Abstract: A unitary double-acting piston thread cutter assembly having a housing including an integrated cutter section and drive section forming a single unitary device. The thread cutter assembly includes a universal tension mount for releasably securing the thread cutter assembly to the top plate of a variety of different types and models of sewing machine. A V-shaped moveable blade has two sides with a pivot point defined at the intersection of the sides. Along one side of the moveable blade is disposed a cutting or knife edge. A double-acting piston and drive link are disposed longitudinally in the housing and connected so that they are both displaced at the same time.

Abstract: A buttonhole or eyelet sewing machine includes a housing. A machine head is slidably mounted on the housing and moves between a home position and a sew position. A bed plate is slidably mounted on the housing. A needle mechanism is mounted on the machine head and is movable in a reciprocal manner with respect to the housing. A first motor is mounted on the housing. The first motor directly drives the machine head between the home position and the sew position. A second motor is mounted on the housing. The second motor directly drives the needle mechanism. The second motor directly drives the bed plate to permit stitching about a buttonhole or eyelet.

Abstract: An apparatus in combination with a sewing machine having a stitch-former that utilizes thread, alternately engageable and disengageable with a garment having portions of different thickness material, and a feeder for feeding the garment through the stitch-former when the stitch-former is disengaged from the garment, comprises a puller roller, a feed rocker shaft, first and second presser feet and first and second pneumatic cylinders. The puller roller is positioned downstream of the feeder for uniformly pulling the garment when the stitch-former is disengaged from the garment. The feed rocker shaft is clampingly-attached to the feeder for driving the puller roller in synchronization with the stitch-former. The feed rocker shaft intermittently engages the puller roller when the stitch-former is disengaged from the garment and intermittently disengages the puller roller when the stitch-former is engaged with the garment.

Abstract: A buttonhole sewing machine includes a housing. A bed plate is slidably mounted on the housing and moves between a home position and a sew position. A needle mechanism is mounted on the housing and is movable in a reciprocal manner with respect to the housing, A first motor is mounted on the housing. The first motor directly drives the bed plate between the home position and the sew position. A second motor is mounted on the housing. The second motor directly drives the needle mechanism.

Abstract: A puller device of a sewing machine having a stitch-forming mechanism alternately engageable and disengageable with a garment for stitching the garment and a feed mechanism for feeding the garment through the stitch-forming mechanism. The puller device comprises a puller roller downstream of the feed mechanism for uniformly pulling the garment when the stitch-forming mechanism is disengaged from the garment. The puller device also comprises a feed rocker shaft, clampingly-attached to the feed mechanism, for driving the puller roller in synchronization with the stitch-forming mechanism, intermittently engaging the puller roller when the stitch-forming mechanism is disengaged from the garment and intermittently disengaging the puller roller when the stitch-forming mechanism is engaged with the garment. The puller device includes first and second presser feet positioned adjacent the puller roller for urging the garment against the puller roller.

Abstract: A garment stacker, having a plurality of conveyor belt assemblies, is attached to a worktable. Each assembly has two conveyor belts with one end of each sharing a common axis. All of the conveyor belts are provided with a plurality of flexible cleats for engaging the garment. One of the belts in each assembly is movable between a position away from the worktable, and a position near the worktable, where the cleats will engage a garment deposited on the worktable and pull it toward the other belt. The other belt in each assembly is nearly vertical and is positioned adjacent to a parallel slide. The garment is fed by the first belt into the space between the slide and the cleats on the vertical belt, which engage the garment and move it up the slide. The garment is then discharged over the top of the slide and onto a door. When the door is opened, the garment is dropped onto other garments, while maintaining its orientation so as to form a stack of oriented garments.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine uses a circular rotary cutter mounted to the sewing machine. The thread cutter includes a body having an air motor disposed therein. A circular blade is supported on a shaft extending from the air motor. The cutter body is reciprocally supported on a rod fixed at one end to a mounting plate. The rod is disposed in a cylinder within the body and has a piston end, air supplied to one side or the other of the piston driving the cutter body reciprocally into and out of engagement with any threads trailing from a sewn article.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a reciprocatable needle for stitching material thereunder, a motor driven handwheel for cutting thread or material in the vicinity of the needle within a finite time interval from when actuated and a controller for actuating the cutter at leading and trailing ends of the material. The sewing machine applies a stitch to the material during one complete revolution of the handwheel. The controller comprises a sensor, disposed a given distance from the cutter, for sensing the leading edge and the trailing edge of material under the needle. The number of revolutions of the handwheel is counted after the leading edge is sensed or after the trailing edge is sensed. The stitching speed is sensed, a first reference is provided for indicating the desired number of stitches to be applied in the given distance and a second reference is provided for indicating the finite time interval.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated thread cutter includes a cutter housing with a stationary blade and a movable blade which is moved by a pneumatic motor. A cutter housing has a chamber in which the movable blade is disposed and which is connected to a venturi mechanism which is receptive of a high pressure air input for creating a suction in the cutting housing chamber to draw a loose thread into the blades for cutting same.

Abstract: A sewing machine has a bobbin mechanism, a sewing needle mechanism, and a mechanism capturing and severing bobbin thread comprising a stationary blade, a picker having at least one hook for capturing a bobbin thread and wherein the picker is movable towards the blade to sever the bobbin thread. At least one notch is disposed on the picker for capturing at least one needle thread and is cooperative with the blade for severing the needle thread upon movement of the picker towards the blade.

Abstract: A direct motor drive system for a sewing machine wherein a low-inertia direct current motor coupled directly to the drive shaft is excited by a low impedence source of variable direct current voltage derived from a rectified alternating current signal at a manually controllable autotransformer. A needle-positioning circuit senses the needle position and either pulses or brakes the motor electrically so that the needle moves to a selected up or down position.