Abstract: An improved modular sewing machine which has a base unit including a lower horizontal unit and a vertical upright unit to which can be attached demountable upper and lower stitching instrumentalities, the mounting surfaces of the stitching instrumentalities being substantially coplanar.

Abstract: A device for sensing the removal of workpieces from a stack by a pickup head which, during its intended function, is lowered to engage the upper workpiece in a stack, then elevated to remove the workpiece and then rotated so the workpiece can be deposited in a preselected location. The sensing device is pivotably mounted on the pickup head and movable between positions below the underside of the pickup head when the latter fails to engage a workpiece and at a level even with the underside of the pickup head which is accomplished through its engagement with a workpiece held by the pickup head. Upon engagement and pick up of a workpiece, a signal is given to raise the pickup head and then rotate it so the workpiece can be deposited in a predetermined location. Upon failure to engage and remove a workpiece from a stack, a signal is given for the pickup head to make a plurality of repeated attempts to engage and remove a workpiece from the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a sewing machine having a frame for supporting a tubular workpiece that is movable between a workpiece loading station and the sewing area of the machine. The workpiece is supported under tension on the frame which includes a positioning element for locating it thereon and a folding element for folding one of its ends over an elastic band placed on the workpiece at a predetermined distance from the positioning element. Movement of the frame to the sewing area places the workpiece in position to receive a seam of stitches in the folded portion within which the elastic band is located.

Abstract: A device for orienting a chain of stitches severed from a completed workpiece which includes a suction intake element for aligning the chain with the sewing axis, a clamping device for holding the chain in alignment with the sewing axis and a cutting means for severing that portion of the chain protruding from the clamping device so as to control the length of the chain to be incorporated into the initial stitches of a seam.

Abstract: A prepainted sheet metal bed cover attachable to a top portion of a sewing machine bed casting having a minimum of machining on an upper surface thereof. The bed cover rests on a machined raised peripheral rim on the upper surface, and is additionally supported on resilient non-metallic material deposited on pads interspersed on the upper surface which are machined to a level below the raised peripheral rim to accommodate the non-metallic material between the bed cover and the pads. The cover is firmly fixed to the top portion of the bed casting by a skirt portion of the prepainted bed cover which extends about the periphery of the top portion, and is swedged beneath the top portion of the bed casting to form a unitary assembly therewith.