Abstract: A needle plate for a device adapted to sew a sequence of idle chain stitches has a guide contiguous to a needle locating opening, which guide is adapted to guide the sequence of idle chain stitches so as to pass through the needle location when the free end of the sequence is grasped by a retainer. With such arrangement, the idle chain stitches are sewn by a sewing thread at least at a position where sewing of a cloth starts and are maintained generally inwardly of a hemstitch seam.

Abstract: This invention relates to a presser foot lifter in a sewing machine. The presser foot lifter comprises a pressure relief mechanism for lessening the force of a spring means adapted to bias a presser foot towards a throat plate, a presser foot drive mechanism for lifting the presser foot and a manual operation mechanism operable by the operator. When the operation mechanism is actuated, the pressure relief mechanism operates to lessen the force of the spring means and the presser foot drive mechanism operates to lift the presser foot. According to the present invention, the presser foot can be lifted to any desired height.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polychromatic thermal printer of transferring type designed to print with any color selected from monochromic colors and mixed colors on a recording medium by arranging printably on said recording medium a plurality of ink ribbons having different colors to each other and received in a plurality of different cassette ribbons and by actuating selected thermal head from a plurality of thermal heads incorporating a plurality of separated heaters capable to be actuated selectively.

Abstract: In a sewing machine, a presser foot lifting mechanism provides two springs, a first spring the compression of which can be changed by a solenoid actuated coil linkage and a second spring the compression of which can be changed by an operator's knee-action for lowering a presser foot. An operation lever rotated by an operator's knee-action controls the timing of solenoid action. A positional difference or gap is provided for the operation lever between a "solenoid on" position and a "first spring off" position, so that an operator can rotate the operation lever without feeling the resisting force of the first spring.

Abstract: The upper feed dog for the cloth feed mechanism of a sewing machine can be moved sideways from a position opposing the sewing area to be separated from the sewing area to thus facilitate needle exchange and threading. The cloth feed mechanism of the sewing machine includes lower feed dogs which move towards and away from as well as longitudinally to a throat plate and a support member. The support member has an upper feed dog secured thereon which moves, interlocked with a driving member, in four directions above the upper surface of the throat plate with a phase in the vertical movement opposite that of the vertical movement of the lower feed dog and with a phase in the longitudinal movement identical to that of the longitudinal movement of the lower feed dog for feeding the cloth in synchronism with the lower feed dog. The support member is supported rotatably about a vertical shaft so as to oppose or separate the feed dog to or from the sewing area.