Abstract: The present invention relates to ladders and, more particularly, various configurations of ladders including straight and extension ladders, as well as to methods relating to the use and manufacture of such ladders. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a ladder is provided that includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. The ladder also includes a pair of lateral support members, wherein each support member is selectively displaceable in a lateral direction relative to an associated rail. Additionally, the ladder includes a pair of adjustable legs, each leg having a first end slidably coupled to an associated rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails and being slidably coupled to an associated lateral support member.

Abstract: A method for the plasma electrolytic oxidation of a bioactive coating onto implant (4) is provided. The implant is placed in an electrolyte solution (3) providing Ca and P ions and then connected to a power supply (1). A counter electrode is also provided in the electrolyte solution. A sequence of voltage pulses having alternating polarity are then applied across the implant and counter electrode to deposit a bioactive coating onto the implant. A intra-bone implant formed by the method is also provided having a coating with a thickness of 10 to 30 microns, a porosity comprised by pores with sizes of 0.5 to 10 microns, and comprising 10 to 30 wt % of hydroxyapatites.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to change the direction of the feed so that the user/operator can now use the free arm of the sewing machine to the optimum advantage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling feed quantity and direction in a sewing machine, in which feed quantity and direction of a workpiece is controlled by a motor, thereby not only allowing various patterns to be produced by stitches made up of upper and lower threads, but also allowing a speedy sewing operation. The apparatus comprises an operator interface means for inputting the feed quantity and direction of a workpiece according to an operator's plan, a motor driving control means for outputting a motor driving control signal according to feed information on the feed quantity and direction of the workpiece inputted through the operator interface means, and a workpiece feed control means for controlling rotation direction and speed of the motor according to the motor driving control signal from the motor driving control means.

Abstract: A fabric feeding device for a sewing machine, including a horizontally and vertically reciprocable feed dog, a feed control cam member with a forward and a reverse feed cam for controlling forward and reverse feed distances of the feed dog, a manually operated feed adjusting member for operating the cam member, a control plate operated by the cam member for changing the angle of a feed regulator for adjusting the fabric feed distances, an auxiliary feed cam member operated by a manually operated buttonhole stitching pattern selector member, an auxiliary feed plate positioned by the auxiliary feed cam member and cooperating with the feed control cam member to move the control plate, a buttonhole reverse feed auxiliary cam member operated by the feed adjusting member, and a buttonhole fine feed adjusting lever rotatably supported by a manually operated buttonhole fine feed adjusting masher and positioned by the buttonhole reverse feed auxiliary cam member for positioning the auxiliary feed plate, wherein a smal

Abstract: In a domestic sewing machine a feed dog (35) is adjustable for providing optionally selected stitch length and feeding direction and is adapted to be lowered to a position in which the feeding is inhibited. A control (15) is rotatably connected to a cam disk (16) adapted to adjust the feed dog to a selected position. The cam disk has positions corresponding to lowering of the feed dog as well as reversing the feeding direction, and a zone for controlling the stitch length. The control also has a conical portion (30) which in response to an axial movement of the control is adapted to provide a temporary reversal of the feeding direction.

Abstract: A sewing machine including a shuttle/hook & bobbin assembly reciprocated to carry an under thread for making stitches with an upper thread on a workpiece, a stroke-adjustable feed mechanism controlled by a micro-inch stitch adjusting device to feed the workpiece in either direction or to let the workpiece be retained in place during stitching. The major parts of the sewing machine are respectively molded from ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) so that the weight as well as the manufacturing cost of the sewing machine are relatively reduced.

Abstract: A feed regulator of a sewing machine capable of varying a seam length at the stitching operation employs a first driving device for swingably driving a feed regulating table by way of a link mechanism so that a feed dog can switch the feed direction, whereby a reverse stitching operation can be performed in the same way as the conventional feed regulator. The feed regulator also employs a link mechanism having one surface for retaining the projection of the link member having a slit, one surface of which can retain the projection of the link mechanism, and a second driving device for driving the link member, whereby the reverse stitching operation can be performed by second driving device in the arbitrary seam length.

Abstract: An automatic sewing machine capable of executing a stitch back operation forms a nonfraying, aesthetically pleasing stitch in an embroidery pattern when resuming a stitching operation after thread breakage. The machine includes a movable needlebar holding a needle, a movable workpiece holder, storage for stitch data representing stitch positions, a control mechanism for controlling the needlebar and workpiece for executing a sewing operation based on the stitch data, a thread breakage detector, a stopping mechanism for stopping the sewing operation upon detection of thread breakage, a stitch back positioner for setting the stitch back position corresponding to the last complete stitch, a nonfraying stitch forming a positioner for setting the nonfraying stitch position, and a sewing operation resuming mechanism.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for carrying out a sewing operation with a sewing machine having a needle feed.In present sewing operations with a sewing machine having needle feed, defective stitches are often formed at the beginning, because the initial threads are not sufficiently clamped in the needle plate as a consequence of the elongated stitch hole. In the new process, the position of the needle prior to the beginning of sewing is displaced into an end zone of the stitch hole for performing a preselected number of initial stitches.

Abstract: Wheel low fabric feeding for sewing machines where oscillations of the feeding shaft are transmitted to two gear couples mounted on free release wheels fixed to a support pivoted free to rotate. By acting on a stitch length regulator device one of these couples engages the feeding wheel for reversing the rotation direction of the wheel and thus the work feeding direction.

Abstract: An adjustment device for the amplitude and direction of feed of cloth in a cloth transport mechanism for a sewing machine comprises a slideway centered on a trajectory in contact with a pivot pin between a connecting rod integral with an eccentric of a drive shaft and a short connecting rod linked to a lever associated with one end of the cloth transport member. This slideway may be oriented about a point situated in the middle of the trajectory of the pivot point to modify the inclination of the trajectory, and, in this way, the amplitude and the direction of the feed. To avoid any play between the slideway and the pivot pin, this latter carries two rollers in the shape of truncated cones, and the slideway has two tracks, inner and outer, displaced axially along the axis of pivoting in such a manner that each roller can only be put in contact with one of the two tracks by a resilient pressure and can roll without slipping against it.

Abstract: A feeding adjusting dial has at an inner circumferential surface thereof a plurality of teeth fixed to a stopper defined in the body of an arm of the sewing machine at both sides of the feeding rate adjusting shaft meshes with one of the plurality of teeth of the feeding rate adjusting dial. The feeding rate adjusting shaft is screwed into the body of the arm at a portion thereof and has a tip end thereof brought into contact with a cam surface of a feeding adjusting cam. The feeding adjusting cam is connected to a feeding adjusting table via a link. The feeding rate adjusting shaft comprises a first member, a second member and an elastic coupling for connecting the first and second members. One of the first and second members is screwed into the body of the arm of the sewing machine.

Abstract: Stitching coordinates prior to finish-up stitching are used to produce finish-up stitching data, resulting in undistorted stitching in all cases. Also, stitching data is pre-read out at start-up for stitching patterns continuously and predetermined stitching coordinates are obtained from the stitching data for making initiating finish-up stitching data. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to store the finish-up stitching data or the initiating finish-up stitching data in advance in a programming memory (ROM) so that operating efficiency of the sewing machine is increased.

Abstract: A sewing machine employs stepper motor actuated control for magnitude and direction of work feed including operator influenced feed balancing cam apparatus for shifting the stepper motor actuated control axially relative to or with a stepper motor shaft in order to attain parity between forward and reverse directions of work feed.

Abstract: A method for approaching a predeterminable end point of a seam spaced from the edge of a workpiece, with a sewing machine which comprises an adjustable needle and lower transport, a sensor arranged before the needle and triggering the process for the positioning of the needle in the end point during passage through the edge, a pulse generator coupled with the main shaft of the sewing machine for the delivery of counting pulses for a pulse counter, and a micro-computer which controls the action of the feed means as a function of the pulses originating from the sensor and from the pulse generator. To execute a desired shortening of the length of one or more of the last stitches before the end point of a seam, the workpiece is moved back by the difference between the desired stitch length and the stitch length set by the setting device, before execution of the adjusted feed.

Abstract: Vibrational movements of a spring biased lever, which is selectively positionable by a stitch length control lever and controls the operation of feed regulating mechanism in a sewing machine accordingly, are dampened by the operation of a plunger that is carried by said control lever and has a camming surface thereon to engage and lift the spring biased lever when the control lever is moved.

Abstract: A drive for the work feed mechanism of a sewing machine comprises a stepping motor which is secured to a support connected to the housing of the sewing machine in a manner permitting rotary displacement and whose output shaft is connected to the setting shaft of a control mechanism by which the feed amount and direction of a feed dog is determined. To facilitate the adjustment of the angular step position of the stepping motor, the setting shaft of the control mechanism is mounted coaxially of the axis of displacement of the support of the stepping motor. To obtain a compact construction, the setting shaft of the control mechanism is supported in a bushing which is firmly connected to the support and fitted, but angularly displaceable and secured by clamp, in an open bearing of the sewing machine housing.

Abstract: A setting mechanism for the feed dog of a sewing machine having a setting member secured to a setting shaft for determining the amount and direction of the feed movement for the feed dog, comprises a reversal lever which is pivotable between two end positions and biased into one of the end positions by a return spring. To be able to vary the setting torque by which the return spring opposes the setting motion of the reversal lever, the other end of the return spring is connected to the reversal lever through a linkage. This linkage includes an end member having its pivotal axis coaxial with the setting shaft. The torque of the return spring, which normally increases with the progressing pivoting of the reversal lever may be reduced by a linkage design wherein the torque acting on the reversal lever through this linkage reverses within the actuating range of the lever.

Abstract: An electronically controlled sewing machine includes an arrangement for utilizing the feed override control to effect a feed balancing function for a pattern having both directions of feed. To effect the balancing function, those patterns which have both forward and reverse feed are "flagged" for recognition by the sewing machine control system. When such a pattern is being sewn, the function of the feed override control is changed to perform the balancing function. Accordingly, when the feed override control is enabled, a fixed increment is added to all forward feeds in the pattern and the feed override control is utilized to attenuate only the forward feeds, to effect a balanced condition.

Abstract: Stitch length stops for an industrial sewing machine which is implemented by a stop member having a slot therethrough and a finger projecting therefrom, which slot is clamped behind a sheet metal bracket that may be affixed to a sewing machine frame. The sheet metal bracket is fashioned with an aperture through which a screw may extend through the slot of the stop member and into a bracket having a threaded aperture so that the stop member may be compressed between the bracket and sheet metal member. The sheet metal member may be implemented by a belt guard.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a four motion feed mechanism for sewing machines that is adapted to advance a workpiece past the stitch forming point of the machine. Orbital movement is imparted to the feed dog by a drive mechanism including first and second linkage assemblies driven off a common eccentric arranged on the sewing machine bed shaft. A feed regulating assembly including a single feed regulator control knob is operatively associated with one of the linkage assemblies to selectively pre-set the stitch length of the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is to be connected to a domestic sewing machine for converting it into one capable of sewing heavier materials and sewing materials having edgewise designs so that the designs are maintained in alignment. The converted machine can also be capable of having an adjustable amount of hook throw. This apparatus includes a member which pivotally connects a needle bar and a feed foot to the sewing machine. The apparatus also includes a member which pivots the connecting member back and forth in a feed direction and a reverse feed direction. So that the workpiece being sewn by the machine will not slip during pivoting in the reverse feed direction, the apparatus also includes a clamp element for retaining the workpiece against a workpiece supporting surface during this time. Additionally the apparatus includes a mechanism which lowers and raises a feed dog when the connecting member has been pivoted to the substantial extremes of the feed direction and reverse-feed direction.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a material engaging part such as a dog which is engageable with a material workpiece to selectively feed it in a forward and a reverse direction. In addition, the sewing machine includes the usual mechanism for raising and lowering the dog so as to complete an advancing or reverse movement of the material. The dog is driven preferably by a mechanism which includes an eccentric which may be adjusted so as to vary the length of horizontal feeding movement of the dog while the elevational changes of the dog remain constant by a separate feeding control mechanism. The magnitude of movement of the dog is controlled in accordance with a stitch length to be sewed by a stitch setting device which includes a movable contacting member which is connected to the eccentric mechanism and is movable between two end positions in order to adjust by a selected amount the movement of the eccentric in driving the dog by a selected amount.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided with stitch length control mechanism including a gear rack which is slidably mounted in the base of the machine so that it can be linearly translated to selected positions by an operator, and including a helical gear sector which is operably associated with a feed regulator shaft and meshes with the gear rack at a low helix angle effective to prevent other than operator induced movements of the gear rack.

Abstract: In a sewing machine a workpiece feeding device having a lower feeding member intermittently and reversably driven and an upper feeding member in a steady contact with the workpiece and drivingly connected to the lower feeding member by means of connecting elements including one-way coupling means and a device arranged between the latter and the upper feeding member for interrupting or reversing the upper feed motion simultaneously when reversing the lower feeding member; different embodiments are described.

Abstract: A feed regulator means having both manual stitch length control and pattern cam control of the work feeding mechanism of a sewing machine. A feed regulator crank secured to a feed regulator shaft is the driven link of a four bar linkage system. A manually operable camming device is operably engaged with the four bar linkage for stitch length selection and for simultaneously establishing the proportionate amount of motion transmitted from a pattern cam, which is also operably engaged with the four bar linkage, to said feed regulator shaft. A proportional link is in operable engagement with said four bar linkage such that the stitch length selection of the camming device may be altered without effecting angular movement of said feed regulator crank when a portion of the pattern cam is being tracked which dictates a zero stitch length.

Abstract: A lock stitch sewing machine is provided with mechanism operable by a feed dog for pulling thread for stitches from a bobbin spool in amounts predetermined by the setting of a stitch length regulator.