Abstract: Provided are: a sewing device provided with a sewing mechanism which performs sewing on a work to be sewn using a sewing-machine needle, while holding the work to be sewn in a state of being shaped in a predetermined shape on a plurality of seating portions arranged in a sewing direction; and a sewing method. When the seating portions are withdrawn from the work to be sewn so as to avoid interference between the sewing mechanism and the seating portions, a guiding mechanism enables movement in a first withdrawing direction for avoiding a first undercut portion of the work to be sewn, and movement in a second withdrawing direction for avoiding a second undercut portion of the work to be sewn.

Abstract: A sewing device includes: a plurality of actuators; and a plurality of seating bodies that are provided in an attachable/detachable manner to the individual actuators to seat on certain regions of an object-to-be-sewn. The sewing device further includes a restraining jig. Due to the restraining jig collectively restraining the plurality of seating bodies provided to the actuators, the plurality of seating bodies can withdraw from the actuators.

Abstract: A mask system and an air delivery conduit (200) for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The air delivery conduit (200) may comprise a textile (220) having an airtight arrangement. A support structure (240) may be provided to the conduit to provide form.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a cylinder bed extending in a predetermined direction and accommodating a shuttle and a shuttle shaft for driving the shuttle, a cloth holding frame for holding a work cloth, a moving member for supporting the cloth holding frame, the moving member being guided by the shuttle shaft so as to be moved in the predetermined direction, and a moving member driving unit for driving the moving member in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: One or more workpieces are positioned on the outer surface of a mandril which has a first longitudinal slot oriented in a longitudinal direction. A lift finger is disposed in the first longitudinal slot in a rest position and configured to be lifted out of the first longitudinal slot in a lift position to lift a portion of the workpieces outwardly relative to the outer surface of the mandril. A pinching device is used to pinch the lifted portion of the workpieces, which may be stitched with a stitching device. The mandril is movable in the longitudinal direction to feed the workpieces. The mandril includes a second longitudinal slot for housing a feed roller shaft, which protrudes from the second longitudinal slot to contact the workpieces. The feed roller shaft is rotatable to rotate the workpieces relative to the outer surface of the mandril. An alignment device is provided for alignment the workpieces and stabilizing the workpieces for precise processing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for converting one or more rolls of material into a pillow sham. In one embodiment, three rolls of material are overlapped and fed to a sewing and cutting system. The materials are sewn along their vertical edges and then cut to a determined size. After being cut, the three pieces of fabric are shifted and fed to further sewing heads for sewing the horizontal edges in producing a pillow sham. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the system converts a single roll of material into a pillow sham.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a fabric-covered spring toy having a helical body which is decorated both on its outside and on its confronting helical surfaces. In the method, a fabric tube is everted using a lanyard to pull one end of the tube through the tube center to produce the fabric tube. Everting produces a tube with a decorative surface on the outer face. The resulting fabric covered spring body can be sewn to other fabric structures such as simulated animal body parts, for incorporation into an animal-like product having a semi-soft, flexible body.

Abstract: A guiding system for use with translucent textile work pieces is disclosed. A free edge (52) of a tubular work piece extends along a continuous processing path and is folded under the work piece to form a hem in the work piece. The work piece is then advanced along the processing path toward a downstream sewing machine (11), whereupon the hem is sewn in the work piece. A lower ply sensing opposed beam sensor (76) upstream of the sewing machine detects a multiple ply leading edge of the folded hem, and is moved by a pneumatic cylinder (88) into a position laterally with respect to the processing path where it will detect the free edge of the folded and sewn hem, and will control a lower work piece guide assembly (34) so as to maintain a proper depth of the hem. This enables the sewing needles (20) of the sewing machine to align the two spaced parallel lines of stitching (68) at the beginning and end of the hem line for minimizing waste in such hem forming operations.

Abstract: A sewing machine in combination with a work piece control and advancing mechanism and a microprocessor for setting sleeves in shirt bodies. A sleeve and shirt body are manually loaded on the work piece control and advancing mechanism and placed under the presser foot and the individual edge guides. An automatic sew cycle is then actuated that is under the control of the microprocessor. During the automatic sew cycle the sewing machine operator is free to prepare to load the next product.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a cylinder bed feeds cloth in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cylinder bed, with a main feed dog and differential feed dog provided in the cylinder bed projecting from a bed main body of the sewing machine. The main feed bar, differential feed bar, main feed oscillating shaft and differential feed oscillating shaft for moving each feed bar back and forth, and front and rear vertical oscillating shafts for moving both feed bars up and down are provided in the cylinder bed, while all other mechanisms for the main feed dog and differential feed dog are provided inside the bed main body, so that the cylinder bed may be designed thinly.

Abstract: A combining and binding conveyor system which combines a first fabric piece and a second fabric piece to form a combined fabric piece, such as a men's brief and applies binding to the fabric piece. The apparatus includes an unique combining fixture for receiving and securing the first fabric piece, the second fabric piece, and the combined fabric piece. A conveyor transports the combining fixture to at least one sewing machine work station having means for operating on the first and second fabric pieces. A transfer station removes the combining fixture from the conveyor when the operations are completed and places the fabric piece on an unique binding fixture for engaging, positioning and securing the fabric piece. The conveyor transports the binding fixture to at least one sewing machine work station for operating on the fabric piece while the same is being held by the binding fixture.

Abstract: A sewing machine in combination with a workpiece control and advancing mechanism for automatically forming a seam along the aligned edges of a two ply waist band and a shirt body. The mechanism includes edge guiders, that are controlled by sensors, for individually controlling each workpiece edge such that the marginal edges of all layers are aligned.

Abstract: A sewing machine in combination with a work piece control and advancing mechanism and a microprocessor for setting sleeves in shirt bodies. A sleeve and shirt body are manually loaded on the work piece control and advancing mechanism and placed under the presser foot and the individual edge guides. An automatic sew cycle is then actuated that is under the control of the microprocessor. During the automatic sew cycle the sewing machine operator is free to prepare to load the next product.

Abstract: A sewing machine in combination with a workpiece control and advancing mechanism for automatically forming a coverstitch over an existing overedge stitch. The workpiece control and advancing mechanism includes an edge sensor and an edge guider and a feed roller for stretching the garment to place the garment in a condition that it can be automatically processed.

Abstract: A sewing machine in combination with a workpiece control and advancing mechanism for automatically forming a seam along the aligned edges of a two ply waist band and a shirt body. The mechanism includes edge guiders, that are controlled by sensors, for individually controlling each workpiece edge such that the marginal edges of all layers are aligned.

Abstract: A combining conveyor system for combining a first fabric piece and a second fabric piece to form a combined fabric piece, such as a men's brief. The apparatus includes an unique combining fixture. The fixture includes: a base; fabric clamping device for receiving and securing the first fabric piece, the second fabric piece, and the combined fabric piece; and a support attached to the base and supporting the fabric clamping device. A conveyor transports the combining fixture to at least one work station for operating on the first and second fabric pieces. A transfer station removes the combining fixture from said conveyor when the operations are completed.

Abstract: The present invention is an ultrasonic cylinder arm machine which includes a combination of the use of ultrasonics with a cylindrical arm that extends out from the ultrasonic unit and back toward the horn of the ultrasonic unit whereby the machine is especially suited for the manufacture of tube shaped or cylindrical shaped articles such as trouser legs and long sleeved shirt sleeves.

Abstract: In the cylinder-bed type sewing machine of the invention, a cylinder unit is provided. A feed base support, a feed base, and a feed dog which are disposed in the cylinder unit are reciprocally rotated in vertical and lengthwise directions in accordance with movements of a feed lifting rock shaft and a feed lengthwise shaft. The vertical and lengthwise reciprocal movements of the feed base are synthesized so that the feed dog is moved along an arcuate feeding locus. According to the cylinder-bed type sewing machine of the present invention, the peripheral length of the cylinder unit for holding a tubular sewing product which is fitted onto the cylinder unit, and the distance between a throat plate and the left end of the cylinder unit can be reduced as much as possible, and the feed dog can be moved along the arcuate locus. Therefore, a predetermined feeding operation on the sewing product can be conducted surely and smoothly.

Abstract: An apparatus for sewing two fabric panels together along the edges thereof. The apparatus includes a combining fixture for holding the panels such that the edges to be joined hang freely in the combining fixture. A staging mechanism engages the edges of the panels to be joined and disposes the edges in overlapping relationship with one another. A sewing apparatus is insertable into the combining fixture for sewing the edges of the panels together while the panels are held in the combining fixture. Finally, the apparatus includes means for movably mounting the sewing apparatus for reciprocal movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the combining fixture.

Abstract: An endless flat band has a spirally placed, straight pulling element in the form of a thread or a wire extending in the direction of movement. A transverse connection is generated by loops and at least partially by a binding agent, wherein at least one spiral of the pulling element is inserted into a tubular fabric in the knitting machine. Because the spiral is inserted already straightened into a right/right transfer construction between loops or loops and tuck loops, it is achieved that a symmetrical fabric is made which increases the service life of the flat band and improves the useful properties.

Abstract: An automatic hemming apparatus for supplying a tubular workpiece in an adequate attitude to a sewing machine (4) is disclosed. The apparatus has a workpiece position control device (21) and a guide (19) for folding a circular edge of the workpiece in front of a sewing bed (6). The sewing machine (4) is provided with a delivery roller (10) at the rear side and an assisting feed belt (26) at the outside of the sewing bed (6). The device (21) comprises an edge sensor (17) and inclined freely rotatable rollers (22A to 22D) so as to contact with the workpiece on the outer surfaces thereof. On the feeding operation of roller (10) and belt (26), according to a signal from the sensor (17), a stepping motor (24) changes the inclining direction of the rollers (22A to 22D) and the workpiece is moved toward the right or left.

Abstract: For forming three-dimensional envelopes of at least two blanks (11, 13) which are to be sewn together, the first blank (11) is laid on a first support surface of a carrier body (14) in such a manner that its edge portion projects beyond the carrier body. Thereafter, a second blank (13) is laid on a second support surface of the carrier body (14), the edge portions (11a, 13a) of both blanks projecting obliquely from the blanks and forming a double flange portion projecting from the carrier body (14). A sewing machine is guided along the root line (57) formed by the kink lines of the edge portions (11a, 13a) so that a seam interconnecting the blanks (11, 13) is created there.

Abstract: An apparatus for sewing a tubular braid with an internal seam and simultaneously filling it with the required filler. A strip of covering fabric is fed to a sewing area from a first direction and folded over so that its lateral edges meet in the sewing area of a sewing machine. Immediately after sewing, the tube is inwardly inverted and pulled toward the direction from which the fabric came, thus being pulled through the folded but unsewn portion of the strip. A core filler material is fed from the opposite direction into the interior of the inverted tube as it is inverted to form the finished braid. The finished braid may then be coiled into a rug shape. Adjacent sections of the braid are then sewn together using dual stitches on the upper and lower surfaces of the rug, to ensure that the surfaces remain flat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automating the sewing of tubular sleeve sections onto tubular shirt bodies, as in the manufacture of T-shirts. Shirt bodies are applied over a generally cylindrical body form having portions aligned with the sleeve openings of the shirt body. The sleeve sections are applied inside-out and inner end first over opposed hollow sleeve cones. The body form, oriented horizontally for loading, is indexed to a sleeve inserting station, where it is re-oriented vertically. The areas of the shirt body surrounding the sleeve openings are engaged a spaced points by positioning devices, which independently position segments of the sleeve opening edges with respect to predetermined reference planes. Thereafter, tubular sleeve sections are applied axially over the body form, in surrounding relation to the shoulder areas of the shirt body.

Abstract: A process and associated apparatus for joining automatically the beginning and the end of a hem in a circular textile material is disclosed. The material is fed on to an entry roller which receives the cloth from a flat guide, the said roller being inclined at the moment of the initial introduction of the material followed by the material being fed and guided with the principal roller being horizontal, this being followed by the pre-folding and final folding of the edge of the material by fold guides prior to the stitching of the hem until the already sewn section of the hem reaches the entry of the guide unit, at which moment the said unit is displaced for the realignment of the hem stitching zone, following which the fold guides are separated.

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: In a process and apparatus to automatically make textile sleeves for toothed belts, a continuously fed fabric 4a is cut to obtain a plurality of cloths 7 of predetermined sizes. The cloths 7 are joined together by sewing them along respective edges that are perpendicular to the cut thus forming a continuous textile band 12. The front end 12b of the textile band 12 is locked to a predetermined position after a band moving step is carried out. During the movement, a photoelectric cell 46 and an encoder 28 identify the distance between the front end 12b of the band and the first connecting seam 12a. If this distance is less than a minimum value, the band 12 is cut upstream of the seam 12a and the moving step is repeated. If the distance exceeds the minimum value, the band is formed into a loop 44 of predetermined width.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making tubes from flexible textile sheets by which a sheet is helically wound around two or more non-rotatable support bars. Feed rollers contacting two or more helical convolutions wind the sheet so that adjacent helical convolutions overlap and also maintain the tube upstream of the feed rollers in tension to progress the tube axially along the support bars. As the sheet is wound into helical form, successive helical convolutions are sewn together to form a continuous tube.

Abstract: An improved multilayer insulation blanket for insulating cryogenic structures operating at very low temperatures is disclosed. An apparatus and method for fabricating the improved blanket are also disclosed. In the improved blanket, each successive layer of insulating material is greater in length and width than the preceding layer so as to accommodate thermal contraction of the layers closest to the cryogenic structure. The fabricating apparatus has a rotatable cylindrical mandrel having an outer surface of fixed radius that is substantially arcuate, preferably convex, in cross-section. The method of fabricating the improved blanket comprises (a) winding a continuous sheet of thermally reflective material around the circumference of the mandrel to form multiple layers, (b) binding the layers along two lines substantially parallel to the edges of the circumference of the mandrel, (c) cutting the layers along a line parallel to the axle of the mandrel, and (d) removing the bound layers from the mandrel.

Abstract: A tubular seaming system for stitching workpieces into tubular shapes. The tubular seaming system comprises a sewing head which is pivotally mounted on a support in operative reltionship with a first sewing station and a second sewing station. The first and second sewing stations are angularly displaced at separate points on an arc a predetermined arc length apart. The tubular seaming system comprises a linear motion assembly which is coupled to the sewing head and the support for linearly driving the sewing head into and out of operative relationship with either the first or second workpiece support. The first and second workpiece supports each comprise clamping structure which is capable of clamping overlapping edges of the workpieces so that a master controller can energize the linear motion assembly to drive the sewing head into an operative relationship with either the first or second sewing station so that the workpieces located at the first or second sewing station may be sewn into a tubular shape.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus for forming cuffs for sweat jackets or anklets for sweat pants or the like. The apparatus includes a movable table carrying an end of an elastic tape continuous to a supply source. The tape advances on a carrying table to a cutting device where the tape is cut. The front end of the tape is transferred to gripping blades which can be inverted, simultaneously with the return movement of the movable table. The tape is further let out toward the gripping blades by a predetermined length feeding device and the gripping blades turn so that the tape front end is folded back on the tape rear part. The tape rear part is cut off and the folded cut-piece is supplied to a sewing machine by a conveying device automatically and sewn to join both ends along the cut line.

Abstract: An overlock stitch is formed by sewing machine (11) (FIG. 1) into a work product (34) and the work product is accelerated away from the sewing machine so as to stretch the thread chain (FIG. 5). The stretched thread chain is cut by cutter (40), and the leading thread chain (43) recoils back toward the hollow chaining tongue (21) and is drawn into the chaining tongue by the stream of air (26) created by vacuum canister (52) (FIG. 6). The next work product draws the leading thread chain out of the hollow chaining tongue and the sewing machine captures the leading thread chain in the stitch. Transfer conveyor (15) (FIG. 1) moves the work product (34) into alignment with everter tube assembly (106), grippers (109) and (110) grip and open one end of the work product (FIGS. 9-14), and air drawn through the everter tube assembly everts the work product. The gripper tube assembly opens along its lower portion (FIG. 16) and drops the work product.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for severing the needle and looper threads of a chain stitch formed by a cylinder bed sewing machine having an in-line looper system is disclosed. The cylinder bed sewing machine has a needle plate and a needle carrying the needle thread through the material and the needle plate to form a needle loop of needle thread therebelow that has a needle side running to the needle. The apparatus comprises a device operating as a dual needle plate holder and knife slide base, a stationary knife positioned below the needle plate, a spring positioned below said stationary knife, a movable knife positioned on the knife slide base and slidably mounted between the stationary knife and the spring for yieldingly urging the movable knife thereagainst. The movable knife has one penetrating end with a pair of axially offset barbs, a lagging barb and a leading barb closer to the penetrating end of the movable knife than the lagging barb.

Abstract: A comforter assembly apparatus includes a frame with first and second rolls of fabric associated therewith for supplying an upper sheet and a lower sheet to the apparatus. A pair of sewing machines are mounted on the frame so as to attach the side edges of the upper and lower sheets together to form a continuous fabric assembly. The fabric assembly surrounds, and is pulled through the interior of, a turning ring, so as to continuously invert the fabric assembly into an inside-out condition. A third layer of soft batting may be supplied to the fabric assembly to form a intermediate layer between the upper and lower sheets, by inserting the soft batting layer into the turning ring as the fabric assembly is inverted. In the preferred embodiment, the turning ring is an elongated ring having a leg projecting from each end thereof between a pair of feed rollers.

Abstract: A tubular fabric (4) is withdrawn from a supply roll (3), over a spreader (5), by means of a support band (11) and a pressure band (14). The spreader (5) comprises an inner longitudinal guide member (17), and an outer longitudinal guide member (18), and are mounted on the free ends of two or more telescoping tubes (22). The inner and outer guide members are urged apart by helical compression springs and are drawn together by wire cables (26). A cutting device (41), comprising at least one circular knife (43), is disposed between the engaging projections (40) of the guide members (17,18) and the next telescoping tube (22). This cutting device cuts a longitudinal slit (49) in the wall of the tubular fabric, producing two slit edges (51, 52). The lower slit edge (51) lies on the support band (11) and is pressed so as to be held down by the inner guide member (17). The other upepr slit edge (52) lies on the upper side of the inner guide member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sewing a length of fabric into seamed tubing that has a consistently uniform diameter and cross-sectional configuration along substantially its entire length, wherein simplified guide means and steps are employed for controlling the full movement of the length of the fabric forming the tubing to and through a sewing zone.

Abstract: A process for the production of a pleated textile fabric, which comprises first forming a spiral tube from a plane fabric by joining together the two selvedges of said fabric; then in known manner pleating this spiral tube and fixing the pleats thus formed; and finally undoing the join connecting the two selvedges of the fabric.The invention relates also to a weft and warp woven pleated fabric wherein the pleats are disposed on the bias and the weft threads are inclined.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus is provided for sewing vehicular air bags. Each air bag includes first and second side panels and a main body panel extending therebetween. First and second sewing machines are provided for sewing the seams between the respective first and second side panels and the main body panel. The sewing apparatus comprises at least one rotatable template to which the air bag side panels are mounted. Rotation of the templates advances peripheral portions of the side panels into proximity to the sewing machine, while longitudinal side edges of the main body panel are simultaneously advanced into the sewing machine. The apparatus includes motors and/or air cylinders for moving the first and second sewing machines and the templates towards or away from one another, and for adjusting the relative elevation of the templates and air bag side panels relative to the sewing machines.

Abstract: A sewing machine for the controlled sewing on of a tape from a tape supply onto a tubular edge region of an elastic workpiece thus forming a band, which is provided with an additional feed dog in front of the usual feed dog in the region of the needle plate. The additional feed dog is driven by a stepping motor transversely with respect to the workpiece feed direction and is used to guide and align the workpiece. Sensors control the alignment movement of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for three dimensional sewing of sleeves to a suit coat body, constituting providing a suit coat body support member which supports a suit coat body turned inside out thereon, positioning a sleeve support member adjacent to the suit coat body support member, which sleeve support member has sleeve supporting bars deformable from a contracted position to an expanded position, placing the shoulder end of a sleeve onto the contracted sleeve bars and then expanding the sleeve bars to hold the shoulder end of the sleeve against the sleeve bars, placing an inside out suit coat body on the suit coat body support member, moving the sleeve support member toward the suit coat body support member and transferring the sleeve to the suit coat body support member while keeping the seam lines thereof aligned, and holding the sleeve on the suit coat body support member, contracting the sleeve bars and moving the sleeve support member away from the suit coat body support member, and sewing the suit coat body and the sl

Abstract: A suit material support device which comprises a center suit coat body support member and a pair of suit sleeve support members disposed on the opposite sides of the suit body support member. The suit coat body support member is rotatable from a suit coat body placing position and to right- and left-hand suit sleeve sewing positions. It has a plurality of suit body bars displaceable in planes intersecting each other at right angles and clamp needles for clamping suit sleeves against the suit body bars. A pair of suit sleeve support members are disposed on opposite sides of the suit body support member and each is rotatable between a suit sleeve attaching position and a suit sleeve placing position as the mechanism rotates.

Abstract: In order to permit a reliable alignment, in the direction transverse to the direction of rotation, of the edge 5 of the opening of a tubular workpiece 4 of medium-heavy to heavy sewing material which is drawn with considerable pre-tension over a tensioning device 3, each of the tensioning rollers 6, 7, 8 belonging to the tensioning device 3 has at least three alignment members 15 distributed uniformly over its circumference. Each alignment member 15 has an engagement side with a gripping surface. After optically scanning the edge 5 of the opening of the workpiece 4, one or more of the alignment members are displaced by a pulsating action of a pressure fluid, radially and axially, in the tensioning roller 6, 7, 8. In this way, the gripping surfaces of the alignment members 15 grip the inner side of the tubular workpiece 4 and displace it transversely to its direction of rotation.

Abstract: The machine includes a fixed guide that defines two longitudinal work tops, first and second work tops, which support and guide the edges of leather articles to be sewn together. A curved needle, located next to the first work top, pierce the edge located on the first work top, pass through a slot in a guide, pierce the another edge, which is being pressed onto the second work top by a pressure foot, and, finally, operates in combination with a crochet hook to produce a stitch. The needle-pressure foot assembly serves to intermittently feed the two edges while a feed dog, acting in combination with a second pressure foot located downstream of the assembly, crimps the edge situated on the first work top.

Abstract: A thread cutter for an interlock sewing machine wherein the sewing machine has a small diameter cylindrical arm and the cloth being sewn is fed along the axis of the arm. A plurality of needles are disposed along a line orthogonal to the axis of the arm and an arcuated, movable member having a hook at its tip is pivotably supported ahead of feed dogs on the sewing machine relative to the line of feed. The arcuated, movable member is turned by means of an operative plate disposed along the axis of the arm and, in cooperation with a fixed blade, cuts threads after the cloth has been sewn.

Abstract: An alignment device for the automatic adjustment of the edge of a tubular workpiece to be sewn on a sewing machine having, a presser foot, a feed dog operating on the presser foot, a sensing device for detecting the edge of the workpiece, and a guide member disposed on a side of the feed dog. The alignment device has a device for rotatably driving the guide member, and a device responsive to the sensing device for controlling the equatorial or peripheral speed of the guide member relative to the sewing speed of the sewing machine.

Abstract: In an automatic sewing device for sewing together tubular workpieces such as sleeves, and pocket-shaped workpieces, such as cuffs, there are provided an inner clamp, a central clamp and an outer clamp. These clamps are associated with an inner sleeve clamp and an outer sleeve clamp, the latter being associated with a folding device for gathering up a material fullness of the tubular workpiece. Devices are also provided for opening the pocket-shaped workpiece in order that the border of the tubular workpiece may be inserted and positioned. The associated sewing machine can be moved in a straight line relative to the parts described. A part of the border of the tubular workpiece is positioned in the pocket-shaped workpiece and sewn to the latter by means of a straight-line seam. Subsequently, the clamping in this area is released and the positioning of the border of the tubular workpiece in the pocket-shaped workpiece is carried out and clamping is effected.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding tubular goods for stitching at the station of a sewing machine has a support adjacent the sewing station, a drive for rotating the support about a horizontal support axis, and at least three arcuate segment plates displaceable radially of the support axis on the support and together forming a segmented drum centered on the axis. The plates are displaceable between inner positions defining a circumference smaller than that of the smallest tubular goods to be sewn and outer positions defining a circumference larger than that of the largest tubular goods to be sewn. The plates can be radially spread on the support to change the diameter of the drum. Thus when a tubular workpiece is fitted over the drum it is tensioned thereover. The support can also be displaced vertically adjacent the station to align the uppermost segment plate generally with the stitch plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and tensioning a tubular workpiece edge such that the edge may be linearly advanced beneath the stitch forming instrumentalities of a sewing machine. The tensioning apparatus includes at least two rotative assemblies which are insertable within the closed loop formation of the workpiece edge. One of the rotative assemblies being connected to a balanced tensioning arm and is adapted for movement between two operative positions in a manner whereby applying a constant circumferential workpiece edge tension on all article sizes.

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: The disclosed invention describes an automatic sewing machine adapted to sew along a tubular workpiece edge. Upon insertion, the workpiece is tensioned and the marginal edge thereof is arranged in a different shape before sewing than after sewing. An array of sensors are positioned to monitor and effectively control the lateral disposition of the workpiece edge during the entirety of the sewing cycle and to effect an uninterrupted working sequence without the need of operator intervention.