Abstract: A thread changing mechanism for sewing machines includes a magazine in which a plurality of needle holders is received, to be positively coupled to the sewing machine needle bar by a vertical motion of the magazine. Upon effecting a coupling, the magazine is retracted into a starting position remote from the needle bar, so that the needle bar with the needle holder can unobstructedly move during the sewing operation. The thread changing mechanism is mounted on a sewing machine as an attachment later, without particular adjustments. When the needle holders are held in the magazine the thread is engaged with each needle and held out of the way of the operating needle thread.

Abstract: A semi-automatic sewing machine control system responsive to successive signals from a sensor, such as a ply edge detector, influences in predetermined sequence a series of selected machine operations. This system accommodates interchangeably any variety of work sizes provided that the same sequence of sewing machine operations is involved.

Abstract: In a sewing machine for performing twin overedging and seaming in one high-speed operation, specially designed top and bottom variable feed dogs pull the two plies through a three needle stitching area with improved, simplified elements for diverting one ply edge while the other is being overcast. The upright overcast edge of the top ply passes through a tunnel formed through the top feed dog. A guide wall attached to the throat plate guides the top edge away from the bottom overedging station. A guard wall can be attached to the presser foot to keep the turned-up top edge away from the seaming needle. A fiber optic/pneumatic system controls automatic stop, presser foot/top feed retraction and between-work thread cutter functions. Alternative front edge guides facilitate feeding the two plies in registration.

Abstract: A thread take-up arm drive means for a multihead embroidery machine in which identical heads have automatic color change capability such that the color thread stitched on the plurality of embroidery heads is changed substantially simultaneously. A sliding carriage associated with each head contains a plurality of associated color stitching sets of thread take-up arms and needle bars. Each color stitching set is for stitching a different color thread. A computer controls a step motor to position the carriage and thus place the particular color stitching set in contact with the drive means. The thread take-up arm drive means is a pushplate biased in an up position by a leaf spring having adjustable tension. A cam follower is attached to the pushplate and moves the pushplate cyclically under force of and according to the design of the periphery of a cam. The cam is attached to the drive shaft that drives both the thread take-up arm and the needle bar of a color stitching set.

Abstract: In a double-function sewing machine including a lock stitch mechanism and an overlock switch mechanism, a stitching portion of an overlock stitch mechanism thereof is positioned at the right side of the machine frame as seen from a machine operator and at a front side with respect to a lock stitching free arm of the lock stitch mechanism. A space is provided between the rear end of the needle plate for the overlock stitch mechanism and the front face of the free arm, through which a fabric to be stitched passes.

Abstract: A method and machine for simultaneously forming seams along opposite sides of a garment workpiece in which the edges being sewn are gradually aligned so as to follow rectilinear paths that coincide with the machine's lines of sewing. The excess material of the garment disposed between the opposite sides being sewn is gathered and caused to pass through the area intermediate the lines of sewing. The sewing machine adapted to perform this function is provided with a pair of spaced needle bars that define the machine's lines of sewing and the space between these lines is clear of any interfering elements thus providing an area for the material intermediate the opposite sides to pass which has a width greater than the distance between the lines of sewing.

Abstract: A sewing machine wherein a plurality of needle bars are supported by a single needle bar supporting arm. The supporting arm is made movable across a sewing line of the sewing machine, and one of the needle bars is driven by a main drive shaft of the sewing machine. A safety device is provided for preventing the main drive shaft from being rotated while the needle bar supporting arm is moved across the sewing line.

Abstract: A cycle sewing machine equipped with an improved cloth feeding mechanism which is so arranged that, through rocking control of oscillating levers by a cloth feeding cam via cam rollers, a feed table is displaced in longitudinal directions of a sewing machine bed (i.e. in X directions) or in directions intersecting at right angles with the longitudinal directions (i.e. in Y directions), and by the composite movements as described above, the garment to be sewn is moved as desired with respect to sewing positions for two sewing needles vertically moving at predetermined positions, and thus, it has been made possible to simultaneously form the same seams at two positions of the garment in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A sewing machine provided with three selectively operable needle bars and a take-up lever mounted for vertical oscillating movement is provided with a selectively operatable thread clamping device for selectively clamping any two of the three threads associated with the respective needle bars in a stationary position while permitting the third thread to follow the oscillating movement of the take-up lever during reciprocation of the selected needle bar. The thread clamping device is comprised of two flexible plates disposed between two stationary plates secured to the sewing machine arm. The four plates are provided with vertically aligned slots to accomodate the oscillating movement of the take-up lever.

Abstract: A throat plate of a sewing machine with a feed plate is provided with disc type bearings retained in fixed position adjacent to the needle hole of the throat plate to support and provide low friction surfaces in contact with the feed plate.

Abstract: An automated thread trimming apparatus is provided for use with a sewing machine having a plurality of needles. The apparatus is mounted on the side of the sewing machine away from the sewing machine operator. A pair of blades is provided for each needle of the sewing machine. The blades are adjustably mounted on blade mounting bars. Upon actuation, the blades are positioned to straddle each array of stitches produced by the sewing machine needles. The blade mounting bars are then moved slidably relative to one another so that each pair of blades severs an array of stitches. The blade mounting bars are then moved away from the work table of the sewing machine allowing the next workpiece to be sewn.

Abstract: Apparatus in conjunction with a twin needle tacker to facilitate loading and simultaneously tacking both ends of a rear or hip pocket opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for displacing the color-change carriage on multiple-head embroidery machines having a plurality of embroidery needles per head which can be coupled alternatively with the needle bar drive for change in color or thread, the needle bar carriers of all embroidery heads being laterally displaceable jointly by a displacement bar which is connected with the color-change carriage. In order to create a dependably operating as well as easily mounted displacement device with the use of only a few individual parts, a control bar (10) which is provided in rack-like manner with incisions (10a) is arranged on the color-change carriage (6), a crank pin (11) driven by a servomotor engaging in said incisions (10a) and upon its engagement in an incision (10a) swinging a locking lever (12) on which there is arranged a locking member (14) which cooperates with the incisions (10a) and, via the control bar (10) positions the color-change carriage (6) in its corresponding position.

Abstract: A novel chain stitch sewing mechanism is disclosed in which thread loops which are retained for enchainment with thread loops introduced by subsequent needle penetration are released only in response to the action of the thread seized and manipulated during said subsequent needle penetration. A chain stitch conversion device for a conventional lock stitch sewing machine operating on this principle is disclosed. Also disclosed is a novel combination of a chain stitch forming mechanism with a sewing machine skip stitch mechanism.

Abstract: A thread changer for an embroidering machine, having a plurality of needles for different threads, comprises, a driving shaft, a plurality of thread levers loosely mounted on the driving shaft, a coupling element for each thread lever connected to the driving shaft and rotatable therewith, and a clutch member connected between the drive shaft and the thread levers for coupling a selected one of the thread levers to the drive shaft to move the selected thread lever into association with a selected one of the needles.

Abstract: A button attaching device is provided with a bifurcated needle holding member which can be utilized to adjust the spacing between a pair of needles, and with a needle cover which attaches to the bifurcated member to protect one from injury by the needles and form a unit that can be conveniently carried on the person of a user.

Abstract: A lock stitching and overlock stitching machine has a primary driving means, a lock stitching device including a drive shaft, an overlock stitching device including a separate drive shaft and being spaced apart from the lock stitching device, the drive shafts of respective stitching devices being coupled to the primary driving means by a clutch means which is operable to rotate the drive shaft of the lock-stitching device in one direction relative to the user and the drive shaft of the overlock-stitching device in an opposite direction relative to the user.

Abstract: Three-dimensional thick fabrics are made from a laminate of fabric plies by first inserting pointed rods through the laminate to form rows of holes after which needles are reciprocated through the different holes to pull loops of various yarns through the holes. The loops of yarns in adjacent holes are interlocked to hold the plies together. A guide releasably clamped to each yarn controls tension in the yarn while a doffing point is employed to insure that the needle passes through a loop just formed when penetrating the next hole to insure interlock of the loops. Hollow circular objects are formed by winding a length of fabric a selected number of times around a form, following which the pointed rods are used to form holes in the resulting laminate with the needles and yarns being used to form the interlocking loops through the thickness of the laminate.

Abstract: A sewing machine having lock stitching device incorporated in a frame and driven by a primary driving member comprising a detachable overlock stitching device having its own needle bar driving mechanism spaced apart from the stitch forming part of the lock stitching device and driven by the same primary driving means. Preferably, a switching mechanism provides for the actuation of one stitching device while the other is at rest.

Abstract: A sliding needle bar tufting machine is provided with two needle bars each carrying a single row of needles, at least one needle bar being mounted to be adjustable in a warpwise direction relative to the other needle bar to enable the spacing between the two rows of needles to be varied. In an alternative construction a needle bar is arranged at each side of a needle bar carrier and both needle bars are adjustable along a common support member mounted in the carrier.

Abstract: A linking machine having a rotatable dial mounting a plurality of radially extending points on which two contiguous fabrics to be joined together are impaled. The sewing linking is provided with at least two needles, with one or more needles operating from opposite sides of the fabrics. One or more needles are located exteriorly of the dial, and each cooperates with a thread guide located interiorly of the dial to form a thread into a chain of stitches. One or more needles are located interiorly of the dial, and each cooperates with a thread guide located exteriorly of the dial to form a thread into a separate chain of stitches. In one form of the invention, the machine has a pair of reciprocal linking needles disposed on opposite sides of the fabrics to be joined, and each needle forms a simple single thread stitch chain.

Abstract: In a sewing machine with connectable and disconnectable needle bars driven by a motor for two needle stitching in different directions, a keyboard programmer and control device connected to the programmer to select the needle bar to be disconnected and the number of stitches to be sewn at low speed with only one needle, to shut down the sewing machine, to count the stitches number at the beginning of the sewing in the second direction to connect the needle for restarting the two-needle sewing and to switch the sewing machine back onto high speed. The device comprises two decade meters the first of which, at the end of the first stitches sewing counting, controls the machine shutdown and sends an advancing pulse to the second decade meter and, at the end of the second stitches counting, sends another pulse to the second decade meter which is switched to send a signal for the reconnecting of the needle bar and the de-energizing of the relay of the low speed.

Abstract: A linking machine is provided having a plurality of extending points onto which pieces of fabric to be joined are threaded. The linking machine consists of a linking station, a cutting station, and an over-sew station. The linking station has one needle and may have a pair of needles which operate to link pieces of fabric together by a single thread chain stitch, thereafter, the fabric which has heretofore been threaded on points of the dial is presented to a cutter at the cutting station which removes surplus fabric on the exposed fabric side of the linking thread whereupon the fabric remaining on the points is presented to the over-sew station having a needle which pierces the fabric then withdraws then returns over the edge of the fabric, each time being wrapped with the thread by thread guides whereupon an over-sew stitch over the edge of the fabric is formed.

Abstract: A twin needle memory device for an electronically controlled sewing machine having a variety of patterns and sewing condition capabilities selectable by means of proximity switch devices. A non-volatile external storage having a one bit capability is provided to retain information as to the last state of the sewing machine, relative to twin needle, upon power interruption; and to provide for proportionate reduced amplification of the bight analog signal in the event that the twin needle mode of operation is selected. Upon reinitiation of power, the state of the external storage is ascertained and used to determine the state of a twin needle flip flop part of the electronic control system of the sewing machine. Subsequent change in twin needle condition is implemented through the proximity switch devices and an additional one second delay count to alter the state of the twin needle flip flop.

Abstract: A sewing machine automatic thread changer including means to move a plurality of threaded needles, one by one, into operative connection with a sewing machine's needle bar. The threaded needles are each secured to a particular needle holder that will be urged into operative connection with the sewing machine's needle bar assembly by the action of sliding the holder in accordance with movement of a travelling carriage. Each needle holder carries a different color thread such that the color of the thread is automatically changed by appropriate travel of the carriage to position the particular needle holder into operative connection with the common needle bar assembly. A cam is provided to cause the needle holder to pivot the needles not being used to a position that is clear of the operator while the needle holder that is being used will be pivoted downwardly under the action of the cam, such that the particular needle holder will be in position to slide or move into the needle bar assembly.

Abstract: A twin-needle sewing machine for stitching lap seams which have been produced by basting a pair of fastener stringers to the edges of an article bounding an opening therein and then by folding the article edges along the basting lines. The sewing machine has a presser foot comprising a pair of parallel spaced main portions, and a pair of wings projecting laterally outwardly from the respective main portions. A guide fixedly mounted on the throat plate of the sewing machine has its sloping rear surface disposed opposite to the front end of the presser foot. The folded article edges together with the stringers basted thereto follow a curved path created by the guide as they are drawn under the presser foot for final stitching of the lap seams, in order that the article edges may not unfold.

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: The present disclosure relates to zig-zag sewing machines including means for controlling the bight stops in order to produce ornamental patterns. In particular, the disclosure relates to electronically controlled sewing machines having storage means for storing stitch information and wherein logic means are used to select and release stitch information in timed relation with the operation of the sewing machine. The disclosure of the invention has particular application in those sewing situations wherein it is desired to use more than one needle in a single needle holder of the needle bar which therefore necessitates a limitation on the magnitude of the jogging or swinging of the needle bar in order to accommodate the multiple needles in the aperture of the needle plate. In accordance with the disclosure of the present invention whenever more than one needle is used in the sewing machine the electronic control of the bight stops is automatically put into effect whenever such multiple needle mode is selected.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to zig-zag sewing machines including means for controlling the bight stops in order to produce ornamental patterns. In particular, the disclosure relates to electronically controlled sewing machines having storage means for storing stitch information and wherein logic means are used to select and release stitch information in timed relation with the operation of the sewing machine. The disclosure of the invention has particular application in those sewing situations wherein it is desired to use more than one needle in a single needle holder of the needle bar which therefore necessitates a limitation on the magnitude of the jogging or swinging of the needle bar in order to accommodate the multiple needles in the aperture of the needle plate. In accordance with the disclosure of the present invention, whenever more than one needle is used switch means responsive to the presence of more than one needle automatically puts the machine into a multiple needle mode of operation.

Abstract: A sewing head employing twin needles for use with a material feed assembly at a sewing station, employing a linkage drive configuration enabling original rotary motion to be converted into linear rather than arcuate during formation of tacks. The same drive source is employed for both longitudinal and lateral motion, with a movable link added into the main feed link assembly. By means of a guide member, one portion of the main drive is confined to longitudinal motion only, while the other portion is free to go through the lateral motion separately. By employing an additional movable link and designing the main feed link as a two part link, while at the same time employing the same drive source for longitudinal and lateral motion, it is possible to achieve the necessary linear parallel motion. By the aforementioned arrangement, the drive link achieves linear motion and provides for a uniform tacking pattern for both needles.

Abstract: An automatic thread changer including means to move a plurality of threaded needles, one by one, into operative connection with a needle bar assembly. The threaded needles are each secured to a particular needle holder that will be urged into operative connection with the needle bar assembly by the action of a pivotal block in accordance with movement of a travelling carriage. Each needle holder carries a different color thread, such that the color of the thread is automatically changed by appropriate travel of the carriage to position the particular needle holder into operative connection with the needle bar assembly. A cam is provided to cause the needle holder and its pivotal block to rotate the needles not being used to a position that is clear of the operator while the needle holder that is being used will be pivoted downwardly under the action of the cam, such that the particular needle holder will temporarily become part of the needle bar assembly.

Abstract: A pair of stringers are stitched to opposite edge portions of a seam opening in a tubular garment while the portion of the tubular garment opposite the seam opening is held in front of the stitching station to prevent stitching the front and back or opposite side portions of the garment together.

Abstract: In an apparatus for sewing articles, such as sewing a slide fastener chain to an opening in an article, stitching of thread to an article is initiated by a manual control and is terminated by an automatic control in response to the sensing of a terminal point, such as the terminal point of an opening, on the article.Article guiding facilities urge folded edge portions of an article toward each other by spring biased members on folding plates.A scroll for receiving and guiding a folded edge portion of an article has an adjustable channel.A linear motion apparatus, such as a dual needle holding mechanism, employs a linear motor driving a camming member which engages a locking member on a movable member to move the movable member to a selected position and to operate the locking member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to zig-zag sewing machines including means for controlling the bight stops in order to produce ornamental patterns. In particular, the disclosure relates to electronically controlled sewing machines having storage means for storing stitch information and wherein logic means are used to select and release stitch information in timed relation with the operation of the sewing machine. The disclosure of the invention has particular application in those sewing situations wherein it is desired to use more than one needle in a single needle holder of the needle bar which therefore necessitates a limitation on the magnitude of the jogging or swinging of the needle bar in order to accommodate the multiple needles in the aperture of the needle plate. In accordance with the disclosure of the present invention whenever more than one needle is used in the sewing machine the electronic control of the bight stops is automatically put into effect whenever such multiple needle mode is selected.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to zig-zag sewing machines including means for controlling the bight stops in order to produce ornamental patterns. In particular, the disclosure relates to electronically controlled sewing machines having storage means for storing stitch information and wherein logic means are used to select and release stitch information in timed relation with the operation of the sewing machine. The disclosure of the invention has particular application in those sewing situations wherein it is desired to use more than one needle in a single needle holder of the needle bar which therefore necessitates a limitation on the magnitude of the jogging or swinging of the needle bar in order to accommodate the multiple needles in the aperture of the needle plate. In accordance with the disclosure of the present invention, whenever more than one needle is used switch means responsive to the presence of more than one needle automatically puts the machine into a multiple needle mode of operation.