Abstract: Device includes a fabric carrying and feeding means, fabric tensioning means, fabric orientating means, particular means which aid in performing the sewing function and the sewing machine.

Abstract: A guide for directing two pieces of fur to the stitching instrumentalities of a sewing machine for joining one to the other. The guide includes a funnel shaped element having channels formed adjacent its narrowest end that are separated by a depending guide plate. A source of compressed air is directed into the channels and serves to maintain the fur on the upper portion of the two pieces in a position where it had been folded inwardly and downwardly between the pieces by the upper surfaces of the funnel shaped element and the depending guide plate.

Abstract: A device for automatically guiding a workpiece, having a profile of pronounced curved configuration, to the sewing instrumentalities of a sewing machine. The device includes a first channel for guiding the edge of the workpiece in which a seam is to be formed, and a second channel communicating with the first for receiving, retaining and guiding that portion of the workpiece subjected to puckering during seaming so as to prevent such puckering from being incorporated into the seam.

Abstract: Frame including at least one: gripper, sensor and an orientating device. In response to the sensor, the gripper selectively secures independent material sheets. The orientating device then positions the material sheets in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A workpiece guide for a sewing machine which comprises a guide made up of a pivotably mounted body having a plurality of integrally formed and outwardly extending plates that define vertical walls on the end adjacent the main body and means to rotate the entire guide about an axis located to the right of the sewing axis.

Abstract: An automatic sewing machine includes a sewing machine mechanism having a seam forming mechanism and a fabric feed mechanism. A detector member senses the position of each free side edge of two layers of fabric to be fed to the seam forming mechanism and generates signals. A pair of manipulators capable of engaging each layer of fabric individually move such each layer of fabric to a predetermined position in response to signals from the detector members. The free side edges of layers of fabric are automatically stitched together by a predetermined distance along the free side edges with the edges maintained in alignment with each other.

Abstract: A guiding device for sewing machines which have means for feeding cloth of workpieces into association with a moving needle in a stitch forming area for effecting edge parallel seams, comprises a support table with a bottom plate supported on the table and having at least a portion spaced above the table and defining a cloth layer feed space and with a top plate overlying at least a portion of the bottom plate and spaced above it and defining a workpiece layer passageway therebetween. The top plate has a pressure point which may be urged toward a complementary point on the bottom plate at a location spaced from the stitch forming area. A plurality of pins supported on the bottom plate and extending upwardly through the top plate are arranged to extend laterally and in an acute angle to a line extending in the workpiece feed direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an improved see-through sewing gauge comprising a gauge means for controlling the depth of a stitch during a sewing operation and having a window portion disposed therein adapted to cooperate with an opening provided in an associated throat plate so as to enable an operator to continuously monitor the condition of the bobbin thread supply disposed below said gauge. The gauge and window combination is movably secured to the throat plate of the sewing machine in such a manner as to be easily adjustable thereby enabling an operator to conveniently set the gauge to any desired depth of stitch.

Abstract: A cloth guide mechanism in a sewing machine includes a member disposed at an angle with respect to a line normal to the pulling direction of cloth and provided with a slanted portion, a guide for receiving the cloth and having passages through which the cloth passes while being flexed, an adjustable cloth positioning element having a first positioning portion disposed at an angle with respect to the cloth pulling direction and a second portion disposed in parallel to the cloth pulling direction for maintaining the distance of a seam line to be formed in the cloth from one side edge of the cloth at a constant value, and an arrangement for imparting a tension on the cloth sufficient to reduce the force which urges the side edge against the first and second portions of the positioning means as the cloth is moved along the slanted portion of the first-mentioned means and to permit the cloth to move in the pulling direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for joining together two plies of material such as textile fabric comprising a sewing machine, contour guide means for shifting the plies as they are fed forward through the sewing machine to effect contour seaming of the plies, and a feed control clamp for clamping the trailing ends of the plies as they are fed forward. This clamp, clamped on the trailing ends of the plies, moves forward with the plies as they are fed forward. It is also automatically shifted from side to side as it moves forward to maintain the edge of the plies being sewn aligned with the contour guide means. The apparatus further comprises loading means which is adapted, while a pair of plies is being sewn, to receive the next pair to be sewn and, upon completion of sewing the first pair, to enter the next pair in the sewing machine and in the feed control clamp.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding work past a sewing machine needle along a predetermined path to form a line of stitching corresponding to the path with deviations of the work from a normal feed path to the needle being sensed and causing a pivotal movement of the work about the needle to overcome the deviation. The ability of the apparatus to correct the deviation is related to the speed of sewing and to maintain this sewing speed within the deviation correcting ability there are fast and slow sewing speeds and sensing means that senses the occurrence of a large deviation and decreases the sewing speed to the slow speed to enable the apparatus to correct the deviation. For sewing a line of stitching a preselected distance from the edge of a workpiece, the vertical axis on which the work is pivoted is slightly tilted so that the workpiece is positioned to have the portion of its edge at the needle normally extend transversely beyond the needle a distance greater than the preselected distance from the needle.

Abstract: Apparatus as for use on a sewing machine, employing a stock pivoting and advancing platform for directionally guiding while advancing stock relative to a reference point during performance of an operation on said stock, the operation being therefore in a controlled pattern. Normally, a working tool such as a stitching needle, is at the reference point. The stock is incrementally advanced while repeatedly and incrementally being pivoted by the special platform in response to sensing of the pattern such as an edge of the stock. In use on a sewing machine, both the advancement and the pivoting are conducted while the stitching needle penetrates the material.

Abstract: A tacking sewing machine having a presser foot and needle for tacking multiple fabric plies in which a fabric limiting or stop means positions the fabric plies to be tacked and fabric guide means cooperatively associated therewith guides fabric plies to the limiting means in juxtaposition to a presser foot.

Abstract: An improved workpiece guide for sewing machines comprising a vertical wall which is substantially at a right angle to the support surface of the work, wherein is positioned in the right-hand side of the sewing station, one or more separating plates movable between operative and inoperative positions, which plates project beyond the vertical wall parallel to the work support surface and are positioned to project over the sewing axis both on the right-hand side and the left-hand side thereof when in the operative position, and means to elevate the separating plates when in the inoperative position to locations vertically above the positions they occupy when in the operative position.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically controlling movement of an area of material with respect to a work point in a machine in which revolvable control means continuously engages the region of the material in front of the work point and in close proximity to that point. An exemplification of the invention is in a sewing machine in which pressure exerting means urges revolvable control means into guiding engagement with that front region in the fabric as the material advances over the support toward the work point, for guiding and smoothing the fabric material and enabling a wide variety of stretchable as well as stiff fabrics to be guided quickly, accurately and effectively.

Abstract: A sewing machine feeder system includes a fluid powered clamp assembly which applies tension to the plies of material being pulled into the needle of a sewing machine by the feed dogs, with more tension being applied to the lower ply of material. The effective point of application of the tension to the plies of material is offset to the left from the line of pull of the feed dogs which causes the plies of material to tend to turn in a counterclockwise direction into a vertical guide, and the plies of material are maintained in a flat and unwrinkled configuration against the vertical guide so that the plies of material hold themselves properly aligned from the guide to the needle of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A fabric gripping member for a sewing and assembly unit movable along the work surface of the unit while gripping and holding the ends of pieces of cloth under tension as they are being sewn and advanced along the work surface by a sewing machine. The gripping member includes a device operatively associated therewith for releasing its grip on the pieces of cloth and for returning it to its starting position and in readiness to repeat the cycle.

Abstract: A guiding, stitching and delivering system continuously constrains a piece of material while it guides that piece of material beneath the needle of a sewing machine during the stitching of that piece of material, while that piece of material is stationary during the period of time between the completion of the stitching of that piece of material and the start of the stitching of the next-succeeding piece of material, while the stitches between the trailing edge of that piece of material and the leading edge of that next-succeeding piece of material are being cut, and while that piece of material is being moved to a delivery area. That guiding, stitching and delivering system obviates the formation of needless stitches, places all stitches in the desired locations, and provides certain and easy cutting of the stitches between the trailing edge of that piece of material and the leading edge of that next-succeeding piece of material.

Abstract: A long seamer for seaming garment sections automatically, which comprises a stationary working table, a sewing machine head, a patterning device and an endless flat belt, wherein the travelling passage of said flat belt is defined by a plurality of patterning devices, and a side surface of a flexible guide band is deformed into a cure similar to the curve of the stitching line on said fabrics by said patterning devices, so that the flat belt moves together with the fabrics being stitched by said sewing machine head in such a way that all portions on the stitching line of said garment sections are moved along the same curved passage.

Abstract: This invention relates to automatic mechanism for processing the edges of pile type fabrics and the like from which thinner or non-pile margins are to be removed. Fabric edge finishing machines are provided with a means for sensing relative thickness of work piece portions, such as terry material as distinguished from thinner or marginal non-terry portions. Accordingly washcloths and the like, as directed by an edge guide and corner turning mechanism, are under the control of a sensor and are automatically guided through the operating localities of instrumentalities, such as the needle and trimming mechanism of an overedge stitcher, or other edge treating machines, to provide for removal of the non-terry material and processing directly along the edge of the remaining terry material.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment there is provided a plate having paired side by side parallel grooves therein for mounting vertically on a rearward face of a sewing machine structure above and behind the fork-carrying foot, the grooves extending vertically, with a laterally extending horizontal track structure carrying a track structure axial shaft axially adjustable within the track and there being an upwardly and downwardly pivotable arm mounted pivotably on the laterally extending axial shaft and having on a lower distal end of the pivotable arm a revolvable flat faced wheel rotatable in a horizontal flange closely adjacent to a side lateral face of the forks of the foot and extending slightly below the bottom face of the forks such that as fabric is fed along the platen plate beneath the forks the flat face of the revolvable wheel serves to guide the edge of the fabric assuring a consistent predetermined spacing of the stitching from the edge of the fabric.