Abstract: A device for providing support for a workpiece on an embroidery machine. The device has a base that is configured to fit on a rod of the embroidery machine, wherein the rod of the embroidery machine is located beneath a bobbin arm. First and second sides extend upward from the base and form a channel therebetween, the channel being configured to receive the bobbin arm of the embroidery machine. The first and second sides have upper edges that are configured to provide a support structure for a workpiece placed thereon, and preferably extend to a height that is substantially the same height as a top of the bobbin arm.

Abstract: A method of forming a resilient band for an article of apparel includes stretching a first fabric having a first resiliency to a first stretched position and stretching a second fabric having a second resiliency to a second stretched position. The second resiliency is greater than the first resiliency. The method further includes securing the first fabric to the second fabric while the first fabric is in the first stretched position and while the second fabric is in the second stretched position. Moreover, the method includes releasing the first fabric from the first stretched position and the second fabric from the second stretched position after securing the first fabric to the second fabric.

Abstract: A conveyance system that transports fabric comprises a work space having a surface that the fabric can be transports across, and at least one budger that moves and/or provide force to the fabric in a servo controlled motion.

Abstract: An upper feed device is configured to be arranged above a bed of a sewing machine and feed a work cloth. The upper feed device includes a feed portion, a mechanism arrangement portion, and a drive portion. The feed portion includes a first feed mechanism and a second feed mechanism and is configured to feed the work cloth in a feed direction. The first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism are arranged side by side in a first direction, which is parallel to a top surface of the bed and orthogonal to the feed direction. The mechanism arrangement portion is configured to arrange the first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism in different positions in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the top surface of the bed. The drive portion is configured to drive the first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism in synchronization.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a presser foot (2) mounted pivotably about a horizontally aligned axis (1), which is configured to cooperate with an undertransporting apparatus disposed on a support area (3) for a material to be sewn, which includes two material sliders (4, 5) mounted movably with respect to one another for the continuous transport of the material in a feed direction. Both material sliders (4, 5) are configured to be extended horizontally when viewed in the feed direction both in a region before and in a region after the axis (1) of the presser foot (2).

Abstract: A pivoting twin roller for feeding a material to a sewing machine is disclosed. The twin rollers grip the material with serrated rollers, which rotate at the same rate for uniformly moving the material relative the sewing machine. The twin rollers press down on the material with equal force due to the central pivot point, which improves the feed of the material. The pivoting twin rollers also allow for automatic feeding of material to the sewing machine. A spring loading on the housing for the pivoting twin rollers applies downward pressure on the material being sewn for a sure grip thereon. The downward pressure also insures that the rollers will press down with equal force on uneven height materials since the pivot adjusts the height of the rollers to the height of the materials and thus prevents floating which can lead to jamming of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A bedding foundation is manufactured with a cover having a welt cord extending upwardly to create a seal when a mattress is placed on the foundation. The cover is made using a two stage process. During the first stage a sewing machine is used to join a welt cord to a web of border material. In the second stage a second sewing machine sews a piece of non-skid decking to the border assembly. Fullness may be incorporated into the border material to enable the cover to fit around the corners of the bedding foundation with the welt cord being spaced inwardly from the perimeter of the foundation.

Abstract: A quilting machine is provided having a first station and a second station, one being a printing station and one being a quilting station. The printing station is located either in line and preferably upstream of the quilting station, with a conveyor extending through each of the stations to convey a web of quilting material through the machine, or is off of the quilting line such that the material with a pre-applied pattern thereon is transferred, preferably in web form, to the line of the second station for the application of a pattern in registration with the first applied pattern. At the second station, for example, registration of a plurality of transversely spaced points is detected to determine longitudinal and transverse registration as well as skewing or rotation of the material, and the opposite transverse sides of the material are differently adjusted to orient and register the material.

Abstract: An electronically geared felling machine employs physical separation of the needles and loopers to provide significant ergonomic and functional advantages. The felling machine includes a needle servo motor for driving the needles in a sewing motion and a looper servo motor for driving the loopers in their sewing motion. The motion of the needles and loopers are electronically geared to enable these sewing parts to move in concert to produce a plurality of stitchings in materials. Materials may be moved through the sewing area of the felling machine by use of feed rollers positioned fore and aft of the needles. The feed rollers are driven by servo motors. Pneumatic cylinders urge the feed rollers downwardly against the materials to enable the feed rollers to maintain continuous contact with the materials and to maintain continuous movement of the materials through the sewing area of the machine.

Abstract: A mechanical metering attachment for sewing ribbon such as elastic or woven lace and woven elastic to men's and ladies' undergarments. The attachment can be used on a variety of commercially available industrial sewing machines and is driven by an available and appropriately located oscillating shaft that receives its drive from the main rotary shaft of the sewing machine. The attachment is driven through a one-way clutch that receives its input from the oscillating drive shaft. The feed rate of the ribbon or elastic woven lace can be adjusted by adjusting the point of connection of a connecting rod to a slotted lever which is part of the drive. The attachment includes a driven roll and a pressure roll. The pressure roll is biased into engagement with the pressure roll, and the pressure on the pressure roll can be adjusted to accommodate for the thickness of the ribbon being metered.

Abstract: In a sewing station, a preceding cloth piece is sewn to a slide fastener chain from a leading end of the preceding cloth piece to a predetermined position short of a trailing end thereof, and the sewing is terminated when it reaches the predetermined position. On the other hand, in a cloth-piece supply station, a succeeding cloth piece is fed at a high speed toward the sewing station to an upstream position spaced a predetermined distance from the trailing end of the preceding cloth piece while being stopped, whereupon the sewing is started when the leading end of the succeeding cloth piece contacts with or nearly contacts with the trailing end of the preceding cloth piece. As a result, the remaining portion of the preceding cloth piece is sewn. These driving timing is sequentially controlled via a control unit based on various detection signals from a plurality of cloth-piece detectors.

Abstract: A fabric feed mechanism that includes a forward feed roller located forward of the stitch forming area and a rear feed roller located to the rear of the stitch forming area. The drive to the forward and rear feed rollers is synchronized such that the fabric is fed to the stitch forming instruments in a relaxed and unstretched condition. There is a independently applied downward pressure to forward and rear feed rollers and the forward feed roller is raised along with the presser foot. The front feed roller has sections that are located on opposite sides of the presser foot toe to thus ensure that the top layer of fabric is fed under the presser foot rather than riding up the front roller. A material folding device is located forward of the stitch forming area for folding material to be fed to the stitch forming area.

Abstract: A cloth edge control device for a sewing machine includes a pair of rollers, an optical sensor, and controller. The pair of rollers are arranged near a needle location in such a manner that the rollers are rotating about an axis perpendicular to a direction in which a cloth material is fed, so as to be pushed against the cloth material. The optical sensor is adapted for detection of the cloth material at a plurality of points on a line along a direction intersecting with the feed direction before the needle location. The controller detects the position and curvature of the edge of the cloth material according to a light intercept signal from the optical sensor and rotates the rollers independently of each other according to the position and curvature thus detected.

Abstract: An apparatus in combination with a sewing machine having a stitch-former that utilizes thread, alternately engageable and disengageable with a garment having portions of different thickness material, and a feeder for feeding the garment through the stitch-former when the stitch-former is disengaged from the garment, comprises a puller roller, a feed rocker shaft, first and second presser feet and first and second pneumatic cylinders. The puller roller is positioned downstream of the feeder for uniformly pulling the garment when the stitch-former is disengaged from the garment. The feed rocker shaft is clampingly-attached to the feeder for driving the puller roller in synchronization with the stitch-former. The feed rocker shaft intermittently engages the puller roller when the stitch-former is disengaged from the garment and intermittently disengages the puller roller when the stitch-former is engaged with the garment.

Abstract: An automated circular sewing machine system for attaching an elastic band to a tubular body of fabric or simply forming and sewing a hem thereon. The system includes, among other things, a sewing head which is located between a pair of elongated work holding roller assemblies which project outwardly on either side of the sewing head. The roller assemblies include a front or feed side roller assembly and a rear or drive and tensioning roller assembly. The front roller assembly is free wheeling and is fixed in position relative to the sewing head. The drive and tensioning roller assembly includes a movable drive and tensioning roller driven by a motor and consisting of a solid unitary member which is generally cylindrical with a rounded outer nose portion and an inner fabric support surface. The entire drive and tensioning roller assembly is pre-positioned by a laterally movable clamping plate assembly to a fixed position relative to the sewing head depending on the size of the tubular body being sewn.

Abstract: Two workpiece portions (30, 32) that are to be stitched together along a stitching path (28) each have a stitching region (24, 26) which corresponds to the stitching path (28), but which is so shaped that the regions do not overlap when the workpieces (30, 32) are in a substantially flat condition. Thus some three-dimensional shaping is imparted to the portions during stitching. Each of the workpiece portions (30, 32) is clamped between two rollers (10, 12, 24) one of which is driven and the other freely rotatable, the driven rollers (10, 12) serving to distort the stitching regions into a desired overlapping position progressively in preparation for each successive stitching operation. The rollers are also bodily movable to advance the workpiece portions (30, 32) step-by-step through the operating locality (4) of the sewing machine. For sensing when the stitching regions are in the desired overlapping relationship suitable edge sensing means (40, 42, 44) is provided.

Abstract: A side-by-side material feed system is provided for feeding two dissimilar strips of material. The material is fed along parallel feed paths by first and second drive mechanisms which move the material toward respective cutters. The operation of the feed mechanisms and the cutters is controlled by a programmable controller which permits each of the material strips to be fed and cut to form pieces of predetermined length which may be removed by an operator or conveyed to a subsequent station for further processing.

Abstract: A puller device of a sewing machine having a stitch-forming mechanism alternately engageable and disengageable with a garment for stitching the garment and a feed mechanism for feeding the garment through the stitch-forming mechanism. The puller device comprises a puller roller downstream of the feed mechanism for uniformly pulling the garment when the stitch-forming mechanism is disengaged from the garment. The puller device also comprises a feed rocker shaft, clampingly-attached to the feed mechanism, for driving the puller roller in synchronization with the stitch-forming mechanism, intermittently engaging the puller roller when the stitch-forming mechanism is disengaged from the garment and intermittently disengaging the puller roller when the stitch-forming mechanism is engaged with the garment. The puller device includes first and second presser feet positioned adjacent the puller roller for urging the garment against the puller roller.

Abstract: An embroidery machine having a stationary stitching free arm, a pattern transfer element, and a frame having an edge and adapted to hold a workpiece to be embroidered, is used with a holding system having a support coupled longitudinally to the transfer element and movable on the frame in a longitudinal direction relative to the station. A pair of outer wheels on the support flanking the station are rotatable about respective axes generally parallel to the longitudinal direction. A center wheel on the support vertically offset from and generally between the outer wheels is rotatable about a respective axis generally parallel to the longitudinal direction. The frame edge can be engaged on one side by the outer wheels and on the other side by the center wheel to hold it in the station. A drive rotates one of the wheels, normally the center wheel, and thereby displaces the workpiece and frame held by the wheels in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A guide mechanism for the roller presser bar of a sewing machine of the type that includes an upper surface roller feeder for imparting movement to the upper work surface and a presser foot that cooperates with the feed dog. The guide mechanism for the roller presser bar is independent of the guide mechanism for the presser foot bar. The independent guide mechanism for the roller presser bar avoids binding of the roller presser bar that occurs when a common guide mechanism is utilized for both the roller presser and the presser foot bar. The roller presser bar guide mechanism includes a pair of movable vertically aligned surfaces attached to the bar and a cooperating block attached to the sewing machine housing with a pair of adjustable guide plates.

Abstract: A sewing machine adapted to sew an edge of a workpiece such as a floor mat which is mounted on a sewing table includes a sensor means adapted to monitor a contour of the workpiece and transmit monitored information, a feeding means adapted to turn the workpiece in accordance with the contour of the workpiece so as to successively feed the workpiece into a sewing area, and a control mechanism adapted to control the feeding means in accordance with the monitored information transmitted from the sensor means.

Abstract: A workpiece puller mechanism for a sewing machine including a carrier including a feed shaft mounted thereon that supports a feed roller. The periphery of the feed roller is biased downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the workpiece while the lower surface is engaged by the feed dogs. A puller housing is mounted on the sewing machine having a puller shaft rotatably mounted for rotation therein. Rotation of the puller shaft is imparted by a timing belt that overlies sprockets on the sewing machine main drive shaft and the puller shaft. The puller shaft carries a crank head that is connected by a connecting bar assembly to the input member of a one way clutch assembly. The one way clutch assembly provides drive in one direction only to the drive shaft for the feed roller.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the fabric edge position wherein a fabric fed to the needle location of a sewing machine is fed downstream, feeding distances per unit time at two feeding points, which are along a direction almost perpendicular to the fabric feeding direction, are differentiated by detecting the fabric edge position in the vicinity of the needle location, thereby shifting rightward and leftward the fabric edge position in the vicinity of the needle location so as to form a seam at a constant distance from the fabric edge.

Abstract: In an automatic sewing machine for sewing bands onto fabric parts, a metering device (3) which meters the band is electronically coupled to the sewing machine via a position sensor (6) in the form of a pulse generator, a signal processing circuit (8) and a motor, for example a stepping motor (SM). The amount of band per unit time delivered by the metering device depends on the speed. On the other hand, the stitch length of the sewing machine is, however, not independent of the speed but becomes greater with increasing speed. The resulting, undesired tensions between the fabric part on the one hand and the band on the other hand are avoided by a correction means (10) between the pulse generator (6) and the sewing machine (2) and the driver circuit (12) of the stepping motor (SM) of the metering device (3). The correction device ensures that control signals reaching the driver circuit (12) result in corrected, excessive metering of the band at higher sewing machine speeds.

Abstract: A base frame driving device of an embroidering machine includes a shaft, a holder mounted on the shaft so as to be movable therealong, a connecting portion mounted rotatably on the holder, a base frame mounted on the connecting portion for holding a work piece to be embroidered, a motor mounted to the holder and operatively connected to the base frame for rotation thereof about the shaft and, a controller for controlling the motor in order that the initial position of the base frame relative to the holder is fixed when operation of the embroidering machine is initiated.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of attaching an elastic band to the body of a garment is provided. The workpieces are monitored and aligned during the attachment process by sensors and guide mechanisms, electrically coupled to a controller that facilitates the activities, while a tensioning mechanism maintains the workpieces in a desired configuration. The use of the apparatus and method results in an efficient and automatic process of attachment that eliminates the need for an operator to manually align and guide the workpieces through the sewing instrumentality.

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: An embroidering machine comprises a stationary shaft, a sleeve slidably mounted on the stationary shaft, a frame device rotatably mounted on the sleeve and holding a cylindrical portion of a work to be stitched with embroidery, a holder secured to the sleeve, a motor for swinging the frame device and a driving device for moving the holder along the stationary shaft.

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: A feeding device for feeding elastic strip material to a sewing machine feeding a strip in response to one or more control signals. The strip feeder uses a feed roller having an associated pressure roller to provide a feed nip with the feeding roller, a sensor directly senses the rate of feed of the strip and generates one or more sensing signals. The sensor uses a signal generator which is a rotary pulse generator, or a photoelectric device for detecting marks on the strip. A controller receives the sensing signals and generates control signals for controlling the rate of feed of the strip.

Abstract: A detachable attachment for mounting on an embroidery machine with a computer controlled X-Y guidance system for the embroidery frame has a support which is mounted on the transverse rail, an axle having its axis in the Y-axis and an arcuate frame element rotatably supported thereon and provided with an aperture above the embroidery station. A drive motor on the support rotates the frame element in either direction of rotation, and a connection is provided to the computer control. A clamping element is releasably engaged on the frame element to clamp the workpiece thereon. In operation, the computer control moves the rail and the attachment in the Y-axis relative to the embroidery station, and the motor of the attachment effects rotation of the frame element about that axis.

Abstract: A connecting device includes first and second connecting members, first and second fixing members and bolts. The first connecting member is fixed to a back of a sewing machine by means of the first and second fixing members and the bolts. The second connecting member is pivotally connected at the right side of the first connecting member. The connecting device requires only the use of existing holes on the sewing machine to install the connecting device of the present invention on the back of the sewing machine easily. No drilling of holes in the sewing machine is required.

Abstract: A tape feed device for a sewing machine for feeding to a sewing location of the sewing machine at least one tape from a supply having a drive roll for feeding the tape, a feed roll disposed in the path of the tape between the supply and the drive roll, a stepping motor for driving both the drive roll and the feed roll, and a guide for passing tape around at least part of the feed roll which is capable of feeding more tape than the drive roll.

Abstract: A sewing machine capable of producing embroidery stitches on a workpiece which in general require the workpiece to be shifted relative to a needle in a lateral direction as well as a longitudinal direction. The sewing machine has first and second vertical extending presser bars provided at their lower ends with press rollers. The presser bars are spring-biased downwardly so that the press rollers exert downwardly directing pressure onto the workpiece. First and second feed rollers are arranged within a workpiece supporting table of the sewing machine, in opposition to the press rollers respectively. The first feed rollers are rotated by a first drive motor to feed the workpiece in the lateral direction, whereas the second feed rollers are rotated by a first drive motor to feed the workpiece in the longitudinal direction, thereby feeding the workpiece in any direction in a desired amount.

Abstract: A sewing machine with a pair of feed wheels which clamp a workpiece therebetween to transport the workpiece, the sewing machine comprising first and second feed shafts each of which have a clutch portion at an end thereof in opposition to each other and a group of gears disposed between these feed shafts for rotating the second shaft in the direction reverse to the rotational direction of the first shaft. The direction of transportation of the workpiece is changed by means of a clutch having a portion which selectively contacts the clutch portion of either the first or second feed wheel.

Abstract: In a sewing machine, a clamp-type work feeder includes an articulated, rotatable, telescoping tube carriage which can move in either direction parallel to the lower arm and rotate about the axis of the cylindrical end of the lower arm in accordance with a stored stitch program. A cylinder actuated clamp mechanism pivotally attached to the carriage allows simple work insertion and full peripheral stitching without unduly obstructing the operator's view or access to the stitching area.

Abstract: A feed device has feed members for feeding a work, and a stepping motor for directly driving the feed members. The period of driving pulses for driving the stepping motor is determined by feed control means on the basis of a speed signal indicating an actual operating speed of the main motor of the sewing machine or on the basis of a selectively set speed. The feed control means controls the stepping motor so that the feed motion of the feed members is continued also after the completion of the thread tightening operation of the take-up lever in order that the needle thread is tightened properly by the feed motion of the feed members.

Abstract: A lower wheel fabric feeding device in a column sewing machine where the oscillatory motion of the feeding shaft is transmitted to a free release wheel which acts on a first gear coupled with two gears, one gear transmitting the motion to the wheel and the other gear preventing reverse rotation of the first gear.

Abstract: A sewing machine with a needle bar mounted in a rocker, has a step motor drive for the oscillation of the rocker. A memory is used in which are contained selected digital data for influencing the step motor and a control unit is inserted between the memory and the step motor for selection and conversion of the digital data into stepping pulses for the step motor. A pulse generator operating synchronously with a main shaft of the sewing machine is used for triggering the transmission of stepping pulses to the step motor. To improve the drive transmission and to avoid reactions on the step motor, the step motor is connected to a lever arm of the rocker via an eccentric transmission.

Abstract: In a sewing machine with a feed device which comprises a feed wheel arranged next to a stitch formation point, driven synchronously with stitch formation tools, and mounted in a support provided at the housing of the sewing machine, in order to obtain an extremely exact drive in both directions, the feed wheel is placed in driving connection with a step motor. In a manner known in itself, the step motor receives stepping pulses which can be generated by a pulse generator operating synchronously with a main shaft of the machine and via a counting device that determines the feed amount. This feed amount is presettable by selectable digital data contained in a memory. In an arrangement wherein the feed wheel is connected to its drive via a deflection gearing and a transmission shaft mounted in the support, the deflection gearing consists of a ring gear attached to the feed wheel and of a pinion firmly connected to the transmission shaft.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a housing with a base portion having a covering base plate and an upright standard adjacent one end of the base portion extending above the base plate and an arm portion extending out of the standard and overlying the base plate. A feed drive in the housing includes a ratchet wheel driven by the feed drive located on the arm portion which cooperates with a shuttle carried in the base portion. The feed drive includes a variable drive including an eccentric which may be shifted so as to vary the driving speed of the shuttle. The construction includes a setting device for setting the speed of the shuttle, an actuating device connected to the setting device and the variable drive so that the drive of the shuttle may be varied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for feeding a cloth in an embroidery machine. The method comprises the steps of holding the embroidery area of the cloth in a substantially arcuate manner about a horizontal axis disposed below the needle location and parallel to the Y axis of the Cartesian coordinate system the origin of which is the needle location, and feeding the cloth in the direction of the Y axis, while at the same time, feeding the cloth along the arcuate path about the horizontal axis.

Abstract: Terry cloth towel (18) moves from a supply along its length through an aligning and cutting system (14), to a transfer station (15). As the untufted bands (20) of the toweling material approach the transfer station, a plurality of fingers (28) of a gate (25) engage the untufted portion of the toweling, an as the toweling continues to move, the oncoming edge (22) of the plush surface (19) of the toweling engages and is retarded by the fingers. In the meantime, a plurality of presser feet (92) each of which is aligned with the fingers of the gate urge the toweling into engagement with a feed roller (85) that pulls the toweling through the processing path, and tension in the toweling tends to lift one or more of the presser feet (92) to relieve the pull applied to the toweling. This function is to straighten the band of the toweling.

Abstract: Terry cloth toweling (18) moves from a supply along its length through an aligning and cutting system (14), to a transfer station (15). As the untufted bands (20) of the toweling material approach the transfer station, a plurality of fingers (28) of a gate (25) engage the untufted portion of the toweling, and as the toweling continues to move, the oncoming edge (22) of the plush surface (19) of the toweling engages and is retarded by the fingers. In the meantime, a plurality of presser feet (92) each of which is aligned with the fingers of the gate urge the toweling into engagement with a feed roller (85) that pulls the toweling through the processing path, and tension in the toweling tends to lift one or more of the presser feet (92) to relieve the pull applied to the toweling. This functions to straighten the band of the toweling.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the technical field of machines for attaching knit or woven fabric hems to generally knit wearing apparel, and in particular, relates to a machine designed to perform such operations by precision-stitch sewing. To retain a constant match of the loops forming a lower flap in a folded hem with the loops in the upper flap while sewing the hem onto wearing apparel, the machine comprises a sewing assembly with which a hem entraining assembly and feeding assembly for a garment to be sewn are arranged to cooperate, and is characterized in that said entraining assembly includes a pair of entraining members defining a hem passageway therebetween and being kinematically connected to attain substantially equal and oppositely directed peripheral velocities.

Abstract: A fabric-guiding apparatus for guiding a fabric layer across a line of fabric feed along a side edge of the fabric layer, including a detector sensing the side edge of the fabric layer and generating a detection signal, a guiding wheel rotatable about an axis parallel to the line of fabric feed, a pressure exerting device for exerting a contact pressure urging the guiding wheel into engagement with the fabric layer, and a first drive motor to rotate the guiding wheel for laterally moving the side edge of the layer into position prior to a sewing cycle. The pressure exerting device comprises a pressure adjusting mechanism to adjust the contact pressure, a second drive motor to actuate the adjusting mechanism, a drive circuit responsive to command signals, a memory storing command data relating to the command signals, and a control circuit.

Abstract: A device for feeding tape, elastic strips or the like in a sewing machine that functions in timed relation with the mechanism for advancing a workpiece during seaming. The device includes elements for sensing the machine's operating speed and the amount of workpiece advance during each revolution of the machine's main shaft. A control unit having a microprocessor is operatively connected to the sensing elements and is effective in controlling a motor associated with the feed rollers for the tapes etc. so that they are rotated by an amount governed by the control unit. A feed back response to the control unit provides the information on roller rotation so that a comparison can be made with information previously received whereby the control unit is capable of initiating a correction for possible differences that may exist when the actual rotational speed of the rollers is greater or less than that required for the desired manner of application of tape or elastic strips to a workpiece.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for pulling out and cutting off the needle and looper threads in a sewing machine with a delivery roller for delivering material to the machine sewing station. The delivery roller is driven over a first drive, which is dependent on the sewing machine main drive and over a second drive, which is independent of the sewing machine main drive. On the looper of the sewing machine is secured a cutting blade for the needle thread. Furthermore, a needle thread clamp is provided. In order to manage, with a single means for pulling out the needle and looper threads by different lengths, a cutting device for the looper thread is arranged between the cutting blade and the delivery roller, with a guide which is traversed by a thread inlet groove and with a counterknife for a thread severing knife that moves transverse to the material feeding direction. The delivery roller is driven over the second drive for pulling out the threads.

Abstract: The arrangement comprises a sewing apparatus which is partially supported below a material-supporting table and which partially extends through an opening above the table surface. Control means are provided to control the operation of the sewing apparatus as well as to feed the material to be sewn along each direction in which a seam is to be formed. Sensing means are provided to sense the fact that a seam has been completed. Also, means are provided which clamp the material to the table after each seam is sewn. The control means further include means to rotate the sewing apparatus and align it in such a way that when the material is again fed to the sewing apparatus, the latter sews a successive seam along a different selected direction.