Abstract: An interchangeable clamp having a plurality of interchangeable members which can be secured together to provide a clamp frame having a predetermined configuration. The predetermined configuration and clamp area of the clamp frame can be changed by substituting the interchangeable members with other interchangeable members having different shapes or sizes. The interchangeable members may be selected from a set of interchangeable members which make it easy for a user to change the configuration of the interchangeable clamp.

Abstract: A sewing station is disclosed including a workpiece clamp shuttle for loading and shuttling a bulky workpiece to be sewn to a sewing location of a sewing machine. The workpiece clasp shuttle includes a support surface for supporting a bulky workpiece and a clamp for clamping the bulky workpiece to the support surface at a loading station wherein the bulky workpiece may be easily loaded onto the support surface. The sewing machine includes apparatus for driving the clamp and the support surface from the loading station to the sewing location where the bulky workpiece can be sewn. In addition, a method for sewing a bulky workpiece in a sewing station is disclosed including the steps of preclamping the bulky workpiece at a loading location, and transferring the preclamped bulky workpiece from the loading location to a sewing location where the workpiece may be clamped and sewn.

Abstract: A workpiece pallet for transporting and holding a workpiece to be sewn in a programmable sewing machine. The workpiece pallet has a first frame member and a second frame member which is pivotally secured to the first frame member. The workpiece pallet also includes a detachable workpiece holder having a first template member and a second template member which can be detachably mounted to the first and second frame members, respectively. In one embodiment, the first template member has a seat and the second template member has a flange which cooperates with the seat in order to removably retain the workpiece in a mounted position in the workpiece holder so that the programmable sewing machine can sew a predetermined stitch pattern on the workpiece. In another embodiment, a support member is used in place of the second template member. The support member has a plurality of fingers which force the workpiece against the seat of the first template member.

Abstract: A workpiece pallet for transporting and holding one or more workpieces to be sewn in a programmable sewing machine. The workpiece pallet comprises a frame member having a locator which can be removably secured to the frame member. In a preferred embodiment, the locator comprises a base plate having a plurality of flanges which cooperate with mating flanges on the frame member so that the base plate is detachably supported therein. The base plate has a plurality of posts which facilitate locating one or more workpieces in the workpiece pallet. The workpiece pallet also comprises a universal coupler for permitting a plurality of sets of plates to be pivotally and detachably coupled to the frame member. The universal coupler comprises a plurality of first connecting members located on the frame member and a plurality of second mating connecting members which are located on each plates of the sets of plurality of plates.

Abstract: A side-by-side material feed system is provided for feeding two dissimilar strips of material. The material is fed along parallel feed paths by first and second material feeders which move the material toward respective cutters. The operation of the feeders and the cutters is controlled by a programmable controller which permits each of the material strips to be fed and cut to form pieces of predetermined length which may be removed by an operator or conveyed to a subsequent station for further processing. In a further embodiment of the invention, the feeders are movable relative to a work station comprising a cutter associated with a common feed path extending between the cutter and a sewing apparatus. As each of the feeders is aligned with the work station, a predetermined length of material may be cut off by the cutter and conveyed along the common feed path to the sewing station.

Abstract: A method and system comprising a sewing machine spare parts kit having a base comprising a plurality of compartments and a lid which, in one embodiment of the invention, is hingeably secured to the base. The kit also comprises a plurality of order record forms. The order record form has a plurality of record areas with indicia of part number, part name, and order quantity. The plurality of record areas are arranged in the same order that the spare parts are arranged in the kit. The order record members and kit facilitate identifying the spare parts which are housed in the kit as well as the quantity of spare parts to be maintained in each compartment of the kit. The order record form may be provided in the form of a postcard or alternatively, it may be provided in full scale such that it replicates in full scale the compartments in the kit, thereby making it easy for a service technician to reference, identify, order and use the spare parts in the kit.

Abstract: A workpiece pallet locator is provided which is adapted to engage a workpiece pallet on a support surface in a non-intrusive manner. The pallet locator includes slots formed in the workpiece support surface and pawl members which are movable in a vertical direction to pass through the slots and into engagement with a pallet on the support surface. The pawl members are movable in X and Y directions for moving the pallet to different stations on the support surface. As a result of moving the pawl members upwardly into engagement with the pallet, the coupling point between the locator and the pallet is formed at a location below the support for the workpiece such that the coupling point does not interfere with positioning the workpiece on the pallet and support surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a detachable sewing template clamp for sewing a workpiece, like a label, on an article using a programmable sewing machine. The detachable sewing template clamp comprises a generally U-shaped frame member which is detachably mounted to the programmable sewing machine. The template clamp has a support which is capable of removably securing a sewing template to the generally U-shaped frame member. The sewing template defines a predetermined stitch pattern corresponding to the shape of the workpiece, and the template clamp permits the sewing template to be easily removed and changed whenever the predetermined stitch pattern changes. The template clamp permits the sewing template to be detachably secured thereto so that the sewing machine can stitch the predetermined stitch pattern in the workpiece.

Abstract: An adjustable clamp for use in a sewing machine. The adjustable clamp has a plurality of adjustable clamp members which are slidably and adjustably fastened to a support, thereby enabling the adjustable clamp to be adjusted to a predetermined clamp size or pattern so that the adjustable clamp can clamp workpieces of different shapes against a clamping surface of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A chainstitch machine has an edge trimmer knife driven in vertical chopping motion adjacent the needle by a linkage actuated by an oscillating shaft that operates synchronously relative to stitch-forming components. The linkage includes a bracket oscillated by the shaft and a joint movable along the bracket between a first position, in which the axis of the joint is offset from the axis of the shaft to communicate oscillating movement to the knife, and a second position, in which the axis of the joint is concentric with the shaft and transmits no oscillatory movement. In the second position, the knife is retracted by the linkage to a location above the region through which work pieces move, but in the first position, the linkage moves the knife down so that part of the knife extends through the plane of the throat plate and is pressed against an edge of a throat plate insert by a small pressure slide entirely within a notch in the insert and guided by juxtaposed edges of the notch.