Abstract: An electrically driven portable surface treating machine such as a sander, polisher, buffer, and the like, having an oscillatable platen driven from a motor shaft and which creates dust during use, is provided with a dust collection fan on the motor shaft in a fan housing portion of the tool housing and an exhaust outlet or port which can selectively be fitted with dust collection means, such as a filter bag. The oscillatable platen is enclosed within a shroud or skirt and the interior of the shroud or skirt is ducted to the inlet of the dust collection fan housing portion. Between the shroud and the fan, there is provided a selective shutter arrangement which may be selectively opened and closed by the machine operator to enable the machine to be operated in either a "dustless" or a "non-dustless" configuration or mode of operation.

Abstract: A feed regulator clamp in the shape of a bell crank having the pivot rod thereof retained in a slot in a sewing machine bed by a flat spring which also may serve to urge the clamp into clamping engagement with a feed regulator. A first arm of the bell crank comprising the clamp is for engagement with the feed regulator and a second arm of the bell crank is for engagement with a cam controlling the engagement of the first arm with the feed regulator. The flat spring which retains the clamp to the sewing machine bed urges the first arm into engagement with the feed regulator whenever permitted by the cam which is circular in cross-section except for a flat spot which, when aligned with the second arm, will permit the first arm to come into clamping engagement with the feed regulator.

Abstract: In an electronically controlled sewing machine having an arm shaft position sensor signalling release of feed data and of needle position data at opposite extremes of endwise reciprocation of a needle bar, depression of a needle up or needle down position button will implement a slow speed drive circuit, and a fast stop brake circuit will stop the needle bar immediately upon the occurrence of a signal from the arm shaft position sensor corresponding to the selected needle position button.

Abstract: Means is associated with a carpet cleaner, or the like, having an adjustable nozzle height providing a multiple number of nozzle height positions, for automatically sensing the pile of the floor covering being cleaned and automatically indicating the appropriate nozzle height position for any specific floor covering upon which the cleaner is positioned by automatically measuring and indicating the pile height and density of such floor covering using a pile height and density sensor which is independent of the nozzle height position, that is, which gives a uniform reading for a specific floor covering pile height and density regardless of the nozzle height setting at the time of sensing.

Abstract: An electrically driven motor operated belt sander is provided having a low profile and a center of gravity close to the sanding plane by passing the belt about three generally triangularly located belt drums with the motor disposed within the belt path and the motor and support mechanism being mounted to a one-piece frame or bracket which hangs the entire drive and support mechanism from the tool housing, the one-piece frame or bracket including a wear plate or strip which provides positive protection for the wiring between the operating trigger switch and the motor.

Abstract: A linear motor is used to jog the needle bar and gate beyond the normal jogging range in order to disable a latch and separate the needle bar from the sewing machine driving means. The linear motor is driven into this abnormal excursion beyond the usual jogging motion by supplying a known needle position signal to the servoamplifier system for the linear motor and providing a separate voltage from a regulated voltage source which is summed with the specific signal in order to provide sufficient electromotive force for jogging the sewing needle beyond the normal jogging range.

Abstract: An auxiliary fast stop braking circuit is provided for an electronically controlled sewing machine having the capability to implement a single pattern of a repetitive stitch pattern by implementing needle bar release from its drive means and zero feed motion at the completion of the last stitch of the pattern. The auxiliary fast stop braking circuit is responsive to selection of a single pattern and to activation of the needle bar release solenoid to implement dynamic braking of the sewing machine motor.

Abstract: A hem securing method utilizing a narrow bight bar tack in which the bobbin thread appears on the outer face of the hemmed article. The hem is folded and needle penetrations take place from the inner side to draw a bobbin thread selected for a color match and without regard to stitch ability. A sequence of stitches is selected for the bar tack to enhance lock up of the threads so as to permit close trimming of the bar tack with lessened likelihood of unraveling.

Abstract: A tension device for sewing machines is disclosed having thread tensioning discs and a linear actuator for applying a compressive force between the discs. The invention is characterized in that for any given tension setting of the device, the applied compressive force, or tension, remains constant regardless of any variations in the spacing of the discs due to variations in the thread thickness, up to the range of travel of the linear actuator.

Abstract: A Hall effect switch device converted to a latching relay by having a reversible bias magnet attached thereto adjacent the Hall sensor so as to operate the switch circuit in one polarity of the bias magnet, and release the switch circuit in the other polarity of the bias magnet.

Abstract: A lockstitch sewing machine utilizing a needle looper to extend upwardly through a work material to grasp an upper thread and pull it downwardly through the work material to a looptaker which casts the upper thread about a lower thread in order to form a lockstitch. When the needle looper is in an upper position to catch an upper thread, a hook needle is exposed and thread is deflected into the hook thereof. As the needle looper is retracted to a depressed position the hook needle is moved to a guard position so as to retain the upper thread therein during transit. When the needle looper is at its lower position, the hook is again exposed to release its thread to a looptaker for concatenation with a lower thread.

Abstract: A chain stitch conversion throat plate for a lock stitch sewing machine, the throat plate carrying a thread loop retaining pin and a thread stripper device actuated by the up and down motion of the sewing machine feed dog. The thread stripper device includes a block pivotably supporting a wire form having one end for extending beneath the feed dog for up and down motion therewith, and the other end extending adjacent the thread loop retaining pin for stripping the retained loop therefrom on downward motion of the feed dog.

Abstract: A support plate is removably fastened to a sewing machine bed by a retaining device, which device when not in use may be depressed into a position flush with the sewing machine bed. The retaining device has two stable positions for a latch body having a flange on the upper end thereof which may retain a support plate by overlying a slot thereof.

Abstract: A reverse treadling inhibiting device having an electric motor connected to a sewing machine arm shaft through a one-way clutch and inhibiting the reverse treadling of the sewing machine by utilizing the one-way clutch connection to the electric motor to add inertia and resistance to reverse treadling of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for minimizing sewing needle breakage on a zig zag sewing machine. A device is included on the sewing machine for sensing the presence of a straight stitch presser foot and, if present, for inhibiting any lateral jogging of the needle bar due to the operator inadvertently selecting a zig zag pattern.

Abstract: A lockstitch sewing machine utilizing a needle looper to extend upwardly through a work material to grasp an upper thread and pull it downwardly through the work material to a looptaker which casts the upper thread about a lower thread in order to form a lockstitch. When the needle looper is in an upper position to catch an upper thread, a hook needle is exposed and thread is deflected into the hook thereof. As the needle looper is retracted to a depressed position the hook needle is moved to a guard position so as to retain the upper thread therein during transit. When the needle looper is at its lower position, the hook is again exposed to release its thread to a looptaker for concatenation with a lower thread.

Abstract: An auxiliary feed regulator for a differential feed mechanism, which auxiliary regulator may be manipulated by a sewing machine operator during sewing without feed back or vibration to the operator. An auxiliary regulator foot treadle may be connected to an auxiliary feed actuating lever by the usual chain, the feed actuating lever being formed with a slot for receiving a stud carried by a one end of a connecting link, the other end of which is operatively associated with a slider carried by an auxiliary feed rock lever. The slot in the feed actuating lever extends in a direction to give the greatest distance from the pivotal connection of the feed actuating lever and from the slider at the extreme thereof effective during feed motion and to the least distance therefrom at the extreme thereof effective for return motion.

Abstract: For a zigzag sewing machine having a buttonhole presser device allowing formation of a buttonhole in a single step, a method for insuring that the presser device is in its initiating position by determining where the movable portion of the presser device is and, if it is not in its correct position, to adjust feeding action required to move it to its correct position.