Abstract: A programming system for preparing stitch instructions for the purpose of controlling the relative position between a needle and a workpiece by means of so varying the relative position between an index member and a record medium as the index member traces after the profile figured on the record medium. In this system a manual operating member is disposed for designating the direction and speed of variation of the relative position between the index member and the record medium. An exact tracing of a profile of complicated shape is made possible by designating the speed appropriate for the tracing of the profile through varying the angle of inclination of the manual member according to the shape of the profile. The programming operation for preparing the stitch instructions can be performed in this way exactly and easily.

Abstract: An adaptive semiautomatic sewing system (10) comprises a sewing machine (12), a drive unit (42) including a variable speed motor and encoder for counting stitches sewn, at least one material edge sensor (40) mounted ahead of the needle (22) of the sewing machine, and a microprocessor controller (51) coupled to the sewing machine controls. The system (10) has manual, teach and auto modes of operation. In the teach mode, control parameters for each seam are stored as the operator sews the initial piece. Accurate control of seam lengths and end points is achieved by initiating countdown of a variable number of final stitches responsive to detection of the material edges by the sensors (40). In one embodiment, a window is set up around the stitch count at which terminal countdown initiates to avoid spurious signals. In another embodiment, momentary toggles of the sensors (40) are ignored so that an even wider range of sizes can be sewn with the same taught program.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic sewing machine for modifying a stitch pattern with stitch forming instrumentalities, including a first memory for storing stitch control data used to control said stitch forming instrumentalities, a plurality of pattern selecting switches selectively operable for producing a different pattern signal for addressing the first memory to sequentially read the stitch control data, a second memory for storing a selected number of pattern signals, each one of the selected number of pattern signals designating an initial address of the first memory, a counter for counting the total and ordinal number of the pattern signals stored in the second memory, and a calculating device for storing at least one calculation formula for selecting a predetermined variation rate, the calculating device being responsive to the total as well as ordinal numbers of the pattern signals to modify the stitch control data read from the first memory for controlling the stitch forming instrumentalities.

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of rotation of the drive motor for the movement of the needle bar(s) on embroidery, stitching or sewing machines, in which the relative movement between the material being worked and the needle bars is produced by motors which are separate from the needle bar drive. In order to obtain the highest possible output without excessive accelerations and abrupt changes in acceleration in the needle bar drive, the lengths of the next several stitches are read from the data carrier stored sequentially and cyclically measured, and the speed of rotation of the needle-bar drive motor is adapted in each case to the highest value measured. The number of sequentially stored stitches is in this connection selected as low as possible, corresponding to the inertia of the drive of the needle bars.

Abstract: In a sewing machine having a machine controller for controlling the rotational speed of the machine and a needle amplitude, adjusting device, a machine control power source switch is provided which is manipulated to produce a switch-over signal, which is identified in a predetermined lapse of time to avoid an erroneous operation of the sewing machine which may be caused by a simple switching operation of the power source switch. The power source switch is released to return to the initial position and is operated again to switch back the machine controller to the function controlling the rotation speed of the sewing machine. The change-over circuit with transmission gates is provided in the sewing machine, which is electrically connected to the amplitude adjusting device and the machine controller and to the control power source switch, respectively.

Abstract: A device for transmitting torque between a shaft (1) and an outer annular element (2), in which device the transmission ratio between the shaft and the annular element is determined by the load on the ring. The device comprises at least one eccentric device (5) arranged for rotation with the shaft, and at least one rocker arm (7) which can be activated by the eccentric device and which is provided with an engaging means (11). The engaging means are arranged to be brought into driving contact with the annular ring (2) encircling the shaft (1), by movement of the said at least one rocker arm. The eccentric device (5) is so designed that its effective length varies in dependence on the load required to activate the rocker arm (7). The device can be used to advantage in winches, for example sheet winches on sailing boats.

Abstract: An input selector for a fancy seam sewing machine is provided with pattern selection means and an electronic seam memory for supplying stitch data to needle positioning and feeder mechanisms has, within the pattern selection means, at least one switch controlling the adjustment to a selected series of seams, e.g. utility seams, and a group of multi-pole contacts related to these seams. The contacts apply binary signals to the electronics of the machine and, in an illustrated embodiment with six double-pole contacts, a "two of four code" is achieved. This reduces the number wires required as compared with a system using single-pole switches.

Abstract: A programmable sewing machine has a stitch memory connected to control the needle and/or the cloth feeder. The stitch memory is addressed by an address counter, which is stepped in response to operation of the machine. The address counter is reversible, and the direction of counting therein and the preseting of an address therein is derived from a seam instruction memory responsive to a pattern selection device.

Abstract: A chin strap safety attachment including a high impact resistant rigid anchor insert mounted upon a chin strap of the protective headgear. The anchor insert has a tongue which is shaped so as to be insertable into an opening in a coacting anchor plate when the anchor insert is rotated from its normal locking position in engagement with the anchor plate. A Lift-the-Dot fastener, adjustably mounted on the free end of the chin strap adjacent the anchor insert, engages the anchor plate to provide additional securance of the chin strap.

Abstract: A control device comprising a housing having a bottom pin, and a cable drum mounted on said bottom pin said cable drum being stressed by a reset spring 11. The cable drum 6 is radially and axially guided, at its periphery, by offset supporting rollers (1c). A regulating member 8a of a potentiometer 8 is fixedly installed on the hub 6a of the cable drum 6. The tap pins 8b of the potentiometer 8 are arranged on the slide 9 axially movable in the hub. The slide 9 is connected with a treadle 3 by a tappet 10 provided with a ball-and-socket joint 9b, 10a. The treadle 3 is mounted to the housing 1 to be vertically pivotable by means of two pivots beside the cable drum 6. The blocking means for the cable drum 6, actuatable by remote control, is located between the two pivots. The device of the present invention is especially suited for the control of electrical household sewing machines.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a liner particularly adapted for use in high temperature environments, such as are encountered by fire fighters, and includes a crown defining a generally concave interior which receives the head of a wearer and ends in a bottom terminal peripheral edge portion to which is attached by a sewn seam an upper terminal peripheral edge portion of a neck and ear covering and protecting flap with the seam allowing relative folding between the flap and the crown between a position at which the flap is interiorly of the crown and a position at which the flap is exteriorly of the crown, the flap being of a generally downwardly and inwardly converging configuration when disposed exteriorly of the crown whereby the neck and ears of a wearer of the liner are intimately covered, whereas when disposed interiorly of the crown, the flap conforms generally to the configuration thereof and comfortably receives the head of a wearer, and the ear covering and protecting flap being constructed from at leas

Abstract: The device (FIG. 1) is provided in combination with helmet A and related vizor B, with a box shaped gear and pinion assembly 10, secured by pin 12 to helmet A. A gear wheel 14, secured to side wall A of the helmet, engages, via pinion 20 held by gear and pinion assembly 10, with a sector gear (rack) 24 also secured to said gear and pinion assembly which is torsionally connected to the end of vizor B. When assembly 10 is caused to oscillate in the clockwise direction to lift vizor B, a complementary counter-clockwise oscillation is imparted to same to permit complete lifting of the vizor, so that its top edge may approach and fit tightly over the surface of helmet A.

Abstract: In electronic pattern stitch sewing machine lock stitches are produced prior to the initial and final stitch of a selected pattern without deforming the patterns. In this machine, under single setting operation conditions the setting of desired sewing parameters is made automatically for a basting operation.

Abstract: An electronically controlled sewing machine includes an arrangement for operating the machine in a diagnostic mode, wherein several tests for checking the functioning of the sewing machine can be performed. In a first test, all of the light emitting diodes on the panel of the sewing machine are sequentially energized. This verifies proper operation of the display panel. In a second test, a particular light emitting diode responds to the armshaft sensor such that it is dark when the needle is up and is illuminated when the needle is down. The motor speed function is monitored by a test which lights particular light emitting diodes in 100 stitches per minute increments of motor speed. Proper overall operation of the sewing machine, including the actuators, is monitored by running several test patterns. To isolate a possible fault in the sewing machine foot controller, the sewing machine may be run at a preset speed without depressing the foot controller.

Abstract: An optical switching system for one step buttonholing substantially eliminates false triggering when an operator inadvertently moves an object within the viewing path of the optical sensor by utilizing signals from the sensors only when the sewing machine is running.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sewing machine and more particularly relates to a cyclic pattern stitching device of a sewing machine which is automatically stopped with the needle detained at a predetermined position when a pattern is stitched up in accordance to one cycle rotation of a selected pattern cam.

Abstract: An electronically controlled sewing machine to produce stitches and to change the relative position between the needle and the fabric to be sewn. The sewing machine comprises a first memory (ROM1) storing pattern data including the data for producing straight stitches, pattern selecting means selectively operated to select a set of pattern data of such data stored in the first memory and a second memory (ROM2) storing automatic setting information each specific to the selected pattern and controlling commonly the stitches of the selected pattern. An operator control means adjusts the control of the automatic setting information with respect to the stitches of the selected pattern and a calculating means receives the output of at least one of the second memory (ROM2) and the operator controlled means (VR1, VR2) to calculate the stitch coordinate to each of the stitches of the selected pattern.

Abstract: A light sensing device for a sewing machine with a sensing circuit which automatically compensates for the work fabric being utilized so as to be able to detect a ply change event in any fabric without requiring an operator adjustment for the type of fabric being stitched upon. Being able to detect a ply change event without the necessity for adjustment also permits automatic operation of certain sewing machine components, further facilitating operation of the sewing machine.

Abstract: An automatic sewing machine provided with a memory for storing stitch instructions directing a relative position between a vertically reciprocated needle and a work piece and a speed control means for controlling the machine's drive motor at a suitable speed for each particular sewing operation carried out according to the stitch instructions. To determine the maximum permissible speed suitable to the variation of the relative position for each stitch, all of the stitch instructions in the memory are checked by a central processing unit before starting each sewing operation. The unit provides a control signal concerning the maximum permissible speed to a speed control means so that the driving speed of the drive motor is limited to no more than the maximum permissible speed.

Abstract: Shock damping anchor straps for a face guard mounted on a transverse axis to the brow portion of a football helmet, the face guard having an anchor bar at each side ear portion of the helmet, there being a flexible anchor strap at each anchor bar and each strap having an inner loop passing through the ear hole and around the front edge of the ear portion of the helmet and the ends thereof secured by holes therethrough engaged over a tubular nut, and having an outer loop continuing from the inner loop and wrapped over the anchor bar and the end thereof secured over a compressible shock damping washer by a hole therethrough and held engaged over said tubular nut by a screw threadedly engaged therein.