Abstract: A tandem sewing machine and the stitch it forms. The sewing machine includes a stand frame; a drive motor, a throatplate; and at least two offset needles. The offset needles have a needle stagger (&sgr;) which, in combination with the needle spacing (D) produces a stitch stagger to displacement ratio (S/D) of greater than about 1 of the improved stitch. The sewing machine may also include an overedge stitching needle assembly and a compound feed assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the compound feed assembly includes a bottom feed dog and a top feed dog, wherein the top feed dog is a differential feed with respect to the bottom feed dog. The sewing machine may further include a second bottom feed dog which may also be a differential feed. In the preferred embodiment, the overedge stitching needle assembly includes at least one needle performing an overedge stitch.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically inserting an elastic tape into a binding tape, and simultaneously sewing the leading and trailing ends of the elastic tape with the binding tape to the hem of a workpiece. A pair of feed rollers and a tensioning device for the elastic tape are provided above a vertical cylindrical guide. An outlet of the vertical cylindrical guide is directed toward the presser foot of a sewing machine, and shifted between positions on and outside the sewing line of the sewing machine. A cutting device for the elastic tape in the direction crossing with the advancing direction is driven by a shaft vertically placed along the vertical cylindrical guide. An advancing speed of the trailing end of the cut elastic tape extending to the presser foot is reduced by a tape pressing device until the trailing end is fed under the presser foot.

Abstract: A cover thread cutter for a multi-needle sewing machine, the hook of the thread cutter retracts at an oblique angle above a curved cover thread laying finger and captures the cover thread at a position above the curved cover thread laying finger. While pulling the captured cover thread up to the cutting position, it is held against a specified needle, as in ordinary seam forming, and the thread end is held in this state after being cut off.

Abstract: An apparatus for selecting one of a number of television channels is operable to be set in a mode whereby an array of miniature pictures corresponding to the respective channels is displayed, with each channel being sequentially selected for a predetermined interval during which image data for the selected channel are repetitively written into one of a set of regions (42 to 50) of a one-field memory, with the entire memory contents being continuously and repetitively read out, whereby the picture for the selected channel appears as a moving picture while those of the other channels are static. The apparatus can then be set in a normal operating mode, with the channel selected at the time of mode changeover being thereafter held fixedly selected and a normal display picture produced.

Abstract: A video tape recorder (VTR) including a detection switch for detecting presence and absence of an erasure prevention tab of a video tape cassette, a light emitting element, a control device associated operatively with the light emitting element, and an electronic viewfinder. When a first video tape cassette provided with the erasure prevention tab as been loaded into the VTR, the control device sets the VTR to a recording standby state and turns on the light emitting element. Meanwhile, when a second video tape cassette which is not provided with the erasure prevention tab has been loaded into the VTR, the control device sets the VTR to a stop state, flashes the light emitting element and causes the electronic viewfinder to display on a screen of the electronic viewfinder a warning indicative of loading of the second video tape cassette into the VTR.

Abstract: A battery voltage level detecting apparatus makes possible the detection of the voltage level of a battery and the detection of a minimum operating voltage by means of a single comparison circuit and a single adjustment. A voltage varying with variation of the battery voltage is compared with an output voltage of a counter for counting reference clocks so as to control the counting operation. When a change occurs in the comparison result, a battery voltage level storage command is generated, and then the counter is preset. In response to the command, the count value is stored and displayed.