Abstract: The electronic patterning system of a sewing machine comprises a main pattern memory consisting of a large number of individually addressable storage locations. Instead of each storage location storing only the stitch-control data for one stitch of one pattern, one section of each of at least some of the storage locations stores stitch-control data pertaining to one stitch of one pattern but with another section of the same storage location storing stitch-control data pertaining to a different stitch, e.g., a stitch of a completely different pattern. Thus, it may be that for some stored patterns one section of each storage location used for a pattern stores needle-bar position commands with the other section of each such storage location storing cloth-feed commands.

Abstract: A sewing machine including stitch forming device, electrically driven means for driving the needle and the feed dog, a static memory to control the electrically driven means and a pattern selecting arrangement. The electrically driven means comprise a pulse motor for controlling a horizontal feeding amount of the feed dog and a clutch solenoid operatively connected to a shaft of the pulse motor. The device is provided with a feed control arrangement having an operating member to actuate the position of the feed dog. The clutch solenoid is operatively connected to the operating member and is energized in response to a stitch signal from the static memory to define the position of the feed dog in accordance with a selected pattern.

Abstract: A sewing machine comprises a machine housing, a main shaft rotatably mounted on the machine housing, a needle bar swingably mounted and vertically reciprocated by the main shaft, a feeding device operated in time relationship with the needle bar, an electric motor for controlling the lateral movement of the needle bar, another motor for controlling the movement of the feeding device, and a pulse generating unit for generating pulses controlling the operation of the first and second electric motors. The pulse generating unit comprises two rotational parts cooperating with two pulse generators which respond to the presence and absence of the rotational parts. The two rotational parts are each formed with an axial extension with a recess and a projection. A ring member receives the axial extensions of the rotational parts to connect them to each other and, when the ring member is secured to the main shaft, to connect them to the main shaft of the machine.

Abstract: The stitch-control-signal outputs of a first memory are connected to the inputs of stitch-forming instrumentalities via an intermediate second memory. One of the two memories is a static memory which is read out by applying to the address signal inputs thereof a series of next-address signals derived from the signals produced at the output of that memory. Both memories may be static memories whose read-out is performed in that way. Alternatively, the intermediate memory may be a sequential-access dynamic memory, such as a shift register, whose read-out is effected by a train of indistinguishable shift signals.

Abstract: When a pattern is selected a pattern-identifying code word is persistently held, the system referring to this code word during pattern formation. A free-running pulse generator applies pulses to an addressing counter, unsynchronized with machine operation, and at a speed much higher than the speed of machine rotation. As the addressing counter assumes successive counts, successive data appear at the outputs of an addressed ROM. At least some of this memory-output data is continually compared to the pattern-identifying code word, to ascertain whether certain predetermined relationships between the memory-output data and pattern-identifying code word exist; these relationships include identity, but are not limited to simple identity. This ongoing comparison determines how many steps the counter is to be allowed to run through before the next stitch-forming operation is performed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sewing machine with an electronic pattern stitch control system which operates the stitch forming device to change the relative positions of the needle and the sewn material, thereby to form a pattern. Addressing signals are applied to the address inputs of the memory at a high frequency to cause the contents of the memory to be successively produced at its output terminals. Comparing means compare this data output to pattern identifying signals generated by the user operated pattern selection switches. The addressing signals continue to be applied until a matched comparison is reached whereupon the data is applied to the stitch forming means.

Abstract: A rows-and-columns array of indicator lamps, each lamp associated with a selectable stitch pattern, is provided on the machine housing, with one pushbutton switch per column of indicator lamps. In a first embodiment, when a particular column and row contain the single illuminated one of the lamps, depression of the pushbutton switch associated with a different column terminates illumination of the presently lighted lamp and instead effects illumination of the lamp of the same row but in the column associated with the newly depressed pushbutton switch, whereupon repeated pressing of the newly pressed switch causes the illuminated state to shift, lamp by lamp, along such column. Alternatively, when the illuminated-lamp indication is located in a particular row and column, depression of the pushbutton switch associated with a different column causes the illuminated-lamp indication to jump to that column, and in particular always to a predetermined lamp within that column, e.g., the first therein.

Abstract: The needle-shifting zig-zag unit and the work feeding unit are moved to different positions, when necessary, for successive stitches, to form a stitching pattern. Each unit is powered by the main rotating drive shaft of the sewing machine. However, each unit is provided with a respective stepper motor. Each stepper motor changes the setting of an adjuster in a reciprocating-motion generator driven by the main drive shaft. When one of these adjusters is in a constant setting, its respective reciprocating-motion generator continually generates reciprocating motion of constant corresponding amplitude, for an unlimited time, so long as the drive shaft rotates. The needle-penetration coordinates for the stitching pattern are established by continually changing the amplitude of the reciprocations performed by the two reciprocating-motion generators.

Abstract: A logic circuit generates in succession the stitch-control data for the successive stitches of a selected stitch pattern. The logic circuit does not store simultaneously all the stitch-control data for all the stitches of all the selectable stitch patterns, in the way done by conventional addressable random-access stitch-pattern memories. Instead, the logic circuit assumes successive states, in response to successive machine-synchronized pulses. In each state it generates, in the sense of bringing into existence for the first time, stitch-control data for the next stitch to be produced, this stitch-control data being derived from data related to a preceding stitch, e.g., the stitch-control data for the preceding stitch. The number of logic elements needed is low compared to that needed for a random-access stitch-pattern memory of the type storing all the stitch-control data for all the stitches of all the selectable patterns.

Abstract: Patterned stitching is produced by shifting the needle or work feed of the machine to different position coordinates. A motion-generating cam generates motion in a first path of motion. A transmission lever receives this motion and transmits it to the stitch forming instrumentalities. Positioning members move in synchronism with main shaft rotation in a second path of motion which is parallel to the first, and in doing so passes through different position-coordinate settings. Locking levers are activatable and releasable by solenoids for locking the positioning members in selected position-coordinate settings. A pattern-selecting unit operates in synchronism with main shaft rotation and selects the position-coordinate settings in which the positioning members are to be locked, and causes the locking levers to lock them in such settings.

Abstract: A drive motor drives a reciprocating sewing needle. A static memory has lateral-control-signal outputs at which it furnishes signals indicating how much the needle should be laterally shifted for each stitch in a selected pattern, and feed-control-signal outputs at which it furnishes signals indicating how much a work feeding device should feed the work for each stitch of the pattern. An addressing circuit response to a pattern selector applies to the static memory a repeated sequence of address signals, causing the memory to produce repeated sequences of lateral-control and feed-control signals at its outputs. The first address signal in any of the repeated sequences of address signals causes the static memory to produce at its output a first lateral-control signal constituting a maximum-speed-establishment signal, and a first feed-control signal constituting a maximum-permissible-speed signal. A latch receives the feed-control signals but does not in general register them, except when activated.

Abstract: An arrangement for forming patterns made up of stitches includes a memory, a stitch-forming apparatus, an addressing device and a synchronizing device. The memory has a plurality of outputs and a plurality of address signal inputs and is comprised of a plurality of storage units connected to the inputs and outputs and addressable by address signals applied to the address signal inputs of the memory. The stitch-forming apparatus has a plurality of stitch control signal inputs connected to outputs of the memory and operative for producing any of a plurality of different stitches in dependence upon the signals produced at the outputs of the memory. The addressing device is operative when activated for applying to the address signal inputs of the memory next-address signals derived from the signals produced at the outputs of the memory itself. The synchronizing device activates the addressing device repeatedly and in synchronism with the operation of the switch-forming apparatus.