Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars to each bottom end of which a needle can be attached, a needle bar case in which the plurality of needle bars are disposed in a line and that supports the plurality of the needle bars movably in an up-and-down direction, a needle bar case moving device that, by moving the needle bar case, moves one of the plurality of the needle bars to an image capture position, the image capture position being a position that is located directly above a needle drop position that is a sewing position, and an image capture device that is provided in a position that is lined up with the plurality of the needle bars, that is positioned in the image capture position by the needle bar case moving device's moving of the needle bar case, and that captures an image.

Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method in which provided bridges (21,22) are provided having selectively operable stitching element pairs (90). Either the material or the bridges or both may be moved relative to the frame. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132), with a wide spacing for material passage between the needle and looper plates. Combinations of intermittent and continuous feed and feed transition are employed during tack sequence sewing and other direction reversals in sewing, as well as double needle guards and thread deflection.

Abstract: A gripper hook for a sewing machine. The sewing machine includes a needle, a stitch plate and a housing for the gripper hook. The gripper hook includes an open cylinder and is rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis. A bobbin basket is supported inside the gripper hook receives a bobbin case. The bobbin case houses a bobbin. The needle, in executing a stitch, is brought down perpendicular to the axis of the gripper hook in front of the open part of the gripper hook through an opening in the wall of the bobbin basket such that a gripper hook tip catches the upper thread and leads the upper thread around the bobbin basket. The gripper hook has a side wall that is at least wide enough for the side wall to protect the bobbin basket from being struck by the needle when the needle tip is out of alignment.

Abstract: A wall of an inner loop taker includes a guiding surface, a first vertical surface which extends continuously to an inward end of the guiding surface in a radial direction of the inner loop taker and is parallel to an axial line of a needle, and a second vertical surface which is formed on the inward side of the first vertical surface in the radial direction of the inner loop taker but closer to the axial line of the needle than the first vertical surface and which is parallel to the axial line of the needle. A first angle .theta.

Abstract: A wall of an inner loop taker includes a guiding surface, a first vertical surface which extends continuously to an inward end of the guiding surface in a radial direction of the inner loop taker and is parallel to an axial line of a needle, and a second vertical surface which is formed on the inward side of the first vertical surface in the radial direction of the inner loop taker but closer to the axial line of the needle than the first vertical surface and which is parallel to the axial line of the needle.

Abstract: An upper needle guide (10) and a lower needle guide (40) for guiding a sewing needle during a stitching operation in order to keep the sewing needle laterally aligned along a stitching path so that the thread loop thrown by the sewing needle beneath the material being sewn is in alignment with the path of movement of a thread loop pick-up device (98). The upper needle guide includes a needle hole having a thread relief passageway (22) therein for providing a relief space for the sewing thread (34) as the needle moves through the needle hole. The lower needle guide includes a thread and needle slot (44) having a pair of V-shaped notches (46) therein. The V-shaped notches are aligned with the stitching path (84). In an alternative embodiment, the lower needle guide can comprise a feed dog (52) having a diamond-shaped needle hole (58) therein.

Abstract: A needle receiving assembly for a sewing machine comprising a throat plate through which a sewing needle can pass and a needle collar for regulating a rear loop of an upper thread passing through the sewing needle. The position of the needle collar relative to the sewing needle is adjustable.

Abstract: An upper needle guide (10) and a lower needle guide (40) for guiding a sewing needle during a stitching operation in order to keep the sewing needle laterally aligned along a stitching path so that the thread loop thrown by the sewing needle beneath the material being sewn is in alignment with the path of movement of a thread loop pick-up device (98). The upper needle guide includes a needle hole having a thread relief passageway (22) therein for providing a relief space for the sewing thread (34) as the needle moves through the needle hole. The lower needle guide includes a thread and needle slot (44) having a pair of V-shaped notches (46) therein. The V-shaped notches are aligned with the stitching path (84). In an alternative embodiment, the lower needle guide can comprise a feed dog (52) having a diamond-shaped needle hole (58) therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stitching head, which can be used in a machine for producing a reinforcement in the form of a sheet for a composite component formed by said reinforcement embedded in a cured matrix, said reinforcement comprising superposed plies of thread through which passes a consolidating thread, said head including a support carrying, on the one hand, means of linkage to the machine and, on the other hand, a needle as well as means for guiding the consolidating thread right to said needle.According to the invention, said stitching head (P) includes, associated with said needle (33), a device (43, 50) for compacting said superposed plies of thread.

Abstract: An upper needle guide (10) and a lower needle guide (40) for guiding a sewing needle during a stitching operation in order to keep the sewing needle laterally aligned along a stitching path so that the thread loop thrown by the sewing needle beneath the material being sewn is in alignment with the path of movement of a thread loop pick-up device (98). The upper needle guide includes a needle hole having a thread relief passageway (22) therein for providing a relief space for the sewing thread (34) as the needle moves through the needle hole. The lower needle guide includes a thread and needle slot (44) having a pair of V-shaped notches (46) therein. The V-shaped notches are aligned with the stitching path (84). In an alternative embodiment, the lower needle guide can comprise a feed dog (52) having a diamond-shaped needle hole (58) therein.

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: A horizontal axis full rotary hook for a sewing machine, including a generally cylindrical hook base having a point of hook, an inner circumferential surface, and a guide groove formed in the inner circumferential surface; and a generally cylindrical bobbin-case holder having an inner circumferential surface, an outer circumferential surface, and a part-circumferential rail provided on the outer circumferential surface, the bobbin-case holder being supported by the hook base such that the bobbin-case holder is freely rotatable relative to the rotary hook while the rail is guided in the guide groove, the bobbin-case holder having a needle aperture which allows a sewing needle with an upper thread to be moved down to a bottom position thereof, the needle aperture having a first inclined inner surface which is opposite to the point of hook with respect to the needle at the bottom position, a distance between the needle at the bottom position and the first inclined inner surface as measured in a direction paralle

Abstract: A relatively long needle (22) is supported at the lower end of a needle bar (28). The needle bar (28) and needle (22) are moved up and down and forwardly and rearwardly. The needle bar (28) and needle (22) are moved forwardly while they are in materials (M) which are being sewed together, to in that manner advance the materials (M) stitch by stitch. The materials (M) are supported on a bed (10) which includes a slot (20) which is elongated in the direction of the stitch path. The needle (22) is received in the slot (22). A side boundary of the slot (20) provides a side guide surface (84) which is contiguous a first side of the needle (22). An upper thread (76) extends downwardly from a thread guide (110) into a side groove (86) in the first side of the needle (22), to and through a needle eye (80). A recess (82) is formed in the second side of the needle (22) above the needle eye (80). Following downward movement of the needle (22) through the materials (M), the needle (22) is moved upwardly.

Abstract: A portable, single-thread chain stitch bag closing machine has a movable needle guiding device. A looper mounted so as to be slidable in a feed direction of a workpiece and pivotable transversely to the feed direction is protected against damage or breakage by a needle guide which guides a needle in the feed direction of the workpiece when the looper pivots towards the needle. The needle guide thereby ensures that a point of the looper reliably pivots past the needle, without coming into contact with the needle.

Abstract: A needle guard for sewing machines having a reciprocating needle, a looper, and a guard member portioned adjacent a lower end of the needle during reciprocation thereof. The guard member has a plurality of faces projecting a different distance towards the needle, and the guard has a device for selectively positioning one of the faces towards the needle.

Abstract: A needle guide integrated in a thread cutter of a sewing machine installed with a hook operating about a horizontal axis and a feeding mechanism generating a relative movement as a feed motion between a workpiece and stitch former. The needle guiding element is incorporated with the thread catcher receiving member and alternately moved into operation by the thread cutter actuator. Adjustors are provided to position the needle guide with respect to the needle.

Abstract: A needle guard for an industrial zigzag sewing machine designed to provide support for the sewing needle in all lateral positions of the needle. The needle guard provides a lead in surface to return an already deflected needle to a supporting surface which in a first embodiment lies in a plane immediately adjacent a plane including the circular path traversed by the loop seizing beak. In a second embodiment a supporting surface is provided which compensates for the point of contact variations due to the cone pointed end of the sewing needle.

Abstract: In a sewing machine having at least one needle and one looper underneath a throat plate, a guiding and aligning device comprising, a permanent magnet positioned underneath the throat plate in the cloth feeding direction on one side only of the needle and positioned sufficiently close to the needle to attract the needle to the side toward the magnet, such that the needle is guided and aligned with respect to the looper.

Abstract: A sewing machine, particularly a multi-needle sewing machine, includes at least one sewing arrangement which includes a reciprocating needle mounted on a needle holding arrangement and a gripper mounted on a gripper holding arrangement for angular displacement along a displacement plane and operative for engaging a thread delivered by the needle through the material being sewn to a predetermined region beyond the material. As the material is advanced, especially transversely of the displacement plane, during the sewing stroke of the needle, it acts on the needle and deviates the same from its initial course.

Abstract: A reciprocally driven needle guide movable in timed relation with sewing machine needles above the work support of a sewing machine along a substantially horizontal path. The needle guide is provided with an extended guiding surface which is positioned adjacent the vertical path of the sewing machine needles to steady the needles while they are above the work supporting surface of the machine.

Abstract: A sewing machine loop taker is disclosed having a replaceable adjustable hook beak and needle guard fabricated as a integral element in which the dimensional relationships established in fabrication are not influenced by the means for securing or the provisions for adjustment of the element relatively to the loop taker.

Abstract: A mechanism for seizing and holding a thread, particularly the looper thread, of a chainstitch sewing machine to insure needle penetration of the thread triangle thereby assuring enchaining of the needle thread with the looper thread. Such mechanism includes an oscillatable thread spreader which transversely moves across the looper's endwise path of travel. The spreader motion being in timed relation with the stitch forming instrumentalities such that its effectively travel extends between the looper eye and the reciprocal path of the needle arranged closest to the looper eye when the looper is at its extreme loop seizing position.

Abstract: A needle guard of a double lockstitch hook of a sewing machine in which the needle guard is fastened at the rotatably pivoted hook body and the free end of the needle guard rests on a supporting screw. By turning the screw the position of the needle guard with respect to the beak of the hook may be adjusted. The procedure of adjustment may be carried out under actual conditions without taking the hook out of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A needle protector for sewing machines operatively connected to the machine's horizontal shaft for driving its looper in an orbital pathway about the machine's needles. The horizontal shaft is simultaneously driven through oscillating and reciprocating movements. The needle protector is carried on a pivotable support and the reciprocating movement of the horizontal shaft is effective in moving the needle protector toward and away from the needles in timed sequence with the stitch forming cycle.

Abstract: A needle guide for a buttonhole sewing machine provided with a pair of reciprocating loopers that in cooperation with a vertically reciprocating needle produce chain stitches for forming a buttonhole on a fabric. The needle guide include a pair of inner and outer surfaces defining a U-shaped member which is carried below the path of the reciprocating needle. A downwardly depending guide surface extends into the U-shaped member between the inner and outer surfaces. The outer surface is positioned on one side of the needle and the depending guide surface is positioned on the opposite side of the needle for restricting deflection of the needle from its desired path. The U-shaped member is positioned between the pair of loopers for permitting the loopers to reciprocate in and out of the U-shaped member from opposed sides during the buttonhole stitch forming operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a needle guard which is adapted to position the needle relative the lower stitch forming mechanism and further serves to minimize skipped stitches during the sewing operation. The needle guard is positioned beneath the work supporting surface of the machine and during the sewing operation is disposed proximate the needle path. Upon completion of the sewing operation the needle guard is retracted from the path of the needle. Adjustable means are provided so as to accomodate the needle guard to needles of various sizes and to permit positioning of the needle guiding surface with respect to the path of the needle.

Abstract: A needle bar pendulum for a sewing machine comprises a carrier bar which has a bearing engagement end at each end which are terminated by a shoulder in a central portion of the carrier bar and separate bearing members are engaged over each end of the carrier bar. For this purpose the bearing members have bores therethrough for accommodating the respective ends of the carrier bar and they also have a bore therethrough for the needle bar. The bearings are advantageously joined to the carrier bar in a permanent manner such as by a cementing or welding of the bearings in position after they are engaged thereon.

Abstract: A material hold-down device, cooperative with the stitching needle bar of a stitching machine, and employing a template that retains layers of material to be stitched. The hold-down has a vertical tubular cylindrical sleeve in sliding bearing relationship with the reciprocal cylindrical needle bar, a laterally projecting mounting portion extending therefrom, and an elongated lower hollow nose coaxial with the sleeve, of smaller diameter than the sleeve, and joined thereto by a frustoconical juncture. The sleeve has an open side of less than 180.degree. extent, leaving the remaining wall portion greater than 180.degree., and has a smaller opening opposite the open side, for access to the needle and needle bar.

Abstract: A molded plastic guide provided in the head end mounting plate of a sewing machine receives the plastic toe of a latch carrier that is secured to a needle bar, and guides vertical reciprocatory movements of the needle bar.

Abstract: A latch needle is disclosed with a sliding bolt of unique construction which is easily manufacturable and which serves with particular effectiveness in accordance with this invention in carrying out blindstitch sewing.