Abstract: A sewing machine including a needle holding device which holds a sewing needle, a sheet holding device which holds one or more work sheets, and a moving device which moves the sheet holding device relative to the needle holding device, the moving device including a drive source which produces a drive force, one or more cylindrical cams which are connected to the drive source and each of which is rotatable about an axis line by being driven by the drive source, each cylindrical cam having a pair of opposite spiral cam surfaces formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and one or more cam followers which are connected to the sheet holding device and each of which is engaged with the spiral cam surfaces of a corresponding cylindrical cam such that the cam follower is movable along the cam surfaces and is substantially immovable in directions perpendicular to the cam surfaces, the cam follower being moved in a drive-force transmitting direction substantially parallel to the axis line of the cylindrical

Abstract: A sewing machine forms a seam in the form of a series of stitches for a length preset by the operator. The length of the seam formed is computed from feed pitches data each generated when one stitch is formed. The operation of the sewing machine is stopped when the computed seam length coincides with the preset seam length.

Abstract: A fabric-guiding apparatus for guiding a fabric layer across a line of fabric feed along a side edge of the fabric layer, including a detector sensing the side edge of the fabric layer and generating a detection signal, a guiding wheel rotatable about an axis parallel to the line of fabric feed, a pressure exerting device for exerting a contact pressure urging the guiding wheel into engagement with the fabric layer, and a first drive motor to rotate the guiding wheel for laterally moving the side edge of the layer into position prior to a sewing cycle. The pressure exerting device comprises a pressure adjusting mechanism to adjust the contact pressure, a second drive motor to actuate the adjusting mechanism, a drive circuit responsive to command signals, a memory storing command data relating to the command signals, and a control circuit.