Abstract: A position detection device has at least four sensors outputting signals according to an operation amount of a brake pedal. Output signals from at least two sensors are input to a first ECU in a distinguishable manner. Output signals of at least two other sensors other than the sensor whose output signals are input to the first ECU are input to a second ECU in a distinguishable manner. A signal transmission unit transmits output signals of at least two sensors input to one of the first ECU and the second ECU to the other of the first ECU and the second ECU in a distinguishable manner. The first ECU and the second ECU identify an output signal indicating an abnormal value based on the output signals of at least four sensors, detect an operation amount of the brake pedal based on a plurality of output signals excluding an abnormal value.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus for a sewing machine comprising a stop device for generating a stop signal instructing stoppage of an alternating current motor, a sensor for sensing a predetermined position of a needle and outputting a position signal thereof, and a stop control responsive to the stop device and the sensor means for controlling a rotating field of an alternating current motor to stop in response to the stop position of the needle when the stop signal and the position signal are received.

Abstract: Multiple sewing data which are required for a sewing operation based on a desired pattern and are prepared by a programming device are stored in a card equipped with an integrated circuit capable of reading and writing such data. A stitch forming device and a work fabric feeding device are actuated on the basis of the data, thereby forming stitches on a work fabric.

Abstract: A work material feeder for a sewing machine includes a work material holder which is movable within the plane perpendicular to a passageway where a needle is moved up and down, a first pulse motor which reciprocates the work material holder in one direction within the plane synchronously with the vertical movement of said needle, a second pulse motor which reciprocates the work material holder in another direction perpendicular to the aforesaid direction synchronously with the vertical movement of the needle, and a rotation divisibility switching circuit which switches the divisibility of rotation of the first and second pulse motors in several steps, the first and second pulse motors being driven in accordance with the divisibility set by the rotation divisibility switching circuit in order to move the work material holder.

Abstract: A testing device for an automatic sewing machine wherein a succession of stitches are formed through variation in relative position between a needle and a work holder according to a batch of positional data stored in a memory. The device comprises a control circuit for controlling to operate stepper motors to effect variation in the relative position without reciprocating movements of the needle. The control circuit includes first control means for varying the relative position every time the positional data for each of the stitches is executed, second control means for varying the relative position every time the positional data for a plural number of the stitches are continuous executed at one time, and a selector for selectively actuating one of the first and second control means to select one of two modes in which the stored positional data are tested for verification.

Abstract: A programming device for an automatic sewing machine wherein a succession of stitches defining a stitch pattern are formed through relative movements between a needle and a work holder according to a batch of sewing instructions.

Abstract: A sewing machine in which the start and stop of a main shaft is controlled by a cam mechanism through a motion control mechanism at the sewing cycle corresponding to a predetermined number of stitches. The working position of a work holder is controlled by positional data in original instructions stored in a memory. Additional instruction corresponding to the number of stitches to reach the next stop time point controlled by the cam mechanism is prepared for back-tacking, unless the number of stitches corresponding to the original instructions are equal to an integral multiple of the predetermined number of stitches.

Abstract: A programming device for an automatic sewing machine wherein a succession of stitches are formed along a desired stitching line registered via a stitch pattern record medium according to a batch of sewing instructions.

Abstract: An automatic sewing machine provided with a memory for storing stitch instructions directing a relative position between a vertically reciprocated needle and a work piece and a speed control means for controlling the machine's drive motor at a suitable speed for each particular sewing operation carried out according to the stitch instructions. To determine the maximum permissible speed suitable to the variation of the relative position for each stitch, all of the stitch instructions in the memory are checked by a central processing unit before starting each sewing operation. The unit provides a control signal concerning the maximum permissible speed to a speed control means so that the driving speed of the drive motor is limited to no more than the maximum permissible speed.

Abstract: An automatic sewing machine having an improved drive speed control system. Many stitch instructions each indicating the relative position between a vertically reciprocated needle and a workpiece are stored in a memory in a predetermined sequence. The large number of stitch instructions are divided into a plurality of groups consisting of a predetermined number of consecutive stitch instructions. For each group, a maximum permissible speed is determined in accordance with the variations of the relative position between the needle and the workpiece directed by the instructions of the group. This maximum permissible speed causes formation of an exact stitch pattern in the workpiece according to the stitch instructions in each of the groups. A speed control device controls the speed of the drive motor in accordance with the various maximum permissible speeds. This causes sewing to be performed in a highly effective and exact manner.

Abstract: A programming system for an automatic sewing machine designed to successively form along a desired stitching reference line a specific unit stitch pattern constituted by a plurality of stitches. The programming system includes manual means operative for determining a pattern position of each unit stitch pattern on the reference line, and an arithmetic or processing unit for calculating position data representing the position of each stitch of the unit pattern based on the data representing the determined pattern position. The calculated position data is sequentially stored, as stitch instructions, in a data memory, and the stored position data is retrievable for controlling a sewing operation on the sewing machine. The system further includes a selecting means operative for selecting a desired unit stitch pattern from among a plurality of predetermined different unit stitch patterns thereby allowing an easy programming of the stitch instructions based on a variety of unit stitch patterns.