Abstract: In an actuating mechanism for the hook of portable sewing machines, a hook actuating profiled cam is provided which has a pin for simultaneously actuating the hook and the material transport feed dog through an interposed linkage having an adjustable element. By providing the hook formed with an eye, a double chain stitch seam can be effected. By further providing the cam with a depression for accommodating a foot of the hook therein during an oscillation of the foot, a greatly reduced overall size becomes achievable. Thanks to the adjustable element it also becomes possible to change the stitch length.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism is proposed for the hook and feed dog in a portable sewing machine of the type employed for sewing bags of jute, paper, and the like. In the proposed mechanism, a single cam determines both the compound movement of the hook, which is spring loaded against the cam and provided with at least one ball for reducing the frictional resistance, and of the feed dog by means of a connecting rod journalled at one end to a vertically adjustable support such as to allow the length of the seam stitch to be varied.

Abstract: A machine for automatically filling and sealing bags. Bags are placed in flat condition on a stack. Suckers pick up the uppermost bag from the stack and move it to a platform which has a substantial horizontal component and on which the bag is placed in a predetermined position. Thereupon, grippers engage the opposite sides of the bag near the bag mouth. Next, spreaders swing into the bag mouth to open the same and hold the same open. The spreaders and grippers are mounted to turn about a horizontal axis and they swing the bag held by the grippers with its mouth maintained open by the spreaders through an arc to a position in which the bag is upright and located beneath the spout of a batching machine. The bag then is filled while it is held by the grippers. The grippers also are mounted to turn about a vertical axis and do so turn after the bag is filled, carrying the bag with them through an arc in a horizontal plane.