Abstract: A dual color coding system is disclosed for sewing machine needles in which the color appearing on one area of the needle denotes the needle type, whereas that appearing on another area denotes the needle size. A dye which leaves no discernable surface coating is applied to the needle shank to denote one of the characteristics, preferably needle type; whereas a narrow band of pigmented material is applied as a surface coating over the dye colored surface at the juncture of the needle shank and blade to denote another characteristic, preferably needle size.

Abstract: A rotary meter of the vane type having a rotary gate separating the inlet from the outlet. The rotor vanes and the gate are rotated in a predetermined timed sequence by a suitable transmission such as timing gears which interconnect the rotor and the gate. The rotor is journaled in the housing by axially spaced bearings, at least one of which is mounted in the improved spider bearing support disposed on the outboard side of the rotor. The spider bearing is connected to the housing by detachable holding tabs and positioned concentric to the rotor axis. The housing is enclosed by an end bonnet with the spider bearing support connected to the housing axially below the bonnet and intermediate the bonnet and the rotor.The spider bearing support improves the accuracy of centering the rotor within the housing, decreasing the cost, and improving the access while simplifying the assembly.

Abstract: A finger mounted on the work engaging plate that interlocks with the work engaging presser foot of a buttonhole sewing presser device to effectively prevent travel of the work engaging shoe when the presser foot is raised for work insertion. In addition the finger will prevent accidental disengagement when the buttonhole sewing presser device tilts after the presser foot has been raised.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a retractable sweeper strip brush positioned within the nozzle behind the rotating agitator brush. A pinion is mounted on one end of the brush housing axle and meshes with a rack slidable in a housing in the chassis behind the nozzle. One end of the rack is connected to a connecting link having the other end eccentrically connected to a lever pivotally mounted at the rear of the cleaner chassis. The lever includes a tab which protrudes through a slot in the chassis for turning the lever to thereby pivot the brush to extend the bristles downwardly from the nozzle when cleaning bare floors and to retract the brush when cleaning carpets or the like.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for reciprocating a sewing machine needle bar endwise from an actuating crank is disclosed in which the lateral stud on the needle bar to which the drive link is connected is fitted with a ball bearing slidably constrained in a guide slot formed parallel to the path of needle reciprocation in a stationary guide frame. The forces and reactions occasioned by alternate acceleration and decelleration during each needle bar stroke will cause the outer race of the ball bearing to engage first one side then the opposite side of the guide slot during each stroke thus turning the bearing in opposite directions and distributing the wear.

Abstract: A portable electric router comprising a base having a dust chamber formed below a motor mounted to the base to be axially adjustable therein. A pair of handles are connected to the base with a passage formed in one of the handles in communication with the dust chamber. A blower is formed on the top side of the motor with the router connected to and driven by an extension from the motor armature shaft. A flexible conduit interconnects the handle passage and the blower, and a dust bag collects the dust and debris from the blower discharge. The conduit which interconnectes the handle and blower is flexible to permit axial adjustment of the motor within the base. The motor is journaled in a housing the lower half of which is threaded to receive an internally threaded ring member having outer and inner rings. The outer ring has a flat bottom which sits upon an annular flange formed at the top of the base. Rotation of the outer ring will raise or lower the motor housing to adjust the depth-of-cut.

Abstract: A programmable sewing machine adapted to learn and store, in Automatic Learn or Key Learn Modes of operation, a series of sewing machine operations for later automatic duplication, in an Automatic Sew Mode of operation, at the same sewing rate as the initial operation, or at the peak sewing rate achieved during each operation; or, in a Control Sew Mode of operation at a controlled lower speed. A software program enables the speed profile of an initial sewing operation to be stored in memory as a number (at least one) of pseudo segments of variable time duration. Each pseudo segment has a fixed sewing speed associated therewith. By applying these stored speed values to a digital to analog converter and applying the resulting voltage to the sewing machine drive motor, the speed profile recorded can be substantially faithfully duplicated.

Abstract: A position sensing device is disclosed including an assembly of a Hall effect generator element shiftably supported relatively to a permanently magnetizable element. Each such Hall effect generator element being randomly chosen from an inventory of parts having wide tolerance limits of Hall effect output under like magnetic flux influence; and each magnetizable element from an inventory having a widely varying magnetic capability after exposure to like magnetizing influence. The magnetization of the magnetizable element of each such assembly being imparted thereto under control of the Hall effect output of the specific Hall effect generator in the assembly with the result that every position sensing device so assembled can be made to produce substantially identical Hall effect output in each relative position of said elements.

Abstract: An air conditioning system which is operable on either a heating or cooling cycle is provided with capillary control means including a plurality of branch lines between heat exchangers of the system, and one or more of the branch lines of the capillary system is located in a heat exchanging relationship with a refrigerant line portion adjacent one of the heat exchangers to cause the flow of refrigerant in the system to be retarded when such heat exchanger is caused to function as a condenser.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having an elongated handle and a cord reel biased to retract the electrical cord has a cord guiding and locking device comprising a housing having two internal cavities open at both the top and bottom thereof and opening into each other. One of the cavities is adapted to clamp onto the handle above the cord reel, and the other cavity includes a locking member pivotably mounted in an opening formed in a wall thereof. The locking member has a pair of legs disposed angularly to one another, one leg has a through slot to allow the cord to pass therethrough when the plane of the slot is substantially perpendicular to the cord but is sized to frictionally grip the cord when the plane of the slot is not substantially perpendicular thereto. The other leg is accessible at the opening for depression by an operator and a stop member restrains the first leg and the slot to substantial perpendicularity when the cord is being extended from the reel and when the second leg is depressed.

Abstract: A programmable industrial sewing machine adapted to learn and store, in Automatic Learn or Key Learn Modes of operation, a series of sewing machine operations for later automatic duplication. In both modes of operation provision is made for an operator to select the number of initial and final locking stitches prior to commencing stitching operations. Operator actuated controls, such as knee shift device and foot treadle, operate identically in both Learn Modes of operation and as they would operate in a normal manual industrial sewing machine. In the Automatic Learn Mode of operation, a record is compiled in segments, consisting each of a stitch count, a pivot delay time, and a speed copy. In appropriate circumstance, the pivot delay time may be zero.

Abstract: A sewing machine is disclosed wherein the positioning of the work feeding mechanism and the needle are controlled by respective stepping motors. The angular orientation of each stepping motor shaft determines the positioning of its respective mechanism. An array of sensing elements are utilized to define angular sectors within which the stepping motor shaft is deployed. The number of angular sectors is less than the total number of discrete angular orientations which may be assumed by the stepping motor shaft. The precise angular orientation of the stepping motor shaft is determined by combining information as to which angular sector the stepping motor shaft is in with information as to which set, or phase, of stepping motor coils is energized.

Abstract: An improved track storage system for sewing machines having means for permitting the rotation of a sewing machine 90 degrees about its vertical axis. The improved track storage system allows a sewing machine to be stored in a cabinet or enclosure whose depth is sufficient to accommodate the depth of a machine and moved onto the horizontally opened work surface leaf of such an enclosure in a position displaced 90.degree. to its stored position. The improvement is effectuated by an arrangement of tracks which are used to guide and position a plurality of guide studs fixedly attached to and depending from the bottom of the sewing machine base. Two parallel tracks are set into the inside leaf of an enclosure containing a sewing machine so as to form a guideway for moving the machine from its stored position within the enclosure to its operating position on the horizontally opened leaf of the enclosure.

Abstract: A programmable sewing machine adapted to learn and store, in Automatic Learn or Key Learn Modes of operation, a series of sewing machine operations for later automatic duplication, in an Automatic Sew Mode of operation, at the same sewing rate as the initial operation, or at the peak sewing rate achieved during each operation; or, in a Control Sew Mode of operation, at a controlled lower speed. Additionally, the machine operation may be limited in a Set Up Mode to preset rates for machine speed, copy or peak speed automatic operation, number of start stitches, number of stop stitches, start speed and stop speed. The machine may be operated in the Manual Mode with provision for first tack and last tack and thread trim and wipe when desired. The automatic operation of the sewing machine may be interrupted to go into a Repair Mode during which the sewing machine may be operated manually, and, on proper command, to revert back to the Automatic Sew Mode at the particular operation which was interrupted.

Abstract: An electromechanical needle bar engaging device having a latch release member normally urged by biasing means into engagement with a coupling member, to unlatch the coupling member from a needle bar drive member. The latch release member sewing machine frame supports a solenoid adjacent the latch release member, which, when activated, rotates a lever supported on the latch release member, into the path of motion of the needle bar drive member. Movement of the needle bar drive member against the lever will move the lever and the latch release member on which it is supported out of engagement with the coupling member to permit the coupling member to relatch itself with the needle bar drive member. Means are provided utilizing the solenoid as an electromagnet to retain the latch release member out of engagement with the coupling member.

Abstract: A sewing machine motor speed regulating system which provides two speed ranges which, in turn, have independently controllable maximum attainable speed adjust. This is accomplished by selectively exciting one of two variable trim resistors serially inserted in the silicon controlled rectifier gate/controller circuit.

Abstract: A trigger switch and lock mechanism therefore to be mounted in the handle of a drill housing for activating a motor of a drill wherein the trigger switch includes a speed control circuit carried on a circuit board. A trigger is slidably disposed in mounting brackets affixed on the circuit board. A locking member is slidably connected in one of the mounting brackets and is shiftable into contact with the trigger so as to lock the trigger in depressed position so that once the switch has been activated it will be locked in the "on" position at the selected speed setting. A spring is connected to the locking member to release the locking member from engagement with the trigger upon subsequent trigger depression to place the switch in the "off" position.The locking member and trigger have correspondingly high friction contact surfaces.