Abstract: An abnormal condition warning apparatus for a sewing machine is disclosed. Plural detecting means disposed in the sewing machine detect the occurence of abnormal conditions in which stitch forming instrumentalities are prevented from forming a desired stitch pattern, and each of the plural detecting means generates a detection signal according to the detection. Plural groups of speech data are permanently stored in memory means, and each of the groups is predetermined to represent one of the abnormal conditions in voice. Selecting means selects one group from the plural groups according to the detection signal, an electric signal is generated based on the selected group, and electroacoustic means disposed in the machine speaks one of the abnormal conditions in response to the electric signal.

Abstract: A needle oscillating mechanism for use in a sewing machine is disclosed, wherein a rotatable cam member is provided for controlling the position of lateral oscillation of a needle, and a contact finger engaged with the cam member or disengaged therefrom synchronously with rotation of a main shaft of the sewing machine is coupled to the needle through a disconnectable coupling means. Disengagement of the contact finger from the cam member is not transmitted to the needle due to disconnection of the coupling means, so that the needle is held at the same lateral position by the action of brake means. Posterior to rotation of the cam member with the contact finger kept disengaged therefrom, engagement of the contact finger with the cam member is effected while causing connection of the coupling means, thereby shifting the needle to a lateral position in response to the cam surface of the cam member with which the contact finger is engaged.

Abstract: A sewing machine wherein a single operable button is capable of selectively performing a plurality of actions depending on the length of duration of the operation time. The machine is provided with a needle positioning device for arresting the needle at a certain predetermined position and a stitch forming system for forming a specific stitch pattern, and either of the two is actuated according to the length of duration of the operation time of the operable button. Furthermore, a forthcoming action of the machine can be varied in response not only to the length of duration of the operation time mentioned above but also to the state of the machine which can be in operation or stationary. The machine is thereby capable of performing a plurality of different actions by means of fewer operable buttons.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which an information carrying member with multiple pieces of pattern information recorded thereon to control a stitch forming instrumentality is rotated intermittently by a step motor in forward and reverse directions according to a sequence predetermined for each stitch pattern. Each group of pattern information corresponding to each of the stitch patterns is recorded individually within a plurality of defined regions on the information carrying member, whose intermittent rotation effected at a rate of a small angle per step enables a scanning member to make a reciprocation relatively to the information carrying member within a preselected region, thereby sequentially picking up the pattern information related to placement of the stitches required for generating a desired stitch pattern.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a first information carrying member with multiple pieces of bight information recorded thereon to control the position of lateral oscillation of a needle, and a second information carrying member with multiple pieces of feed information recorded thereon to control the length and direction of feed movement of a feed dog are driven individually by a single step motor with a substantially fixed phase difference in timed relation to rotation of the main shaft of a sewing machine. One information carrying member is secured to the output shaft of the step motor, while the other information carrying member is fitted thereto loosely. Holding means normally functions to hold the two information carrying members at given relative angular positions, and permits said other information carrying member to rotate relatively to said one in both forward and reverse directions from said given angular position within a predetermined angular range.