Abstract: In a buttonhole sewing machine, a sewing mechanism and a feed bracket are controlled to form a buttonhole defined by settings, such as zigzag stitch length, zigzag pitch, bar-tack length, bar-tack pitch, and cutter space. The buttonhole can be set on the operation panel and changed to various shapes by changing the above settings. In particular, the left and right zigzag stitch widths can be set differently, and the front and rear bar-tack lengths can be also set differently. Thus, the balance of the buttonhole can be finely adjusted.

Abstract: A drive control apparatus for a driven machine is designed to easily check which of a plurality of parameters indicating the control characteristics of the driven machine have been changed from their factory-set initial values. Initial parameter values are stored in a list in a first memory and current parameter values are stored in a second memory. When a display request is given, the initial values of parameters stored in the first list in a control section are compared to the current values of the parameters stored in nonvolatile memory. The identity of the parameters that have been changed from their initial values are displayed on a liquid crystal display. Also, the stored initial value list is displayed.

Abstract: A zigzag sewing machine comprises a pattern data memory, a fixing stitch memory, a read-out unit, a controller, a determination unit, a switch-over mechanism and a stitch forming mechanism. The read-out unit reads out pattern stitch data from the pattern data memory means. Based on the read-out stich pattern data, the controller controls the stitch forming mechanism to form a pattern on a fabric. If a repeat sewing mode is selected, the controller repeatedly sews the pattern. Meanwhile, the determination unit determines if a given pattern whose sewing is in progress is a predetermined last pattern or a pattern which was not initially designated as a last pattern but was later redesignated as a last pattern by mode switching.

Abstract: Stitching coordinates prior to finish-up stitching are used to produce finish-up stitching data, resulting in undistorted stitching in all cases. Also, stitching data is pre-read out at start-up for stitching patterns continuously and predetermined stitching coordinates are obtained from the stitching data for making initiating finish-up stitching data. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to store the finish-up stitching data or the initiating finish-up stitching data in advance in a programming memory (ROM) so that operating efficiency of the sewing machine is increased.

Abstract: A zigzag sewing machine capable of forming a plurality of back stitches before or after forming a pattern. When a specific pattern for over-casting is selected and the needle is jogged to a position corresponding to the right end position of the selected pattern, back stitches are formed after the needle has been jogged to the left in response to the operation of a back stitch control member.

Abstract: In backward progress of straight stitching, stitches are conformed to either a perfect stitch or a hitch stitch without causing mixture of them, and while a needle is turned at a determined one of a right line or a left one from a basic line just before the needle drops on the basic line of a straight stitching, a condition of the thread to penetration of the needle is regulated before the needle dropping, whereby the stitch forming conditions are made uniform, so that satisfactory stitches are formed without requiring any special processes to the stitch forming mechanism members.

Abstract: To produce novel pattern designs differing from patterns which are available, a sewing machine comprising control segments stored in a pattern carrier and corresponding each to one sewing pattern formed by a group of stitches, a device for sensing the program carrier, and a device for controlling the needle and feed movements determining the pattern, is provided with a second program carrier including control segments for at least a single stitch, with the second program carrier being activatable through a selector switch between two consecutive steps of sensing one or more of the control segments of the first program carrier.

Abstract: An electronically controlled sewing machine includes an electronic memory storing a plurality of stitch control data for respective stitch patterns, including a darning pattern composed of a number of vertical straight stitch lines sequentially produced in forward and reverse fabric feeding directions. A number of signals which are generated each time a fabric penetrating needle ascends above the fabric between the first stitch and the last stitch of each vertical straight stitch line of the darning pattern, are counted up by a counter to produce a corresponding value signal. The latter signal is compared with another value signal latched in a latch circuit in response to operation of a turning point designating switch adapted to designate a number of stitches for each vertical straight stitch line of the darning pattern. When the value signals coincide with each other, the count-up operation of the counter is reset for producing a subsequent vertical straight stitch line.

Abstract: A method of forming stop stitches in a computerized sewing machine which stores needle amplitude control signals and fabric feed signals for forming a plurality of stitching patterns, and temporarily stores a plurality of patterns in accordance with designation by an operation and pattern stitching order, having the steps of providing stop stitch designation to be combined with said operation for said temporary storage or to be operated by way of the stitching, storing a plurality of stop stitch patterns as combinations of signals of relative fine varying amount of stitching coordinate, and selecting, by means of a micro computer, desired stop stitch pattern from said plurality of stop stitch patterns in response to stitchings while forming the patterns and the stop stitches by said stop stitch designation.

Abstract: In an electronically controlled sewing machine having a memory storing a plurality of stitch patterns among which a desired one or combination may be selectively read out therefrom to produce the same, it is detected if a pattern designated to be followed by a lock stitch pattern and memorized accordingly in the memory is of a first type which includes the last stitch to be produced by initial data stored in the memory for producing the initial stitch of the pattern, or of a second type which includes the last stitch to be produced by the last data stored in the memory for producing the last stitch of the pattern, and according to the result of the detection, the sewing machine is operated to continuously produce the lock stitch pattern after the initial data has been issued from the memory for producing the pattern of the first type or after the last data has been issued from the memory for producing the pattern of the second type.