Abstract: An accessory unit (2) for a sewing machine (1) for automatically sewing pieces of ribbon material (20) onto a sewing material (5), has a hollow guide shaft (23) with a longitudinal slot (24) to guide the ribbon material (20). A needle (25) is used as an advance feed mechanism and can be inserted through the slot (24) into the ribbon material (20) which passes through the guide shaft (23), by means of which the ribbon material (20) can be advanced in the longitudinal direction of the guide shaft (23). The accessory unit (2) can be swivelled around a vertical axis (x) by at least 90.degree. relative to the sewing machine (1).

Abstract: A method of automatically producing seams in fabric webs, especially sackings or ticks of (wadded) bed quilts, by producing the seams during, and with the aid of, a freely programmably relative movement between the fabric web and at least one sewing machine head. The fabric web is drawn continuously or successively (in steps) and against a constant take-up force along a linear path, and the sewing head performs program-controlled motions in a processed web portion extending transversely of said path. A system for carrying out this method, utilizes a machine table and an associated quilting-sewing machine having an arm and a machine head mounted to the latter. The arm (20) is guided by a pair of supports (6, 7) positioned perpendicular with each other and adapted to be moved in the longitudinal direction (X) and transverse direction (Y) by freely programmably controlled drive apparatus.

Abstract: For the marking of gas-permeable fabric or cloth webs and other material webs, especially for the automatic marking in a marking station, the invention proposes to contact the fabric web within the marking station with a film including the pattern to be marked off in the form of perforations and acting as a stencil, and to suck atomized paint (paint mist) through the perforations and the contacting fabric web, wherein this atomized paint is an aerosol produced by atomization of a liquid containing a dye or pigment dissolved therein. Advantageously, a fluorescent dye is used to this end.