US3476063A - Automatic sewing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ 3,476,063

AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet J WM Maw Ana/1 Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARATUS 6 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 196'.

INVENTOR. 3 591/054 M 504 472 mhaw Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21. 1967 INVENTOR. SAMUEL M 801.6972 BY FIG. 4

m M ATroa/fi Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ v AUTOMATIC- Sswmc APPARATUS SShets-Sheecl Filed Saint. 21, 1967 FIG. 5

- INVENTOR. 56 /054 M 504 4712 BY mm, m 4m- Nov. 4, 1969 v s. N. BULGATZ 3,476,063

AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARA'I'US Filed Sept. 21, 1967 6' Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. saw/4 M 5 6 72 WM, BM

Nov. 4, 1969 v s. 'N. U GATZ 3,476,063

AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARATUS ?'.'.e:1 Sept. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR- 5444054 4/ 5045072 BY 1/44, M w

'A Tram/6V5 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 112-2 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Two sewing machines are slidably mounted in head to head, longitudinal alignment for opposed, reciprocating movement by a cam and cam follower arrangement. The cam is slidably mounted for reciprocating movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line of movement of said sewing machines. Each of the sewing machines is provided with a cam follower positioned in vertical alignment with its reciprocating needle, the two cam followers tracing identical paths as they follow separate but identical contoured portions of said cam. A controlled source of high pressure air serves to drive the cam and to intermittently engage one-revolution clutches connected to the needle drive shaft of each of the sewing machines. The reciprocating movement of the cam, and the intermittent engagement of the clutches is controlled by a microswitch arrangement which includes a plurality of contact points mounted on a switch plate connected to said cam for sliding movement therewith. The material to be sewed is held on a plate which is secured to the cam and slides back and forth with it. The intermittent engagement of the sewing machine clutches by the aforesaid microswitch arrangement as the cam followers reach predetermined, spaced points on the moving cam causes the actuation of the sewing machine needles in such a way as to jump baste stitches in a symmetrical design conforming to the separate, identical, contoured portions of the cam.

The primary objective of this invention is to provide an arrangement of sewing machines slidably mounted for movement with respect to cam surfaces by means of cam followers secured thereto. My unique machine apparatus is particularly advantageous in performing jump basting operations; however, it could also prove useful in sewing regular stitches to conform to any desired pattern.

Among the various applications for which jump baster sewing machines have been employed in the past is the sewing of shoulder pads between covering layers of material. Such operations have been performed in the past by manually moving the padding and overlying layers of covering material in the desired zigzag stitch pattern with respect to the reciprocating needle of the jump baster sewing machine. This, of course, is a relatively time consuming and tiring operation requiring a fairly high degree of sewing skill. I have automated this operation by slidably mounting a plurality of sewing machines for movement and intermittent needle actuation by a cam and cam follower arrangement so as to jump baste a desired stitch pattern in a shoulder pad.

In the preferred form of my invention, two sewing machines are slidably mounted in head to head, lengthwise alignment. A cam follower is secured to the movable bed of each of the sewing machines, and a cam plate having two separate contoured surfaces thereon is mounted for shiftable movement in an angular direction with respect to the line of movement of the sewing machines.

A particularly advantageous feature of this invention lies in the utilization of the moving cam plate to actuate a control mechanism which serves to intermittently engage clutch means connected to the drive shaft of each of the sewing machines, thereby reciprocating the needles of thesewing machines at spaced intervals. The shoulder padding material to be sewn is mounted for movement with the cam plate, and the relative movement of the shoulder pad material and the sewing machines by means of the cam and cam follower arrangement causes the desired stitch pattern to be jump basted in place by the intermittent actuation of the sewing machine needles as the cam followers reach predetermined, spaced points on the cam surfaces.

As another significant feature of my invention, I employ a single cam member having separate but identical contoured surfaces on the opposite sides thereof, whereby the two sewing machines are made to baste two identical stitch patterns in a symmetrical design on a single piece of shoulder padding material. After basting, the material may be cut in half so as to provide two separate shoulder pads of the same configuration and stitch pattern.

The sewing machine clutches and the drive means for the cam plate are preferably motivated by pneumatic motors. The aforesaid cam plate-actuated control mechanism is comprised of a slidably mounted switch plate having a plurality of contact points thereon, said switch plate being connected to said cam plate for sliding movement therewith. One-way microswitch means are energized at spaced intervals as the contact points move thereby, the microswitch arrangement serving to intermittently actuate solenoid valves which control the flow of pressurizing air to the pneumatic motors for the clutches and the moving cam plate.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the sewing machine apparatus of this invention, including the associated control system;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view, partially in section, of the slidably mounted sewing machines of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1 showing the slidably mounted switch plate which forms a portion of the machine control system;

FIGURE 4 is a top view showing the mechanism for clamping the work material to a slidably mounted top plate;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view showing the pneumatic motor apparatus utilized to actuate the clamiping mechanism of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 showing the work material holding clamp;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section view taken along line 7--7 of FIGURE 2 showing the sewing machine slide apparatus;

FIGURE 8 is a top view of a shoulder pad stitched together by means of the sewing machine apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical section view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE is a top view of the cam and cam follower mechanism;

FIGURE 11 is an end view of one of the sewing machines of FIGURE 2 showing the clutch engaging mechanism; and

FIGURE 12 is a top view of the material holding top plate.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the sewing machine apparatus of this invention is comprised of two sewing machines 2 and 4 slidably mounted on a table 1. The sewing machines are preferably of the lock stitch, oscillating hook type, and are driven by motors 6. The motor output shafts 7 are drivingly connected to the sewing machine drive shafts 9 by means of belt 10 secured to pulley wheels 11 and 12. Machines 2 and 4 are supported on table 1 with their longitudinal axes 14 in alignment. For reasons pointed out hereinafter, machines 2 and 4 are also preferably arranged with their heads 16 facing each other. It would also be possible to align the sewing machines with the head of one machine facing the rear of the next adjacent machine. The two machines are biased towards the central position in which they are shown in FIGURE 2 by means of a spring 18 shown in FIGURE 1.

The arrangement for sliding machines 2 and 4 along table 1 is best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7. The base 20 of each machine is secured to a plate 22 which is supported on a lower, slidably mounted bed by means of vertical rods 26. A plurality of cross bars 28 are provided with ring members 30 through which guide bars 32 extend. Machines 2 and 4 are supported at their forward ends by leveling members 34, each of which has a foot 36 resting on one of the lower beds 24. Each of the sewing machines 2 and 4 is also provided with a ring guide member 38 through which needles 40 move up and down.

The material to be sewed together is held in place on a workplate 42 by a clamping arrangement best shown in FIGURES 4 through 6. My improved sewing apparatus could be utilized to sew any variety of stitch patterns in materials of various sizes and shapes. For purposes of illustration, I have shown a top plate 42 and associated clamping mechanism designed to hold the materials from which a shoulder pad is basted together. For this purpose, I have provided a clamping arrangement comprised of a spring wire pad holder 44 which is pivotally mounted for downward clamping action on an arm 46. The rear end of wire holder 44 is held in place in mounting head 48 of arm 46 by set screw 50. Arm 46 is pivotally secured to block 54 by pin 52 extending therethrough. Also secured to the forward end of arm 46 are two angularly extending support bars 56 which carry a plurality of pad holding fingers 58. Arm 46 is actuated downwardly in order to bring L-shaped fingers 58 and wire clamp 44 against the shoulder pad 60 by means of a pneumatic motor 62. Motor 62 is comprised of the conventional arrangement of an air cylinder 64 in which a piston not shown, reciprocates so as to actuate a connecting rod 66 secured to arm 46 by means of clamping plate 68. Cylinder 64 is mounted on upright portion 70 of a bracket 72 secured to top plate 42. Air is supplied to cylinder 64 through a conduit 74 by means of a control arrangement discussed below. When arm 46 is pivoted downwardly by the action of pneumatically actuated connecting rod 66, it carries spring wire holder 44 and fingers 58 downwardly with it to a position where they firmly hold pad 60 against top plate 42. Screw 76 held in nut 78 at the forward end of wire clamp 44 may be adjusted downwardly in order to bear firmly against the forward end of pad 60.

In order to sew stitches in the desired patterns in pad material 60, I have provided a cam and cam follower mechanism arranged for shiftable movement along a path angularly disposed with respect to the direction of movement of sewing machines 2 and 4. With reference to FIGURES 2 and 7, the cam mechanism is comprised of a cam member 78 mounted on a horizontally disposed cam plate 80. The assembly of cam 78 and cam plate 80 is supported on a bed 82 slidably mounted in runners 84. Runners 84 are supported in horizontal alignment from the underside of table 1 by means of downwardly extending bracket arms 86. Each of the slidably mounted sewing machine bed plates 24 is provided with a cam follower 88 mounted at its forward end adjacent one of the opposite sides of cam member 78. In order that the desired stitch pattern may be sewn in pad material 60, top plate 42 on Which pad 60 is held in place is secured to cam 78 for sliding movement therewith. This is accomplished by means of upright plate member 90 which is secured at its lower end to cam 78 and fastened along its upper face to top plate 42 by means of screws 92, as is indicated in FIGURES 6 and 4.

The assembly of cam 78, plate 90 and top plate 42 with the work material 60 held thereon is moved along a predetermined desired path by means of connecting rod 94 fastened to the bottom of slidably mounted bed 82. Connecting rod 94 may be motivated by any type of prime mover. I have found it convenient to use an air motor 96 shown connected to rod 94 in FIGURE 1. Sewing machines 2 and 4 could be arranged to move along any angular path with respect to the direction of movement of cam 78. For purposes of manufacturing convenience, I have designed the sliding mechanism for machines 2 and 4 so that they move along a line substantially normal to the line of movement of cam 78 as shown in FIGURE 1.

The particular type of cam design which I have chosen to use is illustrated in FIGURE 10. Although cam 78 could be comprised of two separate cam members, I have chosen to utilize a single cam member having separate contoured surfaces for each of the sewing machines 2 and 4. In order to provide the proper stitch pattern for securing shoulder pad material 60 together, I have designed a cam 78 with a first set of inner-undulating surfaces 98 and a second set of outer surfaces 100, having first outwardly extending portions 102 and second inwardly directed portions 104. Oppositely disposed inner and outer cam surfaces 98 and 100 are shown as having identical contours for purposes hereinafter explained. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the surfaces on the opposite sides of cam 78 could be made with different contours in order to operate the sewing machines in such a way that they form stitches in different patterns.

A portion of outwardly and inwardly extending surfaces 102 and 104 are comprised of pivotally mounted fingers 106 and 108. These fingers perform a very important function with respect to the movement of cam followers 88 as is best explained with reference to both FIGURES 4 and 10. At the beginning of the sewing operation, machines 2 and 4 are biased toward the central, head to head position of FIGURE 2 by spring 18. At this time, central line 110 of machines 2 and 4 and cam followers 88 mounted thereon will be in the positions indicated in solid lines in FIGURE 10, with respect t cam members 78. As cam 78 is retracted by connecting rod 94 in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIGURE 1, cam followers 88 move first along outwardly extending surfaces 102 carrying machines 2 and 4 outwardly with them towards the position indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 1. As cam 78 continues to move in the same direction, cam followers 88 will subsequently move inwardly over surfaces 104, this first, entire outer path of cam followers 88 being indicated by circled letters a in FIGURE 4. When cams 88 reach the inner end of inwardly extending portions 104, cam 78 and top plate 42 secured thereto will have been moved to the right of the central, phantom line position in which plate 42 is shown in FIGURE 1 to the position in which plate 42 is shown in solid lines. Cam 78 is then reciprocated in the opposite direction indicated by the dotted line arrow in FIGURE 1. When cam 78 starts in this opposite direction, cam followers 88 move over inner surfaces 98, and as they start to do so they bear against the inner ends 105 of fingers 106, thereby pivoting said fingers outwardly so as to permit cams 88 to continue moving over the entire contour of inner surfaces 98 along the path indicated by circled letters b. When cam 78 nears the opposite end of its line of travel, cam followers 88 will have traversed the entirety of inner, undulating surfaces 98 and will be in the position indicated by phantom lines in FIGURE 10. As cam 78 then continues to move in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIGURE 1, cam followers 88 will move against the inner end of pivotally mounted fingers 108 and will cause these fingers to move outwardly against biasing springs 112, in the manner indicated in FIGURE 10. Continued movement of cam 78 will cause cam followers 88 to move on by fingers 188 to the initial, solid line start position shown in FIGURE as cam 78 terminates its movement in the opposite direction. Biasing springs 112 will then return fingers 108 to their normal closed position shown in FIGURE 4 so as to permit cam followers 88 to move over the outer surface thereof as cam 78 begins to move at the beginning of another sewing operation.

It is to be noted with respect to FIGURE 10, that top plate 42 has two spaced apart openings 41 and 43 therein which conform generally to the shape of inner and outer cam surfaces 98 and 100. This permits sewing machine needles 40 to reciprocate downwardly through top plate 42 and padding material 68 as cam followers 88 and cam 78 move relative to each other in the manner indicated in FIGURE 4.

Sewing machines 2 and 4 could be operated continuously as cam followers 88 traverse inner and outer contours 98 and 100, thereby sewing continuous stitches in the patterns traced by the moving followers. However, when sewing material such as shoulder pads 60 the normal procedure is to sew long, loose stitches in a basting operation. For this purpose, some means must be provided to intermittently actuated sewing machine needles 40 in synchronization with the movement of cam 78 and cam followers 88 in order to dro stitches as cam followers 88 reach predetermined, spaced points along cam surfaces 98 and 100. For this purpose, I have designed a control system best shown in FIGURE 1. Clutch means in the form of two separate, one-revolution clutches 114 and 115 are provided to intermittently supply operating power to machine drive shafts 9. Clutches 114 and 115 are periodically engaged by pneumatic motors 116, the particular mechanism employed to actuate the clutches by pneumatic motors 116 being shown in FIGURES 2 and 11. A stub pin 118 on the end of each clutch 114 and 115 is intermittently caught and released by arm 19 which is mounted for pivotal actuation by bar 117 connected to the piston of each pneumatic motor 116. High pressure air at a pressure of approximately 160 p.s.i. is supplied to pneumatic motors 116 as well as to cam plate motor 96 by an air compressor 120. The operation of motor-driven air compressor 120 is controlled by switch 122 located in a power line lead to a 110 volt, alternating current supply source 124. Sewing machine drive motors 6 are also connected to power supply 124, the operation of motors 6 being controlled by main control switch 126.

Pressurized air from compressor 120 is directed through a main supply line 128 having a manual control valve 130 and filter 132 therein to branch lines 134 and 136 in which pressure regulating valves 138 are installed. The flow of air from branch line 134 to clamp actuating air motor 62 and clutch air motors 116 is controlled by foot switch 140 and solenoid valve 142 located in air lines 144 and 146, respectively. When solenoid valve 142 is energized to an open position, it permits pressurized air to flow through lines 143 and 145 to clutch air motors 116. Double acting solenoid valve 148 located in branch line 136 controls the flow of pressurized air through lines 150 and 152 to cam plate drive motor 96 in such a way as to impart a reciprocating motion (not shown) contained therein.

In order to control solenoid valves 148 and 142 and thereby the intermittent actuation of clutches 114 and as well as the reciprocation of pneumatic motor 96, I have employed a switch arrangement responsive to the movement of cam 78. The switch arrangement includes a pair of one- way microswitches 154 and 156 which are disposed above a sliding switch plate 152 having two rows of contact points 160 and 161 thereon. Switch plate 152 is connected to slidably mounted cam bed plate 82 by rod 162 for actuation thereby. Switch plate 152 is slidably mounted in runners 164 as is shown in FIG- URE 3. Microswitch 154 is arranged so that it is closed to complete a circuit to solenoid valve 142 as contact points 160 are moved against it when cam 78 is retracted in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG- URE 1. In a similar manner, one-way microswitch 156 is arranged to complete a circuit to solenoid valve 142 as it is contacted by points 161 when cam 78 and switch plate 152 are reciprocated in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIGURE 1.

To cycle sewing machines 2 and 4, switch 14 is first closed so as to start air compressor and create a supply of pressurized air in the pneumatic system. Motor switch 126 is then closed to render the sewing machines 2 and 4 ready for operation; however, clutches 114 and 115 are still disengaged at this time. The pressure in the air supply system will cause pad holder support bar 56 and wire clamp 44 to be in a downward position against to plate 42. By actuating foot switch air is bled from pneumatic motor 62 through line 44 and a bleed outlet 141 on switch 140. This allows an internal spring within air cylinder 64 to move the piston therein upwardly so as to raise connecting rod 66 and the clamping mechanism connected thereto. An assembly of shoulder pad material 60 is then placed on top plate 42, and foot switch 140 is released causing pressure to again build up in cylinder 64 whereby connecting rod 66 is moved downwardly so as to bring arm 46 and the clamping apparatus secured thereto firmly down against the top of pad assembly 60. Control switch 125 is then closed causing the energization of double acting solenoid valve 148 to a position wherein air is supplied through line so as to retract connecting rod and cam bed plate 82 secured thereto in the direction of the solid arrow in FIGURE 1. This causes cam followers 88 to move over outer cam surface 100 in the manner indicated above. At the same time, contact points intermittently actuate microswich 154 which in turn energizes solenoid valve 142 at spaced intervals. Pressurized air is thus supplied through lines 143 and 145 intermittently to air motors 116 so as to cause the intermittent engagement of clutches 114 and 115. Sewing machine needles 40 are thus driven at spaced intervals controlled by the spacing and movement of contact points 160. Contact points 160 are spaced so that stitches are taken as cam followers 88 reach predetermined spaced points along outer cam surface 100. When cam bed plate 82 reaches the end of its line of travel in the rearward direction, switch arm 168 carried on switch plate 152 contacts microswitch 166 connected to solenoid valve 148. Solenoid valve 148 is thus actuated to a second position in which it supplies pressurized air through line 152 so as to move connecting rod 94 in the opposite direction. As cam 78 and top plate 42 connected thereto move in the opposite direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIGURE 1, cam followers 88 move over the inner surfaces 98 of cam 78 through the positions indicated by letter b in FIGURE 4. Contact points 161 now serve to actuate microswitch 156 and solenoid valve 142 so as to intermittently energize clutches 116. Inner stitches are basted in place at spaced intervals determined by the spacing of contact points 161. Since needles 40 are in vertical alignment with cam followers 88, they follow the same path traced by the cam followers. Inner and outer stitch patterns are thus formed conforming to the configuration of inner and outer cam surfaces 98 and 100. As indicated above, contacts 160 and 161 are spaced so as to cause the actuation of sewing machine needles 40 as cam 78 and cam followers 88 moving thereon reach predetermined spaced points along their paths of travel. The intermittent actuation of clutch air motors 116 causes pivotal arm 119 connected thereto to release and engage stub pin 118 on clutches 114 and 115 at such intervals that the clutches complete only one revolution at a time.

With reference to FIGURE 2, a kicker arm is provided on the head 16 of both machines 2 and 4 to release the tension on thread 17 after each stitch is taken. Arm 15 is actuated by an internal mechanism (not shown) connected to the drive shaft 9 of each machine.

By mounting machines 2 and 4 for reciprocal motion in head to head alignment, and by designing cam surfaces 98 and 109 on the opposite sides of cam members 78 so that they have identical contours, identical stitch patterns are formed in a symmetrical design on shoulder pad material 60 as is indicated in FIGURE 8. Counter stitch path 103 is formed as cam followers 88 move over outer cam surfaces 100, and inner stitch paths 107 are formed as cam followers 88 move over inner cam surfaces 98. The action of biasing spring 18 serves to move machines 2 and 4 back inwardly as cam followers 88 move over inwardly directed portions of cam surfaces 98 and 100.

Each shoulder pad 60 is comprised of top and bottom covering layers consisting of a coarse fiber top 170 and a gauze bottom 171 as best shown in FIGURE 9. Two layers of cotton padding 172 are interposed between top and bottom layers 170 and 171, and each layer of cotton padding 172 has a tissue covering layer 174 on the top and bottom faces thereof. After sewing the symmetrical stitch pattern in the shoulder pad as shown in FIGURE 8, the pad assembly is cut in half along such a line 176 so as to provide two separate shoulder pads of identical shape and stitching.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that my cam actuated sewing apparatus could be made to operate in different ways by means of different mechanisms other than those which I have illustrated. For example, a mechanical or hydraulic system could be used in place of the pneumatic control system shown to actuate onerevolution clutches 114 and 115, as well as cam plate drive motor 96. Also, it would not be necessary to use the specific microswitch arrangement shown to synchronize the actuation of the sewing machine needles with the movement of the cam and cam followers. The significant feature is the utilization of the movement of cam 78 to trig er the intermittent supply of operating power to sewing machines 2 and 4 as cam 78 and followers 88 reach predetermined spaced points along their lines of travel. In this way, the actuation of the sewing machines is synchronized with the movement of cam followers 88 so as to baste stitches at desired spaced intervals as the movement of cam 78 brings followers 88 to predetermined spaced points on its contoured surfaces 98 and 100. Also, any type of cam contour could be used and the cam 78 could be moved in only one direction rather than being reciprocated. In such a case, the cam would have only one contoured surface on each side and would be moved in only one direction so as to cause a stitching of only one path, as opposed to forming inner and outer stitch paths 103 and 107 as shown in FIGURE 8.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of automatically sewing stitches in a plurality of separate patterns on work material by means of a plurality of slidably mounted sewing machines, comprising the steps of:

clamping said work material on a plate connected to cam means for movement therewith, said cam means being contoured to provide the desired stitch patterns on said work material;

moving said cam means and said work material therewith along a first predetermined path;

simultaneously moving said sewing machines along another predetermined path disposed angularly with respect to said first predetermined path of said cam means by means of separate cam followers secured to each of said sewing machines, each of said cam followers tracing separate patterns as they follow separate contoured portions of said cam means;

intermittently actuating the needles of each of said sewing machines at spaced intervals in synchronization with the movement of said cam means and said sewing machines as said cam followers reach predetermined spaced points on said separate, contoured portions of said cam means, thereby forming said separate stitch patterns.

2. The method defined in claim 1 and further:

reciprocating said cam means in opposite directions along said first predetermined path so as to form a plurality of stitched paths within each of said separate stitch patterns.

3. The method defined in claim 1 and further:

moving said sewing machines in a reciprocating manner in opposite directions in head to head, axial alignment.

4. The method defined in claim 3 and further:

moving said separate cam followers over identical paths by means of said separate, contoured portions of said moving cam means, whereby said separate stitch patterns form a symmetrical design in said work material.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

said needles of each of said sewing machines are intermittently actuated by intermittently supplying operating-power to said sewing machines in response to the movement of said cam means as it reaches predetermined, spaced points along said first predetermined path.

6. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted on a table with their longitudinal axes in alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in place under the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movement therewith;

a cam follower on each of said sewing machines, each of said cam followers being disposed adjacent different surfaces of said cam means;

drive means for moving said cam means along a first predetermined path, the movement of said cam means causing said cam followers to move each of said sewing machines along second predetermined paths in an angular direction with respect to said first predetermined path of movement of said cam means;

clutch means for connecting the needle drive shaft of each of said sewing machines to a power source; and

control means operatively associated with said clutch means, said control means including actuator apparatus constructed and arranged to intermittently engage said clutch means automatically as said cam followers reach predetermined, spaced points on said cam means, whereby the needles of each of said sewing machines are automatically reciprocated at spaced intervals so as to jump baste stitches in desired patterns conforming to the contour of said cam means.

7. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said actuator apparatus includes trip means operatively connected to said cam means so as to be actuated by the sliding movement thereof.

8. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said trip means is in the form of an electric switch mechanism comprised of a slidably mounted switchplate having a plurality of contact points thereon, said switchplate being connected to said cam means for movement therewith, and pivotally mounted microswitch arm means disposed adjacent said switchplate so as to be intermittently energized by said contact points as said switchplate is moved with respect thereto.

9. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said control means includes solenoid actuator means adapted to cause the engagement of said clutches, said solenoid actuator means being connected to said microswitch arm means in an electrical circuit, whereby the contacting of said microswitch arm means by said moving contact points intermittently energizes said solenoid actuator means so as to cause the intermittent engaging of said clutches as said cam means reaches spaced, predetermined points along said first predetermined path.

10. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said drive means for moving said cam means, and said actuator apparatus for engaging said clutches are in the form of pneumatic motors;

and further including solenoid valve means located in air lines leading to said pneumatic motors; and

electric switch means connected to said solenoid valve means, said electric switch means being operatively associated with said cam means for actuation thereby.

11. Sewing apparatus comprising:

two motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted in head to head relationship on a table with their longitudinal axes in alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in place under the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movement therewith, said cam means being comprised of separate, contoured surfaces arranged in particular patterns on the opposite sides thereof;

drive means for moving said cam means along a first predetermined path, the movement of said cam means causing said cam followers to move each of said sewing machines along second predetermined paths in an angular direction with respect to said first predetermined path of movement of said cam means;

a spring member biasing said sewing machines towards a central, head to head position; and

wherein each of said contoured surfaces on opposite sides of said cam means includes undulating portions, the movement of said cam means causing each of said cam followers and said sewing machines connected thereto to move outwardly away from said central position to the outer extremity of said undulating portions, and said spring member causing each of said sewing machines to move back inwardly towards said central position as each of said cam followers moves over an inwardly directed surface of said undulating portions.

12. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted on a table with their longitudinal axes in alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in place under the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movement therewith;

a cam follower on each of said sewing machines, each of said cam followers being disposed adjacent different surfaces of said cam means;

reversible drive means for imparting reciprocating movement to said cam means along a first predetermined path, the movement of said cam means causing said cam followers to move each of said sewing machines along second predetermined paths in an angular direction with respect to said first predetermined path of movement of said cam means; and

wherein said cam means is comprised of separate, contoured surfaces, each of which has a first, inner contour and a second, contour located outwardly therefrom with respect to the center of said cam means, the reciprocating motion of said cam means in opposite directions causing each of said cam followers to move first along one of said contours and then along the other one of said contours.

13. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 12, and further including:

pivotally mounted fingers which form a part of each of said second outer contours;

spring means biasing each of said fingers towards a normal position so located with respect to said first, inner contours that each of said cam followers push one of said fingers aside when said followers move over one end of said inner contours as said cam means is moved in one direction, each of said fingers then returning to said normal position by the action of said spring means, whereby said cam followers are forced to move over said second, outer contours as said cam means is reciprocated in the opposite direction.

14. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted on a table in head to head alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in place under the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movement therewith along a predetermined linear path extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal axes of said sewing machines;

a cam follower on each of said sewing machines, each of said cam followers being disposed adjacent different surfaces of said cam means;

drive means connected to said cam means for moving said cam means along said predetermined path, the movement of said cam means causing said cam followers to reciprocate each of said sewing machines in a direction substantially perpendicular to said path of said cam means.

15. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 14, and further including:

a spring member biasing said sewing machines towards a central, head to head position, the movement of said cam means causing each of said cam followers and said sewing machines connected thereto to move outwardly away from said central position, and said spring member serving to reciprocate each of said sewing machines back inwardly towards said central position as each of said cam followers moves over an inwardly directed surface of said cam means.

16. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein:

each of said sewing machines includes a reciprocating threaded needle located in vertical alignment with one of said cam followers, whereby each of said reciprocating needles of said sewing machines sews stitches in desired patterns conforming to the contour of said cam means as said cam means moves along said first predetermined path.

17. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a motor driven sewing machine slidably mounted on a table for linear movement;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in place under the head of said sewing machine;

slidably mounted cam means' secured to said plate means for movement therewith;

a cam follower on said sewing machine, said cam follower being disposed adjacent the peripheral surface of said cam means;

a drive mechanism connected to said cam means for moving said cam means along a first predetermined linear path, the movement of said cam means causing l I 1 2 said cam follower to move said sewing machine along FOREIGN PATENTS a second predetermined linear path disposed at an 5 ,316 8/1967 G a angle with respect to sald first predetermined path. 7 arm my I ES R. B LE ,P E References Cited 5 AM 0 R rlmary xamlner UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Cl. X.R. 1,669,785 5/1928 Schmitt. 112-255 1,883,177 10/1932 Weis 112-155 XR 2,345,104 3/ 1944 Dittrich.

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