Abstract: A presser attaching mechanism for a sewing machine includes a locking mechanism switchable between a locking position where a presser foot or a presser holder is fixed to a presser bar and an unlocking position where the presser foot or the presser holder is released from the fixed state. The locking mechanism includes an operating member rotatable to the locking position and to the unlocking position. The presser bar is formed with a mount. The presser foot or the presser holder has a mounting wall and a mounting hole. The operating member is rotated from the unlocking position to the locking position, so that the operating member fixes the mounting wall to the mount. The locking mechanism has a biasing member which presses the operating member in a direction such that the mounting wall is pressed against the mount when the operating member is located at the locking position.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine is disclosed that includes a needle-bar case that supports needle bars; a needle-bar case transfer mechanism that transfers the needle-bar case to place a predetermined needle bar to a needle drop position; a thread guide member that is movable up and down, the thread guide member being provided with thread guide sections spaced by a predetermined distance and that guide a plurality of threads; a plurality of thread inlets that are provided at the needle-bar case, each thread inlet being uniquely associated with one of the thread guide sections and that introduces the threads guided by the thread guide sections toward the needle bars; and a lifting/lowering mechanism that moves the thread guide member up and down during transfer of the needle-bar ease and the thread inlets such that the thread guide sections and the associated thread inlets maintain a constant distance therebetween.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a machine frame side thread guide member and guide threads drawn from plural thread spools. The multiple-needle sewing machine includes plural thread entrances to introduce threads guided by machine frame side thread guide portions to needle sides of needle bars, plural intermediate thread guide portions that guide intermediate portions of the threads, and an intermediate thread guide portion moving mechanism. The intermediate thread guide portion moving mechanism moves the intermediate thread guide portions in accordance with movements of the thread entrances during a movement of the needle bar case such that the intermediate thread guide portions are moved by maintain that the intermediate thread guide portions are spaced from each other.

Abstract: A needle plate includes a first needle plate secured on a bed and a second needle plate detachably attached to the first needle plate. An engagement mechanism includes an engagement member formed at the first needle plate and an engagement subject member formed at the second needle plate, and retains the second needle plate with the first needle plate through engagement of the engagement member and the engagement subject member. A switching element switches positioning of the second needle plate relative to the first needle plate, wherein when in a first position, the second needle plate is secured in contact with the first needle plate with the engagement mechanism engaged, and when in a second position, the second needle plate is distanced from the first needle plate.

Abstract: A spool holder includes a spool base and a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide member having thread guide portions guiding the threads extending from thread spools, respectively and a divided support pillar disposed so as to support the guide member on the spool base and including an upper support pillar having an upper end swingably mounted on the guide member and a lower support pillar having a lower end which is swingably mounted on the spool base, and a holding unit which holds the divided support pillar so that the pillar is switchable between a first position where both pillars are substantially vertically lined so that the guide member is located at an upper position in its use and a second position where both support pillars are bent at the connecting part so that the guide member is located at an accommodation position in its non-use.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and having a distal end with a first thread seizing portion, a second thread seizing assembly seizing needle and bobbin threads both having been seized by the first assembly during a backward movement of reciprocation of the first assembly, cutting the needle and bobbin threads in cooperation with a cutting blade, and a thread cutting frame supporting the first assembly and formed with a single elongated groove supporting the first assembly so that the first assembly is movable. The elongated groove includes a linear proximal end groove, an oblique portion, and a main groove and being shaped such that the proximal end groove is translated slightly forward through the oblique portion. When moved backward in the reciprocation, the first assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second assembly.

Abstract: A spool holder includes a spool holder base to which a plurality of thread spools is attachable, and a support base having a pivoting member. The spool holder base includes a first spool holder base, a second spool holder base continuous to the other end of the first base and a connection connecting the first and second bases. The spool holder further comprises a thread guide mechanism. The divided spool holder base is switchable between a storage position where the spool holder bases are adjacent and a use position where the first base is swung about the pivoting member and the second base is swung so that the spool holder bases are spread so as to be nonparallel to each other.

Abstract: A needle plate for a sewing machine includes a first needle plate fixed to a sewing machine bed and formed with a needle hole through which a needle passes and a rectangular hole through which a feed dog appears, a second needle plate disposed in front of the first needle plate and detachably attached to the first needle plate, an engagement mechanism sliding the second needle plate rearward from a front side of the first needle plate, thereby engaging the second needle plate with the first needle plate, and a disengagement operating member located on the second needle plate so as to operate the engagement mechanism so that the second needle plate is disengaged from the first needle plate. The disengagement operating member is moved frontward from a rear side of the first needle plate thereby to disengage the second needle plate from the first needle plate.

Abstract: A presser attaching mechanism for a sewing machine is disclosed which detachably attaches to a presser bar a presser foot pressing a workpiece cloth or a presser holder supporting a presser foot. The presser attaching mechanism includes a locking mechanism located on a lower end of the presser bar so as to be switchable between a locking position where the presser foot or the presser holder is fixed to the presser bar and a unlocking position where the presser foot or the presser holder is released from the fixed state to the presser bar.

Abstract: An embroidery frame includes an outer frame formed into a substantially annular shape and having a discontinuity formed by partially breaking its annularity so that the outer frame has two ends located opposite each other with the discontinuity being interposed, an inner frame configured to be fitted with an inner periphery of the outer frame, a clamping mechanism clamping the outer frame against the inner frame and including paired screw-supporting members mounted on the outer frame ends and an adjusting screw mounted on the screw-supporting members so as to adjust a gap between the screw mounting members, and an operating knob supported on an operating end of the screw so as to be switchable between a first position where the knob extends parallel to an axial direction of the screw and a second position where the knob extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and having a distal end with a first thread seizing portion, a second thread seizing assembly seizing needle and bobbin threads both having been seized by the first assembly during a backward movement of reciprocation of the first assembly, cutting the needle and bobbin threads in cooperation with a cutting blade, and a thread cutting frame supporting the first assembly and formed with a single elongated groove supporting the first assembly so that the first assembly is movable. The elongated groove includes a linear proximal end groove, an oblique portion, and a main groove and being shaped such that the proximal end groove is translated slightly forward through the oblique portion. When moved backward in the reciprocation, the first assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second assembly.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and seizing a needle thread having passed a bobbin case and a bobbin thread by a first thread seizing portion, a cutting blade located nearer to the needle hole side than a movement locus of the first assembly, and a second thread seizing assembly seizing both threads having been seized by the first assembly during backward movement of reciprocation of the first assembly, cutting both threads in cooperation with the cutting blade. When moved backward in the reciprocation, the first assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second thread seizing assembly. The second assembly has a distal end on which a second thread seizing portion is located. The second thread seizing portion is two-forked so that the cutting blade is interposed between the two-forked portions.

Abstract: A thread winder includes a thread winding shaft into which a bobbin shaft is inserted so that a bobbin is detachably attached to the thread winding shaft, a rotating mechanism rotating the thread winding shaft to wind a thread on the bobbin, a thread winding shaft switching mechanism switching the thread winding shaft between a preparatory position and a winding position, a guiding member guiding the thread from a thread spool to the bobbin, a guiding member position switching mechanism switching the guiding member between a guide position and a retreat position, and a link mechanism links both switching mechanisms so that the guiding member is located at the guide position when the thread winding shaft assumes the preparatory position and so that the guide member is located at the retreat position when the thread winding shaft assumes the winding position.

Abstract: A needle plate is disclosed including a first needle plate secured on a bed and a second needle plate detachably attached to the first needle plate. An engagement mechanism is further provided including an engagement member formed at the first needle plate and an engagement subject member formed at the second needle plate. The engagement mechanism retains the second needle plate with the first needle plate through engagement of the engagement member and the engagement subject member. The needle plate is further provided with a switching element switching positioning of the second needle plate relative to the first needle plate between the first and the second positions. The second needle plate, when in the first position, is secured in intimate contact with the first needle plate with the engagement mechanism engaged, and when in the second position, is distanced from the first needle plate with the engagement mechanism unlocked.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and including two unit thread seizing members having distal ends formed with first thread seizing portions respectively, a cutting blade located nearer to the needle hole side than a movement locus of the first assembly, and a second thread seizing assembly seizing the needle and bobbin threads both seized by the first assembly during backward movement of the first assembly, cutting the threads in cooperation with the cutting blade. When the threads seized by the first assembly are further seized by the second assembly, the first assembly is moved so that the distal ends of the unit thread seizing members are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction intersecting a movement direction of the first assembly.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine is disclosed that includes a needle-bar case that supports needle bars; a needle-bar case transfer mechanism that transfers the needle-bar case to place a predetermined needle bar to a needle drop position; a thread guide member that is movable up and down, the thread guide member being provided with thread guide sections spaced by a predetermined distance and that guide a plurality of threads; a plurality of thread inlets that are provided at the needle-bar case, each thread inlet being uniquely associated with one of the thread guide sections and that introduces the threads guided by the thread guide sections toward the needle bars; and a lifting/lowering mechanism that moves the thread guide member up and down during transfer of the needle-bar ease and the thread inlets such that the thread guide sections and the associated thread inlets maintain a constant distance therebetween.

Abstract: A spool holder includes a spool holder base to which a plurality of thread spools is attachable, and a support base having a pivoting member. The spool holder base is a divided spool holder base and includes a first spool holder base having one end pivotally mounted on the pivoting member so that the first base is swingable, a second spool holder base continuous to the other end of the first base and a connection connecting the first and second bases. The divided spool holder base is switchable between a storage position where the spool holder bases are adjacent so as to be parallel to each other and a use position where the first base is swung about the pivoting member and the second base is swung so that the spool holder bases are spread so as to be nonparallel to each other.

Abstract: A spool holder includes a spool base and a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide member having thread guide portions guiding the threads extending from thread spools, respectively and a divided support pillar disposed so as to support the guide member on the spool base and including an upper support pillar having an upper end swingably mounted on the guide member and a lower support pillar having a lower end which is swingably mounted on the spool base, and a holding unit which holds the divided support pillar so that the pillar is switchable between a first position where both pillars are substantially vertically lined so that the guide member is located at an upper position in its use and a second position where both support pillars are bent at the connecting part so that the guide member is located at an accommodation position in its non-use.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a machine frame side thread guide member fixed to a machine frame and having plural of machine frame side thread guide portions and guide threads drawn from plural thread spools located on a machine frame respectively, plural thread entrances defined in a needle bar case to introduce threads guided by the machine frame side thread guide portions to needle sides of needle bars, respectively, plural intermediate thread guide portions located between the machine frame side thread guide portions and the thread entrances so as to be movable respectively, the intermediate thread guide portions guiding intermediate portions of the threads, and a intermediate thread guide portion moving mechanism moving the intermediate thread guide portions according to movement of the needle bar case during movement of the thread entrances with movement of the needle bar case while the intermediate thread guide portions are spaced from each other.

Abstract: A needle plate for a sewing machine includes a first needle plate fixed to a sewing machine bed and formed with a needle hole through which a needle passes and a rectangular hole through which a feed dog appears, a second needle plate disposed in front of the first needle plate and detachably attached to the first needle plate, an engagement mechanism sliding the second needle plate rearward from a front side of the first needle plate, thereby engaging the second needle plate with the first needle plate, and a disengagement operating member located on the second needle plate so as to operate the engagement mechanism so that the second needle plate is disengaged from the first needle plate. The disengagement operating member is moved frontward from a rear side of the first needle plate thereby to disengage the second needle plate from the first needle plate.