Abstract: A sewing machine is provided with an upper thread dyeing mechanism for dyeing an upper thread a given color while driving the sewing machine. An upper thread feeding mechanism is also provided for the sewing machine and operative in combination with the dyeing mechanism when a stitching operation is initiated or a change in color of the upper thread is required. A predetermined amount of the upper thread, which remains to be located on the sewing machine, is drawn out by the feeding mechanism, while being colored by the dyeing mechanism.

Abstract: A computer sewing machine having a plurality of sewing related operating functions and including voice generating components driven by a drive signal and producing voice information concerning various information items including at least malfunctioning and their explanations and handling and their explanations for the sewing machine, process designation input components for producing signals for starting the process of the information items produced from the voice generating means, response input components including at least two switches selectively operated to produce signals to affirm or negate the information items produced by the voice generating components, reception/discrimination components for receiving the signals from the process designation input components and from the response input components to discriminate the designation of the information items, a stitch control device, malfunction diagnosing components for diagnosing malfunctions of the sewing machine on the basis of control operation of t

Abstract: A pattern stitch sewing machine is disclosed in which enlarged patterns are made possible by storing a plurality of divided part patterns in an electronic memory. Further data for stopping the sewing needle at its lower dead point at the end of each part pattern is provided so that the operator may shift the fabric about the needle in preparation for sewing a succeeding part pattern.

Abstract: A rotor shaft of a stepping motor is elastically held via cushions with respect to a housing of machinery, thereby to reduce disorders or noises to be caused in the stepping motor and exactly position an object to be adjusted.

Abstract: In a micro-computer controlled sewing machine a conversion switch is provided which can be switched between a first position and a second position. A manually operable controller, such as a foot pedal, is connected to the conversion switch. The circuit means connects the conversion switch to the micro-computer in the electronic sewing machine. When the conversion switch is in its first position, the operable machine controller will control the rotation speed of the sewing machine. When the conversion is in the second position, the manually operable controller will control the needle swing amplitude.

Abstract: In a double-function sewing machine including a lock stitch mechanism and an overlock switch mechanism, a stitching portion of an overlock stitch mechanism thereof is positioned at the right side of the machine frame as seen from a machine operator and at a front side with respect to a lock stitching free arm of the lock stitch mechanism. A space is provided between the rear end of the needle plate for the overlock stitch mechanism and the front face of the free arm, through which a fabric to be stitched passes.

Abstract: A double-function sewing machine, which is provided with a lock stitch forming mechanism and an overlock stitch forming mechanism, has a common driving source and a common flywheel for the two mechanisms. The sewing machine is provided with a switching device which includes a switch key connected to the flywheel of the machine. The switch key is selectively switchable to engage the shaft of the lock stitch-forming mechanism or a drive of the overlock stitch-forming mechanism. The switching device further includes a switching pawl which is engageable with and disengageable from the drive of the overlock stitch forming mechanism to hold the latter when the lock stitch forming mechanism is operated.

Abstract: For a hem stitching operation with a sewing machine having a needle vertically reciprocating and also laterally swingable, a hem stitching presser foot is detachably mounted to a lower end of a presser bar of the sewing machine. The presser foot includes a brush like element which confronts a needle dropping hole formed in a sole of the presser foot, a frictional contact between the needle and the brush like element is produced when the needle passes the outside of the fabric edge, without penetrating the fabric, to stitch a portion of hem stitches on the outside of the fabric edge. The brush like element may be secured to the sole of the presser foot, or alternatively to a fabric guide member for engaging and guiding the fabric edge. The brush may be projected in the fabric feeding direction or across the fabric feeding direction. A pin may be located just beneath the brush like element for constant placement thereof.

Abstract: A thread tightening device for a sewing machine of the type having a main shaft, a vertically reciprocable needle bar with a needle carrying an upper thread, a loop taker and a drive shaft for driving the loop taker and a feed dog; the thread tightening device includes a group of pattern cams operatively connected to the main shaft, pattern selecting device and an arrangement for controlling the vertical movement of the feed dog. This arrangement comprises a control cam and a rotatable shaft, the control cam being slidably axially mounted on the rotatable shaft but not turnable with respect to the shaft. The thread tightening device also includes an element arranged for vertical reciprocating movement in a timed relation with the feed dog, which element engages a lower thread during the stitching operation of the sewing machine.

Abstract: In a process of producing hemstitches by means of a zigzag sewing machine, in which straight stitches spaced from the edges of the fabrics to be sewn are formed, first zigzag stitches of a predetermined width are formed which extend between the edge of the fabrics and the straight stitches at a predetermined distance corresponding to the predetermined width of the zigzag stitches and secondly, zigzag stitches are formed which extend between the first zigzag stitches and the straight stitches. The second zigzag stitches formed are wider than the first zigzag stitches.

Abstract: A thread is passed through a dyeing apparatus before the thread is supplied to a sewing machine as an upper thread. The dyeing apparatus has a cylinder containing a plurality of coloring members, each coloring member containing a coloring liquid of a different color. The cylinder is rotated by a manually operated dial to select one of the coloring members in accordance with a stitch to be sewn with a sewing machine. A coloring section of the selected coloring member is exposed to the outside of the cylinder for establishing contact between the thread and the coloring section. A heat-set roller is adapted to come into contact with the thread for heat-setting the coloring liquid applied thereto. The contact between the thread and the coloring member and the heat-set roller is actuated in response to operation of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a drive shaft rotated by a machine motor to vertically reciprocate a needle carrying an upper thread is provided with a device for adjusting the tension of a lower thread pulled out from a bobbin located in a bobbin carrier of the sewing machine. The device includes a tension lever cooperated with a spring element, and a releasing lever which is in engagement with a cam rotated by the drive shaft. The position of the tension lever relative to the lower thread is effected by a manually operated dial and a cam engageable with the spring element. The releasing lever is adapted to intermittently release the tension lever from the lower thread during the stitching operation.

Abstract: A method of forming a stitch pattern is disclosed in which at least two closely spaced or coincident end stitches are present. The overall pattern is divided into overlapping block sections. In one block, a first group of stitches is formed followed by a second group of stitches being formed in an adjacent block. The number of stitches between closely spaced or coincident stitches that results is reduced. Therefore the accumulated error of fabric feeding pitches and the distance between the two end stitches is reduced resulting in a more precisely constructed overall pattern.

Abstract: The sewing machine is provided with two knobs on the front face of the machine housing and a number of switches indicating different stitch patterns to be produced. These knobs may be selectively pushed or rotated to set the sewing machine between a condition in which the needle and the feeding device are set to produce predetermined stitch coordinates of a selected pattern and a condition in which the needle and the feeding device are adjusted to produce adjustable stitch coordinates. The sewing machine further includes switches operated by the aforementioned knobs and an electric memory connected to a manually operated controller and functioning for controlling the swinging amplitude of the needle and the feeding pitch of the feeding device.

Abstract: A phase indication device of the invention is provided for a sewing machine for electrically indicating a predetermined angular position of a main drive shaft and showing that the sewing machine is ready for starting a stitching operation. The phase indication device comprises first and second detection means, electric circuit and an electric indicator. The first detection means produces a first electric signal when detecting the predetermined angular position of the main drive shaft. The second detection means produces a second electric signal when detecting the drive motor being deenergized. The electric circuit is operative to produce an output to lighten the electric indicator when the circuit receives both of the first and second electric signals.

Abstract: A rotation switching device for a sewing machine having a lock stitching mechanism and an overlock stitching mechanism. The device includes a rotatable operating member and a base disc connected to the operating member and movable in a vertical direction upon rotation of the operating member between a rest position in which the base disc is above the machine mounting surface and an operating position in which the base disc projects downward farther than the feet on the lower face of the machine body. In this position the base disc contacts the machine mounting surface to lift the body of the sewing machine from the mounting surface, whereby the body of the sewing machine may be rotated in a horizontal plane to place either the lock stitching mechanism or the overlock stitching mechanism to a use position.

Abstract: A sewing machine with a vertically reciprocable and laterally swingable needle for sewing provided with an upper thread includes a rotatable loop taker for catching a thread loop during synchronous rotation thereof with the needle, and is rotatable in a horizontal plane with respect to the needle. A bobbin member is mounted within the loop taker and carries a lower thread forforming a lock stitch with the lower thread when the loop taker catches a thread loop. A feed dog member includes a plurality of feed dog elements for synchronously moving vertically and horizontally with the needle so as to allow the fabric to be moved relative to the needle. A thread guide is disposed adjacent a certain one of the plurality of feed dog elements for guiding the lower thread to a predetermined side of the swinging needle each time the feed dog member is vertically moved.

Abstract: A suturing machine for suturing incised parts of a patient by producing continuous stitches by means of a curved needle and a shuttle includes a pair of grips terminated with jaws adapted to hold the curved needle which forms a thread loop on the parts to be sutured. A shuttle holder is slidably positioned on one of the grips to move the shuttle with a shuttle thread towards the curved needle to produce a lock stitch with the thread loop. The shuttle holder functions when the needle is standstill.