US2150527A

US2150527A - Feeding mechanism for sewing machines

Info

Publication number: US2150527A
Application number: US186411A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis H Taimadge
Original assignee: Merrow Machine Co
Current assignee: Merrow Machine Co
Priority date: 1938-01-22
Filing date: 1938-01-22
Publication date: 1939-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-03-14
Also published as: GB510072A

Description

Mal-ch14, 1939. L. H. T ALMADGE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 SheetsSneei Filed Jan. 22, 1938 Jil z erz or: 01055 H Tanzadge Zia/s Atorn eys Sheets-Sheet 2 L. H. TALMADGE Filed Jan.

FEEDING MEGHAN I SM FOR March 14, 1939.

In wen/$02": Z0 uis ii 75% lama/dye His Attorneys March 14, 1939. H. TALMADGE 2,150,527

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 22, 1938 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 q 54 W. l

\ Inventor: 6 Louis Ii: Talmadge His Atorneys Patented Mar. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,150,527 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR suwmo MACHINES Louis'H. Talmadge, Wethers fleld, 001111., aasignor to The Merrow Machine Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 22, 1938, Serial No. 186,411

21 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to movable work holding and feeding means associated with a sewing machine in addition to and in correlation with the usual feeding mechanism thereof, for the purpose of definitely locating, advancing and releasing the work during formation thereon of a straight seam in simulation of the required control of work for effecting the same result as it is commonly accomplished by manipulation performed by an operator. Pro'vision of means for thus controlling the work is the primary object of this invention. Such means as are included in the invention are useful in theformation of the long straight seams employed for the preparation of fabrics for various subsequent processing operations prior to which trimmed ends of lengths of material are suitably united by what is common- 1y termed an abutted seam. A seam of this character is produced by loosely overseaming two pieces together and opening out the pieces flat as though hinged together by the seam, using a variety of overseam stitching that will permit such hinging action to bring the two ends of the material practically end to end to flatten the seam. To facilitate production of the long straight seams indicatedthe invention may appropriately include in its structure a comparatively long bed having a sewing machine supported thereby, mechanism for tensioning and directing the work in advance of and in substantial alignment with the sewing machine feed, and supplemental feed mechanism for engaging and positively effecting advance of the work along a line parallel to the sewing machine feed and laterally offset therefrom. The tensioning and directing mechanism includes a movable controlling member for engaging the work at or near the lateral edge thereof where the seam is to terminate and the supplemental feed mechanism includes a sprocket supported feeding chain provided with impaling pins for engaging the work at intervals extending across from one lateral edge of the work to the other and at a suitable distance from the edge to be seamed. This substitution of mechanical for the usual manual control permits an operator to devote time and attention ordinarily required by the latter to the careful arrangement of one piece of material in superimposed register with another preparatory to placing the work upon the machine for the next consecutive stitching operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a sewing machine of the Merrow type in end elevation and as supported by an elongated bed or frame, the latter with associated elements being shown with parts broken away or in section to more clearly show the structural features.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the sewing machine and supporting bed shown in Fig. 1 with certain Y parts omitted and others partly broken away or in section. 1

Figure 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing a portion of the sewing machine and of the bed and with portions of work in operative position thereon.

Figure 4 is a detail view indicating in different position certain parts which are shown in Fig. 1.

Figure v5 is a detail view of a guard for covering impaling pins.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fi 5.

Referring to the drawings the structure embodying my invention is illustrated as associated with an overedge'sewlng machine I of the well known Merrow type. Such a machine may be briefly described as including curved needle 2 of the stitching elements, presserfoot 3, feed dog 4 and work support or needle plate 5 of the feeding mechanism, and upper and

lower cutters

6 and 1 respectively of the trimming mechanism.

The movable elements indicated are actuated through mechanism driven from a lower main shaft 8. For a more detailed description of the Merrow type of sewing machine reference may be had to U. S. Patents #733,760, of July 14, 1903, and #1,943,243, of January 9, 1934. A sewin machine of this type has been chosen as particularly well adapted for illustrated association with additional mechanism included in my invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to inclusion of this particular character of sewing machine or variety of stitching.

The work controlling mechanisms associated with sewing machine I and correlated with its feeding mechanism are supported by an elongated bed 9 having a laterally extended bracket Ill to which the sewing machine is secured with the work receiving surface of needle plate 5 substantially flush with the surface of a work support or plate ll made up of sections II, If and H which are secured to bed 9 as by screws l5, said sections being spaced to form slots l6 and I! to which reference will again be made. For supporting bed 9 suitable legs l8 and i9 are provided.

In the following description where reference is made to the work 20, possible confusion may be avoided if it is here stated that the expression edge of the work refers to that portion of material along which stitching has been or is to be applied, front end of the work is where the stitching begins, and rear end of the work" is where the stitching ends.

For mechanically directing to the stitching elements the edge of the work which is to be stitched and for imposing suitable tension thereon a movable following member or controller 2! is provided. On its under side this member 2| is channeled at 22 and within the channel is provided with anti-friction rollers 23 and 24 for free moving contact with a supporting bar or rail 25, which is mounted within the bed 9 below the slot l6 above mentioned as formed by adjacent edges of work plate sections l2 and [3. Through this slot l6 which is in alignment with the sewing machine feeding elements there are extended from the controller 2|,

lugs

26 and 21. Pivoted to lug 26 is a member 28 having a flat portion provided with suitably spaced impaling pins 29 for engagement with the rear end of the work. (see Fig. 2). As work thus engaged by the pins 29 is advanced by the sewing machine feed (and supplemental feeding means to be described) the controller 2! moves along its supporting rail 25 and by imposing and maintaining suitable resistance to this forward movement of the controller there may be produced upon the work the tension and guiding influence requisite to the formation of a straight seam. Efiective means for producing such tension may be provided as by weight 30 which is secured by chain 3! to the rear end of controller 24. Guide pulleys 32 and 33 are provided to accommodate the run of chain 3!.

As the controller 2! together with the work is advanced toward the sewing elements, the work engaging member 28 moves along in sliding contact with the work plate sections I2 and 13 until it reaches the point where slot I'B merges with an aperture 34 provided in the .work plate just in front of the needle plate 5. At this point means are provided for causing the work engaging member 28 to automatically release the work. Such release is effected by an angular or tilting movement of the work engaging member 28 about its pivotal axis. Obviously such movement of member 28 may occur only when it has passed into the area of aperture 33. This tilting movement is effected by a stop 35 located in the path of a pin 36 depending from ,member 28. When the latter has thus been turned to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4 the work is clear of holding engagement by the impaling pins 29 and is free to continue its advance to the stitching elements for completion of the seam and for a suitable interval thereafter of chaining off prior to commencement of the seam on the piece of work next presented. In the meantime controller 2!, under influence of weight 30 has been retracted a suitable distance to receive the next piece of work, such distance being determined by location of an adjustable stop 31 which is clamped in place as by a wing screw 38. To reduce shock of impact between controller 2! and stop 31 a spring cushioned bufier bolt 39 is carried by lug 2'! of said controller. Movement of controller 2! in either direction may, by suitable means, be rendered effective to stop the machine at any desirable point. As illustrated herein, its movement toward stop 3? is rendered efiective to stop the machine substantially at completion of the seam on each piece of work by means associated with said controller which are effective to actuate lever 40 of a switch housed within box 4|. Said lever 40 is normally held against a stop 42 by gravity. The switch comprises standard mechanism including a spring-actuated plunger (not shown); which serves to move lever 40 past its dead center, at which point gravity acts to move the lever into contact with stop 42. The free end of lever 40 extends into the path followed by a cam 43 depending from a member 44 which is pivoted at 45 to the side of controller 2|. A spring 46 normally holds cam member 44 in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. As the controller 2| moves forwardly, lever 40 is engaged by the oblique surface 41 01 cam 43, thereby moving member 44 outwardly with no effect on lever- 40. While moving in the opposite direction, however, the oblique surface 48 of cam 43 engages and actuates lever 40 thereby stopping the machine through appropriate switch mechanism within box For otherwise stopping the machine and for starting it, a suitable switch 50 provided with push buttons 5| and 52 may be mounted on the bed 9 as shown in Fig. 1.

Supplemental to the sewing machine feed already described, there is provided for correlative action therewith, work engaging means movable in a path parallel to that defined by action of the feed of the sewing machine. Thus for positively engaging material comprising the work 20 a conveyor or block ,chain 53 provided with impaling pins 54 is mounted on a sprocket 55 near one end of the bed 9 and a sprocket 56 near the other end. Sprocket 55 is fast on a shaft 51 and sprocket 56 is free to turn on a stud shaft 58. A bar 59 carried by bed 9 extends along slot ll above described as formed by sections l3 and M of work plate II. The upper run of chain 53 is supported by the bar 59 so that impaling pins 54 of chain 53 are presented above the work receiving surface of the work plate for engagement with the work 20 along a line parallel to the path which the edge of the work should travel to receive thereon a straight seam of overedge stitches. For feeding the'work in parallelism with the straight path indicated, provision is made for correlation between movement of the work as effected respectively by the sewing machine feed and that of feed chain 53, in other words the speed imparted to the chain is made to equal the rate of feed imparted to the work by e the sewing machine feed. In the arrangement shown the sewing machine and chain 53 are driven from the same source of power as by the motor 50, the shaft 6| of which is provided with sprocket 62 for driving chain 63 which is also engaged by

sprockets

64 and 65 respectively secured to the sewing machine main shaft 8 and a shaft 66. Between the latter shaft and shaft 51 which carries sprocket 55 there is interposedsuitable reducing gearing which may comprise worm 67, worm wheel 68 and bevel gear 69 on shaft 10, and bevel gear H Suitable bearings as shown (see Fig. 2) associated with bed 9 are provided as at l2, l3 and 14, for shaft 66,-45 for shaft TIL-and l6 and 11, for shaft 51.

After a seam has been completed on a piece of work, the latter resumes its movement through the efiect of feed chain 53 when the machine is again started as for stitching the next consecutive piece of work and is finally stripped from the feed chain impaling pins 54 by stripping

plates

18 and 19 which are secured to bed 9.

The trimming cutters 6 and I of the sewing machine operate in the usual manner to suitably prepare the fabric edges for reception of overedge stitching.

When stop 31 is so located as to establish the retracted position for controller 2| less than 'beyond the range of impaling pins 64 of conveyor chain 53, it is desirable that means be provided for protecting from the impaling pins 54 the hand of the operator employed in applying work to impaling pins 29 of member 28, and Ior'this purpose a sheet metal guard 80 may be secured to stop member 31 as by screws 8| (see Figs. 5 and 6).

Operation of the machine To arrange work for stitching on the machine, an operator grasps two ends of material and superposes one upon the other with respective lateral and end edges thereof in matched relation or register, The superimposed edges of material at the point where the seam to be formed starts is engaged under the presserfoot of the sewing machine. At or near the point where the seam is to, end the superimposed and .matched edges of material are placed upon impaling pins 29 01' edge controller 2|, which for this purpose preferably has been advanced from its limiting stop 31 so that weight 30 will impose suitable tension upon the work extended between the controller and the presserfoot. The material is then pressed by the operator onto the impaling pins 54 of feed chain 53. The drive is started by manually pushing the start button ill at switch 50. As the work is drawn forward by simultaneous action of both the feed chain 53 and the feed of the sewing machine, the material in alignment with the sewing machine feed is kept taut by the edge controller 2| due to resistance imposed by weight 30. When the edge controller has approached sumciently close to the sewing machine, pin 36 engages stop 35 thereby causing work engaging member 28 to swing below the work engaging surface of adjacent needle plate 5 thus withdrawing pins 29 to free'th'e work and release edge controller 2| which then automatically returns to its initial position under influence of weight 30. During the retractive movement of the controller 2|, member 44 engages lever 40 of switch actuating device 4| and shuts off the power to stop the machine, which however, has continued in operation long enough after the release of the work for the seam thereon to be completed. The

work with its completed seam having passed the sewing machine feed is subsequently further advanced by the feed chain 53 only, and is finally disengaged from the impaling pins 54 on the latter by the inclined stripping plates 18 and".

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is, I

1. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitching mechanism, a controller adapted to engage the work in advance of the feed and movable with the work as the work is advanced by the feed, means for yieldably resisting said movement oi the controller to impose tension upon the work, said means also being effective to move the controller away from the feed when the controller is free of engagement with the work, and means adjacent the feed for causing the controller to release the work.

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a controller adapted to engage the work in advance of the feed and movable with the work as the work is advanced by the feed, means for guiding the controller in a definite path, means for yieldably resisting movement of the controller to impose tension upon the work, said means also being effective to move the controller away from the feed when the controller is free of engagement with the work, means adjacent to the feed for causing the controller to release thework, and a switch operable by the controller.

3. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including'a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a movable work controller, a guideway for-directing the work controller in a path substantially aligned with the feed doginthe direction of movement of the feed 'dog, a-work engaging member movably associated with the work controller, means operable when the work engaging member is adjacent to the feed to effect work-releasing action of said member, and means associated with the work controller for yieldably resisting movement of the controller toward the feed.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a. controller adapted to engage the work in advance of the feed and movable'with the work as the work is advanced by the feed, a guideway for directing the controller, means for yieldably resisting movement of the controller to impose tension upon the work, said means also being effective to move the controller away fromthe feed when the controller is free of engagement with the work, means adjacent to the feed for causing the controller to release the work, a switch operable by the controller, and a stop associated with the guideway to limit the range of movement of the controller away from the feed.

5. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and a feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a controller adapted to engage the work in advance of the feed and movable with the work as the work is advanced by the feed. a guideway for directing the controller, means for yieldably resisting movement of the controller to impose tension upon the work, .said means also being effective to move the controller away from the feed when the controller is free of engagement with the work, means for causing the controller to release the-work, a stop associated with the guideway to limit the range of movement of the controller awayfrom the feed, and a buffer interposed between the controller and the stop.

6. A sewing machine having, in combination,

stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a needle plate associated with the stitch forming mechanism, an elongated bed, a work plate supported by the bed in a plane substantially coincident with that of i the needle plate, said work plate having a slot therein extended from the needle plate in alignment with the path of movement of the feed dog, a work engaging member movable along the slot, means below the work plate for supporting the work engaging member, and-means adjacent to the needle plate for releasing work from the work engaging member.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a needle plate associated with the stitch forming mechanism, an elongated bed, a work plate supported by the bed in a plane substantially coincident with that of the needle plate, said work plate having a slot therein extended from the needle plate in substantial alignment with the path of movement of the feed dog, a work engaging member movable along the slot,- means below the work plate for supporting the work engaging member, means adjacent to the needle plate for releasing work from the work engaging member, and a switch operable by the work engaging member.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and a feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a controller adapted to engage the work in advance of the feed and movable with the work as the work is advanced by the feed, means for guiding the controller in a definite path, means for yieldably resisting movement of the controller to impose tension upon the work, said means also being efiective to move the controller away from the feed when the controller is free of engagement with the Work, means adjacent to the feed for effecting release of the work from the controller, a switch actuating device including a lever, and a member associated with the controller and carried thereby through a path intercepted by the free end of the lever, the member being effective to actuate the lever only when the member is moved through its path by the controller in passing away from the feed.

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch formingmechanism, separate movable members for engaging the work respectively in front of the feed in substantial alignment with a path defined by movement of the feed dog, and laterally ofiset from the feed dog, one of said members being movable by the work in advance of the feed dog and the other being effective to move the work in correlation with the feeding action of the feed dog, and separate means for respectively releasing the work from the work engaging members.

10. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, separate movable members for engaging the work respectively in front of the feed in alignment with a path defined by movement of the feed dog, and laterally offset from the feed dog along a line extended beyond the stitching area to the front and rear thereof, one of said members being movable by the work in advance of the feed dog and the other being effective to move the work in correlation with the feeding action of the feed dog, and separate means for respectively releasing the work from the work engaging members.

11. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism in cluding a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, supplemental feeding means operable in a line laterally offset from the feed dog, and means for engaging the work in advance of the feed dog and in substantial alignment with the direction of movement of the feed dog, said means being operable to impose tension upon the work before and after commencement of the feeding action.

12. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism in cluding a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, supplemental feeding means operable in a' line laterally ofiset from the feed dog and extending between points respectively in advance and to the rear of the stitching area, and means for engaging the work in advance of the feed dog and in substantial alignment with the direction of movement of the feed dog, said means being operable to impose tension upon the work.

13. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, supplemental feeding means operable in a line laterally ofiset from the feed dog and extending between points respectively in advance and to the rear of the stitching area, means for engaging the work in advance of the feed dog, said means being operable to impose tension upon the work, and a switch operable by the work engaging means.

jacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a needle plate associated with the stitch forming mechanism, an elongated bed, a Work plate supported by the bed in a plane substantially 00-.

incident with that of the needle plate, said work plate having two slots therein extended in parallelism with the path of movement of the feed dog, with one of the slots laterally ofi'set from the feed dog and extended beyond the stitching area to the front and rear thereof and the other slot extended from the needle plate and in front of the stitching area only, work engaging members movable along each slot, means below the Work plate for supporting the work engaging members, and respective means adjacent each slot for releasing work from the work engaging members.

15. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfootand feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, supplemental feeding means operable in a line laterally ofiset from the feed dog and extending between points respectively in advance and to the rear of the stitching area, a movable controller, means for guiding the controller in a path substantially aligned with the feed dog in the direction of movement of the feed dog, means associated with the controller for yieldably resisting movement of the controller toward the feed dog, work engaging means associated with the controller, and means for effecting release of the work as the engaging means pass into proximity to the presserfoot and feed dog.

16. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent tothe stitch forming mechanism, supple mental feeding means operable in a line laterally offset from the feed dog and extended between points respectively in advance and to the rear of the stitching area, a movable work controller, means for guiding the work controller in a path substantially aligned with the feed dog in the direction of movement of the feed dog, means associated with the work controller for yieldably resisting movement of the controller toward the feed dog, a work engaging member movably associated with the work controller, and means operable when the work engaging member is adjacent to the presserfoot and feed dog to effect work releasing action of said member.

17. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism; feeding mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a needle plate associated with the stitch forming mechanism, an elongated bed, a work plate supported by the bed in a plane substantially coincident with that of the needle plate, having a slot therein extended in parallelism with the path of movement of the feed dog, laterally offset from the feed dog and extended beyond the stitching area to the front and rear thereof, supplemental feeding means including an endless chain, sprockets for supporting the chain with a run thereof adjacent to the work plate slot, work impaling pins extended from the chain and adapted to be continuously presented thereby through the slot, means for driving the chain in correlation with the stitch forming and feeding mechanismfirst mentioned, and means for engaging the work in advance of the feed dog and in alignment with the direction of movement of the feed dog, said means being operable to yieldably impose tension on the work.

18. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to' the stitch forming mechanism, a needle plate associated with the stitch forming mechanism, an elongated bed, a work plate supported by the bed in a plane substantially coincident with that of the needle plate, said work plate having a slot therein extended in parallelism with the direction of movement of the feed dog, laterally oifset from the feed dog and extended beyond the stitching area to the front and rear thereof, supplemental feeding means including an endless chain, sprockets for supporting the chain with a run thereof adjacent to the work plate slot, work impaling pins extended from the chain and adapted to be continuously presented thereby through the slot, means for driving the chain in correlation with the stitch forming and feeding mechanism first mentioned, a controller adapted to engage the work in advance of the feed dog and movable with the work as it is advanced by the feed, means for yieldably resisting said movement of the controller to impose tension upon the work, said means also being effective to move the controller away from the feed dog when the controller is free of engagement with the work, and means adjacent the needle plate for causing the controller to release the work.

19. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a needle plate associated with the stitch forming mechanism, an elongated bed, a work plate supported by the bed in a plane substantially coincident with that of the needle plate, said work plate having two slots therein extended in parallelism with the direction of movement of the feed dog, with one of said slots laterally offset from the feed dog and extended beyond the stitching area to the front and rear thereof and the other slot extended in front of the stitching area only and in substantial alignment with the feed dog, said slot merging at one end with an aperture adjacent the needle plate, supplemental feeding means including an endless chain, sprockets for supporting the chain with a run thereof adjacent the offset slot, work impaling pins extended from the chain and adapted to be continuously presented thereby through the offset slot and above the work support, means for driving the chain in correlation with the stitch forming and feeding mechanism first mentioned, a controller movable along the slot aligned with the feed dog, a work engaging member movably associated with the controller and movable with the latter toward and from the needle plate, means for moving the work engaging member to release the work when said member is in register with the aperture adjacent to the needle plate, and means for yieldably resisting movement of the controller toward the needle plate, said means also being effective to move the controller away from the needle plate when work is released from the work engaging member of the controller.

20. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feeding mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitch forming mechanism, a needle plate associated with the stitch forming mechanism, an elongated bed, a work plate supported by the bed in a plane substantially coincident with that of the needle plate, said work plate having two slots therein in parallelism with the path of movement of the feed dog, with one of said slots laterally offset from the feed dog and extended beyond the stitching area to the front and rear thereof and the other extended in front of thestitching area only and in substantial alignment with the feed dog, said slot terminating at one end in an aperture in the work support adjacent to the needle plate, supplemental feeding means including an endless chain with one run thereof adjacent to the offset slot, work engaging pins extended from the chain and adapted to be continuously presented thereby through the offset slot and above the work support, means for driving the chain in correlation with the stitch forming and feeding mechanism first mentioned, a controller, a track for supporting the controller beneath the slot aligned with the feed dog, a work engaging member associated with the controller and movable thereby along the surface of the work plate, means for moving the work engaging member below the work plate when said member is moved into register with the aperture in the work plate by the controller, a weight associated with the controller for moving it away from the needle plate, a stop adjustably secured to the work plate for limiting range of movement of the controller effected by the weight, switch mecha-' nism including a lever supported by the bed with the free end of the lever adjacent to the path along which the controller is movable, and a pivoted element carried by the controller, said element being eifective when the controller is moving away from the needle plate to actuate the switch lever.

21. A sewing machine having-in combination, stitch forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a presserfoot and feed dog operable adjacent to the stitching mechanism. a controller adapted to engage the work in advance of the feed and movable with the work as the work is advanced by the feed, means for yieldably resisting said movement of the controller to impose tension upon the work, and stop meansoperable by the controller.

LOUIS H. TALMADGE.