Abstract: The disclosed invention includes an automatic sewing machine having a low inertia system for translating a work holder relative to a sewing needle. The work holder is moved in a coordinate system which has been modified so that the movement of the work holder relative to the sewing needle approximates, within predefined limits, a rectilinear coordinate system. The driving power is provided by a pair of stepping motors each of whose mechanical outputs is connected by a separate cable drive to a work holder support for each coordinate system. The inertia of the work holder and the support is maintained low by separating the motors from the support. A pair of homing and limit assemblies is also connected to the cable system for preventing the work holder from being moved beyond the defined range of movement and for automatically positioning the work holder in a predetermined home position at the beginning and end of every operation.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes an automatic sewing machine having a low inertia system for translating a work holder relative to a sewing needle. The work holder is moved in a coordinate system which has been modified so that the movement of the work holder relative to the sewing needle approximates, within predefined limits, a rectilinear coordinate system. The driving power is provided by a pair of stepping motors each of whose mechanical outputs is connected by a separate cable drive to a work holder support for each coordinate system. The inertia of the work holder and the support is maintained low by separating the motors from the support. A pair of homing and limit assemblies is also connected to the cable system for preventing the work holder from being moved beyond the defined range of movement and for automatically positioning the work holder in a predetermined home position at the beginning and end of every operation.

Abstract: Knitting-machine guide bars, which carry columns of guides through and then along a row of knitting needles and are moved longitudinally along the row on the basis of the content of a programmable read-only memory. Stepping motors which respond to the memory rotate pinions in directions and numbers of steps determined by the memory. Racks engaging the pinions articulate respective adjustable-leverage levers which reciprocate the separate guide bars longitudinally along the row. Respective springs press each rack against each pinion transverse to the rack length so as to eliminate slack. Longitudinal movement of the bars is synchronized with their transverse movements through the needle row by sensing when the guides clear the front of the needles and producing a synchronizing pulse that gates appropriate signals from memory buffers to the motors; and producing a synchronizing pulse on a separate channel when the guides are clear of the rear of the needles.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes an automatic sewing machine having a low inertia system for translating a work holder relative to a sewing needle. The work holder is moved in a coordinate system which has been modified so that the movement of the work holder relative to the sewing needle approximates, within predefined limits, a rectilinear coordinate system. The driving power is provided by a pair of stepping motors each of whose mechanical outputs is connected by a separate cable drive to a work holder support for each coordinate system. The inertia of the work holder and the support is maintained low by separating the motors from the support. A pair of homing and limit assemblies is also connected to the cable system for preventing the work holder from being moved beyond the defined range of movement and for automatically positioning the work holder in a predetermined home position at the beginning and end of every operation.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes an automatic sewing machine having a low inertia system for translating a work holder relative to a sewing needle. The work holder is moved in a coordinate system which has been modified so that the movement of the work holder relative to the sewing needle approximates, within predefined limits, a rectilinear coordinate system. The driving power is provided by a pair of stepping motors each of whose mechanical outputs is connected by a separate cable drive to a work holder support for each coordinate system. The inertia of the work holder and the support is maintained low by separating the motors from the support. A pair of homing and limit assemblies is also connected to the cable system for preventing the work holder from being moved beyond the defined range of movement and for automatically positioning the work holder in a predetermined home position at the beginning and end of every operation.