Abstract: A sewing unit (1) for producing a seam in a sewing-material part (92), in particular for the production of a dart seam in an article of clothing, has a sewing-material holder (45) which receives the sewing-material part (92) between two plate edge parts (54, 55) and moves it via a displacement drive (44) along a sewing machine (2). The sewing-material holder (45) is provided with plate edge parts (54, 55) which frictionally smooth the sewing-material part (92) as it is being fed by a feeding plate (11) into the sewing-material holder (45) which is then placed in its clamping position. This eliminates any need for a further transfer of the sewing-material part 92 to a clamping rail for guiding it along the sewing machine 2. The plate edge parts (54, 55) serve, in the clamped position of the sewing-material part (92), for holding the sewing-material part (92) during the sewing process.

Abstract: A sewing-material cutting device includes a movable upper knife and a stationary bottom knife which cooperates therewith. The upper knife includes a knife holder which holds a replaceable turnable cutting plate having a plurality of cutting edges. A polygonal fastener is provided on the cutting plate for selectively engaging the knife holder in a plurality of positions corresponding to respective cutting positions of the plurality of cutting edges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device having stepless torque adjustment, especially for cycles. The drive device comprises a drive shaft (13), a first adjusting disc (1) arranged coaxially with the drive shaft (13), into which first adjusting disc (1) a spiral-like cutout (3) is incorporated at least partially about the center of the first adjusting disc (1), a second coaxially arranged adjusting disc (5) into which through slots (6) are incorporated which run outwards from the center of the second adjusting disc (5), and a coaxial segmented ring (27) consisting of individual segments (28) onto the outer periphery of which segmented ring (27) can be placed an endless drive element (30). The segments (28) each have extensions (43) which engage both in the spiral-like cutout (3) and in an allocated through slot (6). One of the said adjusting discs can be driven by the drive shaft (13), whereas the other non-driven adjusting disc can be blocked by means of a blocking device (10a and 10b).

Abstract: A workpiece guide rail for a sewing machine, and more particularly a guide rail which includes a sewing material stretching device for spreading out the workpiece along the course of a seam prior to sewing. The guide rail includes a frame and a plurality of holding elements movably mounted on the frame, each holding element having a lower surface adapted for gripping the workpiece. The holding elements are interlinked to form a chain, one end of the chain being fixed to the frame, and an actuator is provided on the frame for pulling the other end of the chain for separating the holding elements in order to spread out the workpiece.

Abstract: An assembly disposable at a sewing-machine station for assisting an operator in the positioning and fixing of a pair of workpieces relative to one another prior to stitching at the sewing station comprises a multiplicity of clamping modules each having six lower fingers projecting from a module housing for clamping a first workpiece to a base plate and six upper fingers for clamping a second workpiece over the first. The lower fingers and the upper fingers are rigid with respective levers pivotable by the plungers of respective pneumatic cylinders, these cylinders being energizable in a predetermined sequence by an operator-controlled push valve to effect a piecewise positioning of the first workpiece and then of the second workpiece.