Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing peripheral selvedges of fabric. The apparatus includes a sewing machine unit for sewing up fabrics; an air table mechanism incorporating a number of jet apertures through which air is jetted onto an upper surface of the table in an obliquely upward direction towards a product guide member; a supplementary roller unit which vertically ascends and descends to shift a processable fabric synchronously with feeding of the sewing machine unit; a rotating unit having a fabric holding unit which descends only when sewing of a fabric corner is executed in order to hold and rotate the objective fabric by a predetermined angle and then ascends after rotating the fabric by a predetermined angle; a flange strip supply unit for supplying a flange strip to the sewing machine unit; and a controller unit for integrally controlling operation of the above component units.

Abstract: An apparatus for high production assembly and sewing of tubular sleeve sections to shirt bodies. Tubular sleeve sections are loaded onto sleeve cones, preferably of cylindrical or frusto-conical form. The sleeve cones may be mounted for pivoting movement to facilitate manual loading. A retractable, hollow body shell closes over the loaded sleeve cones, and a shirt body is loaded over the body shell and previously loaded sleeve sections. Load fixtures, comprising a body shell and a pair of sleeve cones as described, are mounted on a carrier, preferably a rotary turret, for advancement from one work station to another, for loading, sewing and unloading operations. For sewing, the load fixtures are bodily detachable from the carrier, and rotated about the axis of the sleeve cones, while the shoulder seams are sewn by a stationary sewing apparatus.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sealable cloth pouch having an opening on one side and consisting of two cloth parts to be sewn together uses several piping segments corresponding in number and length essentially to the edges of the cloth pouch which is to be stitched. The seams of the cloth pouch runs substantially linearly along the edges of the pouch into the corners thereof but not around the corners. The piping segments overlap each other in the corner areas to create substantially rounded edges. The apparatus for manufacturing the cloth pouch includes a device to feed the cloth parts together, a device to insert the various piping segments, a device to stitch the piping segments and a device to create an incision to facilitate overlapping the piping segments.

Abstract: A sewing machine is disclosed having an arrangement for guiding a fabric to be sewn at an adjustable distance with respect to a stitch-forming sewing needle and having a guide rail in which the guide rail is capable of being removably affixed to the working surface. The guide rail is provided with a retaining part, which is C-shaped in its cross-section, and has a rib-shaped guide cam. The retaining part is preferably provided at a front-side end of the guide rail of the sewing machine and at a right angle to its guide beams. The retaining part is constructed so that the rib-shaped guide cam can engage a slot which is formed underneath the working surface.

Abstract: A device for guiding a cover member to a sewing machine, which basically includes a control arm supported pivotally on the table of sewing machine, a guide roller assembly mounted rotatably to the control arm, and a link assembly supported pivotally on the sewing machine table. The guide roller assembly, which is to retain the cover member therein, may be adjustably displaced in conjuction with the link assembly by a control drive mechanism which is operatively connected to the control arm. With detection of one curved end of the cover member, this guiding device permits even a multilayer-type cover member to be sewn, smoothly and precisely, along its one curved end.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a blowing device which comprises an angularly constructed step, into which opens an opening from which a gas stream blows towards a curled edge of a workpiece for the purpose of uncurling the edge of the workpiece.

Abstract: The edge portion (18) of sheet material moves about a turning plate (65), moving through first and second right angle turns (44) and (45). A turning belt (50) moves in unison with the edge portion (18) through the first two turns, and then moves through third and fourth right angle turns to advance along its return flight. An open ended slot (73) is formed between the first and second right angle turns to allow the turning belt and edge portion to move from beneath the turning plate to above the turning plate, so as to permit the edge portion of the sheet material to always turn in a downward direction as it is being turned over and placed in a folded position. Folding plate (77) guides the sheet material to help form the fold (20) in the sheet material, and separator plate (76) separates the edge portion (18) of the sheet material from the turning belt (50).

Abstract: Edge guiding apparatus for a sewing machine that controls the position of a fabric ply edge relative to a reference line. A friction wheel feeds a fabric ply toward a sewing station. If the fabric ply edge displaces from the reference line, control circuitry energizes a drive motor that displaces the friction wheel along an axis perpendicular to the reference line. Simultaneously the friction wheel pivots about a support axis that is orthogonal to a plane containing the reference line and displacement axis. Pressure apparatus holds the friction wheel against a fabric ply with a substantially constant force.

Abstract: A guide device for a sewing machine which is used for at least hemming of a bottom of a work, sewing a tape on the work and sewing a rolled hem tape on the work comprises four guide members. A first guide member has a regulating surface for regulating an edge of the tape supplied beneath the work, and is mounted on the bed of the sewing machine. A second guide member has two regulating surfaces which regulate the position of one edge of the work or one edge of the rolled hem tape and the position of the other edge of the rolled hem tape, respectively, and is fixedly mounted on the first guide member. A third guide member has a narrow space into which the work or one fold of the rolled hem tape is inserted, and is mounted on the first guide member. A fourth guide member has a pushing surface for pushing the other fold of the rolled hem tape against said second guide member, and is mounted on said third guide member.

Abstract: A continuous loop waist band (10) is placed in edge alignment with a garment body (11), and the garment parts are stretched about spindles (19, 20, 21 and 23). The spindles are moved away from one another so as to stretch the aligned edges of the garment parts. The edges of the garment parts tend to curl when stretched, and an edge decurler (84) removes the curl from the stretched garment parts as the edges approach the sewing machine needle (26). Edge guide (102) maintains the plies of material in overlying contact so as to make sure the curls do not reappear in the garment parts as the parts approach the sewing machine.

Abstract: A device for aligning a garment for a sewing machine provided with a device for moving the garment towards the sewing machine, and a device for aligning the garment to a lateral window along the moving device to obtain precision in alignment of the garment.

Abstract: An automatic hemming apparatus for supplying a tubular workpiece in an adequate attitude to a sewing machine (4) is disclosed. The apparatus has a workpiece position control device (21) and a guide (19) for folding a circular edge of the workpiece in front of a sewing bed (6). The sewing machine (4) is provided with a delivery roller (10) at the rear side and an assisting feed belt (26) at the outside of the sewing bed (6). The device (21) comprises an edge sensor (17) and inclined freely rotatable rollers (22A to 22D) so as to contact with the workpiece on the outer surfaces thereof. On the feeding operation of roller (10) and belt (26), according to a signal from the sensor (17), a stepping motor (24) changes the inclining direction of the rollers (22A to 22D) and the workpiece is moved toward the right or left.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes two machine halves spaced from one another and each provided with respective tongues capable of displacing pieces of the material web previously cut into pieces on a conveyor, the conveyor being provided with guide rails, one of the rails being formed with a starting portion inclined along and transverse to a travel direction of the conveyor, so that each of the pieces of the web received by the conveyor is delivered to a sewing machine with respective longitudinal edges bent upwardly with respect to a main portion of the web, preventing thereby unraveling the weft upon cutting the web by inherent gravity forces.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the fabric edge position wherein a fabric fed to the needle location of a sewing machine is fed downstream, feeding distances per unit time at two feeding points, which are along a direction almost perpendicular to the fabric feeding direction, are differentiated by detecting the fabric edge position in the vicinity of the needle location, thereby shifting rightward and leftward the fabric edge position in the vicinity of the needle location so as to form a seam at a constant distance from the fabric edge.

Abstract: A device for applying fabric webs includes upper and lower runners each formed with a respective edge facing a pile edge of the web and provided with respective first, second and third segments which are differently shaped and provide aligning of the edge and a seam during hemming and sewing operations.

Abstract: A process and associated apparatus for joining automatically the beginning and the end of a hem in a circular textile material is disclosed. The material is fed on to an entry roller which receives the cloth from a flat guide, the said roller being inclined at the moment of the initial introduction of the material followed by the material being fed and guided with the principal roller being horizontal, this being followed by the pre-folding and final folding of the edge of the material by fold guides prior to the stitching of the hem until the already sewn section of the hem reaches the entry of the guide unit, at which moment the said unit is displaced for the realignment of the hem stitching zone, following which the fold guides are separated.

Abstract: A sewing machine has a tape feeder for laterally aligning pre-positioned tapes of different widths at a presser foot (38) with a presser foot sole (4), the presser foot arranged in such a way that it can move up and down. Several guide elements (15) constructed in the form of lamallae (34) and aligned in the tape feed direction are fitted in the tape in-feed region on the presser foot sole (4). These guide elements (15) guide the tapes laterally.

Abstract: An apparatus for sewing an over-edge stitch to form a butt-seam in sections of carpet or other thick workpieces is provided, wherein an existing over-edge stitching machine has four primary parts removed and replaced with four parts of different designs, the parts being the workpiece guide, the top looper, the top looper pivot arm and the bottom looper. The new workpiece guide forgoes using the attachments employed by the guide it replaces, and is instead soldered or otherwise secured to the existing needle plate, and the new workpiece guide has a finger extension which operates to keep thread loops formed by the stitching components in a loose configuration until substantially no further tension is produced on the thread loops by the stitching components.

Abstract: A device for producing a rolled hemming of a cloth including a rolling tool for rolling an edge of said cloth therein. The tool has an outer shell member and an inner shell member. A spiral shaped gap is formed between the shells for feeding the cloth edge therethrough. The gap has an entry opening for receiving the cloth edge and a discharge opening from which the cloth edge is discharged. The width of said gap decreases from the entry opening to the discharge opening. The tool is fixedly mounted upstream of a presser foot of a sewing machine with respect to a feeding direction of the cloth and downstream of the presser foot with respect to a cloth edge rolling direction. A cloth feeding mechanism for coercively tucking the cloth into the rolling tool in the rolling direction includes an endless sliding member for clamping the cloth edge at a portion of the shells whereby a portion of the cloth is exposed out of both shell members; and a rotary driving mechanism for driving the endless sliding member.

Abstract: An edge finishing system for heavily piled, relatively stiff materials has a robot member which engages a piece of the material and forces it to bear against a fence along one edge. The robot moves the piece through a sewing station where tape is applied and sewn to the edge as it is pulled through the station by a splined wheel. A rotating mechanism rotates the piece ninety degrees and the second edge is finished. Where all four edges have been finished, a cutter removes any trailing tape. An automatic hopper moves pieces into position to be gripped and lifted by a gripper mechanism and placed on the work table for the robot to engage the piece.

Abstract: A machine for sewing a binding tape to a cut edge of carpeting comprises a wheel-mounted sewing machine having an opposed pair of pinch rollers engaging opposed sides of the carpeting, the pinch rollers being inset from the cut edge and one of the rollers being intermittently motor driven in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of the sewing machine's needle assembly. As the one pinch roller is driven, the sewing machine moves along the floor as the binding tape is played from a reel, folded longitudinally and stitched to the carpet edge. The machine incorporates a spring-biased needle guide which effectively surrounds the needle shank as it moves reciprocally up and down to create the stitches. This guide prevents deflection of the needle and possible breakage thereof should it encounter a hard object, such as a glue bead or the like in the carpet backing.

Abstract: An apparatus for sewing elastic hems on fabric pieces is designed as a tandem machine. In a first sewing machine (26a), an elastic band (6) is prefixed at the edge of a fabric piece (8). During further conveyance thereof, the thus created double-ply structure is folded by 180.degree. by a baffle plate (34). A pair of conveying rollers (36, 38) withdraws the double-ply structure from the baffle plate. Between the first sewing machine (26a) and a second sewing machine (26b), provided for finishing the elastic hem, there is provided a deflection roller (40) deflecting the triple-ply structure, formed by said folding and consisting of fabric edge portion, an elastic band, and a fabric folding portion, from the horizontal. The deflection roller (40) is driven in a direction opposite to the conveying direction and thus takes care that the triple-ply structure, also in case of curved seams, remains closed and is sewn correctly.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for automatic sewing of a piece of fabric along its edges. The process is of the type in which a rolling element (12) orientable by pivoting around a vertical axis YY' bears against the fabric in front of the presser-foot in order to guide and entrain the fabric in front of the sewing zone. The rolling element (12) is driven into rotational movement by a cylinder (16) bearing against that element in its upper zone traversed by the pivoting axis YY' in such a manner that the contact of the cylinder against the rolling element leaves this latter free to pivot, especially at high frequency, about the axis YY' independently of the value of the friction coefficient between the cylinder and the rolling element.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically serging a trouser-fly piece initially along an arcuate line of stitching extending across its leading end while tracing and trimming that arcuate line in advance of serging and thereafter continuing to serge along a straight line of stitching extending parallel to one longitudinal substantially straight side edge of the trouser-fly piece. The apparatus incorporates control means including a control counter and a delay counter both operatively associated with the operation of a sewing needle so as to ensure serging of the trouser-fly piece over its full length with accurate and uniform finishing.

Abstract: A piece of pile-type textile goods having a longitudinal pile-free edge strip of predetermined width is selvedged by moving the goods longitudinally in a transport direction sequentially through four folding stations and then through a stitching station. In the first folding station the outer two-thirds of the edge strip are folded up into a vertical position while the inner third of the edge strip is maintained flat and horizontal so that the edge strip is basically of L-section. Then in the second folding station the outer third of the edge strip is folded inward to a horizontal position while maintaining the inner third flat and horizontal and the middle third upright so that the edge strip is basically of C-section. In the third folding station the outer third of the edge strip is folded down to a vertical position next to and continuous with the middle third while the inner third is maintained flat and horizontal and the middle third upright.

Abstract: An improved method of serging a trouser-fly piece on a serging machine having a trimming cutter is disclosed wherein a continuous trouser-fly blank assembly is fed intermittently into a first feed path extending toward the serging unit at a predetermined angle relative to a path of movement of the trouser-fly piece being advanced by the serging unit. Then the continuous trouser-fly blank assembly is cut into a succession of elongate rectangular trouser-fly pieces each of which is subsequently advanced toward the serging unit along the first feed path. Thereafter, at least a corner of a leading end of the trouser-fly piece is trimmed by the trimming cutter and, substantially at the same time, one curved longitudinal edge of the trouser-fly piece including the trimmed corner is serged with a serge stitching.

Abstract: A sewing method and apparatus is disclosed for preventing raveling of a cut cloth edge in the making of garments such as slacks and skirts. A pair of sewing machines symmetrically arranged with respect to a cloth feeding line are disposed oppositely to each other. Each sewing machine has an auxiliary guide for contacting the upper surface of a cloth, a cloth edge guide and a cloth stopper. Opposite edges of the cloth are simultaneously and automatically guided along respective sewing lines by the guides and serged by the sewing machines without failure. In operating the pair of sewing machines, another additional sewing machine can be operated to serge other edges of the next cloth.

Abstract: Patterns of two fabric layers are each recognized by a camera and the fabric layers are aligned to make these patterns agree in the transverse and longitudinal directions. According to the invention the influence of speed-related disturbance variables and pattern-related limitations during the generation of the signal is reduced. Two-dimensional images of the two fabric layers are recorded with a matrix camera each during a pause between feeds. The degree of congurence of the fabric layers according to the pattern is determined by two-dimensional cross-correlation analysis of the image points arranged in rows and columns. Aligning correction values are calculated from this degree. The edge distance of the fabric layers is determined with a section of the matrix sensors, which is a separate section in terms of evaluation. Based on the edge distance data, the lower fabric layer is adjusted to the correct distance continuously and the upper fabric layer is adjusted as needed.

Abstract: A presser of a sewing machine including a body movable downward for pressing a cloth which includes one side edge, a rod laterally extended from the body, a bolt rotatably supported on the rod, and a guide including a back extended downward from one side of the guide for guiding the side edge of the cloth and a frame having a screw hole for threaded engagement with the bolt, so that the guide can be caused to move along a longitudinal direction of the rod and so that the back can be adjusted relative to the body by rotation of the bolt.

Abstract: An apparatus including a sewing machine head mounting a support plate, with the support plate orthogonally oriented relative to a reciprocating sewing needle, with the support plate including a forward edge, the support plate mounting a first "L" shaped plate thereunder, with the plate including a plurality of slots positioned forwardly and orthogonally relative to the forward end. A second "L" shaped plate has secured thereto a plurality of rods, the rods including fasteners, with the rods positionable through the slots to reciprocatingly position an abutment leg in an orthogonal orientation relative to the forward edge, with the abutment leg arranged generally parallel to the forward edge.

Abstract: A trouser-fly piece serging apparatus includes a guide unit disposed upstream of a serging station and composed of a first elongate guide member extending at an angle relative to the path of movement of a trouser-fly piece being advanced by a serging unit, and a second elongate guide member extending parallel to the path of movement of the trouser-fly piece. The trouser-fly piece is guided by the first guide member into the serging station so that a trimming cutter disposed immediately upstream of the serging unit assumes a position to conform to a curvature of the leading end of a substantially arcuate trimming line passing across a corner of the leading end of the trouser-fly piece. Synchronous operation of the serging unit and the trimming cutter causes the trouser-fly piece to turn in one direction during which an arcuate corner which is trimmed by the trimming cutter and subsequently serged by the serging unit is automatically produced on the leading end of the trouser-fly piece.

Abstract: For laterally aligning a fabric web edge during sewing with a sewing machine (4, 6), a guide means (2) is used which can be moved perpendicularly to the conveying direction of the fabric web (S) in order to gently press the fabric web against an abutment (16) which is designed, for instance, as a driven roller and is capable of producing a variable counter-pressure. The guide means contains a ball chain (18) guided about two chain wheels. The balls are supported on a plastic rope so as to be able to rotate together with the fabric web being conveyed. By rotating the chain wheels, the lower length of the chain (18) and, thus, the fabric web (S) can be shifted laterally so as to obtain the desired aligning effect.

Abstract: A self-guiding zig-zag satin stitch presser edge foot includes a sole to be pressed against a fabric to be sewn and a fabric guide for engaging an edge of the fabric. The fabric guide carriers a thread guide pin which lies adjacent to the edge of the fabric. The fabric guide and the thread guide pin are laterally movable, as a unit, by the positioning of a nut on a threaded shank which is fixed relative to the sole. Extending upwardly from the fabric guide is a U-shaped yoke which is slidably received onto the threaded shank. A nut, which is threaded onto the shank, is positioned within the yoke to move the fabric guide and the thread guide pin as the nut is rotated about the shank. The sole includes a channel formed on the underside thereof rearwardly of a needle dropping hole, having a sufficient depth to permit a thickened satin-stitch hem to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An edge tracing sewing machine includes a reciprocable needle bar having a needle at a lower end, a forward feed driving device for feeding a work fabric in a sewing direction, a lateral feed driving device for feeding the work fabric in a lateral direction perpendicular ot the sewing direction, a fabric-edge position detector, a tracing width setting device, and a control device. The control device determines a lateral feed amount based on signals from the fabric-edge position detector and the tracing width setting device. The control device operates the lateral feed driving device plural times until the work fabric is fed by the determined lateral feed amount by the lateral feed driving device, if the determined laterla feed amount is greater than a maximum lateral feed pitch of the lateral feed driving device.

Abstract: A sewing machine capable of performing a profile sewing in which a stitch is provided at a position spaced away from an edgeline of a workpiece by a predetermined constant distance to provide a predetermined margin. The sewing machine is provided with memory means which stores therein the needle position data. This data is transmitted to a sewing needle swinging mechanism so as to move the sewing needle to a position inwardly spaced away from the edgeline to provide the margin. The sewing machine is also provided with image forming means connected to the memory means for providing a visualized image of a stitching reference line on one of a surface of the bed and the workpiece fabric on the bed in accordance with the needle position data. The stitching reference serves as a guide line along which the edgeline is placed.

Abstract: An automatic fabric guide mechanism in a sewing machine includes at least one edge displacement detecting device including a common light source and a pair of light sensors juxtaposed to each other so as to receive rays of light from the common light source. The light source and the light sensors cooperate with each other to define a generally U-shaped channel for accommodating a free lateral edge of a fabric during the feed of the fabric past the stitching position. This detecting device is so designed and so operated as to detect the occurrence of a lateral swing of the fabric being sewed depending on whether both of the light sensors fail to receive the rays of light from the common light source or whether both of the light sensors receive the rays of the light from the common light source.

Abstract: Drive assemblies for seam forming apparatus used to form a seam in one or more limp material segments include a fold assembly and a driver for positioning the segments within guide channels in the fold assembly prior to presentation to a seam joining device. The driver controls the segments to be at associated predetermined positions within the fold assembly. The drive assemblies include actuator means for moving drive wheels of the driver between two positions relative to the guide channels.

Abstract: A sewing machine wherein the fabric supporting arm or bed carries a fabric guide which is movable to any one of a number of positions at different distances from the needle. The fabric guide carries a tape measure or the arm or bed carries a ruler. The tape measure or the ruler has an eyelet for temporary attachment of the tape measure or of the ruler to the needle. The fabric guide is movable along the tape measure or ruler to a position at a desired distance from the needle. The eyelet is then detached from the needle and the tape measure or the ruler is retracted, either by hand or by a spring, to be out of the way during sewing. At such time, one edge of the fabric abuts a stop of the fabric guide while the needle makes a row of stitches at the selected distance from the edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aligning one or more plies of material moving in a predetermined direction, and preferably through a desired path of travel, prior to stitching in a sewing machine. A friction wheel or other guide element is provided for applying a force to the ply having a component in a direction transverse to the direction of travel and sensors are provided for sensing the transverse position of the ply at the point where the sensor is located relative to the desired transverse position at that point. The sensor outputs are weighted, and where two or more sensors are provided, the sensor outputs are combined in a predetermined manner. The combined and weighted outputs are then utilized to control the transverse force applied by the guide element to the ply. The operating speed of the sewing machine may be utilized either as an additional input to control transverse force or to control the rate at which adjustments are made to the transverse force.

Abstract: An edge detector for detecting the edge of fabric in a textile folding or guiding device for an industrial sewing machine. The detector includes a light source mounted adjacent to one surface of the fabric as the fabric enters the folder. The light source is positioned for directing light onto the surface of the fabric. A photodetector is located adjacent to the light source for receiving light reflected from the surface of the fabric. The photodetector provides an output signal in response to the light reflected from the surface of the fabric which is indicative of the position of the fabric in the folder.

Abstract: An edge tracing sewing machine includes a reciprocable needle bar having a needle at a lower end, a needle position sensor for detecting needle-down position, a presser bar having a presser foot at a lower end, a presser foot switch for detecting an upper position of the presser foot, a vertical feed driving device, a forward feed driving device for feeding a work fabric in a sewing direction, a lateral feed driving device for feeding the work fabric in a lateral direction perpendicular to the sewing direction, a fabric-edge position detector, a tracing width setting device, and a control device. The control device controls the lateral feed driving device based on signals from the fabric-edge position detector and the tracing width setting device, so as to carry out a tracing sewing with the tracing width set by the tracing width setting device.

Abstract: An edge tracing sewing machine includes a reciprocable needle bar having a needle at a lower end, a forward feed driving device for feeding a work fabric in a sewing direction, a lateral feed driving device for feeding the work fabric in a lateral direction perpendicular to the sewing direction, a tracing width setting device for setting a tracing width from the edge of the work fabric to the needle in the lateral direction, a fabric-edge sensor movable in the lateral direction for detecting an edge of the work fabric, a fabric-edge position detector for detecting a position of the fabric-edge sensor, and a control device. The control device moves the fabric-edge sensor in the lateral direction to make the fabric-edge sensor follow the edge of the work fabric. The control device controls the lateral feed driving device based on the tracing width set by the tracing width setting device and the position of the fabric-edge sensor detected by the fabric-edge position detector.

Abstract: An edge tracing sewing machine includes a reciprocable needle bar having a needle at a lower end, a needle position sensor for detecting needle-down position, a presser bar having a presser foot at a lower end, a presser foot switch for detecting an upper position of the presser foot, a vertical feed driving device, a forward feed driving device for feeding a work fabric in a sewing direction, a lateral feed driving device for feeding the work fabric in a lateral direction perpendicular to the sewing direction, a fabric-edge position detector, a tracing width setting device, and a control device. The control device controls the lateral feed driving device based on signals from the fabric-edge position detector and the tracing width setting device, so as to carry out a tracing sewing with the tracing width set by the tracing width setting device.

Abstract: A hemmer seamer assembly comprising an apparatus for positioning a chain of stitches for stitching onto fabric having a needle and a throat plate, including a device for positioning the chain of stitches forwardly of the needle, and a device for moving the fabric to the throat plate for sewing the chain onto the fabric.

Abstract: A sewing machine for the controlled sewing on of a tape from a tape supply onto a tubular edge region of an elastic workpiece thus forming a band, which is provided with an additional feed dog in front of the usual feed dog in the region of the needle plate. The additional feed dog is driven by a stepping motor transversely with respect to the workpiece feed direction and is used to guide and align the workpiece. Sensors control the alignment movement of the workpiece.

Abstract: A fabric edge trace stitching system in combination with an electronically controlled zigzag sewing machine comprising a driving actuator for changing the relative position of the needle and the work fabric in the direction perpendicular to the fabric feed direction, is for forming a seam tracing along an edge of the work fabric, and comprises a fabric edge detecting device, a trace width setting device, a signal compensating device for forming a smooth and approximate seam as the plain seam or a precise seam as the stitch seam, a stitch position control decive for controlling a stitching position of the needle through a swing control device, and a switching device for selecting one of the signal processing devices in the signal compensating device.

Abstract: A workpiece alignment device for sewing machines for aligning a workpiece fold edge, such as a shirt buttonhole strip. A ruler stop is provided positioned on a sewing machine work surface. An alignment finger is provided connected to a double action cylinder for movement of the finger between a first position and a second position as the flat alignment finger is guided by a guide plate having guide sections extending upwardly such that the flat alignment finger connected to a bow-shaped hook may be moved upwardly and away from the guide ruler and away from the workpiece and downwardly toward the workpiece and guide ruler to engage the folded section to move the folded section into alignment with the ruler stop.

Abstract: A seam forming apparatus for forming a full felled seam at one lateral edge of each of two limp material segments establishes a specific geometrical relationship between the segments. The apparatus includes a fold assembly which extends along a reference axis from an input end to an output end. The fold assembly constrains portions of said first and second segments adjacent to the lateral edge to be substantially adjacent and substantially straight in the direction transverse to the reference axis at points near the input end of the fold assembly. Those portions are constrained to be substantially V-shaped in the direction transverse to the reference axis and oppositely-directed and interleaved at points outside and near the output end of the fold assembly. Between the input and output ends, those portions are constrained to be substantially adjacent and substantially Z-shaped in the direction transverse to the reference axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating curls at the cut ends of fabric workpieces provides air tubes directed toward the curls so that air flow flattens the curls. The apparatus includes a device for generating air flow; a first tube connected to the device for generating air flow and having one end fixed to the presser foot of a sewing machine; a second tube connected to the device for generating air flow and having one end situated under the throat plate of a sewing machine; and a valve positioned between the device for generating air flow and the tubes. The first tube includes an opening facing the curls and a contact portion extending horizontally and overlapping the curled edge of the workpiece for contacting the curled edge when the presser foot is moved downwardly. The second tube includes an opening facing the curls. The pattern of air flow is switchable to one or both of the tubes depending on the configuration of the curls; that is, whether the fabric is outwardly curled or inwardly curled.

Abstract: A seam forming apparatus for forming a seam in one or more limp material segments includes a fold assembly and a driver for positioning the segments within guide channels in the fold assembly prior to presentation to a seam joining device. The driver controls the segments to be at associated predetermined positions within the fold assembly.