Abstract: A saddle stitcher for printed products includes a saddle chain; a stitching machine; a controller; an ejector; and a delivery system. The delivery system includes: at least one lower conveyor belt and one upper conveyor belt; and at least one deflection roller for the lower conveyor belt, the at least one deflection roller being arranged in a radius. The lower conveyor belt has a first controllable self-propelled drive. The upper conveyor belt has a second controllable self-propelled drive. The controller is configured to separately control the first controllable self-propelled drive and the second controllable self-propelled drive. The controller is configured to provide a control that is exact to a cycle and is adjustable according to a thickness and a format of a respective printed product in a product flow.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to end effectors for use in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. In one example, among others, a compliant perimeter end effector includes a mounting bracket having a contact mounting flange, a plurality of compliant material contact elements coupled about a perimeter of the contact mounting flange. The mounting bracket can couple to a manipulator including, e.g., an industrial robot or other manipulation assembly. The compliant material contact elements can include a contact interface that can engage with a piece of material. The compliant material contact elements can precisely transfer material on a workspace with surface irregularities while equally distributing force to the material.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a platform and a separator coupled to the platform. The separator to receive a signature assembly, the separator includes an end to engage the signature assembly to separate a first page from the signature assembly, a first guide to direct the first page toward the platform and a second guide to direct a second page of the signature assembly toward a side of the platform. The apparatus includes a printer positioned above the platform. The printer is to image the first page when the first page is disposed on the platform. The apparatus includes a pump fluidly coupled through the platform to draw the first page toward the platform.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seal strip, comprising a tubular seal strip body with a first end (116) and a second end (117), wherein the first end (116) extends into the second end (117) and is securely connected to the second end (117) by a sewing thread (113). Further disclosed are a method and a device for sewing the seal strip, wherein the sewing device comprises a seal strip feeding machine (1), a device (2) for positioning the ends of the seal strip, a device for inwardly folding an edge of the seal strip, a device (3) for butt-joining the ends of the seal strip, a device (5) for threading a needle for the seal strip, and a device (4) for sewing the seal strip. The two ends of the seal strip are securely connected by the sewing thread, providing a high connection strength; and the method and device for sewing the seal strip can accomplish complete automation in sewing the seal strip, thus greatly improving efficiency during the production and processing of the seal strip.

Abstract: A hair tie includes a fabric and an elastic band. The fabric has a first edge and a second edge, and is bent such that the first edge and the second edge are side by side. The elastic band is enclosed within the fabric. The elastic band and the first edge and the second edge of the fabric are stitched together. The two ends of the fabric are interconnected. The present disclosure also provides a hair tie manufacturing method and equipment.

Abstract: A punching device including a punching die (5a) that can be connected to the needle bar and a punching matrix (5b) that can be fastened to a needle plate (7) of a sewing machine. The punching matrix (5b) is embodied as a lid of a clippings container (9). The planar object (23) to be processed is displaced via the tambour frame in a punching plane L2, with this punching plane L2 being arranged parallel above the sewing plane L1.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar to which an engraving needle is attached and is capable of executing an engraving process of forming an engraved pattern on a workpiece. The sewing machine further includes a heightwise position adjusting mechanism adjusting a mounting heightwise position of the engraving needle relative to the needle bar, a unit imaging the engraved marks formed on the workpiece by the engraving needle, thereby obtaining an image of each engraved mark, a detection unit extracting a region of each engraved mark from the image to detect a size of each engraved mark, a determination unit comparing the size of each engraved mark with a reference value stored, determining a mounting heightwise position of the engraving needle, and a unit informing of information for adjusting the mounting heightwise position of the engraving needle according to determination made by the determination unit.

Abstract: A sewing machine including a presser foot that presses a workpiece, a presser bar that has a lower end allowing detachable attachment of the presser foot; a presser bar vertically moving mechanism that moves the presser bar up and down; a presser bar driver that drives the presser bar vertically moving mechanism; a needle plate that has an upper surface for placing the workpiece; a projecting element that is detachably attached to the presser bar and that is driven up and down with the presser bar as the presser bar is driven up and down by the presser bar driver through the presser bar vertically moving mechanism to form embosses on the workpiece by downwardly pressing the workpiece; and a receiving section that is provided on the upper surface of the needle plate that opposes the projecting element to receive a tip of the projecting element.

Abstract: A generally barrel-shaped machine bed is designed for a textile sewing machine. The sewing machine is adapted for stitching together with thread multiple overlying plies of flexible ballistic fabric. The machine bed defines a substantially semi-cylindrical work surface, such that the stitched ballistic fabric substantially conforms to a curved shape of the work surface and substantially retains the curved shape when sewn.

Abstract: A workpiece processing attachment detachably attached to a sewing machine including a presser foot, a presser bar having the presser foot detachably attached to its lower end, a presser bar vertically moving mechanism, a sewing needle, a needle clamp having the sewing needle detachably attached thereto, a needle bar having the needle clamp attached thereto, and a needle bar vertically moving mechanism, the workpiece processing attachment, including a body detachably attached to the lower end of the presser bar; a connecting element capable of being connected to the needle clamp and movable up and down with the needle bar being moved up and down by the needle bar vertically moving mechanism; a needle penetrating the workpiece to form a hole in the workpiece; and a needle vertically moving mechanism moving the needle up and down by the up and down movement of the connecting element.

Abstract: A punch needle is disclosed. The punch needle is detachably attached to a needle bar of a sewing machine and is configured to punch a workpiece by moving the needle bar up and down. The punch needle including a base section detachably attached to the needle bar; a mid section in continuation with the base section; a tip section formed on the end of the mid section; and a handle provided on the mid section, the handle being configured to be held by a user's fingers during attachment/detachment of the base section to/from the needle bar.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus and method therefor includes a drive mechanism, a thread feed mechanism, and a needle engagement mechanism for engaging the thread feed mechanism. The drive mechanism comprises a drive motor configured to transmit power from the drive motor to the needle engagement mechanism such that it drives a needle within a cartridge without moving the entire cartridge. A method and sewing apparatus includes a plurality of thread feed mechanisms and a needle engagement mechanism for selecting and engaging each of the thread feed mechanisms.

Abstract: A method for making a fitted tablecloth for covering a utility or card table is disclosed. The steps include providing a primary panel having a plurality of sides, providing a rail panel having a plurality of side panels and a plurality of pleats, such that the plurality of side panels are separated by the plurality of pleats, folding the plurality of pleats against the plurality of side panels such that the plurality of side panels meet at a plurality of joints, connecting the primary panel to the rail panel such that the plurality of side panels are connected to one another at a plurality of top joints, and stitching the side panels from the plurality of top joints to a portion of the side panel forming an inner seam.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine including a plurality of needle bars including a specific needle bar allowing detachable attachment of a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of a punch workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes; a transfer mechanism that allows detachable attachment of a punch workpiece holder a detector that detects the attachment of the punch workpiece holder on the transfer mechanism; and a controller that when the attachment of the punch workpiece holder is detected by the detector, executes a punch engraving operation on the punch workpiece with the punch needle by selecting the specific needle bar and by controlling a needle-bar selector/driver mechanism and the transfer mechanism based on punch engraving pattern data which is pre-stored or given by external components.

Abstract: A workpiece processing attachment detachably attached to a sewing machine including a presser foot, a presser bar having the presser foot detachably attached to its lower end, a presser bar vertically moving mechanism, a sewing needle, a needle clamp having the sewing needle detachably attached thereto, a needle bar having the needle clamp attached thereto, and a needle bar vertically moving mechanism, the workpiece processing attachment, including a body detachably attached to the lower end of the presser bar; a connecting element capable of being connected to the needle clamp and movable up and down with the needle bar being moved up and down by the needle bar vertically moving mechanism; a needle penetrating the workpiece to form a hole in the workpiece; and a needle vertically moving mechanism moving the needle up and down by the up and down movement of the connecting element.

Abstract: A sewing machine including a presser foot that presses a workpiece, a presser bar that has a lower end allowing detachable attachment of the presser foot; a presser bar vertically moving mechanism that moves the presser bar up and down; a presser bar driver that drives the presser bar vertically moving mechanism; a needle plate that has an upper surface for placing the workpiece; a projecting element that is detachably attached to the presser bar and that is driven up and down with the presser bar as the presser bar is driven up and down by the presser bar driver through the presser bar vertically moving mechanism to form embosses on the workpiece by downwardly pressing the workpiece; and a receiving section that is provided on the upper surface of the needle plate that opposes the projecting element to receive a tip of the projecting element.

Abstract: A holding device (3) for a tool, e.g., a textile marker (5), for the processing of a textile or non-textile sheet material (44) is attached to the presser foot bar (23) of a sewing machine (1). The tool is supported by a tool holder (15) so that it can move on a base part (19) of the holding device (3) and can be changed in its position or activation through movements of the needle bar (9) of the sewing machine (1).

Abstract: A bonding apparatus according to the present invention relates to a sewing machine (28) which on stitching a connecting flap and a flap to be connected (hereafter referred to as only ‘connected flap’) of one unit, one set of two sheets for a corrugated cardboard box, ensures the folding of the connecting flap and the connected flap, inhibits the blind movement of the position, rectangular in section, of the sheets for the corrugated cardboard box when thread-stitching them, solves the load burdened on a looper mechanism, and provides an appropriate thread-stitching work. The sewing machine (28) comprises a sewing-machine needle mechanism (28b) provided with a sewing-machine needle (28a) and the looper mechanism (28d) having a needle plate (28c).

Abstract: A hemming system for hemming a fabric, without using seams, and by introducing an adhesively processed element into a surface or between two opposite surfaces of the fabric, comprises an adhesive applying module for applying two adhesive materials to an elastic or resilient element and to the fabric, and a second hemming module, for hemming the fabric at the resilient element.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling a prosthetic heart valve, including a procedure for sewing fabric around a heart valve support stent. The system includes a support stent handling component that works in conjunction with a sewing machine component. The sewing machine has a bobbin, and the system includes a non-contact sensor to monitor the passage of a needle thread loop over the bobbin. The sensor may be a monitoring laser, and a controlling processor receives information therefrom for 100% real-time inspection of each stitch. The occurrence of an unsuccessful stitch may prompt the processor to repeat the stitch at a slower speed. The automation of the fabric sewing procedure greatly enhances manufacturing throughput and reduces ergonomic strain on workers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-needle chain-stitch sewing machine, for the production of mattress sheets, made from a sewed material, comprising several, in particular at least three sewed material layers, preferably with one sewed material layer made from an elastic material, for example sponge, and a cover layer with a sewing pattern, by means of a sewing machine and a supply device for the sewed material layers to be sewn.

Abstract: Sewing machine provided with an indication device including a display that is so large that the lower leftward portion protrudes into the stitch working area of the machine. The display may be moved up and down by of a switch and may be moved up until the lower end side of the display aligns with the lower end side of the machine arm and may be stopped at an upper optional position. At the lowest position, the upper end side of display has the upper side located in alignment with the top side of machine body and has the front side plane planar with the front side of the arm and has the lateral end side planar with the lateral end side of the machine body. The display has no part protruding from the machine body at the lowest position, and is thus placed compactly in the machine frame of machine body.

Abstract: An electronic sewing machine includes a sewing machine motor that vertically drives a sewing needle via a rotation of a main shaft; a stitch-pitch setting unit that sets a stitch-pitch in sewing manually fed workpiece cloth; a consumed thread amount detection unit that detects consumed thread amount of at least either of a needle thread or a bobbin thread consumed in each ongoing sewing cycle; a consumed thread amount calculation unit that calculates consumed thread amount based on an output from the consumed thread amount detection unit; and a speed control unit that controls rotational speed of the sewing machine motor based on calculated result of the consumed thread amount calculation unit so that an amount of manual cloth feed equals the stitch-pitch set by the stitch-pitch setting unit.

Abstract: a vertical movement actuator that vertically moves the presser bar having a presser foot attached thereto; a control unit, that controls the vertical movement actuator to selectively execute a first mode or a second mode; a mode switch unit capable of selectively switching between the first mode and the second mode; and the control unit, when switched to the first mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to lower the presser foot and retain the presser foot at a cloth pressing position in which a workpiece cloth is pressed irrespective of an operational status of a sewing process; and when switched to the second mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to retain the presser foot in a slightly lifted position that is elevated from the workpiece cloth by a predetermined small distance while a sewing operation is ongoing, whereas when the sewing operation is stopped, the presser foot is moved and retained in the cloth pressing position.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes needlebars for a sewing operation using a plurality of needle threads, a spool pin stand having a plurality of spool pins to which thread spools corresponding to the needlebars are attachable, respectively, thread passage defining members located on a thread passage extending from the spool pin stand to the needlebars, a storage unit storing sewing data including at least thread color information about colors of the needle threads, thread supply display units located on the spool pin stand so as to correspond to the spool pins respectively, the thread supply display units displaying the thread colors in a color-variable manner, respectively, and a thread color information display control unit controlling the thread supply display units based on the thread color information read from the sewing data storage unit, so that thread colors corresponding to the spool pins are displayed by the thread supply display units, respectively.

Abstract: A sewing machine including a needle-swing mechanism that swings a needle bar; a cloth-feed mechanism that feeds a workpiece cloth by a feed dog; an imaging unit that captures an image of a baseline drawn on a surface of the workpiece cloth; a baseline-color detection portion that detects a baseline color of the baseline based on an image data of the baseline captured by the imaging unit; a first storage portion storing a mapping of a plurality of baseline colors to stitch data of a plurality of normal patterns; and a control portion that forms normal pattern stitches along the baseline by reading stitch data corresponding to the baseline color detected by the baseline-color detection portion from the first storage portion and controlling the needle-swing mechanism and the cloth-feed mechanism based on the stitch data read.

Abstract: A sewing machine including an input unit that inputs a thread cut instruction; a thread cutting mechanism that cuts a needle thread and a bobbin thread based on the thread cut instruction; a feed dog vertically moving mechanism that vertically drives a feed dog for feeding a workpiece cloth; a feed dog activating switch unit that switches the feed dog between an active state in which the feed dog is vertically driven by the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and an inactive state in which an upper surface of the feed dog is positioned in a lowered position below an upper surface of a needle plate provided in a sewing machine bed; and a control unit that drives the thread cutting mechanism based on the thread cut instruction inputted from the input unit and that controls the feed dog activating switch unit to switch the feed dog to the inactive state in which the feed dog is positioned in the lowered position.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a reciprocatory needle and a reciprocatory thread-take-up device to deliver thread to the needle employs a thread control device located between the thread take-up device and the needle to engage and apply light tension to the thread. The thread control device can have an opposed plate and spring wire between which the thread runs and which cooperate to apply spring pressure to the thread. Downstream thereof a thread brush can be employed through which the thread runs. The thread can be further lightly tensioned and laterally positioned by the thread brush. The guide plate or other device can include catcher structure to catch thread escaping the take-up device. The thread control device can help control premature descent of the thread and improperly tensioned stitches.

Abstract: To provide a manufacturing system and a method for manufacturing sheet-like structures. The manufacturing system of sheet-like structures comprises a loosened portion forming apparatus which forms plural loosened portions, which are substantially U-shaped on a cord member, an arranging apparatus which inserts each of the plural loosened portions into each of the plural openings formed on a belt-like member and form plural linear portions in substantial linear form which connect each of the plural loosened portions respectively, a sewing apparatus which sews a belt-like member and each of the plural linear portions together with a thread member, and a belt-like member cutting apparatus which cuts a belt-like member in prescribed forms.

Abstract: A button-hole earn is mounted on a pattern selection cam shaft for mounting a pattern selection cam, the pattern selection cam shaft provided independently of a pattern cam shaft provided with a needle swing cam group. The rotation of a sewing machine main shaft causes rotation of a drive gear which in turn rotates a first follower gear in engagement with the drive gear and a second follower gear engaged with the first follower gear. Thus, the rotation of the first follower gear causes rotation of the needle swing cam group whereas the rotation of the second follower gear causes rotation of the button-hole cam. Thus, a pattern selected among a plurality of patterns by a pattern selection dial is generated to form button-hole stitches selected by the pattern selection dial.

Abstract: An apparatus for stitching a fabric and/or attaching guide rings to the fabric for possible use in a covering for an architectural opening includes a lift bar to which a top edge of the fabric is connected so the fabric can hang into an underlying housing where a plurality of individually operated clamps are positioned. The clamps can manipulate the fabric as the lift bar is raised or lowered while horizontal tucks are formed in the fabric with a reciprocating tucker blade. A pair of traversing sewing machines are used to stitch and/or attach guide rings to the tuck in an automated operation. After all operations are complete on a tuck, the fabric is raised a predetermined amount so that a repeated operation can be applied to the fabric at a predetermined distance below the first operation where by the fabric can be provided with rows of tucks forming tunnels to which guide rings are attached.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming fabrics for use, by way of example, in coverings for architectural openings includes a system for handling single or multi-layered fabrics by suspending the fabric from a lift tower, threading the fabric through various clamp systems within a housing for the apparatus, and subsequently forming horizontal rows of hobbles, tunnels, and/or attached rings by gripping and releasing the fabric with a vacuum clamp, upper and lower clamps, and a tucker blade clamp while a reciprocating tucker blade forms horizontal tucks in the fabric. The tucks which are selectively treated by forming a tunnel or attaching guide rings. Hobbles can also be formed in one layer of the fabric through use of the vacuum clamp which gathers a portion of one layer of the fabric while the other layer is handled differently. In doing so, hobbles are formed between tucks in the fabric with the hobbles establishing a fabric resembling a Roman shade.

Abstract: A sewing cartridge includes a cassette body, a hollow needle that can pass through a work cloth, a spool around which a thread to be supplied to the hollow needle is wound, a needle cover that covers at least a tip of the hollow needle, and a coil compression spring that urges the needle cover to a cover position where the needle cover covers the hollow needle.

Abstract: A sewing machine including a sewing machine upper portion with a frame, a needle rod and a sewing foot rod, which rods are guided in the frame for back and forth movement parallel to one another, a rack connected with each of the rods and which racks are driven by separate pinions driven by separate electric motors. These motors and possibly other motors for positioning other parts of the sewing machine are separately controlled independently of one another by a program controlled control unit so that the movement of needle road and of the sewing foot rod can be independently program controlled during a sewing procedure.

Abstract: An automated sewing device for automatically sewing together rectilinear and curved end portions respectively of two base materials. A guide element is provided to separate the two base materials from each other and guide them in a sewing direction, and a guide roller mechanism is provided, which operates to adjustingly bring one guide roller to contact with the base material having the curved end portion and rotate the guide roller to move that base material in a direction orthogonal with the sewing direction, thereby keeping the rectilinear and curved end portions in alignment with each other. Hence, a seam is created along the curved end portion with a constant margin given between the seam and the curved contour of the curved end portion. A pair of guide rollers may be provided to move two curved end portions in a direction orthogonal with the sewing direction for the same alignment purpose.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing an open side of a fabric article from a first end to a second end. The apparatus may include a gripping device for gripping the first end and the second end of the open side of the fabric article and then tensioning the open side. The apparatus also may include a closing device positioned adjacent to the gripping device such that the closing device maneuvers along the fabric article to fasten the open side from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: The disclosed machine can tie knots in a linear substrate that is either woven simultaneously on the machine or prewoven and fed through the machine. A cutter system uses a knife and a looper which are independently operated by a series of clamp blocks and connecting links to cut predetermined strands of yarn. A yarn needle moves from the edge of the machine to the center of the machine to carry the yarn to the looper and provide the cross weave. A roller assembly is used to maintain the cut yarn in a taut position. While the yarn is still within the roller assembly, an adjustable picker assembly moves into position and gathers a predetermined number of yarn strands together to enable the knot tying needle to grasp the strands. The picker assembly is run by cams at the completion end of the machine. A knot tying needle assembly has one end that is affixed to the machine and movable needle with an open eye that extends up to grasp the gathered strands.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus includes a hollow needle that can pass through a work cloth, and a needle cover that has a passing hole through which the needle passes and holds the work cloth. The needle cover functions as a presser foot and holds at least a part of a thread between a previous stitch point where a stitch has been previously made and a succeeding stitch point where a stitch is to be currently made. Accordingly, sewing can be performed on the workpiece without use of a lower thread.

Abstract: An engaging pin, protruding in a front and rear direction of a sewing apparatus from an end portion of a swing arm, includes a shaft portion and a head portion provided at a free end of the shaft portion. A U-shaped engagement groove is formed at one end portion of a periphery of a housing case of a sewing cartridge, and is attached to and detached from the engaging pin provided in the sewing apparatus. The engagement groove includes a narrow groove portion, which engages the shaft portion, and a wide recessed portion, which engages the head portion. The narrow groove portion and the wide recessed portion are connectedly provided each other. The narrow groove portion includes connecting portions. The connecting portions are inclined so that an opening of the engagement groove becomes wider toward a periphery of the housing case.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a high shear strength clay liner comprising two synthetic geotextiles surrounding a semihydrated layer of swellable clay. The apparatus includes two parallel needle bars each carrying a row of needles reciprocating in opposed directions and cooperating with a reciprocating needle plate having a plurality of parallel fingers and a looper bar with a plurality of parallel looper plates rocking on an axis to form loops which can be melted to form protruding knots.

Abstract: An extensible composite fabric including a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in one direction and distorted into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in that direction, and a method and apparatus for making such a composite fabric.

Abstract: An automatic loader for a stator coil lacing machine includes structure for advancing a stator from a first position adjacent an arbor of the machine to a second position away from the arbor. The automatic loader also includes structure for moving the arbor between a lowered position away from the stator whereby the advancing structure moves the stator between first and second positions, and a raised position so that the stator is positioned on the arbor. The automatic loader may further include structure for disengaging a lacing cord feeder tube reciprocating drive of the machine from a cam of the machine when the arbor is lowered so the reciprocating drive is drivingly reengaged with the cam when the arbor is raised. The automatic loader may also include structure for maintaining driving engagement between a lacing needle drive of the machine and a lacing cord feeder tube oscillating drive when the arbor is raised and lowered.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing front panels for men's underwear from continuous bands of web material. The apparatus includes a pay-out mechanism for paying out the continuous bands of web material. A web conveyance system conveys first and second continuous bands of web material along an assembly line to a plurality of stations disposed along the assembly line for fabricating discrete front panel assemblies from the continuous bands of web material. An automatic loader receives the front panel assembly from the web conveyance system and transfers the front panel assemblies to a receiving apparatus where it is bound into bundles for subsequent use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automating the sewing of tubular sleeve sections onto tubular shirt bodies, as in the manufacture of T-shirts. Shirt bodies and sleeve sections are applied over a generally cylindrical body form having portions aligned with the sleeve openings of the shirt body. In one version, the sleeve sections are applied inside-out and inner end first over opposed hollow sleeve cones. The areas of the shirt body surrounding the sleeve openings are engaged at spaced points by positioning devices, which independently position segments of the sleeve opening edges with respect to predetermined reference planes. Thereafter, tubular sleeve sections are applied axially over the body form, in surrounding relation to the shoulder areas of the shirt body. As segments of the sleeve inner edges approach the reference planes, individual segments are engaged and retained in position, until all portions of the sleeve edges are aligned with their respective reference plane.

Abstract: Non-continuous fiber reinforcements for resinous material having a layer of chopped strands, evenly distributed in random orientations and a confinement layer extending over and in intimate contact with layer of chopped strands. Rows of stitching are provided. individual stitches in the rows attach the confinement layer and the chopped strands.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for forming reinforcement elements from resistant fibers distributed along three dimensions, in which method, a continuous fiber is introduced in a substrate resting on a support formed of such fibers crossed in at least two directions, by stitching, from the free face of said substrate opposite said support by means of a needle driven with a reciprocal movement, a relative movement being in addition generated between said support and said needle so that said continuous fiber is formed inside said substrate of a succession of consecutive segments forming a zig-zag line.The invention is remarkable in that:said needle is curved and imposes on each segment of said continuous fiber a similar curved form; andthe reciprocal movement of said curved needle occurs while rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said needle and disposed on the concave side thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a food product with a thread-like suspension means comprises a needle for passing the thread loop-like through the food product. Further two gripper means, a cutting means and a connecting device for the thread are provided. Preferably the connecting device comprises an ultrasonic welding head for welding together the ends of a thread section disengaged by the cutting means. The apparatus further comprises curved discs for driving at least some of the operational means.

Abstract: A suit material support device which comprises a center suit coat body support member and a pair of suit sleeve support members disposed on the opposite sides of the suit body support member. The suit coat body support member is rotatable from a suit coat body placing position and to right- and left-hand suit sleeve sewing positions. It has a plurality of suit body bars displaceable in planes intersecting each other at right angles and clamp needles for clamping suit sleeves against the suit body bars. A pair of suit sleeve support members are disposed on opposite sides of the suit body support member and each is rotatable between a suit sleeve attaching position and a suit sleeve placing position as the mechanism rotates.

Abstract: Sheet material (30) is cut into rectangular segments (35). The segments are then moved in sequence parallel to their cut edges (26) rapidly away from the cutting station (34) into a slower operating first sewing station (40) where elastic bands (20, 21) are sewn to the cut head and foot edge portions (26, 27) of the segments. The rapidly moving trailing portion of each segment (35) of sheet material is temporarily accumulated at the accumulation station (39) and progressively fed at a lower rate from the accumulation station to the first sewing station (40). The head and foot edge portions (26, 27) of each segment are folded into overlying relationship with respect to the main body portion by passing the main body portion through a U-shaped turn (49) and at the same time passing the head and foot edge portions through a pair of reverse 90 degree turns (50 and 53).

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for processing workpieces prearranged within pallets in an automatic sewing machine system. The apparatus includes an automatic release of a pallet containing a sewn workpiece. The front of the pallet drops onto shock absorbing members located within inclined chutes. The chutes contain slides which allow the dropped pallet to slide downwardly following impact with the shock absorbing members. The chutes are mounted in such a manner that they may be easily removed from the automatic sewing machine system.