Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating an overlock or 504 stitch wherein the excess thread chain (65) extending from the sewing machine needles (19) and the hollow chaining (32) to the previously sewn garment part (60) is stretched and is cut by thread chain cutter (70) to create a leading thread chain of predetermined length extending form the sewing machine needle and the hollow chaining tongue. When cut, the thread chain recoils toward the hollow chaining tongue, and a stream of air draws the free end of the thread chain into the hollow chaining tongue. When the next work piece is moved through the sewing area, the thread chain in the hollow chaining tongue is attached to the work piece and is progressively drawn out of the hollow chaining tongue and oversewn in the overlock stitch.

Abstract: An overlock stitch is formed by sewing machine (11) (FIG. 1) into a work product (34) and the work product is accelerated away from the sewing machine so as to stretch the thread chain (FIG. 5). The stretched thread chain is cut by cutter (40), and the leading thread chain (43) recoils back toward the hollow chaining tongue (21) and is drawn into the chaining tongue by the stream of air (26) created by vacuum canister (52) (FIG. 6). The next work product draws the leading thread chain out of the hollow chaining tongue and the sewing machine captures the leading thread chain in the stitch. Transfer conveyor (15) (FIG. 1) moves the work product (34) into alignment with everter tube assembly (106), grippers (109) and (110) grip and open one end of the work product (FIGS. 9-14), and air drawn through the everter tube assembly everts the work product. The gripper tube assembly opens along its lower portion (FIG. 16) and drops the work product.

Abstract: A thread undercut attachment for use on multi-needle sewing machines uses a single piston actuated cutting blade which passes through the sewing area beneath the workpiece and above the loopers. To prevent the needles and loopers from becoming unthreaded or to prevent undue lengths of thread after cutting, apparatus is provided for creating a measured amount of slack in the threads leading to the needles and loopers, and then holding the threads firmly to prevent further payout of thread when the workpiece is pulled toward the operator.

Abstract: A shirring attachment includes a rotatable feed wheel 51 positioned over a stripper blade 60 and normally positioned in spaced relationship above the work surface of and in front of the sewing needle 45 of a sewing machine. A first ply of material 78 is extended over the work surface and beneath the stripper blade to the feed dogs 68 of the sewing machine, and a second ply of material 80 is extended over the stripper blade to the sewing needle. The rotatable feed wheel is driven with a peripheral velocity that corresponds to the speed of the sewing machine motor, usually at a higher velocity that the feed dogs, and the feed wheel is moved by an air-actuated cylinder 54 at the command of the machine operator down toward the stripper blade into engagement with the upper ply of material so as to feed the upper ply of material to the sewing needle at a faster rate than the movement of the lower ply of material.

Abstract: A presser foot assembly is mounted to a sewing machine and includes a bifurcated skid for mounting to the sewing machine in alignment with and projecting in front of the sewing station and a wheel mounted on the skid which is biased downwardly through the slot of the tines of the skid into yielding contract with the material extending through the sewing station. When a tape feed apparatus is moved to a position in front of and aligned with the wheel and the sewing station, the tape moves with the base material beneath the wheel and through the sewing station where it is sewn to the base material. When the tape feed apparatus is moved out of alignment with the wheel and sewing station, the tape no longer moves beneath the wheel and to the sewing station.