Abstract: A sound of percussion or impact which is produced as a result of a vertical movement of a pressure foot driven in synchronism with a vertical movement of a sewing needle is eliminated. A sphere 15 exposed through the lower surface of a pressure foot 10 as well as a coiled compression spring 16 which urges the sphere are provided, so that the resilience of the spring is effective to suppress a vertical movement of the fabric while allowing a movement of a fabric 9 in a horizontal plane, thus eliminating the need for a vertical movement of the pressure foot as the needle is driven up and down. Alternatively, an independent drive source may be provided to move the pressure foot in synchronism with the vertical motion of the needle through a minimized stroke.

Abstract: A device for controlling feeding quantity of a sewing machine includes a driver for driving an upper feed-dog and a lower feed-dog, a first setter for setting the feeding quantity of the lower feed-dog, a second setter for setting a ratio of the feeding quantity of the upper feed-dog to that of the lower feed-dog, a first adjuster for adjusting the feeding quantity of the lower feed-dog based on the set value at the first setter, and a second adjuster for adjusting the feeding quantity of the upper feed-dog based on the set value at the first setter and the ratio set at the second setter.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying an article, as during a sewing operation, includes a pair of driving pulleys supported on a first support simultaneously rotatably by an electric motor and spaced apart from each other transversely of the apparatus and a pair of driven pulleys supported simultaneously rotatably on a second support and spaced apart from each other transversely of the apparatus. A pair of first fixed intermediate pulleys and a pair of first movable intermediate pulleys are supported simultaneously rotatably on the first support below the driving pulleys and between the driving pulleys and the fixed intermediate pulleys, respectively. The second support is spaced apart from the first support longitudinally of the apparatus and the first and second supports are horizontally movable to and away from each other.