Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar to which a sewing needle is attached, a needle bar up-and-down motion mechanism moving the needle bar up and down and a cutting unit including a cutting needle having a distal end formed with a blade and a cutting needle up-and-down motion mechanism which is independent of the needle bar up-and-down motion mechanism and moves the cutting needle up and down. The cutting unit is located on a sewing machine bed with the blade being directed upward.

Abstract: An automatic panel cutting and edge seaming system includes a series of side edge cutting and seaming assemblies that receive a fabric material and trim and sew seams along the side edges of the fabric material to form a desired width panel. Puller rolls pull the material through the side edge cutting and seaming assemblies and feed the trimmed and seamed fabric material to a cross-cut sewing assembly. After a sufficient length of fabric material has been fed to form a desired size panel, the cross-cut sewing assembly is engaged to cut and seam the end of the panel.

Abstract: An automatic panel cutting and edge seaming system includes a series of side edge cutting and seaming assemblies that receive a fabric material and trim and sew seams along the side edges of the fabric material to form a desired width panel. Puller rolls pull the material through the side edge cutting and seaming assemblies and feed the trimmed and seamed fabric material to a cross-cut sewing assembly. After a sufficient length of fabric material has been fed to form a desired size panel, the cross-cut sewing assembly is engaged to cut and seam the end of the panel.

Abstract: In a looper and cutter drive mechanism for sewing machine, an upper looper and a lower looper are respectively disposed below a throat plate, respective loop-taker points of these loopers are arranged in the same direction such that the loop-taker points pass a front side of the needle as seen in the stitching direction. The upper looper and the lower looper are driven such that the upper looper and the lower looper perform movements having traces on planes substantially parallel to each other. Due to such a constitution, the looper drive mechanism has both of the lockstitching function and the over-edge stitching function and can perform both functions by a single sewing machine.