e.g., computer-readable instruction, device, circuit, processing circuit, etc.) elements configured to direct the computing environment  110  to perform aspects of the embodiments described herein. Additionally, to the extent that it interfaces over the network  150  with computing and/or control devices of the textile printer  172 , textile dryer  174 , textile cutter  176 , textile panel picker  177 , and textile production line  178  through service interfaces, application programming interfaces (APIs), etc., the computing environment  110  can be embodied as a collection of computing devices that includes the computing and/or control devices (or capabilities) of the textile printer  172 , textile dryer  174 , textile cutter  176 , textile panel picker  177 , and textile production line  178 . 
     The network  150  may include the Internet, intranets, extranets, wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wired networks, wireless networks, cable networks, satellite networks, local interfaces, other suitable networks or interfaces, or any combinations thereof. It is noted that the computing environment  110  may communicate with the computing and/or control devices of the textile printer  172 , textile dryer  174 , textile cutter  176 , textile panel picker  177 , and textile production line  178  using various systems interconnect models and/or protocols, such as simple object access protocol (SOAP), representational state transfer (REST), real-time transport protocol (RTP), user datagram protocol (UDP), internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), and/or other protocols for communicating data over the network  150 , without limitation. The network  150  provides connections to various client devices and network hosts, such as the client devices  160 , website servers, file servers, networked computing resources, databases, data stores, or any other network devices or computing systems. 
     The client devices  160  can be embodied as any type of computing device, processing circuit, or processor based device or system used by individuals, including those embodied in the form of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, or a tablet computer, among others. The client devices  160  can include one or more peripheral and/or input devices, such as keyboards, keypads, touch pads, touch screens, microphones, cameras, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the apparel manufacturing data store  120  includes an order database  122 , panel templates database  124 , and an assembly scheme database  126 . The print engine  132  includes an order aggregator and organizer  210 , a panel arranger  212 , and a print instructor  214 . The cut engine  134  includes an image analyzer  220 , a cut control instruction generator  222 , and a cut instructor and adjustor  224 . Further, the assembly engine  136  includes an assembly scheme developer  230 , a production line coordinator  232 , a panel tracker  234 , and a panel picker  236 . 
     The order database  122  includes a database of orders for textile products received from the client devices  160 . In that context, the order database  122  can include a database of the tech packs  180 , for example, along with any other specifications, quantities, price and/or cost limitations or requests, and other information associated with orders. The panel templates database  124  can include a database of the textile panel templates  190  generated by the print engine  132  as described herein. The assembly scheme database  126  can include a database of all the individual panels  192  in the textile panel templates  190 , along with unique identifiers for those panels  192 , assembly instructions associated with those panels, cut and/or pick control instructions associated with those panels  192 , and other information. The apparel manufacturing data store  120  is not limited to storing the information described above, as other information and/or data can also be stored in the apparel manufacturing data store  120 . 
     Turning to the components of the print engine  132 , the order aggregator and organizer  210  is configured to aggregate and organize orders received from the client devices  160  based on one or more productivity or efficiency factors, such as size, shape, fabric type, delivery location, etc. For example, if a number of the orders specify fulfillment in the geographic location surrounding Seattle, Wash., the computing environment  110  may organize those orders into a group of orders for manufacture and/or fulfillment at a facility other than the facility  170 . As another example, if a number of the orders specify textile products for manufacture using a type of fabric only available at the facility  170 , the computing environment  110  may organize those orders into a group of orders for manufacture and/or fulfillment at the facility  170  rather than another facility. Generally, by aggregating orders from several client devices  160  and coordinating apparel manufacture and assembly processes on a relatively large scale, the networked environment  100  provides new ways to increase efficiency in apparel manufacturing. 
     The panel arranger  212  is configured to arrange the panels  192  for textile products into one or more textile panel templates  190  as noted above. The panels  192  can be representative of one or more sections or pieces of fabric or other materials from which shirts, pants, dresses, or other accessories or items can be assembled. In one embodiment, when arranging the panels  192 , the panel arranger  212  is configured to closely align the panels  192  among each other to the extent possible to reduce scrap in textile sheets. Additionally or alternatively, the panel arranger  212  can orient the panels  192  in the textile panel templates  190  to align with a thread, weave, nap, knit, or print pattern(s) in textile sheets. The panel arranger  212  is also configured to assign a unique identifier to each panel  192  in the textile panel templates  190  and store those unique identifiers in the apparel manufacturing data store  120  for reference by the computing environment  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the panel arranger  212  is configured to generate the textile panel templates  190  in a computer-readable computer-aided-manufacturing (CAM) or similar file format. In that case, the textile panel templates  190  can be provided, in relevant part(s), as instructions from the computing environment  110  to one or more of the textile printer  172 , the textile dryer  174 , the textile cutter  176 , and the textile panel picker  177  over the network  150 . 
     The print instructor  214  is configured to coordinate the printing operations of textile printers, such as the textile printer  172 , over the network  150 . For example, the print instructor  214  can generate print instructions based on one or more of the textile panel templates  190  and forward those instructions (or the textile panel templates  190  themselves) to the textile printer  172 . Additionally, the print instructor  214  is configured to monitor the ongoing printing operations of the textile printer  172 . In that context, the print instructor  214  can identify printing errors, printing delays, and other printing-related activities and factors at the textile printer  172  based on the two-way data and control communications between the computing environment  110  and the textile printer  172 . In that way, the print instructor  214  can coordinate the printing operations with the cutting operations directed by the cut engine  134  and the picking and assembling operations directed by the assembly engine  136 . 
     Turning to the components of the cut engine  134 , the image analyzer  220  is configured to capture images of the panels  192  printed on a textile sheet (or sheet of another material) during cutting processes performed by the textile cutter  176 . In that context, consistent with the description provided in the &#39;874 application, the textile cutter  176  can include an arrangement of cameras to capture images of textile sheets being cut. Using the images of textile sheets, the image analyzer  220  is configured to identify factors to control the cut of the textile sheet. For example, a textile thread, weave, nap, or knit of the textile sheet, textile print pattern alignment on the textile sheet, or panel deformation of the textile sheet can be identified by the image analyzer  220 . The image analyzer  220  can also identify various features printed on the textile sheets by the textile printer  172 , such as the assembly notations, panel cutouts, cut alignment markers, and other features related to the panels  192 . Additionally, the image analyzer  220  can assist the panel tracker  234  of the assembly engine  136  to identify and track the panels  192  on the textile cutter  176  as described herein. 
     Based on the analysis performed by the image analyzer  220 , the cut control instruction generator  222  can generate cut control instructions to cut out the panels  192  from the textile sheets. The cut control instructions can be generated in the form of a CAM or similar file format for processing and/or interpretation by the textile cutter  176 . In the generation of cut control instructions, the cut control instruction generator  222  can refer to various types of information. For example, the cut control instruction generator  222  can refer to the analysis performed by the image analyzer  220 , the textile panel templates  190 , the specifications of the textile sheets (e.g., the type, thickness, grade, weave pattern, thread count, etc.) being cut, and other information and factors. 
     After they are generated, the cut instructor and adjustor  224  can forward the cut control instructions to the textile cutter  176  over the network  150 . The cut instructor and adjustor  224  is also configured to adapt the cut control instructions over time and during cutting operations based on the analysis performed by the image analyzer  220 . By capturing images of textile sheets after panels and/or print patterns have been printed on them and adjusting the cut control instructions provided to the textile cutter  176  using feedback gathered from images, the cut instructor and adjustor  224  can dynamically adjust the cutting operations performed by the textile cutter  176 . 
     Turning to the components of the assembly engine  136 , the assembly scheme developer  230  is configured to generate assembly schemes for the assembly of textile products based on the instructions in the tech packs  180 , for example, and to coordinate the operations of the textile panel picker  177  and the textile production line  178 . The production line coordinator  232  is configured to direct one or more of the totes  194  on the textile production line  178  to the textile panel picker  177  to receive the panels  192  for assembly. Where the textile production line  178  is relied upon for the assembly of textile and/or other products, the production line coordinator  232  can generate instructions to direct the panels  192 , once placed into the totes  194 , to various assembly stations  196  on the textile production line  178 . 
     The panel tracker  234  is configured to capture one or more images of the textile sheet on the textile cutter  176  before, after, and/or while the textile sheet is cut. Using those images, the panel tracker  234  can identify and track the panels  192  as they are fed over the cutting table or tabletop of the textile cutter  176  using image processing techniques. To some extent, the panel tracker  234  performs identification and tracking operations similar to those performed by the image analyzer  220  of the cut engine  134 , and the panel tracker  234  can perform panel identification and tracking processes in connection with the image analyzer  220 . That is, the image analyzer  220  can assist the panel tracker  234  of the assembly engine  136  to identify and track the panels  192  on the textile cutter  176  as described herein. In some embodiments, the image analyzer  220  can be combined with the panel tracker  234  as one functional element in the computing environment  110 . 
     The panel picker  236  is configured to use the panel identification and tracking information provided by the panel tracker  234 , among other information, to estimate a characteristic, such as the type, shape, weight and/or size of each of the panels  192 . In addition to the image-based identification and tracking information, the panel tracker  234  can estimate the type, shape, weight, and/or size of each of the panels  192  based on information in the textile panel templates  190 . For example, the textile panel templates  190  can define panel cutouts, cut alignment markers, and other features related to the size of the panels  192 . Further, the apparel manufacturing data store  120  can store the specifications of the textile sheets being cut, such as the type, thickness, grade, and other information related to the textile sheets. Thus, based on the size and/or shape of the panel cutout for a panel  192  and the grade of the textile sheet being cut, among other information, the panel picker  236  can also estimate a weight of each of the panels  192 . 
     The panel picker  236  can refer to the characteristic information for a panel  192  to determine a leading pickup region for automated panel picking. As described in further detail below, the leading pickup region is the region of the panel  192  that is first pulled or picked off the tabletop of the textile cutter  176  by the textile panel picker  177 . Leading and trailing pickup regions are described in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 6B . 
     In certain embodiments, the textile panel picker  177  can include a group of two, three, or more flexible transport tubes for the transport of the panels  192 . As described in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 6A , the group of flexible transport tubes can include tubes of different diameters. In that case, the panel picker  236  can also refer to the weight and/or size information of a panel  192  to select one of the flexible transport tubes to pick the panel  192  off the tabletop. For example, a tube of smaller diameter can be used for smaller and/or lighter panels  192 , and a tube of larger diameter can be used for larger and/or heavier panels  192 . 
     In addition to determining a leading pickup region and selecting a flexible transport tube, the panel picker  236  can also calculate a level of evacuation to pull the panel  192  through the selected flexible transport tube and into the textile hopper of the textile panel picker  177 . The level of evacuation can be selected based on the weight and/or the size of the panel  192 , the diameter of the flexible transport tube selected to transport the panel  192 , and other considerations and factors. 
     The panel picker  236  is further configured to direct a pneumatic pump assembly of the textile panel picker  177  to generate an amount of suction to pull the panel  192  through the selected flexible transport tube. In other words, after the selected flexible transport tube is positioned over the leading pickup region of the panel  192 , the panel picker  236  directs the pneumatic pump assembly of the textile panel picker  177  to pull the panel  192  through the selected flexible transport tube using the evacuation or suction of air through the tube. At the same time, the panel picker  236  can track the panel  192  as it is pulled off the tabletop of the textile cutter  176 , through the selected flexible transport tube, and into the textile hopper of the textile panel picker  177 . The panel picker  236  can track the panel  192  using cameras or other sensors. 
     While one or more panels  192  are being picked and pulled into the textile hopper of the textile panel picker  177 , the production line coordinator  232  can direct one or more totes  194  on the textile production line  178  to the textile panel picker  177  to receive one or more of the panels  192 . As described in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 5 , the textile hopper of the textile panel picker  177  includes doors that can be opened by the production line coordinator  232 . When opened, one or more panels  192  in the textile hopper can drop into a tote  194 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example tech pack  180  for apparel manufacturing according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  is provided by way of example of the types of information that can be included or defined in a tech pack  180 , but is not intended to be limiting, as the requirements for different textile and other products vary. Further, the tech pack  180  is not necessarily representative of the format or of the types of information included or defined in all orders for products received from the client devices  160 . In various embodiments, the tech packs  180  can be embodied as digital or electronic files, such as JDF or other types of files. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tech pack  180  includes the specifications of a textile product, including size specifications  302 , order piece/assortment specifications  304 , panel size and shape specifications  310 - 312 , fabric type/print pattern specifications  320  and  321 , and fastener specifications  330 . Although not shown in  FIG. 3 , the tech pack  180  can also include or define assembly specifications, such as seams, hems, stitch patterns, thread types and/or colors, a suggested order of assembly tasks or operations, etc. As discussed above, the tech pack  180  can be generated at any of the client devices  160  and forwarded to the computing environment  110  over the network  150 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of the textile cutter  176  and the textile panel picker  177  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 4 , the textile printer  172 , among other equipment shown in  FIG. 1  at the facility  170 , is omitted for simplicity. Although it is omitted from view in  FIG. 4 , the textile printer  172  prints various panels  192  on the textile sheet  410  based on print control instructions received from the print engine  132 . In turn, the textile sheet  410  is fed (e.g., pulled) over a tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 . The textile cutter  176  can include adjustable vacuums, rollers, clips, hold-downs, etc., to hold and/or maneuver the textile sheet  410  as it is being fed over the textile cutter  176  for cutting. 
     In one embodiment, the textile cutter  176  includes a cutting head assembly  420  adjustably mounted to an articulating rail  422 . The articulating rail  422  is adjustably mounted to the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 . Using motors, pulleys, or another suitable mechanism, the cutting head assembly  420  can move or slide along the articulating rail  422 , and the articulating rail  422  can move or slide along the length of the tabletop  424 . Thus, the cutting head assembly  420  is configured to traverse the tabletop  424  to cut the panels  192  out from the textile sheet  410 . 
     The cutting head assembly  420  includes one or more tools for cutting the panels  192  out of the textile sheet  410 . For example, the tools can include one or more drag knives, wheel knives, lasers, pneumatic and/or electric oscillating cutting knives and/or tools, pneumatic and/or electric rotary cutting knives and/or tools, scoring tools, v-cutting (e.g., scissor-type) tools, partout tools, creasing tools, routing and/or engraving tools, and other types of tools for cutting and/or manipulating the textile sheet  410 . In other examples, the textile cutter  176  can be embodied as a laser cutting continuous feed system as described in the &#39;1630 application. 
     The textile cutter  176  also includes cameras  441 - 444  placed around the tabletop  424  and, in some embodiments, another camera positioned in the cutting head assembly  420 . The camera in the cutting head assembly  420  provides a close view of the cutting operations performed by the cutting head assembly  420 . The cameras  441 - 444  can include any suitable type of image sensor for capturing the details of the textile sheet  410 . In one embodiment, the cameras  441 - 444  can include high-resolution image sensors capable of capturing thread or weave patterns in the textile sheet  410 , as well as fine details printed on the textile sheet  410  by the textile printer  172 . In one embodiment, the cameras  441 - 444  can include an image sensor capable of capturing the reflection of long wave ultraviolet (“UV”) light. In that case, the cameras  441 - 444  may also include UV light bulbs or emitters that cast UV light upon the textile sheet  410 . In that way, UV light reflected by washable, UV-reflective inks printed upon the textile sheet  410  by the textile printer  172  can be captured in images by the cameras  441 - 444 . 
     Using images captured by the cameras  441 - 444 , the image analyzer  220  is configured to identify factors to control the cut of the textile sheet  410  by the textile cutter  176 . For example, a textile thread, weave, nap, or knit pattern of the textile sheet  410 , textile print pattern alignment on the textile sheet  410 , or panel deformation of the textile sheet  410 , can be identified by the image analyzer  220 . The image analyzer  220  can also identify certain features printed on the textile sheets by the textile printer  172 , such as assembly notations, panel cutouts, cut alignment markers, and other features. 
     The textile cutter  176  also includes a cutter controller  430  that directs the operation of the textile cutter  176 . The cutter controller  430  can be embodied as any suitable combination of analog, digital, or analog and digital processing circuitry, including memory, configured to control the operation of the textile cutter  176 . Thus, the cutter controller  430  can be embodied as a collection of vendor-specific logic, software, and/or hardware that directs the textile cutter  176  to perform various cutting operations. The cutter controller  430  also includes the physical and logical interfaces for two-way control communications with the computing environment  110  over the network  150 , such as physical layer network interfaces, service interfaces, APIs, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the textile panel picker  177  includes a flexible transport tube  462 , a transport tube transfer arm  450  to position the flexible transport tube  462  over the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 , a textile hopper  464  to collect the panels  192 , and a pneumatic pump assembly  466  to evacuate air from the textile hopper  464  and through the flexible transport tube  462 . In the illustrated embodiment, an open end of the flexible transport tube  462  is mechanically fixed or connected to the camera head  452  of the transport tube transfer arm  450 . The other end of the flexible transport tube  462  connects into the textile hopper  464 . 
     The transport tube transfer arm  450  can be embodied as a robotic arm or other mechanism capable of repositioning the open end of the flexible transport tube  462  over the tabletop  424 . The camera head  452  includes a camera similar to the cameras  441 - 444 . Images captures by the camera head  452  can be relied upon by the panel tracker  234  to track and confirm the position of the open end of the flexible transport tube  462  over one or more of the panels  192 . Based on control instructions from the panel picker  236 , the transport tube transfer arm  450  can position the camera head  452  and the open end of the flexible transport tube  462  over a leading pickup region, for example, of one of the panels  192 . Once the flexible transport tube  462  is correctly positioned, the panel picker  236  can direct the pneumatic pump assembly  466  to evacuate air from the textile hopper  464  and, in turn, through the flexible transport tube  462 . In that way, the pneumatic pump assembly  466  generates suction to pull the panel  192  through the flexible transport tube  462  and into the textile hopper  464 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , once one or more panels  192  have been collected into the textile hopper  464 , the panels  192  can be dropped into the tote  194 . As noted above, the production line coordinator  232  can direct the conveyor belt  470  to position the tote  194 , among other totes on the textile production line  178 , below the textile hopper  464 , and the panel picker  236  can direct the textile hopper  464  to open a door or gate, for example, to drop the panels  192  into the tote  194 . 
     Any number of panels  192  can be pneumatically pulled into the textile hopper  464  and dropped, together, into the tote  194 . For example, the panel picker  236  can direct the textile panel picker  177  to pick all the panels  192  for a particular article of clothing, pull them all into the textile hopper  464 , and drop them all into the tote  194 . Alternatively, the panel picker  236  can direct the textile panel picker  177  to pick less than all the panels  192  for a particular article of clothing, pull them into the textile hopper  464 , and drop them into the tote  194 . In that context, the panel picker  236  can work in connection with the production line coordinator  232  to generate instructions for picking any combination of the panels  192  off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176  and transferring them into the tote  194 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another view of the textile cutter  176  and textile panel picker  177  shown in  FIG. 4  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The arrangement shown in  FIG. 5  is provided as a representative example of one way the textile panel picker  177  can be designed. Within the scope of the embodiments, the shape, size, and arrangement of the textile hopper  464  and the pneumatic pump assembly  466  can vary as compared to that shown. Further, one or more of the valves, sensors, pumps, etc. of the textile panel picker  177  shown in  FIG. 5  and discussed below can be repositioned and/or omitted. In other cases, additional valves, sensors, pumps, etc. can be incorporated into the textile panel picker  177 . Further, although only one textile panel picker  177  is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , additional ones can be arranged around the textile cutter  176  to increase the speed at which panels  192  can be picked and pulled off the tabletop  424 . Similarly, the transport tube transfer arm  450  can be placed or arranged along any side of the textile cutter  176 , including along the same side as the textile hopper  464  and pneumatic pump assembly  466 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the open end  462 A of the flexible transport tube  462  is shown connected or affixed to the camera head  452  of the transport tube transfer arm  450 , and the other end  462 B of the flexible transport tube  462  connects to and opens into the textile hopper  464 . The flexible transport tube  462  can be embodied as any suitable type of hollow, flexible tube within which a piece of fabric or other material can be pulled through using pneumatic suction. Preferably, the flexible transport tube  462  is flexible enough to be easily repositioned by the transport tube transfer arm  450  and long enough to reach across a significant portion of the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 . In some embodiments, the flexible transport tube  462  can be embodied as a bundle of flexible transport tubes of various diameters. An example flexible transport tube bundle is described in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 6A . 
     The textile hopper  464  is shown having a hopper chamber  501 , and the pneumatic pump assembly  466  is shown having a pump chamber  502 . Although the hopper chamber  501  and the pump chamber  502  are shown in  FIG. 5 , it should be appreciated that both the textile hopper  464  and the pneumatic pump assembly  466  are fully enclosed and designed to be as air-tight as possible. Both the textile hopper  464  and the pneumatic pump assembly  466  can be formed from any suitable type of material, such as wood, metal, or plastic boards or sheets, for example, to enclose a certain volume of space. The sizes of the hopper chamber  501  and the pump chamber  502  can vary among the embodiments depending upon the type and/or number of panels  192  being pulled or picked off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 . In that way, the hopper chamber  501  and the pump chamber  502  can maintain a vacuum or negative air pressure as compared to the space outside the textile hopper  464  and the pneumatic pump assembly  466 . 
     In one embodiment, a first valve  503  is provided between the end  462 B of the flexible transport tube  462  and the hopper chamber  501 , and a second valve  504  is provided between the hopper chamber  501  and the pump chamber  502 . In other embodiments, one or both of the valves  503  and  504  can be omitted. As described in further detail below, the valves  503  and  504  can be electronically opened and closed to permit or prevent suction through the flexible transport tube  462  and within the hopper chamber  501 . 
     The pneumatic pump assembly  466  includes a pneumatic pump  510 , a pressure relief valve  512 , and an air mixer  514 . In one embodiment, the pneumatic pump  510  includes a blower motor, such as a brushless motor, including an air rotor or turbine to pull or evacuate air out from the pump chamber  502 . In that way, the pneumatic pump  510  can create a vacuum within the pump chamber  502 . When the valve  504  is open, the pneumatic pump  510  can create a vacuum within both the pump chamber  502  and the hopper chamber  501 . When both the valves  503  and  504  are open, the pneumatic pump  510  can create a vacuum within the pump chamber  502  and the hopper chamber  501  and pull air through the flexible transport tube  462 . When air is pulled through the flexible transport tube  462 , an evacuative draw  519  of air is created at the open end  462 A of the flexible transport tube  462 . The evacuative draw  519  is used by the textile panel picker  177  to pick or pull cut-out panels  192  off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176  and into the hopper chamber  501 . In  FIG. 5 , two panels  192  are shown within the hopper chamber  501 . 
     As described herein, the panel picker  236  can calculate a level of the evacuative draw  519  required to pick and pull a panel  192  through the flexible transport tube  462  and into the textile hopper  464 . The level of the evacuative draw  519  can be calculated based on the weight and/or the size of the panel  192  being picked, the diameter of the flexible transport tube  462 , and other considerations and factors. In turn, the panel picker  236  of the computing environment  110  can direct the speed or power level of the pneumatic pump  510  over the network  150  based on the level of the evacuative draw  519  necessary to pick and pull any given panel  192  through the flexible transport tube  462 . Additionally or alternatively, the panel picker  236  can control one or more of the valves  503  and  504  to adjust the level of the evacuative draw  519  at the open end  462 A of the flexible transport tube  462 . Thus, it should be appreciated that the evacuative draw  519  can be controlled (e.g., started, stopped, increased, decreased, etc.) through a combination of controls, including control of the pneumatic pump  510  and the valves  503  and  504  by the panel picker  236 . 
     The pressure relief valve  512  can be manually or electrically adjusted to allow air to enter into the pump chamber  502  when a difference in pressure between the area outside the pump chamber  502  and that within pump chamber  502  exceeds a certain level. In that way, the pressure relief valve  512  can help to prevent the pneumatic pump  510  from burning out in the event that one or both of the valves  503  and  504  malfunction or a panel  192  becomes stuck within the flexible transport tube  462  or the valves  503 ,  504 . The air mixer  514  can be embodied as a motor and air rotor to mix the contents of the pump chamber  502 . The contents of the pump chamber  502  can be mixed over time using the air mixer  514  to prevent (or mitigate) any buildup of textile fibers or other materials. In various embodiments, one or more of the valves  503  and  504 , the pressure relief valve  512 , and/or the air mixer  514  can be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the textile panel picker  177  includes various sensors, including the sensor  520  within the hopper chamber  501 , and the sensors  521  and  522  between the textile hopper  464  and the tote  194 . The sensor  520  can be used to monitor and/or confirm whether one or more panels  192  have been collected into the hopper chamber  501 , and the sensors  521  and  522  can be used to monitor and/or confirm whether one or more panels  192  have been dropped or placed into the tote  194 . Additional sensors can be placed at other locations within or around the textile panel picker  177 , as necessary. The sensors  520 - 522  can be embodied as any sensor capable of detecting the presence of the panels  192 , such as image or camera sensors, radar sensors, photosensors, or other types of sensors. One or both of the sensors  521  and  522  or additional sensors can also be relied upon to confirm the presence and/or position of the tote  194  below the textile hopper  464  on the conveyor belt  470 . For example, the tote  194  can include a unique identifier tag  530 , which can be embodied as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, bar code, or other unique identifier of the tote  194 , and the sensors  521  and  522  can scan the unique identifier tag  530  to confirm the presence of the tote  194  below the textile hopper  464 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , doors or gates  540  are provided at the bottom of the textile hopper  464 . At the direction of the panel picker  236  and/or the production line coordinator  232 , the gates  540  can be opened using any suitable mechanism to drop the panels  192  out from the textile hopper  464  and into the tote  194 . The doors or gates  540  can be formed in various sizes and shapes among embodiments, and may be designed to maintain a vacuum within the hopper chamber  501  when closed. 
     The textile panel picker  177  also includes a panel picker controller  550  that directs the operation of the components of the textile panel picker  177 . For example, the panel picker controller  550  can control the operation of the transport tube transfer arm  450 , the pneumatic pump  510 , the air mixer  514 , the valves  503 ,  504 , and  512 , and the doors or gates  540  based on instructions provided by the computing environment  110  over the network  150 . The panel picker controller  550  can be embodied as any suitable combination of analog, digital, or analog and digital processing circuitry, including memory, configured to control the operation of the textile panel picker  177 . Thus, the panel picker controller  550  can be embodied as a collection of vendor-specific logic, software, and/or hardware that directs the textile panel picker  177  to perform various automated picking operations described herein. The panel picker controller  550  also includes the physical and logical interfaces for two-way control communications with the computing environment  110  over the network  150 , such as physical layer network interfaces, service interfaces, APIs, etc. In other embodiments, the panel picker controller  550  may itself be configured to perform the functions described herein as being performed by the panel picker  236 . 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates an example cross-section of a flexible transport tube bundle  600  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The flexible transport tube bundle  600  includes three flexible transport tubes similar to the flexible transport tube  462 , with each having a different diameter. Particularly, the flexible transport tube bundle  600  includes a first flexible transport tube  601  having a first diameter, a second flexible transport tube  602  having a second diameter larger than the first flexible transport tube  601 , and a third flexible transport tube  603  having a third diameter larger than the second flexible transport tube  602 . Although three flexible transport tubes are shown in the flexible transport tube bundle  600 , a bundle can include a greater or lesser number of tubes. Additionally, the tubes in a bundle can be arranged together in various configurations, such as in-line with each other or more closely grouped together as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , the flexible transport tube bundle  600  can be secured to the camera head  452  of the transport tube transfer arm  450 . Each flexible transport tube of the bundle  600  can extend from the camera head  452  of the transport tube transfer arm  450  to the textile hopper  464 , similar to the way the flexible transport tube  462  is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . At the textile hopper  464 , one or more valves similar to the valve  503  can be used to open or close individual ones of the flexible transport tubes  601 - 603 . 
     The panel picker  236  can rely upon weight, textile type and/or size information associated with a panel  192  to select one of the flexible transport tubes  601 - 603  to pick the panel  192  off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 . For example, the flexible transport tube  601  can be used for smaller and/or lighter panels  192 , and the flexible transport tubes  603  can be used for larger and/or heavier panels  192 . 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates an example identification of leading pickup regions, pickup paths, and trailing pickup regions for panels according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 6B , panels  192 A- 192 J are shown printed on the textile sheet  410 . Additionally, a representative example of the cameras  441 - 444  of the textile cutter  176  are also shown. As noted above, the panel tracker  234  is configured to capture one or more images of the textile sheet  410 . Using those images, the panel tracker  234  can identify and track the panels  192 A- 192 J as they are fed over the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 . 
     The panel picker  236  is configured to use the identification and tracking information provided by the panel tracker  234 , among other information, to estimate a weight and/or a size of each of the panels  192 A- 192 J. The panel picker  236  can estimate the size of each of the panels  192 A- 192 J using image processing techniques to identify the outer boundaries or extents of the panels  192 A- 192 J, such as the “X” and “Y” dimensions of the panel  192 G shown in  FIG. 6B . In some cases, the panel picker  236  can compare the dimensions of the panels  192 A- 192 J identified from the images captured by the cameras  441 - 444  with the information defined in the textile panel templates  190  used to print the panels  192 A- 192 J. Because the textile panel templates  190  can define panel cutouts, cut alignment markers, and other features related to the size of the panels  192 A- 192 J, the panel picker  236  can refer to that information to identify and/or confirm the sizes of the panels  192 A- 192 J. Further, the apparel manufacturing data store  120  can store the specifications of the textile sheet  410 , such as the type, thickness, grade, and other information related to the textile sheet  410 . Thus, based on the size of the panels  192 A- 192 J and the grade of the textile sheet  410 , among other information, the panel picker  236  can also estimate a weight of each of the panels  192 A- 192 J. 
     Among other panel characteristic information, the panel picker  236  can refer to the weight and/or size information of the panels  192 A- 192 J to determine an automated pickup approach for each of the panels  192 A- 192 J. Each automated pickup approach can include the selection of a flexible transport tube, such as one of the flexible transport tubes  601 - 603  shown in  FIG. 6A  (if multiple tubes are available), the calculation of a level of evacuation necessary to pull one of the panels  192 A- 192 J through the selected flexible transport tube, and the definition of leading and trailing pickup regions for the evacuation of the panel. At the same time, the panel picker  236  can determine a suitable sequence of opening and/or closing the valves in the textile panel picker  177 , such as the valves  503  and  504  among others, depending upon which flexible transport tube is selected, for example. 
     For example, because the panel  192 B is relatively slender, the panel picker  236  can select the flexible transport tube  601  because it has a more narrow diameter than the flexible transport tubes  602  or  603  shown in  FIG. 6A . Additionally, because the panel  192 B is relatively long, the panel picker  236  can identify a leading pickup region  610  at one end of the panel  192 B, a pickup path  612  that runs along a predetermined length of the panel  192 B, and a trailing pickup region  614  at another end of the panel  192 B. The leading pickup region  610 , pickup path  612 , and trailing pickup region  614  define a tube transfer path over which the transport tube transfer arm  450  can move the selected flexible transport tube  601 . As described above, the panel picker  236  can also calculate a level of evacuation to pull the panel  1926  through the flexible transport tube  601 . 
     Once the panel picker  236  has defined the automated pickup approach for the panel  192 B, it directs the textile panel picker  177  to pick the panel  192 B off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176  based on the approach. First, the panel picker  236  directs the transport tube transfer arm  450  to position the selected flexible transport tube  601  over the leading pickup region  610  of the panel  192 B. Once the flexible transport tube  601  has been so positioned, the panel picker  236  can direct the pneumatic pump  510  to create the evacuative draw  519  at the calculated level of evacuation to pull the end of the panel  192 B off the tabletop  424  based on its weight and/or size. Then, the panel picker  236  can further direct the transport tube transfer arm  450  to sweep or move the flexible transport tube  601  at a controlled rate of speed over the pickup path  612  to the trailing pickup region  614 . At the trailing pickup region  614 , the pneumatic pump  510  can be turned off. The pneumatic pump  510  can be turned off (or the valve  503  closed) once the panel  192 B has been identified in the hopper chamber  501  using the sensor  520 , for example. 
     As another example, because the panel  192 G is larger than the panel  192 B, the panel picker  236  can select the flexible transport tube  602  shown in  FIG. 6A  because it has a larger diameter than the flexible transport tube  601 . The panel picker  236  can also identify a leading pickup region  620  at one side of the panel  192 G, a pickup path  622  that runs in a curved path across a central region of the panel  192 G, and trailing pickup region  624  at another side of the panel  192 G. The leading pickup region  620 , pickup path  622 , and trailing pickup region  624  define a tube transfer path over which the transport tube transfer arm  450  can move the flexible transport tube  602  to pick up the panel  192 G. The panel picker  236  can also calculate a level of evacuation to pull the panel  192 G through the flexible transport tube  602 . As compared to the level of evacuation to pull the panel  192 B, the level of evacuation to pull the panel  192 G may be higher because the panel  192 G is larger and the diameter of the flexible transport tube  602  is greater than the flexible transport tube  601 . 
     Once the panel picker  236  has defined the automated pickup approach for the panel  192 G, it directs the textile panel picker  177  to pick the panel  192 G off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176  based on the approach. First, the panel picker  236  directs the transport tube transfer arm  450  to position the flexible transport tube  602  over the leading pickup region  620  of the panel  192 G. Once the flexible transport tube  602  has been positioned over the leading pickup region  620 , the panel picker  236  can direct the pneumatic pump  510  to create the evacuative draw  519  at the calculated level of evacuation to pull the end of the panel  192 G off the tabletop  424 . Then, the panel picker  236  can further direct the transport tube transfer arm  450  to sweep the flexible transport tube  602  over the pickup path  622  to the trailing pickup region  624  where the pneumatic pump  510  can be turned off or the valve  503  can be closed. 
     As another example, the panel picker  236  can select the flexible transport tube  603  shown in  FIG. 6A  to pick up the panel  192 E. The panel picker  236  can also identify a single pickup area  630  for the panel  192 E. The panel picker  236  can also calculate a level of evacuation to pull the panel  192 E through the flexible transport tube  603  based on its weight and/or size, for example. For the panel  192 E, the panel picker  236  does not calculate a pickup path, and it is not necessary for the transport tube transfer arm  450  to sweep the flexible transport tube  603  over the panel  192 E. If possible, the panel picker  236  may attempt to pick panels up off the tabletop  424  using evacuation at a single location to save time, etc. 
     During an automated pickup approach for any of the panels  192 A- 192 J, the panel picker  236  can control and/or monitor the components of the textile panel picker  177 . For example, the panel picker  236  can control the values  503  and  504  and monitor feedback information provided by the sensors  520 - 522 , the cameras  441 - 444 , and the camera head  452 . The valves  503  and  504  can be opened and/or closed to control or adjust the level of evacuation generated by the pneumatic pump  510  (e.g., in addition to directly controlling the speed of the pneumatic pump  510 ), the cameras  441 - 444  and/or the camera head  452  can be monitored to confirm that the panels  192 A- 192 J have been picked up off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 , and the sensor  520  can be monitored to confirm whether the panels  192 A- 192 J have been pulled into the hopper chamber  501 . 
     The panel picker  236  can also signal an error under certain circumstances, such as if one of the panels  192 A- 192 J is picked up off the tabletop  424  but is not pulled into the hopper chamber  501 . Additionally, the panel picker  236  can make on-demand adjustments during picking operations. For example, if the panel  192 A is picked up off the tabletop  424  but is not pulled into the hopper chamber  501  within a certain period of time, the panel picker  236  can increase the speed of the pneumatic pump  510  in an attempt to pull the panel  192 A into the hopper chamber  501 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , an example automated panel printing, cutting, and picking process is illustrated. The process can be performed in the networked environment  100  in  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In certain aspects, the flowchart shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  may be viewed as depicting an example group of steps performed in the networked environment  100  according to one or more embodiments. It should be appreciated that the flowchart shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  provides merely one example of a functional sequence or arrangement that may be employed to implement the operations of the networked environment  100  described herein. It is noted that, although the process is described in connection with the computing environment  110  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , other computing environments may perform the process illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     At reference numeral  702 , the process includes the computing environment  110  receiving orders for textile or other products. The orders can be received from the client devices  160  over the network  150  and stored in the apparel manufacturing data store  120 . As described herein, the orders may be defined, at least in part, by one or more tech packs  180  received from the client devices  160 . At reference numeral  704 , the process includes the order aggregator and organizer  210  aggregating the orders for textile products over time. By aggregating orders from various geographic locations and coordinating apparel assembly processes on a relatively large scale, increased efficiency in apparel manufacturing can be achieved. 
     At reference numeral  706 , the process includes the panel arranger  212  arranging panels  192  for textile products into one or more of the aggregated textile panel templates  190 . The panels  192  in the aggregated textile panel templates  190  can be representative of one or more sections, portions, or pieces of fabric or other materials for one or more shirts, pants, dresses, or other accessories or items to be manufactured. In one embodiment, when arranging the panels  192 , the panel arranger  212  is configured to align the panels  192  to the extent possible among each other to reduce scrap in textile sheets as described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the panel arranger  212  can orient the panels  192  in the textile panel templates  190  to align them with a thread, weave, nap, knit, or print pattern(s) in textile sheets. 
     At reference numeral  708 , the process includes the print engine  132  instructing the textile printer  172  to print the panels  192  for textile products onto one or more textile sheets. Particularly, the process includes the print instructor  214  generating instructions with reference to one or more of the textile panel templates  190  and forwarding those instructions to the textile printer  172  over the network  150 . In turn, the textile printer  172  prints the panels  192  for the orders received at reference numeral  702 . At reference numeral  708 , the process also includes the print instructor  214  coordinating the printing operations of the textile printer  172  over the network  150 . In that context, the print instructor  214  can monitor the ongoing printing operations of the textile printer  172  to coordinate those operations with cutting, picking, and/or assembly processes. 
     At reference numeral  710 , the process includes the cut engine  134  generating cut control instructions for the textile cutter  176  to cut out the panels  192  printed at reference numeral  708 . Further, at reference numeral  712 , the process includes the cut engine  134  instructing the textile cutter  176  to cut the plurality of panels  192  out from the textile sheets over the network  150 . Examples of the generation of the cut control instructions and the control of the textile cutter  176  by the cut engine  134  are described in further detail in the &#39;840 application. 
     At reference numeral  714 , the process includes the assembly engine  136  developing one or more assembly schemes for the orders of textile products received at reference numeral  702 . The assembly engine  136  can generate the assembly schemes with instructions for the assembly of the panels  192  into one or more textile products. The assembly schemes can be based, at least in part, on information provided in the tech packs  180 . Once generated, the assembly schemes can be stored in the apparel manufacturing data store  120  for later reference. The generation of assembly schemes and instructions for the assembly of textile products are described in further detail in the &#39;1640 application. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7B , at reference numeral  716 , the process includes the production line coordinator  232  requisitioning one or more totes  194  in the textile production line  178  based in part on the assembly scheme developed at reference numeral  714 . For example, depending upon the type of the orders being processed, the production line coordinator  232  may need to requisition one or more totes  194  in the textile production line  178  to transfer the panels  192  to one or more of the assembly stations  196 . Further, at reference numeral  716 , production line coordinator  232  directs the requisitioned totes  194  to the textile panel picker  177  to receive one or more panels  192  picked by the textile panel picker  177 . 
     At reference numeral  718 , the process includes automated picking of one or more of panels  192  and the transfer of those panels  192  into the totes  194 . The automated picking process at reference numeral  718  is described in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     At reference numeral  720 , the process includes the production line coordinator  232  directing the totes  194  to one or more of the assembly stations  196  of the textile production line  178  based on the assembly scheme developed at reference numeral  714 . At the assembly stations  196 , various textile products can be assembled using the panels  192  in the totes  194 . After the textile products are assembled, at reference numeral  722 , the process includes the production line coordinator  232  directing the totes  194 , including the finished textile products, to one or more of quality control (QC), photography, binning, and/or packing stations. Thus, the assembled textile products can be checked for quality control, photographed for placement in an electronic commerce system, stored in a materials handling area/facility, packaged for shipping, etc. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example automated panel picking process used in the process in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. At reference numeral  802 , the process includes the panel tracker  234  capturing one or more images of the textile sheet  410  using one or more of the cameras  441 - 444  and/or the camera head  452 . Images (or video) of the textile sheet  410  can be taken at any time during cutting and picking operations as described herein. 
     At reference numeral  804 , the process includes the panel tracker  234  identifying and tracking the panels  192  as they are fed over the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 , for example, as described above with reference to  FIG. 6B . The panel tracker  234  can perform identification and tracking operations similar to those performed by the image analyzer  220  of the cut engine  134 . 
     At reference numeral  806 , the process includes the panel tracker  234  determining one or more characteristics, such as the type, shape, weight and/or size of each of the panels  192  identified at reference numeral  804 . For example, the panel picker  236  can estimate the weight or size of each of the panels  192  using image processing techniques to identify the outer boundaries or extents of the panels  192 , such as the “X” and “Y” dimensions of the panel  192 G shown in  FIG. 6B . In some cases, the panel picker  236  can compare the dimensions of certain panels  192  identified from the images with information defined in the textile panel templates  190  used to print the panels  192 . Because the textile panel templates  190  can define panel cutouts, cut alignment markers, and other features related to the size of the panels  192 , the panel picker  236  can refer to that information to identify and/or confirm the sizes of the panels  192 . Further, the apparel manufacturing data store  120  can store the specifications of the textile sheet  410 , such as the type, thickness, grade, and other information related to the textile sheet  410 . Thus, based on the size of the panels  192  and the grade of the textile sheet  410 , among other information, the panel picker  236  can also estimate a weight of the panels  192 . 
     At reference numeral  808 , the process includes the panel tracker  234  determining an automated pickup approach for picking the panels  192 . An automated pickup approach can include one or more of the selection of a flexible transport tube, such as one of the flexible transport tubes  601 - 603  shown in  FIG. 6A  (if multiple tubes are available), the calculation of a level of evacuation necessary to pull the panels  192  through the selected flexible transport tube, and the definition of leading and trailing pickup regions for the evacuation of the panels. 
     At reference numeral  810 , the process includes the panel tracker  234  directing the transport tube transfer arm  450  to position the flexible transport tube  462  (or one of the selected flexible transport tubes  601 - 603  in  FIG. 6A ) over one of the panels  192 . Once the flexible transport tube  462  has been positioned, the panel picker  236  can direct the pneumatic pump  510  to create suction for the evacuative draw  519  at reference numeral  812 . The amount of suction can be determined based on the characteristics of the panels estimated at reference numeral  806 . While the pneumatic pump  510  is being directed to create suction, the panel picker  236  can also control one or more valves in the textile panel picker  177  to direct the suction through the flexible transport tube selected at reference numeral  808 . The panel picker  236  can also direct the transport tube transfer arm  450  to sweep the flexible transport tube  462  over the panel  192 , as necessary, according to the automated pickup approach determined at reference numeral  808  while the suction through the selected flexible transport tube is being generated by the pneumatic pump  510 . 
     At reference numeral  814 , the process includes the panel picker  236  tracking one or more of the panels  192  off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176  and into the hopper chamber  501  using the sensors  520 - 522 , the cameras  441 - 444 , and/or the camera head  452 . For example, the panel picker  236  can process images captured by the camera head  452  to confirm whether the panels  192  have been picked up off the tabletop  424  of the textile cutter  176 . The panel picker  236  can also monitor the sensor  520  to confirm whether the panels  192  have been pulled into the hopper chamber  501 . The panel picker  236  can also signal an error under certain circumstances, such as if one of the panels  192 A- 192 J is picked off the tabletop  424  but is not pulled into the hopper chamber  501 . 
     At reference numeral  816 , the process includes the panel picker  236  opening the hopper chamber  501  and dropping one or more panels  192  into one or more totes  194  of the textile production line  178 . In that way, the panels  192  can be transferred to another location outside of the hopper chamber  501 . For example, at the direction of the panel picker  236  and/or the production line coordinator  232 , the gates  540  of the textile panel picker  177  can be opened using any suitable mechanism to drop one or more panels  192  out from the textile hopper  464  and into one or more of the totes  194 . After the panels  192  have been dropped into the totes  194 , the process returns to  FIG. 7B , and the production line coordinator  232  can direct the totes to one or more assembly stations  196  on the textile production line  178  at reference numeral  720  in  FIG. 7B . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example schematic block diagram of the computing environment  110  employed in the networked environment  100  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The computing environment  110  includes one or more computing devices  900 . Each computing device  900  includes at least one processing system, for example, having a processor  902  and a memory  904 , both of which are electrically and communicatively coupled to a local interface  906 . To this end, each computing device  900  can be embodied as, for example, at least one server computer or similar device. The local interface  906  can be embodied as, for example, a data bus with an accompanying address/control bus or other bus structure as can be appreciated. 
     In various embodiments, the memory  904  stores data and software or executable-code components executable by the processor  902 . For example, the memory  904  can store executable-code components associated with the print engine  132 , cut engine  134 , and assembly engine  136  for execution by the processor  902 . The memory  904  can also store data such as that stored in the apparel manufacturing data store  120 , among other data. 
     It should be understood and appreciated that the memory  904  can store other executable-code components for execution by the processor  902 . For example, an operating system can be stored in the memory  904  for execution by the processor  902 . Where any component discussed herein is implemented in the form of software, any one of a number of programming languages can be employed such as, for example, C, C++, C#, Objective C, Java®, JavaScript®, Perl, PHP, Visual Basic®, Python®, Ruby, Flash®, or other programming languages. 
     As discussed above, in various embodiments, the memory  904  stores software for execution by the processor  902 . In this respect, the terms “executable” or “for execution” refer to software forms that can ultimately be run or executed by the processor  902 , whether in source, object, machine, or other form. Examples of executable programs include, for example, a compiled program that can be translated into a machine code format and loaded into a random access portion of the memory  904  and executed by the processor  902 , source code that can be expressed in an object code format and loaded into a random access portion of the memory  904  and executed by the processor  902 , or source code that can be interpreted by another executable program to generate instructions in a random access portion of the memory  904  and executed by the processor  902 , etc. An executable program can be stored in any portion or component of the memory  904  including, for example, a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic or other hard disk drive, solid-state, semiconductor, or similar drive, universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, memory card, optical disc (e.g., compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)), floppy disk, magnetic tape, or other memory component. 
     In various embodiments, the memory  904  can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory and data storage components. Volatile components are those that do not retain data values upon loss of power. Nonvolatile components are those that retain data upon a loss of power. Thus, the memory  904  can include, for example, a RAM, ROM, magnetic or other hard disk drive, solid-state, semiconductor, or similar drive, USB flash drive, memory card accessed via a memory card reader, floppy disk accessed via an associated floppy disk drive, optical disc accessed via an optical disc drive, magnetic tape accessed via an appropriate tape drive, and/or other memory component, or any combination thereof. In addition, the RAM can include, for example, a static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or magnetic random access memory (MRAM), and/or other similar memory device. The ROM can include, for example, a programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or other similar memory device. 
     Also, the processor  902  may represent multiple processors  902  and/or multiple processor cores and the memory  904  may represent multiple memories that operate in parallel, respectively, or in combination. Thus, the local interface  906  can be an appropriate network or bus that facilitates communication between any two of the multiple processors  902 , between any processor  902  and any of the memories  904 , or between any two of the memories  904 , etc. The local interface  906  can include additional systems designed to coordinate this communication, including, for example, a load balancer that performs load balancing. The processor  902  can be of electrical or of some other available construction. 
     As discussed above, the print engine  132 , the cut engine  134 , and the assembly engine  136  may be embodied, in part, by software or executable-code components for execution by general purpose hardware. Alternatively the same may be embodied in dedicated hardware or a combination of software, general, specific, and/or dedicated purpose hardware. If embodied in such hardware, each can be implemented as a circuit or state machine, for example, that employs any one of or a combination of a number of technologies. These technologies may include, but are not limited to, discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing various logic functions upon an application of one or more data signals, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having appropriate logic gates, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other components, etc. Such technologies are generally well known by those skilled in the art and, consequently, are not described in detail herein. 
     The flowcharts or process diagrams of  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8  are representative of certain processes, functionality, and operations of embodiments discussed herein. Each block may represent one or a combination of steps or executions in a process. Alternatively or additionally, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes program instructions to implement the specified logical function(s). The program instructions may be embodied in the form of source code that includes human-readable statements written in a programming language or machine code that includes numerical instructions recognizable by a suitable execution system such as the processor  902 . The machine code can be converted from the source code, etc. Further, each block may represent, or be connected with, a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement a certain logical function or process step. 
     Although the flowcharts or process diagrams of  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8  illustrate a specific order, it is understood that the order can differ from that which is depicted. For example, an order of execution of two or more blocks can be scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8  can be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Further, in some embodiments, one or more of the blocks shown in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8  can be skipped or omitted. In addition, any number of counters, state variables, warning semaphores, or messages might be added to the logical flow described herein, for purposes of enhanced utility, accounting, performance measurement, or providing troubleshooting aids, etc. It is understood that all such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Also, any logic or application described herein, including the print engine  132 , the cut engine  134 , and the assembly engine  136  that are embodied, at least in part, by software or executable-code components, may be embodied or stored in any tangible or non-transitory computer-readable medium or device for execution by an instruction execution system such as a general purpose processor. In this sense, the logic may be embodied as, for example, software or executable-code components that can be fetched from the computer-readable medium and executed by the instruction execution system. Thus, the instruction execution system can be directed by execution of the instructions to perform certain processes such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8 . In the context of the present disclosure, a “computer-readable medium” can be any tangible medium that can contain, store, or maintain any logic, application, software, or executable-code component described herein for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. 
     The computer-readable medium can include any physical media such as, for example, magnetic, optical, or semiconductor media. More specific examples of suitable computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, magnetic tapes, magnetic floppy diskettes, magnetic hard drives, memory cards, solid-state drives, USB flash drives, or optical discs. Also, the computer-readable medium can include a RAM including, for example, an SRAM, DRAM, or MRAM. In addition, the computer-readable medium can include a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or other similar memory device. 
     Disjunctive language, such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is to be understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., can be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to be each present. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.