Abstract: This disclosure relates to an improvement to spring type flexible chutes provided for delivering disk-like objects from a supply source to an attaching machine. The improvement includes a resilient, elongated spacer which may be inserted into the guideway of the chute for changing the space constraints thereof to maintain a uniform planar orientation of the disk-like objects between the supply source and the machine whereby allowing one chute to be used for multiple purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a continuous slide fastener stringer chain including space portions devoid of coupling elements at longitudinal intervals. The apparatus comprises feed rollers for continuously feeding a pair of continuous stringer tapes, in synchronism with a sewing machine, to a sewing area in the sewing machine, a stationary guide member having a longitudinal channel for the passage of a pair of interengaged rows of coupling elements, and a toothed wheel projecting into the guide channel and rotatable for intermittently feeding the coupling elements in synchronism with the sewing machine to the sewing area. A cutter assembly is disposed between the sewing area and the toothed wheel for cutting off a length of coupling elements then being sewn from the interengaged rows of continuous coupling elements each time the latter stops moving.

Abstract: An attachment for feeding reinforcing back buttons to a sewing machine which has a feed for main buttons to a button clamp which is positioned over a work material which is moved through a sewing station to sew the main button together with the back button which is fed beneath the material comprises a plate member which is mountable on a support arm of the sewing machine over which the material is fed. The attachment includes a plate member over which the material is fed which has a button chute guide groove defined thereon terminating in a button recess having a button aligning stop edge. The back button feed chute is connected to the plate for feeding back buttons in succession into the recess against the aligning stop edge. The guide groove is advantageously machined in an exchangeable plate which may attach to the work support arm of a sewing machine.

Abstract: Flypieces are fed by a conveyor to a sewing station in a sewing machine which is operated by a sensor mounted a spaced distance in front of the sewing station to sew the flypieces to a slide fastener chain. The linear rate of feed of the flypieces by the conveyor is slower than the linear rate of feed of the flypiece and slide fastener chain through the sewing station by the sewing machine, and operation and termination of the sewing machine in response to the sensor is delayed so that uniform spacing is produced between flypieces sewn on the slide fastener chain.

Abstract: A device for the correct angular positioning of fasteners such as buttons, rivets or the like in the tool of an attachment machine which has a trough-shaped guide rail for these fasteners arranged in front of the tool, the rail having a curved friction lining over at least part of the length of one side thereof and having, on its opposite side, a side wall which is spring-biased in the direction of the friction lining. A swingable slide is associated with this rail and pushes these fasteners forward which are provided with an indexing stop. A finger on the slide touches the indexing stop of the fastener in one position thereof. The pushing surface of the slide is disposed on the longitudinal center line of the feed trough, and the finger is separable from the slide and is arranged laterally of the longitudinal central line.

Abstract: A button clamp assembly having an unalterable pivot and provided with interchangeable turret assemblies which cooperate with other universal assemblies in controlling the planar displacement of the articles being delivered to the machine's sewing station. The interchangeable assemblies are mounted in a manner permitting a consistent clamping relationship to be maintained between the turret assembly and the machine's work support regardless of the article's thickness or ligne/diameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for affixing, specifically, sewing, labels to garments and the like. The process comprises the removal of labels one by one from a vertically disposed stack of the same located adjacent the sewing station. These labels are lifted vertically from the stack, transferred to the sewing station by swinging the label transversely from over the stack to a position over the sewing station. Upon arrival thereat the label is lowered vertically onto the workpiece such as a garment at said sewing station. The label is then held in contact with the workpiece by pressing downwardly about at least a portion of its periphery and while so held is sewed to the workpiece. The apparatus comprises a magazine for a vertically arranged stack of labels, together with a pneumatic pick-up device which is operable to remove the labels one by one from the top of the stack and transfer them to the sewing station.

Abstract: A device for feeding materials in a feed direction for operations thereon, such as sewing buttons or buttonholes, either directly on the material or onto separate strips of material which are fed thereto. The device includes means for clamping the material which is to be sewn so that it does not shift as it is moved through a stitching area. A movable carriage is mounted on a support frame for movement backwardly and forwardly in respect to the direction of material feeding, and it carries a lower endless conveyor arranged beneath and cooperable with an upper endless conveyor so that the endless belt stretched thereon may be biased together during the feeding operation so that the material is clamped along its entire length as it is fed with the movement of the carriage. The apparatus includes a separate clamping device for clamping the forward edge of the material at the end thereof which is beyond the sewing needle operating area and this is also movable with the carriage.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to improvements in automatic mechanisms for feeding properly oriented buttons to the sewing station of a sewing machine, in preparation for sewing on a garment. The system utilizes a highly simplified pneumatic actuating system for both feeding and orienting the buttons. The system of the invention is arranged to accommodate a multiplicity of mechanical operations involved in button feeding and orienting, utilizing a simple arrangement of two pneumatic actuators, which are energized in timed sequence by pulses of air derived from operation of the sewing machine. In one of its most advantageous forms, the system of the invention derives the necessary timed energizing pulses of air from control air cylinders which form part of the basic sewing machine mechanism itself. Thus, adaptation of a conventional industrial sewing machine to incorporate the button feeding and orienting system may be accomplished in a highly simplified and economical manner.

Abstract: An automatic button feeder is disclosed including a lifting mechanism arranged for facilitating disengagement of the orientating mechanism associated therewith. The lifting mechanism includes a slideably supported member means which is connected to the orientating mechanism of the button feeder by means of a curved leaf spring. An actuator, which is responsive to movement of the button clamp lifting mechanism, moves the slideable member, and thus the orientating mechanism connected thereto, whereby facilitating disengagement of the latter in timed relation to the sewing cycle.

Abstract: A button guide assembly for delivering and guiding buttons to a rotatable sewing machine button indexer. The assembly includes a guide track and mounting means for securing the assembly to the sewing machine button clamp. The mounting means are adjustable to allow movement of the guide track assembly forwardly or backwardly with respect to the rotatable indexer in a direction parallel and in alignment with the button feed path. The assembly further includes means for adjusting the width of the guide track opening. The adjustment means cooperate with the mounting means in maintaining a tangential relationship between the receiving opening in the rotatable button indexer and the guide track assembly.

Abstract: A button selector feed for button sewing machines which has a button clamp plate with a button feed slot through which a driver is movable to advance a button into association with the sewing apparatus, comprises a button selector which is mounted on the clamp plate adjacent the feed slot. The button selector has a fixed part with a button delivery slot overlying the feed slot and a movable part which is movable relative to the feed part and which contains a plurality of button feed channels defined therein, each accommodating a stack or a supply of a button of a particular type. The movable part is movable, for example, rotatable, relative to the fixed part so as to position a selected one of the feed channels into alignment with the feed slot.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling tape, such as knit or woven tape employed in the manufacture of zippers, and is more particularly directed to an improved apparatus and method for reeling and dereeling tape.

Abstract: A multiple-needle sewing machine has a presser foot and first and second feed dogs for an upper and a lower layer of the carrier material into a slit of which this slide fastener is to be sewn. An arm is mounted on the sewing machine and can pivot in a horizontal plane between a position in which the material and the slide fastener are placed onto the arm and maintained in a predetermined relationship relative to one another, and a second position in which the material and the slide fastener are supplied, while still being maintained in this predetermined relative position, to the feed dogs which engage the material and advance it as the sewing machine sews the slide fastener to the material.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering buttons to and positively removing them from a sewing station after they have been secured to a fabric. A button loader feeds buttons to a button conveyor which moves them through a sequence of steps. An indexing means actuates the conveyor as well as an orientating means which aligns the buttonholes for the sewing step. After the sewing step a means operates on the button and attached fabric to force disengagement with the conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic button feeder is provided which comprises an orientation station for receiving buttons in sequence, a sewing station at which a button is sewn and an injecting arm for moving the button from the orientation station to the sewing station. The arm includes alignment pins at the end thereof which are used in combination with orientation means which align the openings of the buttons with the alignment pins. The feeder also includes pneumatic means for moving the arm which draws the arm under the orientation station. The button openings are aligned with the pins by the orientation means. The arm remains stationary after the button has been aligned until a button at the sewing station has been removed therefrom.