Patent Description:
A variety of articles are formed from textiles. As examples, articles of apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, socks, footwear, jackets and other outerwear, briefs and other undergarments, hats and other headwear), containers (e.g., backpacks, bags), and upholstery for furniture (e.g., chairs, couches, car seats) are often at least partially formed from textiles. These textiles are often formed by weaving or interlooping (e.g., knitting) a yarn or a plurality of yarns, usually through a mechanical process involving looms or knitting machines.

In some applications, the textile may be embroidered with at least one embroidery element, such as a strand, thread, yarn, or the like (herein referred to as a "strand" when referring to an embroidered element). The embroidery process may be accomplished on a mechanical device called an embroidery machine. Typically, an embroidery machine includes a needle for mechanically manipulating the strand through the base layer of the textile. Usually, the embroidery process occurs after the base layer of the textile is formed, and the embroidery machine is typically separate from the machine used to form the base textile layer (e.g., a knitting machine or a weaving loom).

While embroidery machines have been used with success for certain applications, one shortcoming of existing machines involves the limited motion of the embroidery needle. For example, existing embroidery needles are movable vertically and/or in a horizontal plane, but they cannot rotate or otherwise change the orientation of their vertical axes. This shortcoming has limited the usefulness of embroidery machines with respect to certain types of textiles, and particularly textiles with a tubular construction and/or curved areas. In particular, embroidery machines of the type described above cannot reach all areas of a tubular or curved textile without human intervention (e.g., through repositioning the textile during the embroidery process). The embodiments described below provide an improved device for overcoming this shortcoming.

<CIT> discloses a stocking turning device which has a flat bar on which the tubular textile of a stocking, closed by sewing, is fitted and simultaneously turned inside out, starting from the toe, under the action of a pair of contra-rotating rollers resiliently pressed against the opposite faces of the flat bar.

<CIT> discloses a sewing machine which serves to form stitches on a curved work fabric by an upper and a lower thread through cooperation of a shuttle and a needle vertically reciprocally driven. The sewing machine includes a holder device for retaining the work fabric to be sewn. The holder device is rotatable.

The objective technical problem to be solved can be considered to consist in overcoming or at least reducing the disadvantages according to the prior art. The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. An assembly is provided according to the subject matter of claim <NUM>. The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings/figures and description.

The claimed invention is directed to an assembly as defined by claim <NUM>, among other features including: a support device having a surface for receiving a textile component; and an actuation device, the actuation device having at least one actuation surface that at least partially surrounds the support device, where the actuation surface is movable with respect to the surface of the support device such that, when the textile component is held by the support device, movement of the actuation surface with respect to the surface of the support device causes movement of the textile component with respect to the surface of the support device.

A general aspect of the present disclosure includes an assembly, including: a actuation device, the actuation device having at least one belt defining an actuation surface that is movable with respect to an outer surface of a support device, where the actuation device has an engaged state and an open state, where the actuation surface at least partially surrounds the support device when in the engaged state, and where at least a portion of the actuation surface moves away from the support device when transitioning from the engaged state to the open state.

Another general aspect of the present disclosure includes a method, the method including: placing a textile component on a surface of a support device; placing the support device into engagement with an actuation device, the actuation device having at least one actuation surface that at least partially surrounds the support device; and moving the textile component with respect to the support device by moving the actuation surface while the actuation surface is engaged with the textile component.

Another general aspect of the present disclosure includes a textile component, including: a tubular construction forming a textile layer that defines and surrounds an inner opening; and an embroidered strand, where the embroidered strand extends at least <NUM> degrees around the tubular construction of the textile component.

<FIG> is an illustration showing an assembly <NUM> for an embroidery machine. The embroidery machine may be any suitable manufacturing device for embroidering a strand or other material within a textile, and one example (for illustration purposes) is a single or multi-head embroidery machine sold by Barudan America Inc. of Solon, Ohio. The embroidery machine includes an embroidery needle <NUM> for placing an embroidery element, such as the depicted strand <NUM>, on or through a base layer of a textile component <NUM>. In particular, the embroidery needle <NUM> locks the strand <NUM> to the textile component <NUM> by stitching the strand <NUM> to and/or through the textile structure of textile component <NUM> (e.g., through the use of satin-stitches, running-stitches, fill-stitches, or the like). Each stitch may utilize a lock-stitch or other suitable structure to enhance securement of the strand <NUM> to the textile component <NUM>.

The assembly <NUM> may be separate from the embroidery machine (as shown), or alternatively it may be built as a portion of the embroidery machine. The assembly <NUM> includes a support device <NUM> for holding a textile component <NUM> and an actuation device <NUM> for moving (e.g., rotating) the textile component <NUM>. A housing <NUM> of the assembly <NUM> (which may be fixed to the embroidery machine) may have a connection port <NUM> that connects to the first end <NUM> of the support device <NUM>. The connection port <NUM> may include a socket, a flange, a series of connection holes (e.g., for bolting or screwing), a clamp, etc. The connection port <NUM> may couple to the support device <NUM> in a permanent or non-permanent manner. In some embodiments, the support device <NUM> may be fixed to the embroidery machine through the port <NUM>. Herein, "fixed to" means "rigidly attached to" in a permanent or non-permanent manner. Similarly, the actuation device <NUM> may be fixed to or otherwise coupled to the embroidery machine, but it is also contemplated that the actuation device <NUM> may simply be placed adjacent to the embroidery machine in an appropriate location for communication with the embroidery machine.

<FIG> is an illustration showing certain components of the assembly of <FIG>, including the support device <NUM> and the actuation device <NUM>. The textile component <NUM> is shown prior to placement on the support device <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the first end <NUM> of the support device <NUM> may have a connection adapter <NUM> for cooperation with the connection port <NUM> (<FIG>) of the assembly <NUM>. A second end <NUM> of the support device <NUM> may include an optional nose element <NUM>. The nose element <NUM> may be advantageous for facilitating the placement of the textile component <NUM> on the support device <NUM> by preventing snagging, by progressively stretching the textile component <NUM> (if necessary), and/or by otherwise guiding the textile component around an outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM> during deployment.

The support device <NUM> may be cylindrical in shape, which is particularly advantageous when the textile component <NUM> is tubular in shape. For example, the textile component <NUM> may be a circular-knit tubular configuration for use in a variety of applications (e.g., a sock, a glove, a portion of an article of footwear, a portion of an article of apparel, an industrial tubular component, a stent, etc.). Other types of textiles are also contemplated, including non-tubular textiles (e.g., flat-knit textiles, flat-woven articles, etc.). Thus, it is contemplated that the support device <NUM> may be flat or have another suitable shape that corresponds to textiles having a variety of shapes, curvatures, sizes, etc. For simplicity, the support device <NUM> will be described as being generally cylindrical in the remainder of this description.

The outer surface <NUM> of the support device is configured (e.g., sized, shaped, and positioned) to receive the textile component <NUM>, and also to contact and support an inner surface of the tubular textile component <NUM> upon receipt. For example, the outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM> may have a diameter that is about the same size as, or slightly larger than, the inner diameter of the textile component <NUM> when the textile component <NUM> is in a relaxed state. In other embodiments, the diameter of the outer surface <NUM> may be substantially larger than (e.g., at least <NUM>% larger than) the inner diameter of the relaxed textile component <NUM> such that the textile component <NUM> is slightly or substantially stretched when deployed on the support device <NUM>. This may be advantageous when a stretched orientation is desirable during embroidery.

An opening or window <NUM> may be present and extend through at least a portion of the outer surface <NUM> to provide access to a space or cavity <NUM>, and the cavity <NUM> may be defined by an inner surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM>. The window <NUM> and cavity <NUM> are advantageous for providing room for the embroidery needle <NUM> (<FIG>) to operate. For example, when the embroidery needle <NUM> (<FIG>) functions by extending a strand or other element back and forth through a base surface of the textile component <NUM>, the window <NUM> may be positioned immediately beneath the embroidery needle such that the embroidery needle avoids contact with the outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM>, and instead extends into the cavity <NUM>, when it pierces the textile component <NUM>. Other constructions of the support device <NUM> are also contemplated to achieve a similar effect (see, e.g., <FIG>).

The actuation device <NUM> includes at least one actuation surface <NUM> (where "<NUM>" collectively represents the actuation surfaces 132a, 132b, and 132c). The actuation surface <NUM> at least partially surrounds the support device <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, three actuation surfaces <NUM> are included: a first actuation surface 132a, a second actuation surface 132b, and a third actuation surface 132c. Other embodiments may have fewer (e g. , one or two) or more (e.g., four, five, or more) actuation surfaces <NUM>. The actuation surfaces <NUM> are movable with respect to the outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM>. The first actuation surface 132a is a surface of a first belt 134a, and the first belt 134a is capable of rotating or otherwise cycling such that the first actuation surface 132a moves with respect to the outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM>. Similarly, the second actuation surface 132b may be a surface on a second belt 134b, and the third actuation surface 132c may be a surface on a third belt 134c. More or fewer than three belts <NUM> may be included (where "<NUM>" collectively represents the belts 132a, 132b, and 132c).

The actuation surface 132a of the first belt 134a is located on a first face <NUM> of the first belt 134a, and a second face <NUM> of the first belt 134a (opposite the first face <NUM>) is mechanically coupled to at least one shaft <NUM> (where "<NUM>" represents the shafts 140a, 140b, 140c, and 140d). Four shafts are included: a first shaft 140a, a second shaft 140b, a third shaft 140c, and a fourth shaft 140d. At least one of the shafts <NUM> may include idler-wheels <NUM> for transmitting the rotation of the shafts <NUM> into rotation or other cycling motion of the belts <NUM>. To enhance these transmissions, the second face <NUM> of the first belt 134a may include grooves <NUM> that communicate with a set of projections <NUM> extending from the idler-wheels <NUM>. In other words, to avoid slippage, the projections <NUM> of the idler-wheels <NUM> may be received by the grooves <NUM> on the second face <NUM> of the first belt 134a. As a result, as the first shaft 140a rotates, the first belt 134a will cycle. The second belt 134b and the third belt 134c may also, or alternatively, include grooves and thus also cycle when the shafts <NUM> rotate.

According to the claimed invention, the four shafts <NUM> include two top shafts (e.g., the first shaft 140a and the second shaft 140b) and two bottom shafts (the third shaft 140c and the fourth shaft 140d). More particularly, the first shaft 140a and the second shaft 140b are located on in a first plane (e.g., a plane that is horizontal) and the third shaft 140c and the fourth shaft 140d are located in a lower second plane. The first shaft 140a and the third shaft 140c are located on a right side <NUM> of the actuation device <NUM> (from the perspective of <FIG>), and similarly the second shaft 140b and the fourth shaft 140d are located on a left side <NUM> of the actuation device <NUM> (from the perspective of <FIG>). These particular locations of the shafts <NUM> are advantageous for ensuring the support device <NUM> is adequately surrounded by the actuation surfaces <NUM> while still providing the embroidery needle with access to the window <NUM> from above.

The shafts <NUM> may be driven (i.e. , forced into rotation) through any suitable device or method. For example, at least one of the shafts <NUM> may be coupled to a motor. If only one motor is included, the motor may be coupled to only one of the shafts <NUM> or to multiple shafts <NUM> (e.g., through a chain or belt drive). In other embodiments, more than one motor may be included (e.g., certain shafts <NUM> may be associated with separate motors). Herein, a shaft <NUM> that is mechanically coupled to a motor (or other rotation-effecting actuator) through something other than the belts <NUM> themselves is referred to as a "driven shaft. " For example, in some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, at least one of the bottom shafts 140c, 140d may be a driven shaft, but the top shafts 140a, 140b may not be. As a result, rotation of the first shaft 140a and the second shaft 140b may be determined solely by motion of the belts <NUM>. This embodiment may be advantageous for allowing the first shaft 140a and the second shaft 140b to be horizontally/vertically movable, as described in more detail below.

<FIG> is an illustration showing the assembly <NUM>, where the textile component <NUM> is partially deployed on the support device <NUM>. The task of placing the textile component <NUM> on the support device <NUM> may be performed automatically or by a human operator. As shown, the textile component <NUM> may be placed on the support device <NUM> while the actuation device <NUM> is in an open state (and see <FIG> for an alternative closed state). In the depicted open state, a gap <NUM> may be located between the actuation surfaces <NUM> and the support device <NUM> to provide room for the textile component <NUM> to slide over the outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM> during deployment. In other embodiments, the gap <NUM> may not be provided, but the belts <NUM> may be loose enough and/or compliant enough such that the operator can force the belts <NUM> out of the way as the textile component <NUM> is deployed over and around outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM>.

<FIG> is an illustration showing the assembly <NUM> where the textile component <NUM> is fully deployed on the support device <NUM>, and where actuation device <NUM> has transitioned from the open state (<FIG>) to a closed state. The closed state is also referred to as an "engaged state. " According to the claimed invention, the belts <NUM> have two positions (or more): a first position <NUM> shown in more detail in <FIG> corresponding to the open state, and a second position <NUM> as detailed in <FIG> corresponding to the closed state. In the closed state, the first shaft 140a and the second shaft 140b are displaced upwards and inwards (perhaps along a rotational path), thereby at least partially wrapping the belts <NUM> around the support device <NUM>. An embroidery needle can still access the textile component <NUM> from above in the closed state. The third shaft 140c and the fourth shaft 140d may also move, but in other embodiments, the third shaft 140c and the fourth shaft 140d may remain in the same respective positions in both the open and closed states, particularly when they are coupled to one or more immovable actuators (e.g., motors).

One embodiment for providing control of the shaft position is shown in <FIG>. As shown there, the shafts 140a and 140c may be coupled to a linear actuator <NUM> (or another suitable actuation device) through a linkage <NUM>. The linkage <NUM> may also provide support to an end <NUM> of the shafts 140a and 140c, and the shafts 140a and 140c may be rotatable with respect to the linkage <NUM> about their respective longitudinal axes. The linkage <NUM> is also optionally rotatable with respect to an actuation arm <NUM> of the linear actuator <NUM>. When the actuation arm <NUM> of the linear actuator <NUM> extends upward, it may force the linkage <NUM> upward, which will also force the shafts 140a and 140c upward. As a result, the shafts 140a and 140c will reposition a portion of the belts <NUM> such that the belts <NUM> are partially wrapped and tensioned around the support device <NUM>. This tension in the belts <NUM> may provide sufficient engagement between the actuation surfaces <NUM> and a textile component held on the support device <NUM>, as described above.

In the depicted embodiment, the linkage <NUM> is coupled to the first shaft 140a and the third shaft 140c. In other embodiments, the lower shafts (i.e. , the third shaft 140c and fourth shaft 140d) may not be directly secured to the linkages <NUM>, and therefore they may not move when the linkages <NUM> move. This may be advantageous when the lower shafts 140c, and 140d are drive shafts that are coupled to a motor or other actuator, since a common location among different states (e.g. open and closed states) prevents the need to also move the associated motor or other actuator with the drive shafts.

The degree of extension of the actuation arm <NUM> may also be variable, which may allow for one or more intermediate states between the open state and the closed state. As a result, the actuation device <NUM> may be capable of adapting to two or more different support devices <NUM> having different dimensions, and/or different belts <NUM>. Optionally, more than one linear actuator <NUM> may be included. For example, a second linear actuator <NUM> may be included to assist with shaft positioning. While not visible in <FIG>, one or more linear actuators may be included on the other side of the assembly <NUM> and coupled to one or more of the second shaft 140b and the fourth shaft 140d through separate linkages. The linear actuator(s) may be controlled automatically (e g. , via a control device) or manually (e.g., by pushing a button to activate the linear actuator, or by manually forcing the actuation arm <NUM> vertically).

Referring to <FIG>, the closed state provides suitable contact or other engagement, and therefore friction, between the actuation surfaces <NUM> and the textile component <NUM>. In the closed state, the total static friction between the actuation surfaces <NUM> and the textile component <NUM> is greater than the total static friction between the outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM> and the textile component <NUM>. As a result, when the actuation surfaces <NUM> move, the textile component <NUM> remains static (i.e., substantially lacking relative motion) with respect to the actuation surfaces <NUM>, but will slip and therefore rotate with respect to the outer surface <NUM> of the support device <NUM>. Rotation/cycling of the belts <NUM> will therefore cause rotation of the textile component <NUM> with respect to the embroidery machine.

The ability to rotate of the textile component <NUM> provides an embroidery needle with access to areas of the textile component <NUM> that would not otherwise be reachable if the textile component <NUM> was stationary. To illustrate, in current systems, embroidery needles can typically only move vertically and axially, and they cannot rotate around a tubular textile component to gain access to locations <NUM> degrees around the entirety of the textile surface. The present embodiments overcome this shortcoming by providing an apparatus and method that is capable of moving/rotating the textile with respect to the embroidery needle, and therefore providing <NUM> degree access to surfaces of the textile. Notably, this <NUM> degree access is provided without necessitating human intervention during the embroidery process and without additional machine-setup steps (and therefore without substantially compromising manufacturing efficiency).

Another advantage of the assembly <NUM> is the capability of multi-directional rotation. Referring to <FIG>, the belts <NUM> may be capable of cycling in a first direction <NUM> and also a second direction <NUM>. Switching the direction of rotation may be accomplished by switching the direction of rotation of the driven shaft(s), and/or by switching which shaft <NUM> provides the driving force. For example, if one motor is used (or multiple motors are operating in parallel), the direction of rotation may be switched by simply changing the direction of motor rotation. In other embodiments, one of the shafts <NUM> may be coupled to a first motor configured to drive rotation in the first direction <NUM>, and a different one of the shafts <NUM> may be coupled to a different motor configured to drive rotation in the second direction <NUM>. Thus, switching the direction of rotation may be accomplished simply by switching which motor provides the driving force (e.g., by turning one motor off and activating another). Advantageously, these embodiments may prevent the need for a multi-directional motor, which may decrease the complexity of the control system and reduce the expense of the assembly <NUM>.

The rotation direction may be switched during the embroidery process, which allows the formation of zig-zag patterns and other patterns where the embroidered strand <NUM> varies in its stitch direction. This may provide the capability of creating complex embroidery patterns through controlling rotation of the textile component <NUM> while simultaneously controlling the operation of the embroidery needle. The assembly <NUM> may be automatically controlled (e.g., through a programmed control system) and/or manually controlled (through an interface providing control capabilities to a human operator). If automatically controlled, the same control system may operate both the embroidery needle and the assembly <NUM>, or separate control systems may be used.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the support device <NUM> may be separable from the actuation device <NUM>. The first end <NUM> of the support device <NUM> may include the connection adapter <NUM> that connects to the assembly's port <NUM> (see <FIG>). The connection adapter <NUM> may be removable from the port <NUM> (<FIG>) such that the support device <NUM> can be handled independently. In certain embodiments, the connection adapter <NUM> may also be configured to attach to another textile manufacturing machine. Advantageously, the support device <NUM> may therefore be movable to another manufacturing process while retaining a textile component. For example, a heat-application device (not shown) may also include a port for receiving the connection adapter <NUM>, and the textile component may therefore be moved from the embroidery machine to the heat application device, and then heat-treated, while under continuous support provided by the support device <NUM>. It is also noted that an operator may place the textile component on the support device <NUM> while the support device <NUM> is separated from the actuation device <NUM>, and then move the support device <NUM> into engagement with the actuation device <NUM>. This may be a preferred method when it is difficult to place the textile component on the support device <NUM> when engaged with the actuation device <NUM>, even when/if the actuation device <NUM> is in the above-described open state.

The present embodiments also provide the assembly <NUM> with the ability to efficiently switch between different support devices <NUM>. For example, different support devices <NUM> may have different dimensions (e.g., diameter, length, etc.) for receiving different sized textile components. Since the support devices <NUM> may have an identical or similar connection adapter <NUM>, a certain support device <NUM> may be quickly and efficiently selected and placed into communication with the remainder of the assembly <NUM> without substantially adjusting anything else.

<FIG> are illustrations showing additional embodiments of support devices for use with the assembly <NUM> described above. For example, referring to <FIG>, a support device <NUM> may include a central support shaft <NUM> that extends from a first end <NUM> to a second end <NUM>. The central support shaft <NUM> may couple a connection adapter <NUM> to a nose element <NUM>. The connection adapter <NUM> may be similar to the connection adapter <NUM> (of <FIG>), and thus it is contemplated that the port <NUM> (<FIG>) may be capable of receiving both support-device types. Still referring to <FIG>, when a textile component is deployed over the nose element <NUM> and extends to the connection adapter <NUM>, the central support shaft <NUM> may be spaced from the textile component <NUM> since it is radially separated from an outer-diameter surface <NUM> of the nose element <NUM> and also from an outer-diameter surface <NUM> of the connection adapter <NUM>. A gap or cavity <NUM> may therefore be defined between the textile component and the central support shaft <NUM> when the textile component is deployed, and the gap or cavity <NUM> may provide the requisite space needed for communication with an embroidery needle.

The embodiment of <FIG> may further be advantageous since the support device <NUM> itself could rotate with respect to an embroidery needle, which may provide rotation of a textile component with respect to an embroidery needle without using the actuation device <NUM> (of <FIG>). For example, it is contemplated that the port <NUM> (<FIG>) may rotate with respect to the remainder of the machine, thereby causing the support device <NUM> to rotate. The lack of any support device near or in contact with the textile component <NUM> along the majority of the length of the support device <NUM> may make this feasible since there will be nothing lining the inner surface of the textile component that may contact the embroidery needle to interfere with its operation.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of a support device <NUM>, where a nose element <NUM> is connected to a connection adapter <NUM> via support shafts <NUM> located at or near the outer diameter of the support device <NUM>. This embodiment may be advantageous since the support shafts <NUM> may provide support and/or tension to the textile component along its length (e.g., through direct contact), particularly when it is desirable for the textile component to be in a stretched state during embroidery. Similarly, the embodiment described above with a window <NUM> (see the support device <NUM> of <FIG>) may provide support/tension to the textile component along the entire length of the support device <NUM>.

<FIG> is an illustration showing the textile component <NUM> with the embroidered strand <NUM> after being removed from the above-described assembly. As shown, the embroidered strand <NUM> may extend at least <NUM> degrees around the tubular construction of the textile component <NUM>. The embroidered strand <NUM> may be advantageous not only for its aesthetics, but it also may provide the textile component with desirable physical properties, such as a desired rigidity, selected stretchability (which may vary in different directions), etc. Several embodiments and several associated advantages of an embroidered textile component are described in detail in <CIT>, <CIT>. The assembly <NUM> described above makes this <NUM> degree extension of an embroidered strand <NUM> on a textile component possible without significantly increasing the manufacturing burden. Notably, the above-described embodiments may enable formation of the textile component <NUM> using conventional embroidery needles and conventional embroidery processes without substantial modification of the embroidery needle and/or machine.

Claim 1:
An assembly (<NUM>) for an embroidery machine, comprising:
a support device (<NUM>) having a surface (<NUM>) for receiving a textile component (<NUM>); and
an actuation device (<NUM>), the actuation device (<NUM>) having at least one actuation surface (<NUM>) that at least partially surrounds the support device (<NUM>), wherein the actuation surface is a first face (<NUM>) of a belt (<NUM>) capable of rotating or otherwise cycling such that
the actuation surface (<NUM>) is movable with respect to the surface (<NUM>) of the support device (<NUM>) such that, when the textile component (<NUM>) is held by the support device (<NUM>), movement of the actuation surface (<NUM>) with respect to the surface (<NUM>) of the support device (<NUM>) causes movement of the textile component (<NUM>) with respect to the surface (<NUM>) of the support device (<NUM>),
wherein a second face (<NUM>) of the belt is mechanically coupled to at least one shaft (<NUM>),
wherein the assembly is characterized in that it comprises a first shaft (140a) and a second shaft (140b) located in a first horizontal plane, wherein the assembly comprises a third shaft (140c) and a fourth shaft (140d) located in a second horizontal plane, wherein the first shaft (140a) and the third shaft (140c) are located on a right side of the actuation device (<NUM>), wherein the second shaft (140b) and the fourth shaft (140d) are located on a left side of the actuation device (<NUM>),
wherein the actuation device (<NUM>) is configured to move from an open state to a closed state by displacing the first shaft (140a) and the second shaft (140b) upwards and inwards, thereby wrapping the belt (<NUM>) providing the actuation surface (<NUM>) around the support device (<NUM>),
and wherein the closed state provides suitable contact or other engagement, and therefore friction, between the actuation surface (<NUM>) and the textile component (<NUM>) to cause rotation of the textile component (<NUM>) with reference to the surface (<NUM>) of the support device (<NUM>) by rotating at least one shaft (140a, 140b, 140c, 140d).