Abstract: This disclosure relates to sewing machines and in particular to a means for reducing uneven and slack stitching due to frictional engagement between the work limb and the takeup limb of the needle thread which can cause pulling up of the work limb through the fabric between castoff of a loop from the loop taker and stitch setting. This undesirable effect is sometimes called "haloing". A work limb retainer is provided and is carried apart from the loop taker and thread carrying bobbin and is disposed for seizing the work limb of the needle thread substantially immediately after loop seizure by the loop taker, retaining of the work limb during the normal loop taker cycle, and discharging the work limb after the thread has completed its passage around the loop taker. The work limb is thereby prevented from frictionally engaging the take up limb during this cycle and thus eliminates the possibility of the take up limb pulling the work limb up to the fabric to cause a haloing effect.

Abstract: A feed system for an industrial sewing machine having a toggle type stitch regulator. The feet stop for determining forward stitch length is located in the sewing machine frame for direct engagement with the stitch length regulating yoke to reduce vibration and noise in the system. The feed length is adjusted by a knob through a gear train connected through the bed of the machine to the stop abutment so as to allow stitch length adjustment without tipping the sewing machine. An elastomeric dynamic damper is included in the regulating system so that during reverse feed when the regulating yoke is displaced from the stop abutment the damper is effective to reduce vibration and noise that would normally travel through the system to the reversing lever.

Abstract: An electrically driven portable surface-treating machine having the motor and means driven thereby for oscillating a platen mounted within a clam shell housing. The oscillatable platen is connected to the housing through securement of a plurality of hollow resilient posts. The upper end of the posts are connected to the housing by flanges which are retained within recesses formed transversely in the housing and there are pairs of such posts at respective ends of the housing, a flange of each pair of posts being in abutting relationship. The lower end of the posts are secured by self-tapping screws passing downwardly through the hollow posts to be threadedly received in the backing plate of the platen.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a modular oil reservoir attached to the frame and having a wick disposed above the lubricant level with one end abutting a wall of the reservoir and relies for its wetting upon the vibratory action of the machine during its operation. Normal machine operating vibration causes the lubricant to wet the walls of the reservoir and through capillary action the wick is wetted to supply lubricant to the needle bar and take up mechanism. This serves to supply relatively small but sufficient quantity of lubricant for lubricating purposes and when the machine is shut off, since the wick is not immersed in lubricant, no lubricant is fed through the system.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to needle guards for rotary loop takers in sewing machines and has its purpose prevention of interference between the needle and the loop seizing beak of the rotary loop taker during the sewing operation. A needle guard is provided which takes the form of a rib member formed in the bottom wall of the rotary loop taker which rib member is spaced from the vertical side wall of the cup-shaped rotary loop taker. The rib member is relatively thin and may be said to be resilient. Means are provided for biasing the rib member toward and away from the vertical side wall of the rotary loop taker in order that the rib member may be adjusted relative to the reciprocating path of the needle so that the needle will be deflected away from the loop seizing beak of the rotary loop taker upon penetration of the fabric by said needle and thereby prevent a scoring of the loop seizing beak or a breakage of the needle.

Abstract: A tension disc assembly for tension devices, used for controlling thread on sewing machines, which is formed with a relatively large supporting frame into which a hardened tension disc is secured. The supporting frame allows the use of a standard-sized tension disc while serving as a guide for threading single and multi thread tension devices.

Abstract: A programmable industrial sewing machine adapted to learn and store 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 a peak sewing rate achieved during each operation; or, in a Control Sew Mode of operation at a controlled lower sew speed. The automatic operation of the sewing machine may be interrupted in order to vary the sew speed, and will revert to automatic operation on operator command where the interruption took place. In the Automatic Sew Mode of operation, stitching may also be interrupted to vary a prior pivot delay time, i.e. a time duration with the presser foot elevated and the sewing needle in a lowered position through a work material. Again, stitching will be reinitiated on operator command at the point at which interrupted.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to electronically controlled sewing machines and in particular to the combination of such a machine with a re-programmable static memory with which an operator can program in input data representative of stitch position coordinates for selected patterns, which input data will be stored and decoded into input signals for initiating operation of the sewing machine stitch position actuating means to produce patterns corresponding to the operator selected pattern. The re-programmable memory can be located remote from the machine or can be built in as an integral part of the structure of the machine itself. The machine may also contain a static read-only-memory (ROM) having fixed patterns for operation of the machine with or without a re-programmable memory and includes switching means for disconnecting the read-only-memory when the re-programmable memory is connected to the machine.

Abstract: A flat bed knitting machine having a motor driven carriage is provided with control means which counts needle slots as the carriage moves beyond working needles at one end or the other of the bed of the machine, and is effective when a predetermined count is attained to cause the motor to reverse the direction of movement of the carriage.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to electric motor/actuators and in particular to an electric motor/actuator including multiple non-magnetic armatures having commutated windings rotatable in a single air gap formed between opposing permanent magnets having their opposed polarized poles facing said armatures and wherein individual ones of said armatures are capable of different output functions from others of said armatures.

Abstract: A buttonhole gauging presser device usable on sewing machines with or without automatic buttonhole mechanisms. This presser device includes button engaging projections which position both a cam for actuating an automatic buttonholing mechanism as well as visual indicating means. At the start of buttonhole sewing the visual indicating means occupies a position in advance of the sewing needle or indicia on the presser foot, and then as the buttonhole is stitched, the visual indicating means moves into alignment with the needle (or indicia) which serves a signal to the operator of a manual sewing machine that an operator-initiated action is required to have the sewing machine create a buttonhole end and reverse direction.

Abstract: A chain stitch sewing machine with a looper having an eye adapted for carrying thread and cooperating with at least one reciprocating needle as the looper oscillates and rocks in its operative position. The looper is supported on a looper carrier including a shaft journaled in an eccentric bore of a bushing which in turn is journaled in the bed of the sewing machine. A looper throw-out means is provided for bodily moving the looper out of its operative position for threading. The throw-out means includes a bushing support block receiving the bushing and pivotably supports a swinging latch member. The latch member includes a locking member adapted to be received within a socket member on the bed to prevent undesirable rotation of the support block, and further includes a resilient latching finger for gripping the support block to retard pivoting of the latch member when the looper is in its operative position.

Abstract: A bobbin thread pull-off, attachable to a rotating lock-stitch looptaker in a location to pull bobbin thread from a bobbin after the previous stitch has been set. The pull-off and attachment means are given a thread handling finish prior to assembly to a completed looptaker, no other finishing operations being required after assembly thereto.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator for sewing machines which allows settings to be made electrically and then acts upon such settings mechanically using the power from the sewing machine drive. This electro-mechanical actuator utilizes the full cycle of a sewing operation for the setting and positioning of the controlled function.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to electronically controlled sewing machines and in particular to the combination of such a machine with a re-programmable static memory with which an operator can program in input data representative of a stitch position coordinates for selected patterns, which input data will be encoded into digital form, stored and decoded into input signals for initiating operation of the sewing machine stitch position actuating means to produce patterns corresponding to the operator selected pattern. The re-programmable memory can be located remote from the machine or can be built in as an integral part of the structure of the machine itself. The machine may also contain a static read-only-memory (ROM) having fixed patterns for operation of the machine with or without a re-programmable memory and includes switching means for disconnecting the read-only-memory when the re-programmable memory is connected to the machine.

Abstract: A needle jogging mechanism for zigzag sewing machines which employs an edge cam driven by the main drive of the sewing machine. This cam is embraced by a pair of roller followers each carried on one of a pair of parallel follower levers interconnected by a cross-link the pivotal fastenings of which include eccentrics for adjusting the followers against the cam. An additional link is also provided for transferring the movement of the follower levers to a needle bar gate.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle at the front of the bottom of the chassis is provided with a nozzle height adjusting mechanism for varying the elevation of the rear wheels relative to the chassis to provide a multiplicity of nozzle height positions. The rear axle is journaled on the chassis and includes a pair of off-set legs on which a respective rear wheel is mounted. A wheel bracket is journaled on one end of one off-set crank leg and supports a guide member and a helical end cam track. A follower member having a conjugate helical surface rides on the cam track and supports a locking member on its upper surface. The locking member is secured to the chassis and includes a plurality of detent teeth between each two of which at least one tooth on the follower member is received to lock the follower in a selected position.

Abstract: The carriage of a flat bed knitting machine is provided with Hall effect devices at locations in close proximity to a steel needle bed and as the carriage is moved along the bed, one or another of the devices produces an output signal each time it passes over a steel segment separating slots in the bed.