Abstract: A combining and binding conveyor system which combines a first fabric piece and a second fabric piece to form a combined fabric piece, such as a men's brief and applies binding to the fabric piece. The apparatus includes an unique combining fixture for receiving and securing the first fabric piece, the second fabric piece, and the combined fabric piece. A conveyor transports the combining fixture to at least one sewing machine work station having means for operating on the first and second fabric pieces. A transfer station removes the combining fixture from the conveyor when the operations are completed and places the fabric piece on an unique binding fixture for engaging, positioning and securing the fabric piece. The conveyor transports the binding fixture to at least one sewing machine work station for operating on the fabric piece while the same is being held by the binding fixture.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing head having a sewing needle to be vertically reciprocally driven, and a shuttle base having a shuttle to be rotatably driven in synchronism with the vertical movement of the sewing needle for forming stitches. A machine frame includes a pair of support posts spaced laterally from each other, an upper frame having greater rigidness for mounting the sewing head thereon, and a lower frame having greater rigidness and disposed below the upper frame for mounting the shuttle base thereon. Each of the upper frame and the lower frame extends between the pair of support posts and is fixed thereto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-head sewing machine having an improved structure for driving a main shaft and a lower shaft for driving needle bars and thread take-up levers so as to prevent distortion of these shafts, in turn, variation of stitch performance in the respective heads from occurring.

Abstract: A border serger, used in the bedding industry, the serger having a left-hand and a right-hand sewing head, positioned approximately in a common horizontal plane, permitting border serging of both edges of one piece of border, or simultaneous border serging of one side of two pieces of border. The respective lateral spacing of the sewing heads can be adjusted as desired, for example, by having a motor driven acme threaded screw rod connected to the left-hand sewing head. A pair of pull rollers downstream of the sewing heads are used to pull the one or two pieces of border material past the sewing heads for serging. Typically, a border may be serged only along one side for the border to be used in box springs manufacture and serged along both sides for a border to be used in mattress manufacture.

Abstract: A work station for an operator using two sewing machines that have automatic sew cycles and work piece control and advancing mechanisms for setting sleeves in shirt bodies. Sleeves and shirt bodies are presented to the operator at the work station in a manner that they can be easily and quickly grasped which enables the operator to load the work piece components on one machine while the automatic sew cycle of the other machine being performed. The sewn products in both the intermediate and final stage are automatically removed from the sewing machines and discharged to a completed product tray.

Abstract: A welt forming device comprises: base fabric holding means which is able to hold a base fabric flat at all times; and welt fabric holding means for fixedly holding a welt fabric on the base fabric. Those means are moved in a sewing direction in synchronization with the vertical movement of the sewing needle of seam forming means, to form a first seam to sew the welt fabric to the base fabric. The device further comprises: first welt fabric folding means for folding one side portion of the welt fabric along the first seam over the other side portion; second welt fabric holding means for folding the other side portion of the welt fabric over the one side portion which has been folded by the first welt fabric holding means; and auxiliary moving means for moving the relative position of the base fabric holding means and the sewing needle in a direction which is across the sewing direction.

Abstract: A mask sewing device comprises a pair of sewing machines which are fixed to a working table, being arranged left and right thereon in such a way as to face each other, and are operated in synchronism with each other, a pair of belts provided apart from each other on the working table by a given interval, each belt extending between the mask cloth feeding side and mask cloth sending-out side of the working table and a feeding unit for driving the belts in the normal and reverse directions, wherein the sewing machines can concurrently sew the folded end portions of the mask cloth at both sides thereof respectively, the mask cloth being inserted into the interval from the feeding side.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing hosiery items, termed "top-to-top" method, and the related modified knitting and stitching machines. The method includes the following steps: knitting a first hosiery item starting from a top down to a toe; knitting at least one row of trim at the end of the toe; knitting a second hosiery item at the end of the row of trim starting from a second toe up to a second top; separating and stitching the first and second hosiery items initially joined by the trim row by means of a specifically modified stitching machine. The stitching machine includes two independent stitching units which are fed by a common conveyor which is provided with a cutter and with diverging traction means. Top-to-top knitting can be performed with appropriately modified mechanically-programmed machines or with electronically programmed machines.

Abstract: An apparatus for modifying sewing data to control a sewing machine including (a) a stitch-forming device for forming stitches on at least one work sheet, (b) a work-holding device for holding the work sheet, and (c) a displacing device for displacing at least one of the stitch-forming device and the work-holding device, relative to each other, according to the sewing data, the sewing machine having a prescribed coordinate system, the apparatus including a plurality of detectable objects located at a plurality of fixed positions spaced apart from each other on the work-holding device, respectively; a position detector which detects an actual position of each of the detectable objects in the prescribed coordinate system of the sewing machine; and a data modifying device for modifying the sewing data based on a difference of the detected actual position of the each of the detectable objects from a corresponding one of respective reference positions of the detectable objects in the prescribed coordinate system of

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sewing sleeve sections to a knitted shirt body. The sleeve sections are provided with a right-side-out orientation and are engaged and supported for sewing by a limited edge margin. A shirt body, supplied in an inside-out orientation, is applied over a previously loaded sleeve section, and is also engaged by only a limited edge margin at the sleeve opening, with the shoulder margin of the shirt body closely surrounding and approximately aligned with the edge margin of the sleeve section. The two components are placed under limited tension to equalize the respective circumference dimensions and are controllably advanced while a shoulder seam is sewn. The respective edges are guided and aligned as they approach the sewing position. A pair of opposed fixtures and sewing heads are provided at each sewing station, so that both sleeve sections and both sides of the shirt body can be loaded in preparation for sewing.

Abstract: In an embroidery machine according to the present invention, at least one of driving mechanisms required for embroidery sewing has a driving source independent of the other driving mechanisms, and a control device is provided to control the driving source and those of the other driving mechanisms to be synchronously driven. With this construction, as for the driving mechanism having the independent driving source, since an interlocking mechanism can be omitted, the construction can be simplified, so that vibrations or noises can be reduced. Further with a control signal from the control device, a timing of operation of the driving mechanism having the independent drive source can be freely determined according to the embroidery mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for electronically gearing the sewing parts of a sewing machine, and more particularly it relates to electronically gearing the bobbin to the needle to eliminate the necessity of their physical coupling through mechanical linkages and drive shafts. Servo motors provide torque to the needle, bobbin, and various other sewing parts of the sewing machine which require concerted movement. A computer uses servo motor positional information to calculate motion commands that are sent to the needle and bobbin servo motors, thereby enabling electronic gearing of the bobbin to the needle so that each moves substantially in unison. Motion commands sent to servo motors attached to various other sewing parts of the sewing machine are based on servo motor positional information to enable the sewing parts to move in concert with the needle and bobbin.

Abstract: A sewing device comprises endless conveyer belts for feeding a sewn product on a feeding surface, a feeding drive unit, a sewn product supporting member which is provided under the endless conveyer belts on the feeding side of the sewn product and a cloth end detecting means which is provided between the needle position line of a pair of sewing machines and the sewn product supporting member for detecting either of the front end portion or the rear end portion of a preceding sewn product when a given interval is formed between the preceding sewn product which has been fed by the endless conveyer belts and a following sewn product which is placed on the sewn product supporting member, wherein the feeding drive unit starts operation upon completion of lifting of the sewn product supporting member which carries the following sewn product thereon and stops operation when the cloth end detecting means detects either of the front end portion or the rear end portion of the preceding sewn product.

Abstract: A working table structure is provided for a sewing machine having stitching units arranged on a support frame, a movable frame provided with workpiece holders for holding workpieces and movable in directions parallel to an X-axis perpendicular to the axes of the arms of the stitching units and in directions parallel to a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis, and driving mechanisms for driving the movable frame for movement in directions parallel to the X-axis and the Y-axis. The working table structure has at least one working table top disposed above the movable frame in directions parallel to the X-axis and removably supported on the support frame. Since the working table top is disposed above the range of movement of the movable frame with respect to its complete range of movement in directions parallel to the X-axis, the working table top will not interfere with the movable frame.

Abstract: A sewing system includes a first automatic sewing machine and at least one second automatic sewing machine. The first automatic sewing machine includes a RAM for storing stitch data. The stitch data is processed into data for primarily controlling a needle position, and the data thus processed is stored in the RAM. The first automatic sewing machine further includes a data transmitting device for outputting the processed stitch data to the outside of the sewing machine. The second automatic sewing machine includes a data receiving device for receiving the processed stitch data from the data transmitting device in the first automatic sewing machine. When receiving the processed stitch data from the data transmitting device in the first automatic sewing machine, the second automatic sewing machine starts sewing according to the processed stitch data thus received.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for attaching a collarette, display, and label to a garment body incorporating the use of a first sewing machine having a sewing head for sewing the collarette, display, label and garment body into a sewn assembly. The device includes a collarette feeder, a display feeder, a label feeder synchronized with the sewing head, a garment detector, a seam detector, a stitch counter, and a controller to control each device and perform necessary calculations. A conveyor system is provided to transport the sewn assembly to a second sewing machine for sewing the display in place to cover the overedge seam affixing the components. A collarette unfolded and a display unfolded are disposed along the path of the sewn assembly to position the collarette and display for processing at the second sewing machine. A cutter assembly is also provided to sever the collarette once the display has been sewn in place.

Abstract: The invention provides that a sewing machine is used for sewing the adjacent edges of a flat felt web which is folded to bring the edges together. The web moves past the sewing machine, and the sewing machine is mounted so as to reciprocate in a forward stroke in the direction of the web during the stitching, and to move rearward back to an initial position to effect the next stitch. The drive mechanism of the sewing machine is such that from the commencement of the forward stroke the machine is accelerated up to the speed of the web the needle penetrates the web and effects the stitch, the needle is removed from the web, and then is decelerated to zero before completing the backstroke. The invention also relates to an optical sensing mechanism for examining the presence of stitches.

Abstract: A system for an embroidering machine has plural embroidering machines, display means, input means which has a keyboard and a means for inputting coordinates on a screen of the display, register memory means for storing plural embroidering patterns, image data and embroidering data and main control means. The main control means divides a screen of the display means into multiple screens in accordance with a number input by the input means, reads image data corresponding to the embroidering patterns selected by the input means from the register memory means, displays the image data on the multiple divided screens of the display means, and sends embroidering data corresponding to the selected embroidering patterns to the memory means of the embroidering machine. The main control means divides the screen of the display into smaller screens display multiple embroidering images on the screens. Thus an operator can see all embroidering patterns on the screen of the display before embroidering.

Abstract: An industrial sewing machine comprises a supporting frame supporting a main driving shaft rotatively driving two driven shafts, on one of the driven shafts being keyed cam members for reciprocally driving in a horizontal plane a horizontal needle bar, as well as grippers for feeding with fabric operating hook elements, the other driven shaft operating a vertically displaceable vertical needle bar arranged downstream of the horizontal needle bar, the spacing of the horizontal and vertical needle bars being so designed that the needles supported thereby can make simultaneously seaming lines.

Abstract: An automatic sewing apparatus for hemming and closing a sleeve is used for hemming a sleeve blank and sewing it into tubular form for making, for example, a short-sleeved T-shirt. The steps subsequent to putting the sleeve blank on a conveyor are done fully automatically and continuously to make the tubular sleeve. The apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention comprises first and second sewing machines disposed at inner corner sides of an L-shaped sewing table, a feed device having a conveying surface disposed on a table part of the first sewing machine side of the sewing table, a folding member for folding the blank edge along the feed direction, a deflecting device having a member for stopping the running of the front end of the hemmed piece above the conveying surface, and a transfer device for feeding the deflected piece of a hemmed sleeve blank to the second sewing machine.

Abstract: An embroidering system comprises plural embroidering machines, a display, an input, a register memory for storing plural embroidering patterns, image data and embroidering data which includes data for characters of several languages having different character symbols in the same phonetic sound, and a main control. When an operator selects a desired language, the main control reads the image data which corresponds to the selected language from the register memory. When an operator selects a key on the keyboard, the main control checks a phonetic sound of that key to determine whether such phonetic sound corresponds to more than one character. If there is more than one character, the main control reads image data corresponding to all of the characters which have the same phonetic sound and displays all of the image data. An operator selects a desired character from the displayed characters.

Abstract: A production system for garments or other products includes a plurality of work stations for performing a series of work operations in which parts of a garment or other product are progressively manufactured. A conveyorized transport system extends between the various work stations and the flow of work between the various stations is regulated by assigning class codes to each operation required for a garment and each operation available at the various work stations. The class codes for a given garment order are read sequentially from a data memory and as a requirement for each code or work operation arises in the course of producing the garment, the scheduler searches a second data memory to locate the work stations which offer the work operations corresponding to the class code sought. The scheduler then determines from among the available work stations the specific work station to which the garment pieces are sent for performing the required work operation.

Abstract: An automatic sewing apparatus for hemming and closing a sleeve is used for making a tubular sleeve a short-sleeved T-shirt. After placing the sleeve blanks on a conveyor only, subsequent operations are done fully automatically and continuously to make tubular sleeves, resulting in labor savings, productivity enhancement, and a reduction in savings production cost. In particular two types of shapes cut for sleeves can be sewn by using the apparatus by turning them in the appropriate direction. The apparatus comprises a first sewing machine for hemming and a second sewing machine for edge sewing disposed at both inner corner sides of an L-shaped sewing table, a blank feed device installed at a table part of the first sewing machine side, a folding member for the blank edge, a hemmed piece deflecting device, and direction turning members for turning the deflected piece.

Abstract: An automatic sewing system includes an embroidery machine and a personal computer. The embroidery machine has an operation panel provided with a LCD, a stitch type display key and a stitch type selecting key, and a sewing control device provided with a stitch type data memory and a stitch data memory. The personal computer has a floppy disc drive unit capable of receiving a floppy disc which stores stitch data and stitch type data. The stitch type data are sent to the sewing control device from the personal computer and stored in the stitch type data memory when the stitch type display key is operated. The LCD displays thereon a stitch type based on the stitch type data stored in the stitch type data memory. The stitch data related to the displayed stitch type are sent to the sewing control device from the personal computer and stored in the stitch data memory when the stitch type selecting key is operated.

Abstract: In order to insert into tights comfort gussets which reach to the waistband of the tights, a line closing apparatus for the machine sewing of a pair of tights is used which has an extra form provided in the sets of forms of the apparatus, and a tubular prefabricated comfort gusset is pulled onto the extra form. The tubular gusset is cut open together with two tubular prefabricated stocking leg portions and is connected to the stocking leg portions when seaming the legs together.

Abstract: The present apparatus (1) can be attached to a conventional sewing machine (2) and consists essentially of upper and lower frames. A needle bar unit (8) along with relative driving means is attached to the upper frame. A rotating hook (11) is attached to the lower frame. The upper frame and the lower frame are situated in front of and around a working head of a sewing machine (2) in order to cooperate with the head itself, there being thus the possibility of sewing double, parallel seams simultaneously. The needle bar unit (8) and the rotating, hook (11) are set in motion through secondary shafts (7, 10), which are connected through kinematic transmission belts (4,6) to a main driving pulley (3) of the complete sewing unit.

Abstract: A system for automatically producing pantyhose garments from elongated tubular fabric blanks, each having a toe end portion and a welt or band end portion. Randomly oriented blanks are sequentially removed from a supply reservoir, oriented in a predetermined manner, and conveyed to a positioning and transferring assembly which orients, removes creases and pleats and properly positions a pair of blanks on the clamping assemblies of a pantyhose seaming machine. The pair of clamped blanks have the welt end portions severed, and severed edges seamed by sewing instrumentalities to define the panty portion of a pantyhose garment. The pantyhose are transferred to a machine where the toe ends are closed by seaming.

Abstract: Tee shirts are manufactured from tubular blanks while retained in a fastened stack and transported from station to station for completion of finishing operations. The blanks have bottom ends and two opposite shoulders, the process including stacking a group of tubular blanks in registry with corresponding bottom ends and shoulder locations of successive tubular blanks disposed over one another in a stack. The bottom edges can be preliminarily hemmed. The stack is attached via a fastener which detachably engages an overhead conveyor. The fastener is attached at the hemmed bottom end such that the tee shirt blanks in the stack remain in registry as they are processed and recover their registry when hung from the conveyor in a stack after a finishing step.

Abstract: A programmable sewing head including a work controlling clamping mechanism is automatically loaded with air bag material or the like, together with a reinforcement strategically placed thereon, for automatic attachment (by a predetermined stitching pattern) of the reinforcement to the bag material. A table having a loading station supports material orienting an aperture and the reinforcement, and extends to a transfer station at the sewing head. A locator aperture and a retractable locator head are in the table surface at the loading station for receiving the sheet and reinforcement. Placement of the reinforcement and the sheet over the locator pad aligns the reinforcement with respect to the hole in the sheet.

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 comforter assembly apparatus includes a frame with first and second rolls of fabric associated therewith for supplying an upper sheet and a lower sheet to the apparatus. A pair of sewing machines are mounted on the frame so as to attach the side edges of the upper and lower sheets together to form a continuous fabric assembly. The fabric assembly surrounds, and is pulled through the interior of, a turning ring, so as to continuously invert the fabric assembly into an inside-out condition. A third layer of soft batting may be supplied to the fabric assembly to form a intermediate layer between the upper and lower sheets, by inserting the soft batting layer into the turning ring as the fabric assembly is inverted. In the preferred embodiment, the turning ring is an elongated ring having a leg projecting from each end thereof between a pair of feed rollers.

Abstract: A fabric holding frame consists of a bed plate and a presser frame connected to the bed plate for vertical movement relative to it. The bed plate is provided with a positioner to locate a fabric and plural windows. The presser frame is provided with strap holders at positions where the strap holders face the respective windows. The fabric is put and located on the bed plate and the presser frame is lowered to fix the fabric. The both end portions of plural straps are loaded into the respective plural strap holders. Thus the both end portions of every strap become located at prescribed sewing positions on the fabric. When the bed plate is horizontally moved on a table of a multi-head sewing machine and the sewing machine is operated, the end portions of the straps are sewn on the fabric through the windows of the bed plate.

Abstract: A stitch controller for installation on an electric sewing machine with a treadle and a needle positioner to make the machine semi-automatic. The controller has a CPU which directs, by means of a program in its memory, the machine through a defined number of stitches in a run of stitches and a defined number of runs of stitches. Additionally, the CPU will direct the needle position to up or down according to the program.

Abstract: A sewing system for substantially automatically producing a stitched textile articles by employing a plurality of sewing machines arranged at every manufacturing step.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus is provided for sewing vehicular air bags. Each air bag includes first and second side panels and a main body panel extending therebetween. First and second sewing machines are provided for sewing the seams between the respective first and second side panels and the main body panel. The sewing apparatus comprises at least one rotatable template to which the air bag side panels are mounted. Rotation of the templates advances peripheral portions of the side panels into proximity to the sewing machine, while longitudinal side edges of the main body panel are simultaneously advanced into the sewing machine. The apparatus includes motors and/or air cylinders for moving the first and second sewing machines and the templates towards or away from one another, and for adjusting the relative elevation of the templates and air bag side panels relative to the sewing machines.

Abstract: Equipment for the automatic sewing of shoulder pads for clothing includes a support structure, a pair of sewing machines (18) which are slidable along the same line on the structure and have parallel vertical needles (18a), and an oscillator device (64) adapted for connection to a tool for clamping the pieces of cloth and the pad of the shoulder pad and capable of reciprocating rotation about an axis parallel to the line along which the sewing machines (18) slide, so as to effect the automatic sewing of the shoulder pad along a predetermined outline.

Abstract: Sewing apparatus, uses plural sewing machines aligned in a row so that the feeding direction of the cloths to be sewn is parallel, each sewing machine having a bed with an upper surface, an arm with a base end part formed coupled to the bed and a needle location. Each base end part having a shape, when viewed orthogonal to the cloth feeding direction, which approximates a Z-form possessing a partition wall the upper surface of which is parallel to the upper surface of the bed. The relay sewing process of sewing the side ends of adjacent broad cloths in an overlapped state can be performed simultaneously on plural cloths arranged in the lateral direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an embroidering system comprising several embroidering machines of known type which will be operated under the operation mode peculiar thereto, and a control unit, to which one or more of the embroidering machines can be connected by a coupling means, adapted to electronically control operation of the embroidering machines connected thereto. When an embroidering machine is electrically connected to the control unit, a signal representing its operation mode is generated from the embroidering machine. The control unit includes a discriminator operated responsive to the signal to discriminate the operation mode of the embroidering machine now electrically connected, whereupon the control unti will be operated to control operation of said embroidering machine in such manner as to conform to the operation mode thereof.

Abstract: An embroidering system comprises a plurality of embroidering machine each connectable to a single control unit. Various characters or patterns are stored in a floppy disc installed in the contol unit, from which pattern data designating a desired pattern combination can be read out and transferred to a memory in the control unit responsive to key entry operation. By repeated key entry operation, plural series of stitch control data including the pattern data are in a lump stored in the memory. Among them, a specific series of the stitch control data can be read out in response to a pattern renewal signal which is generated by manual depression of a corresponding key arranged on the embroidering machine each time when the preceding embroidering operation has been completed.

Abstract: A device for driving a thread take-up lever in a multi-head sewing machine having a plurality of sewing heads, one or more thread take-up levers each mounted on a respective head, and a main shaft for driving the heads. The device comprises a movement converting mechanism located within each head for converting rotational movement of the main shaft into reciprocating movement thereof, a transmission control mechanism operatively associated with the movement converting mechanism for transmitting and disconnecting the reciprocating movement produced by the movement converting mechanism to one of the thread take-up levers selected for sewing operation, and a retaining mechanism for retaining the selected take-up lever in a predetermined position when the reciprocating movement of the movement converting mechanism is disconnected from the selected take-up lever by the transmission control mechanism.

Abstract: A working site to stitch manufactured items comprises a supporting frame on which a supporting surface table (2) is defined, which surface is provided with a central area (4) having a first sewing machine (5) disposed thereon which can be used to perform the greatest number of sewing operations on a manufactured item which has to be submitted to a predetermined work cycle. Extending consecutively to the central area is a first side area (6) carrying a second sewing machine (7) adapted to be used to perform operations in intercalated relationship with the sewing operations carried out by the first sewing machine (5). A second side area (8) extending at right angles to the central area (4) on the opposite side with respect to the first side area (6) carries a third sewing machine (9) adapted to be used for trimming operations on the manufactured item as well as further operations in intercalated relationship with the operations to be performed by the first (5) and second (7) sewing machines.

Abstract: A walking needle chain stitch sewing machine having multi sewing heads laterally spaced apart from one-another, that includes upper primary drive shaft and secondary lower first and second drive shafts and mechanisms thereof for driving first and second needle-drive mechanisms, and that further includes other secondary lower third and fourth drive shafts and mechanisms thereof for driving first and second feed-dogs and mechanisms thereof, with the first and second drive shafts being connected to the primary drive shaft by respectively spaced-apart drive-belts each mounted between driving and driven gears, and with the third and fourth drive shafts likewise being connected to the primary drive shaft by respectively spaced-apart other drive-belts each mounted between other driving and driven gears.

Abstract: A method of customizing fabric garments includes employing an embroidery machine to create a master design at a plurality of locations on said fabric and subsequently automatically applying a custom design sequentially in the general region of the master designs. In one embodiment, the master design containing fabric portions are severed into individual patches which are subsequently provided with the custom design. The patches may then be secured to an article of clothing as by adhesive means or other suitable means. The apparatus for effecting customizing includes embroidery apparatus which apply a plurality of master designs and computerized monogram apparatus for sequentially applying a custom design to the region of the master designs.

Abstract: Sewing heads (40,41) of a sewing apparatus for sewing casings for quilts are arranged in two horizontal parallel rows which are perpendicular to the stitching direction. For forming zig-zag partitions (FIG. 2) the heads (40) of the upper row are staggered with respect to those (41) of the lower row. Pleats (42) formed in the upper facing (30) are guided together with the upper edges of a pair of divider strips (32) into the stitching zones of the upper heads (40) and pleats (43) of the lower facing (31) are guided with the lower edges of two divider strips (32) of adjoining pairs into stitching zones of the lower heads (41). For forming transverse partitions (FIG. 9), a single row of sewing heads, each having two stitching zones, may be used, a separate divider strip (332) being fed to each sewing head.

Abstract: A sewing machine consisting of left and right hand individual sewing machines which are joined together adjustably to provide a gap between the machine bases in which drive means are provided that includes an external drive shaft that is joined at its ends to each of the individual machines.

Abstract: An automatic sewing apparatus in which automatic sewing operations can be performed merely upon placing cassettes into which have been loaded cloth pieces to be sewn onto a first carrier unit and in which a variety of sewing operations can be performed. The apparatus includes plural sewing machines, each having a table movable according to a programmed sewing pattern, with the cassettes being receivable on this table. The first carrier units transport the cassettes in a predetermined direction, while second carrier units transport the cassettes received from the first carrier unit to corresponding ones of the sewing machines. The various sewing machines perform predetermined designated sewing operations on the cloth pieces held in the cassettes.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided which is composed of two halves, each having sewing instrumentalities, a single, splined drive shaft and having an adjustment mechanism for connecting the two halves together so that the distances between the sewing instrumentalities can be varied.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic shirt cuff manufacturing unit comprising an overcast stitching machine, a buttonhole forming machine and a button sewing machine. The unit includes means for conveying the cuff to the overcast stitching machine, means for removing the cuff from the overcast stitching machine, means for positioning at least one of the ends of the cuff with respect to one of the working heads of the buttonhole forming and button sewing machines, the working heads of said machines being arranged opposite one another, means for orienting the cuff so that it assumes the proper orientation, or an orientation at 180.degree. from it, under the working heads, means for bringing the cuff under said heads while maintaining it in correct position, and means for removing the cuff from the machines.

Abstract: A sewing machine for simultaneously forming a plurality of spaced seams disposed in parallel relation. The machine includes a pair of spaced needle bars and needle clamps for supporting stitching needles. Adjacent each needle bar a presserfoot bar is provided for supporting separate presserfoots on their lower ends. Below each presserfoot there is a cooperating feed dog and below each feed dog a separate looper for controlling the lower threads during the formation of chain stitches. To form the stitches simultaneously, all of the machine's stitching instrumentalities, including the stitching needles, presserfeet, feed dogs and loopers, are operatively interconnected so that their movements occur at the same time.

Abstract: A sewing machine utilizing two needle rods driven by separated coaxial drive shafts and means for selectively interconnecting the two coaxial drive shafts. The means connecting the drive shafts can be selectively disengaged by means of an electromagnet depending upon whether it is desired to operate one or both of the needle rods at the same time.