Abstract: A semi-automatic sewing machine control system responsive to successive signals from a sensor, such as a ply edge detector, influences in predetermined sequence a series of selected machine operations. This system accommodates interchangeably any variety of work sizes provided that the same sequence of sewing machine operations is involved.

Abstract: A presser foot and throat plate construction is disclosed for minimizing work feed drift in a sewing machine having a four-motion drop feed mechanism. By providing aligned and complemental ribs and recesses, one beneath the presser foot and the other in the throat plate, turning movement of the work fabric, which contributes to feed drift, is minimized and stitch forming characteristics of the sewing machine are enhanced.

Abstract: A demodulator for continuous phase frequency shift keyed signals is implemented through the medium of computer software and processes incoming signals which are initially passed through an interference reduction filter. The disclosed demodulation algorithm makes use of the fact that the phase is continuous between adjacent symbols, as well as other symbol to symbol correlations, to reduce the error rate by processing a string of symbols utilizing a two step symbol decision process, instead of merely demodulating a symbol from a time slice of the received signal. The two step symbol decision process consists of a forward and reverse pass, wherein a candidate symbol predecessor is recursively chosen for each symbol, according to a maximum likelihood decision criterion, on the forward pass. Once a singular candidate predecessor is encountered, a reverse pass is initiated, so that a unique sequence of symbols is chosen back to a previously encountered singular predecessor.

Abstract: A rotary meter with an integral instrument housing is arranged so that the rotating components of the meter rotate about vertical axes. The meter includes upper and lower housings which together form a pressure hull. A cover is provided to be connected to the upper housing and define therewith an instrument enclosure. All instruments are mounted on the upper housing within the enclosure. The cover and upper housing are constructed to provide a secure, tamper resistant, environment for the instruments.

Abstract: A clamp device is provided for gripping a fabric ply in place in a fabric folding mandrel to prevent slippage of the fabric ply relatively to the mandrel during the folding operation, and means are provided for bodily shifting the mandrel into a position facilitating proper introduction of a fabric ply thereto.

Abstract: A cam selecting drum which is loosely supported in punched out holes in the frame of a sewing machine is spring biased into stabilized indexed positions to prevent variable stitch formation, and an idler gear which is also loosely supported on said frame for engagement with a gear on said drum as well as a gear on a mode selecting dial is spring biased to provide a loose meshing relationship with the gear on the drum whereby a feeling of placement of the dial becomes evident in indexed positions of the drum.

Abstract: A skeletal frame sewing machine construction in which stitch forming instrumentalities supported on the skeletal frame are brought into cooperative relation by a combination of positioned adjustments of the instrumentalities on the skeletal frame and the influence of selective compensating forces developed between the skeletal frame and exterior casing parts.

Abstract: An antenna system for an article of furniture in which a panel of the article of furniture is sealed by a low loss dielectric material to isolate the panel from impurities which affect its electrical integrity. An antenna structure is applied thereon by silk screening, painting or otherwise marking of a conductive ink, or by vacuum deposition techniques, or by application of stamped or die cut foil, or by metallic tape, all by way of example. Connections to the antenna structure are made by compressing a conductive elastomeric material against terminations of the antenna structure so as to avoid temperature or other initiated dimensional changes of the panel which could effect the contact resistance to the terminations of the antenna structure, and also to avoid damaging the antenna structure. A specific connection arrangement is disclosed.

Abstract: A thread tensioning device, wherein a helical spring of varying diameter is deflected by a control knob with a defined operating range to increase tension in sewing thread moved through the device, is provided with a member which is formed to engage one or more intermediate coils of the spring while the spring is deflected more than a predetermined amount by the control knob and thereby increase thread tension obtainable over a portion of the operating range of the knob.

Abstract: An electrical coil assembly includes a bobbin having a pair of generally parallel end plates with a pair of terminals inserted into holes in an edge of one of the end plates. Magnet wire is wrapped around one of the terminals and then wound around the bobbin, with the finish end of the magnet wire being wrapped around the other terminal. A layer of protective insulated tape is applied over the surface of the wound coil and the terminals are dip soldered to the magnet wire. Formed integrally with the bobbin is an upstanding wall mounted on one of the end plates and having a lead wire receiving slot formed therein. A cover member is formed on the other end plate and is connected thereto by a living hinge. Lead wires are soldered to the terminals and inserted in the slot. The cover member is then folded over to mate with the wall so as to cover the terminals and the solder connections.

Abstract: A vibration damping device for a thermostatic expansion valve comprises a spring member having a plurality of cantilevered fingers substantially parallel to the direction of travel of moving components but which are spring loaded to provide a force normal to that direction. The damping device is fixedly attached to one of the moving or stationary components and is arranged so that its fingers exert the normal force against the other of the moving or stationary components. Accordingly, a constant magnitude frictional force is produced over the range of movement, thus damping vibrations caused by pressure pulses from the compressor of the refrigeration system in which the thermostatic expansion valve is installed.

Abstract: A lockstitch sewing machine is provided with a thread handling device comprising opposing lengths of cloth that receive and frictionally engage thread therebetween to maintain the takeup of the machine thread and impose restraint upon the descent of the thread when the takeup is moved downwardly from a stitch setting position.

Abstract: An expanded interval drive mechanism for a program timer includes two ratchet rings. One of the ratchet rings is fixed to the monoblock and at certain regions thereon it is missing teeth over a portion of its width. Thus, the first ratchet ring has regions of narrow teeth. The other ratchet ring is arranged for free relative rotational movement in a first direction with respect to the monoblock. All of the teeth of the two ratchet rings have substantially the same major and minor diameters. However, the second ratchet ring is formed with at least one deep notch. In the region where the first ratchet ring has missing teeth, the toothless region is at substantially the same level as the notch. A single drive pawl extends over both ratchet rings and its driving surface is formed at a plurality of levels so that the drive pawl engages the first ratchet ring in the arc length corresponding to the toothless region only when the drive pawl engages the notch of the second ratchet ring.

Abstract: An angularly configured bracket is mounted at one end portion for pivotal adjustment in a sewing machine into a position of engagement at another end portion with fixed machine structure. A fastener extending through a slot in the bracket while the bracket is so adjusted secures the bracket to the upper end of a fixed post having a rotatable work feed controlling cam thereon, and so stabilizes the post against distortion by a spring biased cam engaging follower.

Abstract: A hand operated sewing machine with opposing loop seizing points for forming chain stitches. A work feeding plate reciprocates with a plate member about a pivot. A flexible upstanding portion at one end of an arm is biassed by the moving plate member causing the other arm end to bias a cam affixed to the loop seizing points. This bias determines the cam path taken by a drive pin that provides motion to the loop seizing points.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a timer includes a drive pawl having a pin which is trapped between two camming surfaces of a continuously driven drive cam. The drive pawl is slidably mounted in the timer frame so that it is linearly reciprocated when the drive cam is rotated. A spring biases the drive pawl against the ratchet track.

Abstract: A momentary contact rocker switch utilizes a pair of torsion springs as movable switch contacts, with fixed terminal posts being used as fixed contacts. The terminal posts are grooved in the region of contact with the torsion spring to provide a wiping action. This wiping action, along with the high electrical contact forces provided by the torsion spring, eliminates the need for silver contacts.

Abstract: A sewing machine which is operable in either a cam controlled feeding mode or a manually controlled feeding mode is provided with a spring which is moved into loading engagement with a feed regulating control lever by mode selecting mechanism when the selecting mechanism is disposed for manual control, and is moved away from the feed regulating control lever when the selecting mechanism is disposed for cam controlled feeding.