Abstract: The mechanism for driving a sewing machine needle bar and the needle carried thereby in reciprocating motion continues to operate without interruption while the needle bar is selectively disengaged from the driving mechanism to skip stitches. A spring biased latch mechanism has a spring mounted within the needle bar and a catch finger that can be extended from and withdrawn within a slot in the needle bar. A spring under tension urges the needle bar towards its upper position where the needle is out of contact with the work. In one embodiment the spring is attached at one end to the sewing machine frame, and in another embodiment the spring is attached to part of the latch release member. Two forms of latch release member are disclosed, one having a generally straight contact surface for causing retraction of the catch finger, the other form having a slanted contact surface.

Abstract: A sewing machine needle bar frame is pivotally supported at a lower end portion on a leaf spring which can bend to permit zigzagging, and the frame is made to follow a curved path, when zigzagging, through the use of a plastic coupling disposed between the upper portion of the needle bar frame and a fixed member in the machine head.

Abstract: For a sewing machine, a needle mechanism selectively retractable to avoid penetration of a work material and to avoid faulty stitch placement. A hollow needle bar telescopically receives and supports in one end thereof a needle carrying mandrel. A flexible rod is carried internally of the needle bar; and is connected at one end to the mandrel, and at the other end to a plug slidably carried by the hollow interior of the needle bar and urged by a spring in a direction away from the mandrel. The flexible rod is formed with a first ear and a second ear, each ear extending laterally therefrom in opposite directions; and is fashioned with a bias to favor engagement of the first ear thereof with the end of a first slot in the hollow needle bar, so as to maintain the needle carried by the mandrel in a position to cooperate with a loop taker of the sewing machine in opposition to the urgings of the spring.

Abstract: A machine for making a textile product comprising a rotatably mounted needle carrier shaft which is arranged to be set in a plurality of predetermined angular positions, yarn feeding means for feeding at least one yarn to a needle carried by said shaft, means for reciprocating the said needle carrier shaft so that the said yarn may be applied to a base material, and control means which are arranged to be programmed to rotate the said needle carrier shaft to the said predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for reciprocating a sewing machine needle bar endwise from an actuating crank is disclosed in which the lateral stud on the needle bar to which the drive link is connected is fitted with a ball bearing slidably constrained in a guide slot formed parallel to the path of needle reciprocation in a stationary guide frame. The forces and reactions occasioned by alternate acceleration and decelleration during each needle bar stroke will cause the outer race of the ball bearing to engage first one side then the opposite side of the guide slot during each stroke thus turning the bearing in opposite directions and distributing the wear.

Abstract: A pre-assembled sub-assembly of a plate carrying a needle bar on an oscillable cradle is mounted in a head at the free end of the upper arm of a zig-zag sewing machine. The upper edge of the plate is pivotally suspended from and slidable along a transverse bar. The plate is angularly fixed with the bore of a member on the needle bar in alignment with and receiving a gudgeon of a crank rod driven by the principal shaft of the machine, and is fixed on the bar to align the needle bar for cooperation of the needle with a shuttle hook.

Abstract: An electrically operated chain stitch sewing maching having a cartridge carrying a spool of thread and a pre-threaded needle mounted in the side of the head, the needle being normally biased in a retracted position within the cartridge and being actuated by a crank arm provided with means for rendering an electrical switch inoperative until the needle is retracted into the cartridge. The bed of the machine is provided with a thread looping subassembly actuated by the needle.

Abstract: An electromechanical needle bar engaging device having a latch release member normally urged by biasing means into engagement with a coupling member, to unlatch the coupling member from a needle bar drive member. The latch release member sewing machine frame supports a solenoid adjacent the latch release member, which, when activated, rotates a lever supported on the latch release member, into the path of motion of the needle bar drive member. Movement of the needle bar drive member against the lever will move the lever and the latch release member on which it is supported out of engagement with the coupling member to permit the coupling member to relatch itself with the needle bar drive member. Means are provided utilizing the solenoid as an electromagnet to retain the latch release member out of engagement with the coupling member.

Abstract: At least one needle-bearing bar of a quilting machine is connected to a reciprocable shaft, a control device is operatively arranged selectively to engage and to disengage the needle-bearing bar from the shaft. The control device includes either two electromagnetic or a pneumatically operated cylinder. A timer can be provided to effect energization of the electromagnets or fluid delivery to and venting of the cylinder.

Abstract: A double select needle tufting machine or the like utilizing a driving and selecting means comprising band-like members attached to each of said needles with each band-like member being selectively engageable with an oscillatory shaft by which each of the needles is driven when selected. Two-color carpets or bedspreads are produced by threading one series of needles with one color yarn and the other series of needles with a second color of yarn.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting oscillatory motion to reciprocating motion featuring the use of thin, non-permanently deformable band-like members confined to a linear track so as to be reciprocable when one end of the band-like member is engaged by an oscillatory shaft. The other end of the band-like member may be secured to a work element used for exerting force against a work object. Selection means may be employed in apparatus having a plurality of band-like members in which each of the members can be selectively induced into engagement with a shaft or other oscillatory means to control the work elements as desired.

Abstract: Embroidering machine with a needle drive mechanism for color changeover, where each of a number of embroidering stations has a number of needles, one needle rod being working, i.e., engageable by a drive bar, all others being non-working and retained by a retaining bar, which also deflects the latch levers of these needle rods and which has a gap in the working plane for the working needle rod. In that gap is also arranged a solenoid controlled pivotable control pawl which, in its normal position, does not touch the working needle rod, and which, in its actuated position, bridges the gap of the retaining bar, thereby retaining the working needle and disengaging its latch lever from the drive bar. The needle bar, which carries all the needle rods, can then shift the needle rods into and out of the retaining bar gap.

Abstract: A knife operating device for sewing machines includes a needle stub pivotally mounted to the front part of a rocking arm. The rocking arm intersects with a needle stub guiding bar and is pivotally mounted and its rear end. A knife holder is, also, connected to the rocking arm and is guided so as to be movable with the needle stub.

Abstract: A tufting machine having a needle bar for mounting a multiplicity of needles reciprocable into and out of a work piece. The needle bar has a longitudinally extending channel open to face the work piece for securely receiving an insert spaced from the longitudinally extending walls of the channel. The insert includes a multiplicity of grooves facing the respective longitudinally extending wall, and a needle is securely received intermediate each of the grooves and the corresponding wall.

Abstract: A needle bar reciprocation interrupting device is disclosed in which the interruption is effected by a solenoid at any lateral position of a needle in an arrangement wherein an upper end of the needle bar is swung in an arc with an intermediate portion of the needle bar supported in a ball and socket joint structure to result in lateral positioning of the needle. An unlatching frame is carried by bearings within which the needle bar undergoes endwise reciprocation thereby to move laterally with the needle bar. A solenoid supported on a bracket affixed to the sewing machine frame has its armature connected with a fork extension of the unlatching frame closely adjacent the ball and socket joint structure. When the solenoid is activated the unlatching frame is pivoted to swing a ramp portion thereof into engagement with a needle bar carried latch at the end of upward needle bar travel thereby to separate the needle bar from its endwise reciprocating drive mechanism when its velocity is close to zero.

Abstract: A multiple needle skip-stitch tufting machine in which each needle bar is provided with a needle foot member supporting a pair of needles. Each foot member includes a pair of arms, each arm supporting a needle in such a manner that the arms of the foot member of one needle bar interdigitate with the arms of the foot member of an adjacent needle bar to provide a relatively narrow gauge machine in which the skip-stitching is formed in pairs of tufted rows, and a row in one pair may be stitched between an adjacent pair of rows.

Abstract: A control mechanism for the synchronized operation of the hook, the fabric feeding latch and the needle bar of a sewing machine comprising a main drive shaft driving two juxtaposed eccentrics, one connected through a drive mechanism to the hook for imparting oscillatory movement thereto, the second being drivingly connected through a second mechanism to the fabric feeding latch for imparting oscillatory movement thereto which is synchronized with the oscillatory movement of the hook. The mechanism connecting the second eccentric to the fabric feeding latch includes an adjustable arrangement for adjusting both the stroke of the feeding latch and the direction of its oscillation. The main drive shaft also drives the needle bar through an adjustable mechanism by which the amplitude of zig-zag stitches can be adjusted as well as the centered position of the needle bar.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sewing machine having a needle bar gate vibrating mechanism whereby the sewing machine is adapted to produce zigzag stitches. The needle bar gate vibrating motion is obtained through the use of two spaced apart circular magnets mounted on a rotating shaft of the sewing machine and having disposed between them a pair of bar magnets operatively connected to the needle bar gate, the polarization of the magnets being such that one of the circular magnets exerts attractive force on the bar magnets while the other circular magnet exerts repulsive forces. As the shaft rotates these forces reverse, resulting in the imparting of vibratory motion to the needle bar gate.