Abstract: A feeding device for feeding elastic strip material to a sewing machine feeding a strip in response to one or more control signals. The strip feeder uses a feed roller having an associated pressure roller to provide a feed nip with the feeding roller, a sensor directly senses the rate of feed of the strip and generates one or more sensing signals. The sensor uses a signal generator which is a rotary pulse generator, or a photoelectric device for detecting marks on the strip. A controller receives the sensing signals and generates control signals for controlling the rate of feed of the strip.

Abstract: The sewing attachment of a jacket front panel zipper in which the edges of the zipper side tapes are folded into inwardly facing C shapes and the left and right jacket front panel edges into outwardly facing C shapes, and these inwardly and outwardly facing C shapes are interfolded with each other and held in this relationship by the zipper attaching seams, with the result that the cut edges of the sewn together components are hidden within the folding from view to thereby enhance the appearance of jacket.

Abstract: A tape feed device for a sewing machine for feeding to a sewing location of the sewing machine at least one tape from a supply having a drive roll for feeding the tape, a feed roll disposed in the path of the tape between the supply and the drive roll, a stepping motor for driving both the drive roll and the feed roll, and a guide for passing tape around at least part of the feed roll which is capable of feeding more tape than the drive roll.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding lengths of tape to a sewing location to be sewn onto other material is disclosed. In particular, it relates to apparatus that may be set to accept and feed tape that has any width within a predetermined range. The feeding operation includes holding the tape and cutting off an end portion of selectable length from the forward end of the tape being fed toward the sewing location and then feeding the cut-off portions, which may be patches, farther forward toward the sewing location.

Abstract: An automatic feeding device for a sewing machine, comprising an arm, a cylinder fixed to one end of the arm, and a feeder provided on the other end of the arm. A base cloth is inserted into the feeder and transferred by the cylinder to an operative point adjacent the sewing machine, and further transferable back to a non-operative point away from the sewing machine, in an automatic way. The base cloth is retained and prevented against reverse movement within the feeder which includes a plurality of stopper pins, and forward and rearward retaining members.

Abstract: Sewing machine for sewing a rubber strip to a tubular end piece of a garment made from an elastic textile material in order to produce an endless elastic band. The sewing machine comprises a presser foot (18) with an insertion opening (22) for the rubber strip (24), a braking device (48) to resist the insertion movement of the rubber strip and provided with two clamping elements (50, 52) which grip the strip, and a cutting system (26) which can be motor driven in order to cut the rubber strip. To eliminate the reintroduction process of the strip (24) into the insertion opening (22) of the presser foot (18) after said cutting, the cutting system (26) is arranged rear from the insertion opening (22) of and in the presser foot (18), and a drive (56) is associated with the braking device (48) to increase the gap between the two clamping element (50, 52) just before actuation of the cutting system (26).

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding and braking elastic or nonelastic bands during sewing to pieces of fabric has an elongated flat housing of rectangular cross-sectional outline with a transversely extending channel for a band. The housing is separably affixed to the table of a household sewing machine and contains a reciprocable slide which can alter the effective width of the channel. The slide is installed at one side of the channel, and the housing supports an adjustable fabric guide at the other side of the channel. A plate-like biasing member is installed in the channel at a level above the band, and the biasing member can be moved up or down by a screw having a knurled head so as to select the force with which the underside of the biasing member bears against the upper side of the band.

Abstract: A sewing machine comprising a feed unit 10 to feed a folded tape beneath a presser foot 8, a cutting unit 15 to cut the tape upstream of the presser foot and a hemming group 21 to guide and shape the hem of a workpiece upstream of the presser foot. The feed unit 10, cutting unit 15 and hemming group 21 comprise a feed guide 11, a cutting member 16 and a hem folder 22 respectively, which are individually and selectively movable from a rest position in which they are spaced apart from a workpiece supporting table 3 and the presser foot 8 to a working position in which they are disposed close to the supporting table and presser foot to perform their operating functions.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a presser foot 9 provided, at the front portion 9a thereof, with an engagement seat 21 through which two ribbon-like pieces of trimmings 15, 16 of different width to be individually and selectively fed to the presser foot, can be sent under a central portion 9b of the latter so that they are engaged by the line of sewing together with the workpiece. An adjustment element 23 is positioned in said engagement seat in order to define the useful width of the seat depending upon the width of the piece of trimmings to be used. A cutting unit 31 is slidably mounted along a guide element 34 and is movable from a rest position in which it is spaced apart sideways from the sewing machine supporting table 3 to a rest position in which it is located close to the supporting table to cut the piece of trimmings previously used.

Abstract: The device herein described comprises a feed roller 12 rotated by a motor 16 and disposed before the presser foot 9 at right angles to the feed advance direction of the workpiece. Individually and selectively acting against the feed roller 12 are two pressure backing rollers 19, 20 each of which engages a respective piece of ribbon-like trimmings to push it against the feed roller which carries out the pulling thereof. The pressure backing rollers 19, 20 are supported by a swinging plate which is caused to oscillate upon the action of a fluid-operated cylinder 30 in order to make the backing rollers selectively engage with the feed roller 12 and therefore selectively feed said ribbon-like trimmings under the pressure foot 9.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a material setter for a sewing machine having a hollowed folder through which a tape-like material passes to be folded before it is stitched. The material setter comprises a shoe member frictionally contacting with the material through a slot formed in the folder, a reciprocating device for reciprocatively moving the shoe member along the way of the material in the folder, and a one-way device for causing the shoe member to move the material forward only when the shoe member is moved forward by the reciprocating device.

Abstract: The device according to the invention comprises a passive guiding assembly and a correction device, acting in combination to offer a regular fold before the stitching station. The passive assembly comprises two elements of which one is placed inside the other in the form of a U during formation of the fold. The upper and lower faces of the inner element are plane and horizontal, the lower face being in the working plane of the stitching station. The recess between the two elements allows passage of the fabric. The correction device comprises a device for detecting the presence of the fabric placed under the inner element and an active guiding assembly. The active guiding assembly abuts on the fabric and ensures transverse displacement thereof as a function of the instructions given by the detection device.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding lengths of tape to a sewing location to be joined to other material including cutting off an end portion of selected length from forward end of tape, then feeding said portion to sewing location.

Abstract: Method of attaching belt loops (L) to articles of clothing (6), e.g. trousers and skirts, comprises feeding a strip of material (M) through a cutting station (C) at which it is cut into lengths (L) and securing those lengths in position by stitching. Prior to cutting, adhesive is applied to the strip (M) at either sides of each cutting location so that each end of each length has a coating of adhesive. The adhesive, which is applied to both sides of the strip, is to prevent fraying.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for feeding and securing a fabric tape enclosing a wire to a sheet of fabric, such as a mattress pad, along a predetermined circuitous path. The pad is supported in a generally planar configuration and is movable through a plane under the needle of a sewing head so that the needle traverses the circuitous path on the pad. The tape and enclosed wire are supplied to a guide rotatably mounted on the sewing head for guiding the tape and enclosed wire onto the pad towards the needle from locations circumferentially disposed about a vertical axis of the needle. Provision is made for moving the guide about the sewing head as the pad moves in the circuitous path under the needle so that the tape and enclosed wire move towards the needle generally along the circuitous path.

Abstract: An elastic band feeding and tensioning mechanism and method for the application of an elastic band, having at least a portion thereof tensioned, on a fabric piece fed under a stitching needle of a sewing machine. A footplate guide is provided for positioning the elastic band in alignment on a fabric piece. A sewing guide member is adapted for securement to a foot arm of a sewing machine, and has a jaw opening for receiving the elastic band. A guide mechanism is provided for guiding the elastic band toward the jaw opening. The elastic band is advanced through the sewing machine by the feeddog of the sewing machine and tension is applied to the band by tension members. The tension members comprise a drive and idler rolls driven at a band feeding speed slower than the feeddog, and a further band stretching roll which instantaneously stitches the band between the drive roll and feeddog.

Abstract: An accessory pneumatically operated holding device is disclosed, specifically for industrial sewing machines which device comprises a profiled blade accessory holding element which can be moved by a pneumatic piston along a backward and forward travel with extreme and adjustable precision.The above device can be readily removed from the working plane of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A braking device for strip material particularly for a sewing machine which sews a garment requiring ruffling comprises a fixed guide over which the strip material such as tape is fed. A resilient member overlies the fixed guide and it is engaged by a multi-step cam plate mounted for rotation about an axis so that a plurality of flat sides thereof may be selectively engaged against the resilient member to force it against the material passing on the guide so as to apply a selected braking force thereto. The resilient member advantageously comprises a leaf spring and the multi-step cam plate includes a plurality of engagements surfaces arranged at different distances from the central axis of its rotation which may be positioned by a hand knob control to bear against the resilient member and effect the varying braking of the tape being fed.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for assembling fastening elements to fabric pieces including sewing separated fastener stringer tapes to respective fabric pieces pulling the sewn element downstream as the sewing proceeds, and partially combining the separated stringer tapes by pulling the slider downstream through a portion of the length of the fastener elements while retarding movement of the stringer tapes at their upstream ends.

Abstract: A device for guiding a concealed slide fastener to a sewing machine includes a pair of spaced track bodies mounted on a slanted guide plate and each comprising a block fixedly mounted on the guide plate and a cover member movably mounted on said block. The block and the cover member jointly define a guide channel for guiding an element assembly of the slide fastener therethrough while the slide fastener is fed down the guide plate toward a sewing position on the sewing machine. The guide channel includes a recess for accommodating coupling heads of the element assembly at an inlet end thereof, the recess being shaped for automatically erecting the element assembly from a horizontal position to a vertical position as the element assembly is moved progressively through the guide channel. The guide plate supports a means for sensing an end of the concealed slide fastener.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for forming a fly structure in garments or the like and more particularly to a machine which folds a fly flap portion which is integral with the garment forming panel, then places a predetermined length of one half of a slide fastener stringer in position on the fly flap portion within the folds thus formed and secures the stringer to the folded flap portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for forming a fly structure in a garment or the like and more particularly to a machine which folds a fly flap portion which is integral with the garment panel to form a double welt along the exposed edge of the finished fly structure and then places and secures one half of a slide fastener tape to the fly flap portion.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a system which, utilizing pneumatic logic, folds and positions pre-cut belt loop material for joinder to pants. The pre-cut material is loaded while joinder is occuring. Two pairs of upstanding pins supported by fingers receive individually cut belt loop fabric pieces which can be made from scrap to match colors and, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, two tacks secure the loop to pants in the case of jeans. A novel adjustable cam control arrangement and means for rotating the fingers is described in the following specification. In a second embodiment, one visible and one invisible tack can be made securing the belt loop to the pants, with the visible and invisible tacks being placed either top and bottom or bottom and top, respectively, as selected.

Abstract: A device for feeding and sewing a knitted ribbon to the edge portion of garment parts of a mesh material, to be provided with a U-shaped border trimming. To secure the position of the upper portion of the folded ribbon, a horizontal separating element is provided adjacent the vertical guide web of the presser foot which is associated with a lifting web extending laterally of and spaced apart from the guide web ahead of the needle. In the area closely adjacent the needle, a hold-down adjustable in height is provided between the lifting web and the guide web. The guiding edge and the foot of the hold-down are provided at different levels in order to slightly stretch the material and spread apart the meshes of the border.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for sewing elongated workpieces, and especially useful for precisely sewing a pair of concealed slide fastener stringers to a pair of fabric halves defining the opening therebetween comprises a table having fabric input guides at the front end of the table, a sewing station, and a gripper assembly for drawing the fabric pieces from the sewing station under a tension less than that applied by the sewing machine feed dog and presser foot. Individually actuable workpiece holders are provided to permit successive setting up of the fabric pieces in the sewing station. Fastener stringers are guided to the sewing station with their corded edges supported in guide channels as the stringers are superposed on the respective fabric piece. The sewing operation proceeds automatically in an extremely precise manner after the sewing station is inputed and the sewing machine started.

Abstract: A sewing machine of the differential type which, in one stitching operation, gathers a first fabric material and sews a band to one side of said first fabric material and a second fabric material to the other side of the first fabric material. The throat plate of the sewing machine has a longitudinal groove disposed ahead of the sewing needle to guide the band underneath the fabric material being gathered by the gathering dog. No gathering dog is in register with the groove. The machine may include overlock stitching.

Abstract: A device for automatically supplying a strip of elastic tape material to a sewing machine under tension. The device uniquely combines a tape supply mechanism, for tractively propelling the tape, and a tape tensioning assembly which guides the tape along a predetermined path of travel while measuring the amount or degree of tape tension. The tape supplied is under the control of the tape tensioning apparatus which may include a mechanism for selectively modulating the degree of tape tension.

Abstract: A device for feeding a strip of material into a sewing machine so that it can be sewed onto a cut fabric which is fed over a base plate includes a stop which is positionable in the feed path of the strip of material and which control the operation of the sewing machine so that the strip will not be fed unless it is aligned with the associated workpiece and guided past a reciprocating needle.

Abstract: A presser foot assembly is mounted to a sewing machine and includes a bifurcated skid for mounting to the sewing machine in alignment with and projecting in front of the sewing station and a wheel mounted on the skid which is biased downwardly through the slot of the tines of the skid into yielding contract with the material extending through the sewing station. When a tape feed apparatus is moved to a position in front of and aligned with the wheel and the sewing station, the tape moves with the base material beneath the wheel and through the sewing station where it is sewn to the base material. When the tape feed apparatus is moved out of alignment with the wheel and sewing station, the tape no longer moves beneath the wheel and to the sewing station.

Abstract: An improved tape for use in locating buttons and the corresponding buttonholes is formed of a perforated strip of fabric, paper, or plastic material with two corresponding series of locating indicia. The tape has a pressure-sensitive adhesive to adhere the strip temporarily to the fabric of a garment, and is perforated between the two sets of locating indicia.In use, two panels of fabric to have attached buttons and to be worked for buttonholes are laid side by side, or in overlapping relationship and the tape is adhered to both panels.The two halves of the tape are separated along the perforations, and the button and buttonhole indicia remain adhered to the panels of fabric, in perfect alignment until the sewing and working is completed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual-ply fumigation and plant bed cover including an imperforated plastic type cover that acts to effectively seal a plant bed during fumigation and a cloth type cover for providing basic plant protection during the early growth of plants within the covered plant bed. The plastic type cover is stitched to the cloth type cover about a tear seam in order that at a selected time the plastic type cover can be torn or stripped away from the cloth type cover, leaving the cloth type cover stretched over the plant bed. To form the tear seam, a tape cloth strip is secured over the plastic layer about each side, and stitches are sewn through the tape cloth, plastic, and cloth layers. As a part of the method of the present invention, as disclosed herein, after seeding, the plastic type cover may remain intact with said cloth type cover until seed germination, so as to effectively expedite seed germination because of a greenhouse effect realized by the plastic type cover.

Abstract: A method of making lap seams by providing a constant overlap of the cut edge portions of two pieces of material to be joined together by a seam, stabilizing the overlapping material to prevent relative movement therebetween, rotating the overlapping material causing each piece of material to fold over the cut edge of the other piece of material to form the lap seam, and providing a double row of stitches each extending along a different one of the folded edges of the seam.

Abstract: A slide fastener guide assembly is disclosed for aligning a workpiece, a slide fastener and a strip of backing material as they are fed into a sewing machine. The assembly includes a base with an attached guide member having fingers that bear against the mounting tapes and align the slide fastener by laterally engaging the coupling elements. To allow a slidered fastener to pass through the assembly, the guide member is sufficiently flexible that the fingers may be displaced upward by a slider passing thereunder.

Abstract: An elastic metering device including a plurality of individual tape feeding and tensioning mechanisms having a common drive shaft, with each mechanism being adapted to independently act on one of a plurality of tapes as they advance toward the machine. Each tape feeding and tensioning mechanism includes an operator controlled variable speed drive mechanism for selectively affecting the manner in which each mechanism acts on each tape.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for converting a lockstitch sewing machine to a machine for decorating fabrics with at least one untwisted strand of keratinous fiber applied in a pattern to the fabric. In general, the method consists of removing the throat plate, feed dog, presser foot, bobbin, bobbin case and needle bar from the lockstitch sewing machine and inserting instead a needle block having means for securing a plurality of standard punching needles therein, a throat plate apertured to correspond with the plural punching needles carried by the needle block, a presser foot apertured to correspond with the spacing of the needles in the needle block whether passage of the punching needles therethrough and a presser foot with a guide passage for the fibrous strand and a feeddog with sufficient clearance for the punching needles carried by the needle block.

Abstract: A fabric label feeding apparatus for use in a stitching process including a roll of continuous labels in strip form, a feeding cylinder for engaging a raised stitch incorporated in each individual label and cut-off means for separating individual labels from the label strip.

Abstract: A guide for sewing machines for effecting the attachment of a waistband to a workpiece which includes a pair of U-shaped guide elements fixed on the machine in spaced and vertical alignment for guiding separated strips of band material to a converging position in close proximity with the machines stitching instrumentalities. The guide includes a dividing member selectively movable from an operative position between the guide elements to a position displaced therefrom. The dividing member is provided with surfaces that cooperate with the guide elements to form separate passageways for the strips of band material and a central member having a guide surface for guiding the edge of the workpiece between the separated strips of band material to the converging position.

Abstract: A device for feeding to a sewing machine a strip of fabric, in particular a longitudinally folded band to serve as a pocket welt, comprises a generally oval-shaped guide mountable on the sewing-machine base and provided with sides shaped as U-profiles and with a tongue at an output end for folding a fabric strip upon passage thereof along a feed path to a sewing station at the machine. A beam of light from a gallium-arsenide source traverses the feed path in the region of the tongue to energize a photocell upon passage of a workpiece, the photocell being connected to a stitch counter for activating the same upon energization by the source. The guide has a length scale with graduations spaced in the direction of the feed path for implementing the manual positioning of a fabric strip prior to the feeding thereof to the sewing station, while the stitch counter is operationally coupled to the reciprocating sewing-needle drive to arrest the same upon counting a predetermined number of stitches.

Abstract: An apparatus for sewing a slide fastener chain to a pair of article panels separates the chain into separate stringers which are sewn to the article panels with the fastening elements facing outward. The slide fastener stringers are twisted and the inner edges of the attached article panels are folded and the stringers are reinterlocked by a turning and pull-up device through which the slide fastener stringers with attached article panels are pulled by a pulling mechanism.

Abstract: A device for quickly sewing finishing elements such as edgings and collars onto knitted outerwear articles to be applied on chainstitch sewing machines comprises: (a) a braking member for the finishing element effective to maintain it in a tensioned or stretched condition; (b) a folding or bending member effective to fold or bend said finishing element, and (c) a feeding member effective to feed the folded or bent finishing element and the knitted article, under the foot of the sewing machine. The braking member is formed by a curved rod, onto the bottom of which presses a blade spring, and by two parallel vertical rods located upstream of the first rod, the finishing element passing at first between said two rods and then, together with the selvedge, between the curved rod and blade spring. The pressure exerted by the blade spring on the rod may be adjusted by a screw provided with a spring.

Abstract: An overedge sewing machine having a reciprocating trimmer knife is used to sew elastic tape to a fabric. The elastic tape is fed through a tape guide which is movable from a rest position in which it guides the tape toward the stitch-forming mechanism of the sewing machine in the direction of material movement, to a second position in which it guides the tape to a position to be cut off by the trimmer knife. The tape guide includes a controllable tension which is located close to the stitch-forming mechanism when the tape guide is in its rest position to effect instant control of gathering. The tape guide is controlled by a knee shift which is movable from a rest position, through a "gathering" position, to a "cut-off" position. A stop mechanism requires the application of significant additional pressure on the knee shift to move it from the "gathering" position to the "cut-off" position.

Abstract: A device for folding a strip of material, comprises, a support with a substantially U-shape guide having divergent first and second guide legs mounted on said support and having a widened entrance end for the insertion of a strip of material and a narrow discharge end for the discharge of the material. The guide is of a tapered, funnel-shape form, tapering inwardly from the entrance end to the discharge end and it is arranged alongside of a substantially U-shape folding element which is engageable therewith. The folding element is pivotally mounted on the support adjacent the guide and it includes a central folding web portion engageable into the guide between the guide legs and a leg portion joined to each side of the central web portion adapted to engage over the guide legs to fold the material thereover. The device is usable in association with a sewing machine in which, after the material is folded, it is engaged with a garment and sewn along the edge thereof.

Abstract: An adjustable guiding device for guiding tapes, ribbons, threads or the like to a working station of a sewing machine. The device comprises a rod, a number of thin guide elements adjustably mounted on the rod for movement in a direction transverse to the rod, and releasable locking means for locking the guide elements in any pre-determined adjusted position. Selected guide elements can be adjusted, upon release of the locking means, so as to define at least one guide passage having a predetermined profile corresponding to the width and depth of the material to be passed therethrough.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for cutting and inserting a strip of elastic material or the like beneath the presser foot of a sewing machine in which guide means is provided which automatically adjusts its position relative to the presser foot regardless of the height of the presser foot and which feeds the elastic material into position for stitching beneath the presser foot.

Abstract: A throat plate holding the feed dog of a twin-needle sewing machine has formed therein a pair of parallel spaced guide channels for slidably accommodating respective scoop-carrying edges of the pair of concealed fastener stringer tapes as they are stitched onto a fabric. When seen in a cross section, the guide channels diverge downwardly to prevent accidental disengagement of the scoop-carrying edges of the stringer tapes therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus forming a style loop which has one end folded over and the other end turned flat under the loop attaches the folded end and the flat end to a surface to provide the style loop which can be used, for example, as a belt loop on pants. The apparatus first folds the one end of the loop material upwardly from the surface to which the loop will be attached. The upwardly folded end is then transferred to a turning clamp which holds the folded end while the flat end of the loop is attached to the surface. The turning clamp is then moved relative to the surface to turn the loop over the attached flat end and rotated for turning the upward fold in the one end of the loop downwardly toward the surface for attachment.

Abstract: A guide for guiding elastic bands in a sewing machine for attachment to garments having a pair of opposed elements mounted on pivotable support members individual thereto. The combination of the internal surfaces of the opposed elements define a shaped channel for folding and maintaining the bands in the desired configuration for and during attachment to a garment. A control device is operatively connected to the opposed elements to permit selective movement of the latter in opposite directions. The elements can be moved between positions of contiguous relation, which serves to guide the bands and a spaced apart inclined position that serves to complete the final stages of each sewing operation and to facilitate insertion of a new band for the next sewing operation.

Abstract: A sewing machine attachment for inserting a preselected size label to the underside of the garment which is to be sewn. A predetermined length of ribbon is cut from a label storage area, engaged and folded upon itself by an inserter band which advances the label to a transporter assembly. The label is presented above the feed dog and below the material by the transporter assembly, which maintains a parallel relationship with the work support of the machine during its path of movement, whereby insuring accurate delivery of the label into close proximity with the sewing area. The label is removed from the transporter by the feed mechanism, which advances the label, along with the garment to be sewn, to the sewing area. A pneumatic control system sequences the label insertion operation.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a tie-stitching machine includes paired needles conventionally drivable axially to and fro through respective holes therefor aligned therewith in a planar upper surface of a flat base plate devoid of claws and any mounting opening therefor, and having instead a drivably mounted roller aligned behind the sewing needles and foot, biased downwardly and forwardly angularly on a pivotedly mounted roller-mounting structure mounted on the main support structure and spring biased by a spring, driven drivably through a slip clutch in-turn driven by to and fro motion taken from a lever mounted eccentrically on the main drive shaft, and there being a manual lever for lifting concurrently each of the roller and the foot, and another automatic lever for lifting the foot prior to and during driving rotation of the mounted roller, and for depressing the foot during the alternate sewing phase.

Abstract: Pivotally mounted attachment apparatus for use with sewing machines for controllably elasticizing circular parts of garments or other goods. A substantially upright bracket lockably pivoted to the machine has a main and lateral arm, the main arm affording a downward guidance path for elastic stripping having secured thereto means for feed initiation and metering or tensioning of the elastic stripping. The lateral arm carries the cutting apparatus. Feed initiation, metering or tensioning and cutting means include phased actuating devices fluidically operated and wherein the feed initiation and cutting cycles take place automatically and sequentially by activated controls.