Abstract: A toothed endless power transmission belt made primarily of elastomeric material is provided and the belt has an arched cross-sectional configuration throughout its entire endless path.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having a housing, a power input shaft rotatably mounted at one end, a power output shaft rotatably mounted at the other end coaxially with the power input shaft, a splined clutch member affixed to the end of one of the shafts having a gear engaged over a portion thereof, a second splined clutch member freely rotatably mounted on the other shaft and having a gear engageably mounted over a portion thereof, the end of each clutch-engaging member extending beyond each gear, a splined countershaft rotatably supported in the housing and having a gear engaged at each end engaging the gears mounted on the power input and output shafts, a third splined clutch member affixed to one of the shafts and positioned intermediate the first and second splined clutch members and of the same diameter as said clutch members, a clutch sliding ring or coupling member mounted over the cylindrical clutch member having a splined bore engaging the third clutch member and axially slidable with respect thereto

Abstract: A uni-lever system for controlling operation of multiple functions. A uni-lever is coupled to linkage for actuating the multiple functions and supported for pivotal movement through a spherical bearing permitting controlled movement in predetermined planes effecting corresponding movement of the actuating linkage. Auxiliary equipment being controlled is coupled through the linkage connected to the uni-lever to respond only to movement of the uni-lever in a particular plane. Movement in the remaining planes is restricted due to the spherical joint and stabilizing linkage.

Abstract: Motorcycle throttle, twist-grip control unit is connected by a Bowden cable to the carburetor. In one form, both the inner and outer cable members are attached to pivot arms urged apart by a rotatable cam movable by the twist-grip. In another form, one of the cable parts is anchored to a lever arm and the other cable part anchored to the housing, the cam engaging the lever arm for movement thereof.

Abstract: A shock absorbing type steering device for use in a motor vehicle, comprising a shaft adapted to transmit a torque from a steering wheel to a steering gear, which shaft consists of a first solid shaft portion and a second hollow or cylindrical shaft portion. The second cylindrical shaft portion includes a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion. Part of the first solid shaft portion is rigidly fitted in the aforesaid small diameter portion of the second cylindrical shaft portion with the aid of shear pins, while a shock-absorbing resilient material is contained in the aforesaid large diameter portion of the second cylindrical shaft portion. The shock absorbing material is of such a property that it is ruptured due to stresses exceeding a given level. A passage leading from the interior of the aforesaid large diameter portion of the second cylindrical shaft portion to atmosphere runs either through the first solid shaft portion or through the second cylindrical shaft portion.

Abstract: A power transmission having both mechanical and hydraulic power paths to a simple planetary differential unit to provide a double hydro-hydromechanical transmission with a low-speed, high torque, hydrostatic drive range by causing counterrotation of two gear members of the simple planetary, an intermediate speed range hydromechanical drive with inputs to the differential from both power paths and a high-speed, hydrostatic drive range.

Abstract: A flat disc is provided with pie-shaped segments of gear teeth running from the periphery towards the center of the disc in parallel relationship separated by blank segments on the face of the disc. First and second pinion gears are positioned over the face and coupled for movement towards and away from the center of the disc simultaneously along splined shafts. The geometry is such that when one of the pinion gears is in meshing engagement with a toothed segment, the other pinion gear is positioned over a blank segment. The pinion gears are thus alternately driven by the toothed segments and a change in speed ratio between the rotating disc and pinion gear shafts is effected by varying the radial distance of the pinion gears from the center of the disc.

Abstract: A power transmission comprises one or more sequential modules each including a modular portion of an enclosure for the complete transmission, a planetary gear set, a direct drive clutch, a self-energizing reduction brake and a hydraulic control system preferably adapted to substantially simultaneously condition the direct drive clutch and reduction brake for establishing either a direct or reduction drive mode for each module.

Abstract: A rod having one end adapted to be secured in the chuck of a power tool, said rod having a grinding portion for sharpening the cutting edge of a saw chain cutting link when rotatively driven by the power tool, and a guide fixture supported on said rod including guide surfaces adapted to rest on the top plate and depth gauge of the cutting link and thereby locate the grinding portion of the rod for proper sharpening of the cutting edge of the saw chain.

Abstract: A method employing a reciprocating feed of a band saw to an abrasive wheel and a pitch feed of the saw to the abrasive wheel. The saw is positioned so that during a part of the pitch feed the portion of the tooth back edge adjacent to the tooth tip comes into contact with one shaped surface of a supporting element, whereby the saw is retarded and at the same time the portion of the tooth edge is strengthened and planished. During the remaining part of the pitch feed the portion of the tooth front edge adjacent to the tooth tip makes contact with the other shaped surface of the supporting element, whereby the portion of the tooth front edge is strengthened and planished. In the machine for carrying this method into effect the supporting element located after the abrasive wheel, as viewed in the direction of the pitch feed, has two shaped surfaces disposed in relation to each other so as to form a wedge.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing filler from a jacketed multiconductor filler cable for termination of the conductors in that cable is disclosed, wherein the outer insulating jacket is removed from a portion of the cable near one end, and an air flow is induced in the vicinity of the jacketless portion to separate the filler from the conductors and thereafter the separated filler is severed from portions of individual conductors near the one end of the cable for termination as desired. The air flow may be provided by a nozzle and die or guide having coaxial apertures therein and relatively movable between a spaced apart position and a position in close proximity for severing the filler material.

Abstract: A rotary support is mounted on the frame of a machine tool for rotation about an axis, and a plurality of carriers is distributed along a major surface of the rotary support and connected thereto to share its rotation about the axis. Each of the carriers has a carrier axis, and the rotary support can be indexed between a plurality of positions in each of which one of the carrier axes extends parallel to a horizontal plane and other carrier axis extends normal thereto. The carrier axes may intersect the axis of rotation of the rotary support, or they may be offset therefrom so as to generate a hyperboloid during the rotation of the rotary support. The rotary support may be used for moving workpieces toward a tool and a workpiece-transporting arrangement may be associated with the rotary support for supplying workpieces thereto and removing finished workpieces therefrom.

Abstract: A bar loading machine for the automatic feeding of bars to an automatic screw machine or other bar machine includes a bar-engaging device, a feed chain for driving the bar-engaging device, a start switch arrangement for sensing the arrival of the leading end of a bar, and a feed control arrangement. The feed control arrangement establishes the feed distance required for properly positioning the leading end of the bar in the bar machine, and includes first and second distance-measuring arrangements which successively and independently of each other control the movement of the feed chain. The first distance-measuring device includes a fixed stop arrangement for limiting the feeding of a bar.

Abstract: The invention described herein is a ratchet-type torque release wrench for the precise setting of the residual axial tension (clamping force) to be retained within a threaded fastening system under installation, wherein as the threaded fastening system's bolt attains a predetermined value of axial tension the manually perceptible spontaneous release of only a minor portion of the total torque applied to either the fastening system under installation signals to the installation operator the completion of the fastening system's installation sequence.

Abstract: Wrappers of metallic foil are formed around groups of articles to be packed, in a machine which comprises a cigarette hopper, a cigarette bundle conveyor, a metallic foil feeding assembly, a foil conveyor, a cigarette compression device, a foil folding and tucking unit, a bundle transfer unit and a bundle orientation and ejection unit.Bundles of cigarettes are fed from the hopper into pockets on the bundle conveyor from which they are removed two at a time, at spaced locations, and pushed into the compression device. A single web of metallic foil is supplied to the foil feeding assembly which produces pieces of foil consisting of two overlapped portions which are fed, in turn, to the foil conveyors. The bundles are removed from the compression device and the pieces of foil are formed around the bundles as they are conveyed through the foil folding and tucking unit.

Abstract: Strand granulation machines characterized by cutter bearing rotors and strand passages wherein continuous strands are passed through generally cross-sectionally circular shear bushings at the exit end of which that they are engaged and severed by the rotating cutters are improved by employing spring-loaded rotating cutters in working relationship with a cutter positioning cam to move the cutters reciprocally generally along the radius of the circle generated by their sweep of rotation.

Abstract: A key cutting machine having key cutting means and characterized in that each actuation of the cutting means is automatically preceded by a fine positioning action which causes the key blank to be precisely positioned at its desired location relative to the cutting means, and is automatically followed by a coarse positioning action which causes the key blank to be approximately positioned at its next cutting location.

Abstract: A paper knife is mounted at its opposite ends on a pair of arcuate arms pivotally attached to the knife table. The knife is operated by a fluid cylinder which extends from the table to the knife. This way all of the operating apparatus is positioned beneath and not above the table, thereby providing a low profile so that the operator may reach over the knife. Various mechanical details enable quick paper sets and closer cuts.

Abstract: An electronic organ includes logic and a memory for detecting and storing a root note signal identifying a chord which has been either automatically or manually generated. Priority logic, coupled with the memory, passes the lowest root note signal to a tone selection matrix which passes a plurality of tone signals representing the note intervals forming the selected chord. A sequential gating circuit receives all of the tone signals and is responsive to an arpeggio circuit, a strum circuit, or a rhythm unit to gate selected tone signals, one at a time, to the voicing circuitry. When one or more of the tone signals are octavely displaced within the selected chord, disinverting gates are enabled to unfold the chord and cause the tone signals to occur in order of ascending frequency.

Abstract: A stop tablet mechanism particularly suited for electric organs wherein a plurality of stop tablets lie in closely spaced apart side-by-side relation, the stop tablets being pivotally mounted in a supporting frame by means of locating ears which are maintained in positive pivotal contact with the frame by pairs of wire springs, the wire springs engaging cam defining laterally projecting shoulders on the tablets and performing the additional function of maintaining the tablets in either of two positions of use, the spring elements being configured to provide flexibly mounted detent points which coact with the noses of the cam surfaces to maintain the tablet in its desired position of use.

Abstract: A tuning device for musical instruments or voices comprises a visual stroboscopic displaying means which displays a light flow at a speed proportional to the difference of a tone to be tuned from the signal of the corresponding standard pitch. A standard pitch in a predetermined octave is synthesized from pulses generated by a high frequency oscillator the standard pitch and is divided into a pitch in a predetermined lower octave for comparing the tone to be tuned in the stroboscopic displaying means. The tone to be tuned is also divided into a signal of a pitch in the lower octave and it is transmitted to the stroboscopic displaying means.The stroboscopic display means compares the signal to be tuned with the standard signal, making a light-flow display by overlapping both the signals. The pitch and octave of the tone to be tuned is previously set on the device with a manual selector switch.

Abstract: A first element is adapted to be received and anchored in a hole of a structure. An expander member is provided for expanding at least a leading end of the first element. A second element has a first portion located in the hole and connected with the expander member, and a second portion having a part which extends outwardly from the hole and is adapted to carry an object to be mounted on the structure. An axially yieldable protective sleeve sealingly surrounds the second element intermediate the expander member and the object so as to prevent the access of corrosion-producing media to the elements.

Abstract: Arrangement for selective firing of IR-torches comprising an interchangeable magazine having cartridges each of which holds a predetermined number of the torches. The cartridges are positioned in corresponding tubular frames of the magazine. A mounting ramp is provided with a central guiding pin and a polar guiding pin to be fitted into corresponding recesses of the magazine when mounting the same. Each cartridge is provided with electric connecting means in the shape of concentric contact rings, the number of which is at least one more than the number of torches of the cartridge. The rings are provided on a plate at the end of the cartridge and are put into electric contact with corresponding point-shaped contact elements of the ramp during mounting of the magazine onto the ramp.

Abstract: A base of a TOW missile system is mounted on a rotatable turret of a vehicle and is also rotatably mounted relative to the rotation of the turret so that the orientation of the base about its own rotational axis remains stationary. The positioning of the TOW base on the turret allows the turret to rotate generally about an axis which can be aligned with the person operating the sight. Thus the diameter of the opening in the vehicle is reduced. One embodiment uses a planetary gear system for holding the orientation of the base. A second embodiment uses a flexible link.

Abstract: A stable automatic or semi-automatic firearm having a differential recoil system in which an open bolt has a designed mass and closing velocity to impact and drive a reciprocating barrel forwardly without rebound and remain locked to the barrel during the period when there is high firing pressure in the barrel. Since the bolt supports the cartridge during the time of high pressure, the cartridge is prevented from prematurely being extracted and rupturing; and since recoil momentum is utilized in arresting and returning the bolt, stability of the firearm is improved.

Abstract: A cartridge soft feed mechanism for presenting the cartridge to the chamber f a gun in such a way that the axis of the cartridge experiences no lateral or angular movement during chambering. The cartridge is telescoped into the chamber without ramping, reducing the probability of damage to the cartridge and reducing the chance of chambering stoppage. The feed mechanism is inactivated by a chambered round sensor for refilling the magazine or removing and replacing a chambered round in order to permit barrel movement between its forward extended position and its rearward ready position. While the current weapon (30mm Multishot Grenade Launcher) utilizes a fixed breech and movable barrel, the mechanism is adaptable to movable breech fixed barrel weapons.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid pressure energy translating device comprising an axial multi-piston pump including an axially and laterally constrained barrel and a floatingly disposed port plate responsive to hydrostatic forces within the pump. The port plate includes hydrostatic pressure balancing means which tend to balance hydrostatic forces acting on the port plate during operation of the pump to maintain an optimum bearing clearance between the port plate and barrel, thereby controlling fluid leakage and maintaining adequate lubrication and support at this interface.

Abstract: A hand brake for manually actuating brake cylinders, particularly for an air braking system on railway vehicles, has a piston tube extending from the piston of a brake cylinder and an actuating rod connected to the brake linkage positioned within the piston tube. A device for adjusting the actuating rod with respect to the piston tube device comprises a thrust ring acting upon a portion of the piston tube. A brake ring is positioned around the piston tube and is rotatable by a manually actuated drive. Wedge gear displacing means are provided to displace axially the brake ring upon rotation of the brake ring. An intermediate element is connected to the piston tube and is displaced by the brake ring during axial displacement of the brake ring. The piston tube has a cam portion acting upon the thrust ring so as to displace the actuating rod axially upon axial displacement of the piston tube.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a machine for assembling partition pieces of corrugated board or similar material to form partitions therefrom, and includes means for feeding partition pieces toward conveying means and into guide means with means for shifting different ones of the guide means into alignment with the partition pieces whereby individual partition pieces from a single feed means are disposed in at least two different ones of the guide means. The conveying means include a plurality of spaced endless members with flight bars being united therebetween by quick disconnect coupling means and means for shifting the flight bars relative to each other to vary the spacing therebetween in the direction of conveyor travel. The machine further includes hoppers having bottom and upstanding walls at respective acute and obtuse angles to the horizontal whereby partition pieces are maintained in upright stacked relationship and are movable under gravity influence toward the upstanding walls.

Abstract: A device to quickly reposition a slotter knife by moving the same in a circumferential direction with respect to an annular head which supports the same. During such positioning of the slotter knife, it is held stationary while the annular support head is rotated. This slotter knife is releaseably mounted on its head and a means is provided to selectively release the lock when it is desired to reposition the knife.

Abstract: A ventilator, constructed to serve as a horizontal rail in a building component, includes a pair of spaced apertured plates, the aperture of one being an air inlet vertically spaced below that of the other which is an air outlet, and filter and baffle means disposed in the path between said apertures, and so arranged that an air current flows through the filter at least twice.

Abstract: An improved egg handling device is disclosed in which a number of egg lifting vacuum cups, mounted on a convenient support, are used both to transfer eggs and to punch the egg shells. The egg piercing system is incorporated with the transfer cups to provide for a simultaneous piercing and lifting of the eggs. A piercing needle is mounted within each vacuum cup in a position to pierce or puncture each egg shell while it is held within the cup by the vacuum lifting force.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of dewatering sludge such as residuals in sewage discharge processing installations. The method provides that cakes are formed of the sludge. These cakes have initially a high water content and are of inhomogenous, loose consistency. They are guided between filter bands through a preliminary filtering zone in which some of the water contained in the cakes is extracted by straining and pressure action applied thereto. The filter bands with the cakes therebetween are then successively guided over a first dewatering drum and a subsequent second dewatering drum. Pressure is applied to the filter band while being guided about the drums, thereby extracting further water from the cakes. Additionally, the cakes while traveling from the feed-in point toward and through pressure zones are deformed and also turned over thereby compacting the cakes as water is extracted therefrom. Finally, the cakes after being sufficiently dewatered and compressed are discharged.

Abstract: A rivet making machine and method in which a stationary set of angularly spaced head forming tools and a ram supported reciprocable set of body working tools are aligned at angularly spaced stations with each other and with a set of body dies carried by a rotatable indexing disc for successive positioning at the work stations. The body dies are independently movable axially of the indexing plate as necessary for cooperation of the head forming and body working tools on a blank carried by each body die. Blank cut-off is effected by a shearing die pair, one die pair being established at the end of each body die opposite the end thereof cooperating with the head forming tools. The other of the shearing die pair may be a fixed die in which relative movement of the shearing die pair is accomplished by indexing movement of the body dies. Alternatively, a shearing tool establishing the other die of the pair may be moved independently of body die indexing.

Abstract: An improved pattern duplicating machine for transferring a printed pattern from a moving master sheet to a moving copy sheet by a pair of counter-rotating rolls mounted in yieldable pressure engagement with one another so as to form a nip therebetween, in which the master and copy sheets are guided into engagement on the surface of one of the rotating rolls prior to entry of the sheets into the nip formed between the pair of rolls. One of the rolls serves as a drive roll and engages the copy sheet over a major portion of its surface, the copy sheet being moistened with an even coating of activating fluid just prior to its engagement with the drive roll.

Abstract: A machine to facilitate the mounting of flexographic printing plates and for obtaining proofs thereof. The machine includes an impression cylinder supported for rotation at a fixed position, the impression cylinder making contact with printing plates on a plate cylinder and rotating concurrently therewith to print a proof secured to the impression cylinder. The plate cylinder is movable in a vertical plane from a proofing state in which it makes contact with the impression cylinder to a mounting state in which it is separated therefrom. A viewer is provided which is operative in the mounting state to show the operator both the plate he is mounting on the plate cylinder and the image reflected from the proof sheet on the impression cylinder.

Abstract: An improved paper handling system includes a pair of work units which sequentially work on opposite sides of a sheet with the same edge of the sheet leading. An inverter between the two work units is effective to invert the sheet in such a manner that the edge of the sheet which leads during passage of the sheet through the first work unit will also lead as the sheet passes through the second work unit. A sheet which has been worked on, first side up, by the first work unit will also lead as the sheet passes through the second work unit. A sheet which has been worked on, first side up, by the first work unit with a head edge of the sheet leading is moved by a first conveyor along a first path into engagement with a stop member which engages the head edge of the sheet to arrest it at a first readiness position. A pusher then engages a side edge of the sheet and pushes it sidewardly.

Abstract: A technique for producing a pre-distorted design format on a printing plate for use in a print transfer system in which an inked design engraved on the plate is picked up by a soft transfer pad and applied to the irregular surface of an article to be decorated, the pad being forced against the surface and conforming thereto to impress the inked design thereon. In this technique, a physical master is created which is an exact replica of the article to be imprinted, the irregular surface of the master being engraved or otherwise prepared to accept ink to define the design which is to appear on the article. The design on the master is inked, and this inked design is picked up by the transfer pad and applied to the regular surface of a proof sheet, whereby the distortion in the design impressed on the proof sheet reflects the distortion introduced by transferring from the irregular to the regular surface.

Abstract: A novel printing master and method for producing the same as disclosed, which comprises coating a suitable substrate with an uncured silicone gum, followed by the adherence thereto of a particulate image pattern. Resultant curing of the gum converts the gum to a tough elastomeric ink releasable film, thereby fixing the integral particles to the film while in intimate contact therewith. After curing, substantially all of the deposited particles are removed from the elastomer film, thereby revealing a "porous" image in the ink releasable film, of surprising ink receptive characteristics. The porous image thus is formed by contact of the integral particles of varying geometric shapes and sizes with the uncured silicone gum, thereby creating "impressions" of the particles in the gum which are then permanently stabilized in the gum by curing of the gum to an elastomeric film.

Abstract: This application relates to a sleeving stand, a sleeving and a method of using a sleeving for loading blast holes with explosive, after those holes are lined with a blast hole liner in order to prevent water from interfering with the effective use of the explosive. The blast hole liner is of a convenient construction for easy use to line a blast hole and involves forward and rear panels and oppositely disposed gusset walls. The sleeving stand is a stand for use of the blast hole liner and for convenient dispensing of the blast hole liner in a blast hole.

Abstract: An electric firing device for a pyrotechnic charge in a projectile comprises a pulse generator, a pulse-activable firing control element, and means controlling the application of pulses to this element. Said means comprise an electromagnetic transducer including a primary winding receiving pulses from the generator, a secondary winding connected to said element and a ferromagnetic core coupling the windings. The core and windings are movable relative to one another, for example by mounting the windings in an inertia block, to vary the coupling and control firing upon impact.

Abstract: Impact discriminating apparatus for missiles and the like comprises a plurality of impact sensors disposed in spaced relationship along the longitudinal axis, and near the nose, of the missile. Sensors, responsive to elastic domain impact stress or shock waves, are separately fed into pulse generators wherein output pulses of different widths are formed for each sensor, overlapping pulses associated with all the sensors being generated for rearwardly propagated shock waves caused by a direct hit, but not for forwardly propagated shock waves caused, for example, by a stabilizer fin striking tree branches or other non-target objects. The generated pulses are fed to a NAND gate which is activated to cause fusing or detonation of the missile only by the overlapping pulses respresentative of a direct hit. Blanking circuitry blanks out effects of rearwardly propagated shock waves which are merely reflections of forwardly propagated shock waves, in order to prevent unintentional fusing or detonation.

Abstract: An electrically operated warhead enable switch utilizes a dual solenoid de mechanism in conjunction with a DC lock solenoid mechanism to sense a plurality of unique enable signals and in response thereto permits the driving of a differential which is mechanically coupled to a biased output shaft. The output shaft when rotated a specific number of degrees closes the terminals of a plurality of functioning switches and thereby allows the enabling of a missile's warhead circuitry.

Abstract: A movable bulkhead for partitioning a truck body or the like is pivotally supported on an overhead shaft. The shaft extends transversely between a pair of trolleys which ride along tracks and are capable of differential movement thereon. A second pair of trolleys are also track mounted to support a spring-loaded counterbalance mechanism for the bulkhead. Drum and cable assemblies included in the counterbalance mechanism automatically pivot the bulkhead to a raised position when the seal of the bulkhead against the flow of the truck is broken.

Abstract: A table having a sliding table top supported on a base for edgewise adjustment of the top relative to the base, and means for releasably locking the top in fixed position relative to the base. The table is designed for use in combination with a bench seat or the like to provide a dining facility, such as a breakfast nook, wherein the table top may be moved away from the seat for convenience of access to and egress from the seat and toward the seat to a comfortable dining position.

Abstract: An incinerator gas is first passed through an evaporative cooler operating above the dew point of the gas and then the gas is passed through an electrostatic precipitator or cyclone which strips dry particles from the gas. Thereafter the gas passes through a scrubber operating with a scrubbing liquid so as to produce a solution that is fed to a clarifier. The decantate from the clarifier is recirculated as the scrubbing liquid whereas the sludge is neutralized and fed back into the evaporative cooler. Flash evaporation of this neutralized sludge in the cooler causes salt to crystalize so that these crystals can be stripped out at the downstream dry filter. A valve body at the outlet side of the scrubber is positioned in accordance with gas pressure inside the incinerator so as to maintain back pressure within the system substantially uniform.

Abstract: A furnace, particularly for use in a slagging pyrolysis system for the disposal of solid waste, includes a metal hearth portion, unprotected by refractory material, the hearth portion having a plurality of heat conducting studs affixed to the inner wall of the hearth portion and means for cooling the studs for causing a slag coating which protects the hearth wall from attack by corrosive substances, minimizes additional heat loss and prevents melting of the hearth wall.

Abstract: A beam structure is described for supporting rails that carry wheeled cover carriages employed to close the openings of chambers in an industrial furnace of the soaking pit type. Each beam is disposed on the median wall between adjacent chambers and is arranged to mount a pair of rails, each of which is associated with one of the two adjacent chamber openings. The beam is structured and arranged to rapidly dissipate heat acquired during periods of furnace operation and especially due to exposure to the interior of the furnace when the associated cover is removed to thereby protect against undue thermal stressing. Ancillary insulating means may be appended to the structure in the most severely affected regions thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically controlling movement of an area of material with respect to a work point in a machine in which revolvable control means continuously engages the region of the material in front of the work point and in close proximity to that point. An exemplification of the invention is in a sewing machine in which pressure exerting means urges revolvable control means into guiding engagement with that front region in the fabric as the material advances over the support toward the work point, for guiding and smoothing the fabric material and enabling a wide variety of stretchable as well as stiff fabrics to be guided quickly, accurately and effectively.

Abstract: An improved workpiece guide for sewing machines comprising a vertical wall which is substantially at a right angle to the support surface of the work, wherein is positioned in the right-hand side of the sewing station, one or more separating plates movable between operative and inoperative positions, which plates project beyond the vertical wall parallel to the work support surface and are positioned to project over the sewing axis both on the right-hand side and the left-hand side thereof when in the operative position, and means to elevate the separating plates when in the inoperative position to locations vertically above the positions they occupy when in the operative position.