Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is a sewing system which includes a sewing machine that sews a workpiece, and a three-dimensional measurement device that measures a three-dimensional shape of the workpiece. According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately implement quality control of a product produced by sewing.

Abstract: A set of sewing disks for controlling the movement of a piece of fabric over the free arm and under the needle of a sewing or quilting machine. Each disk is flat and has an oval or circular configuration and comprises three registered, stacked adhesively attached layers—a first contact layer made of open cell foam, a semi-rigid intermediate stiffener member, and a second contact layer made of closed cell foam. When each disk is placed over a piece of fabric with the lower contact layer is placed adjacent thereto, the individual's fingers are exposed at all times and placed over the opposite contact layer. The intermediate stiffener layer spreads and evenly dissipates the forces exerted by the fingers to the top contact layer to the lower contact layer. Because the finger tips are not in contact with the fabric, soiling of the fabric by the finger tips is prevented.

Abstract: A pressure foot assembly for minimizing puckering or bunching of quilt or fabric when being sewn or during other contour sewing. The assembly includes a non-rotating or non-walking pressure foot that has a laterally displaced inner foot from the inner feed dog of the machine. The assembly may include a rotating or “walking” pressure foot recessed under the base and outer pressure foot. The assembly includes a cloth guide to laterally limit the movement of the fabric in the direction of the inner foot.

Abstract: Sewing apparatus for joining a first panel and a second panel and having an arm that is rotated about an axis normal to the surface of the first panel to rotate the first panel, a shoe biased to follow an edge of the first panel as the first panel is fed to the sewing machine, a detector to monitor the shoe and provide a signal indicative of a longitudinal orientation of the edge of the first panel, and means for adjusting the longitudinal orientation of the first panel with respect to a true feed direction in response to the longitudinal orientation signal. An edge flattener including a generally cylindrical component is provided.

Abstract: A presser foot for sewing machines including a body portion formed with a recess at a lower end thereof and a threaded hole above the recess, a knob having a cylindrical member having a large diameter at a first end and a small diameter at a second end, the knob being formed with a concaved portion between the ends and an axial through hole with a counter sink at the first end, the knob being rotatably mounted on the body portion by a countersunk bolt which extends through the axial through hole into the threaded hole thereby forming a generally semi-circular cavity, whereby the feeding of a workpiece through the presser foot can be facilitated.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a blowing device which comprises an angularly constructed step, into which opens an opening from which a gas stream blows towards a curled edge of a workpiece for the purpose of uncurling the edge of the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of and a device for reducing pucker between layers of sheet material during a sewing process wherein an upper layer and a lower layer of material are fed to a stitch formation zone by means of a reciprocating lower feed-dog which engages the lower layer of the material and a first presser foot which overlies the feed-dog and urges the layers of material towards the feed-dog; comprises the steps of tensioning the lower layer of material relative to the upper layer of material in the zone which precedes the stitch formation zone.

Abstract: A sewing method and apparatus is disclosed for preventing raveling of a cut cloth edge in the making of garments such as slacks and skirts. A pair of sewing machines symmetrically arranged with respect to a cloth feeding line are disposed oppositely to each other. Each sewing machine has an auxiliary guide for contacting the upper surface of a cloth, a cloth edge guide and a cloth stopper. Opposite edges of the cloth are simultaneously and automatically guided along respective sewing lines by the guides and serged by the sewing machines without failure. In operating the pair of sewing machines, another additional sewing machine can be operated to serge other edges of the next cloth.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the tension of a longitudinally moving thread. The device includes at least two adjacent plates which are applied one against the other and between which the thread passes. The plates, and thus the thread, can be tightened so that the desired tension can be creatred. Opposed surfaces of the plate each incorporate at least one gripping surface for the thread which cooperates with at least one corresponding gripping surface of the other plate. The periphery essentially about the surfaces is formed with at least two indentations arranged in such a way that each indentation of the gripping surface of a plate coincides with at least a portion of a corresponding indentation on the gripping surface of the other plate.

Abstract: A presser foot is disclosed which includes a quick connection and disconnection apparatus for connecting the presser foot shoe thereof to a connecting member which is adapted to be connected to a presser foot bar of a sewing machine utilizing the presser foot. Both the shoe and the connecting member include pairs of supports or limbs which are engaged to each other in a pivotal manner. One engagement is through a biased pin which extends through alignable holes in the supports of the shoe and connecting member to engage and permit quick disengagement of the shoe from the connecting member.

Abstract: In sewing work for attaching slide fastener chains to fabric or leather articles, a device for controlling the traveling velocity of the fastener chain is provided, comprising a pair of upper and lower cantilever members supported by a supporting member on the table of a sewing machine. The lower cantilever is fixed to form a space between its under side and the table surface, while the upper cantilever is movable toward and apart from the lower cantilever. A suitable frictional resistance is imparted to the fastener chain traveling between the two cantilevers when the upper, movable cantilever is laid on the lower, fixed cantilever. The movement of the upper cantilever is linked to the raising and lowering mechanism of the presser foot of the sewing machine. This device serves to keep the traveling fastener chain from puckering or waving.

Abstract: A presser foot for a concealed slide fastener has a sole plate slidably supported on a stem, the sole plate having in its sole a pair of guide grooves extending along the length thereof. A first needle hole in the sole plate is located between the guide grooves and a second needle hole therein is located at one side of the sole plate. The sole is divided by the guide grooves into two portions, one of which is wider than the other, the second needle hole being provided in the wider sole portion. A throat plate of a sewing machine has a third needle hole and a pair of spaced slots one on each side of the third needle hole, the slots receiving a pair of feed dogs, respectively.

Abstract: A twin-needle sewing machine for stitching lap seams which have been produced by basting a pair of fastener stringers to the edges of an article bounding an opening therein and then by folding the article edges along the basting lines. The sewing machine has a presser foot comprising a pair of parallel spaced main portions, and a pair of wings projecting laterally outwardly from the respective main portions. A guide fixedly mounted on the throat plate of the sewing machine has its sloping rear surface disposed opposite to the front end of the presser foot. The folded article edges together with the stringers basted thereto follow a curved path created by the guide as they are drawn under the presser foot for final stitching of the lap seams, in order that the article edges may not unfold.

Abstract: A tacking sewing machine having a presser foot and needle for tacking multiple fabric plies in which a fabric limiting or stop means positions the fabric plies to be tacked and fabric guide means cooperatively associated therewith guides fabric plies to the limiting means in juxtaposition to a presser foot.

Abstract: An independent guide device is positionable on the supporting surface of the plate and in intermittent contact with the feeder of a sewing machine for guiding the needle of the machine in an irregular pattern. The guide device comprises a pair of complementary jig devices shaped to fit in juxtaposition with layers of material to be sewn to each other positioned between the jig devices. The jig devices have the same irregular configuration and complementary cross-sectional areas. Clamping devices releasably clamp the jig devices in juxtaposition with the material to be sewn positioned therebetween. Guide members extend from the foot device of the sewing machine for maintaining the guide device in a predetermined position relative to the needle of the machine while the guide device is moved between the foot device and the supporting surface of the feeder of the machine through the entire duration of the guide device.