Abstract: The disclosure concerns a drive device for a double thread chain-stitch buttonhole sewing machine. The machine has a first drive shaft for driving the sewing needle and for moving the cloth support plate for sewing. It has a separate worm shaft for moving the cloth support plate to the sewing position and also for operating a knife for cutting the buttonhole. A first respective electromagnetic clutch operates the sewing needle drive shaft, and a second respective electromagnetic clutch operates an intermediate shaft which then operates the worm shaft for operating the cloth support plate and knife operating shaft are provided. A drive shaft is connected with the armature part of the first electromagnetic clutch on the sewing needle driving shaft. That armature part is gear connected with an armature part of the second clutch on the intermediate shaft.

Abstract: A buttonhole machine has a vertically reciprocal needle, a horizontally displaceable material support plate, a rotary stitch plate below the needle, mechanism for feeding a lower thread up through the stitch plate, clamps for holding material on the material plate at the stitch plate, and a drive for rotating the stitch plate in one rotational sense, simultaneously displacing the material plate, and reciprocating the needle to form a buttonhole in the fabric and for rotating it in an opposite return rotational sense after formation of the buttonhole. Such a machine also feeds an upper thread down through the needle to the stitching location and also normally lays a thick cording thread into the buttonhole to reinforce it. This machine is equipped with a feed arm carried by and jointly rotatable with the stitch plate, engaging the lower thread, and pivotal for freeing a length of the lower thread and feeding same to the stitch plate.