US3570425A

US3570425A - Sewing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3570425A
Application number: US842187A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur Shulman; Henry M Bonis Jr
Original assignee: Nabs Leasing Corp
Current assignee: Nabs Leasing Corp
Priority date: 1969-07-16
Filing date: 1969-07-16
Publication date: 1971-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-16

Abstract

The present invention provides an air and vacuum system for use with industrial sewing machines especially those employed in the fur sewing industry. Such industrial machines generally include a horizontal needle and a pair of horizontal feeding discs. The present invention provides means to aid in material alignment, material working, material guidance and means to prevent fur hairs or the like from fouling the seam line through the provision of guide means, and means in advance of the guide means to direct a flow of air at an angle to the line of feed of the material and vacuum means along a plane away from the axial line between the discs. The present invention further includes means for the automatic presentation and withdrawing of the air stream carrier to operative and nonoperative positions.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Arthur Shulman New York; Henry M. Bonis, J r., Sands Point, N.Y. [21] Appl. No. 842,187 [22] Filed July 16, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee Nabs Leasing Corp.

New York, N.Y.

[54] SEWING APPARATUS 20 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs. [52] 11.8. C1 112/20, 1 12/ 149 [51] Int. Cl D05b 23/00, D05b 35/00 [50] Field of Search 1 12/ l 6- 20, 149, (Air Digest), 218, 136, 147, (Suction Digest), (Pneu. Digest) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,994 8/1894 Allen 112/149 645,539 3/1900 Allen 112/149 770,678 9/1904 Cunningham l 12/20X 1,559,267 10/1925 Lipschitz 112/20x 2,082,738 6/1937 Vesconte... 112/218 2,423,996 7/1947 Rube] 112/218 2,730,056 1/1956 Wiesenfeld.... 112/20 2,588,281 3/1952 Olday..... 112/20 2,827,867 3/1958 Happe 112/21sx Primary Examiner.lordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Jeffrey A. Schwab ABSTRACT: The present invention provides an air and vacuum system for use with industrial sewing machines especially those employed in the fur sewing industry. Such industrial machines generally include a horizontal needle and a pair of horizontal feeding discs. The present invention provides means to aid in material alignment, material working, material guidance and means to prevent fur hairs or the like from foul ing the seam line through the provision of guide means, and means in advance of the guide means to direct a flow of air at an angle to the line of feed of the material and vacuum means along a plane away from the axial line between the discs.

The present invention further includes means for the automatic presentation and withdrawing of the air stream carrier to operative and nonoperative positions.

Patenmd March 16, W71

4 Sheets-Sheet a FIG. 3

INVENTOR flWTHUR JHULMAIV BUN/3, Jr.

mm) M 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS ARTHUR SHULMAN mm M. BONIE, Jr.

' Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,425

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTORS ARTHUR 300M091 mswnr 41.80MB; r:

snwnvo APPAnArus The present invention relates to a sewing apparatus and more particularly an adapter which may be integrated with existing sewing equipment, especially in the sewing of fur to aid in proper orientation of the fur during the sewing operation.

There has long existed a need in the fur industry for an aid in the sewing of fur skins, especially those having a relatively long hair such as mink. The sewing machine in predominant use today is best illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,132,379 issued Oct. ll, I938 to C. Bonis.

This machine generally provides apposed horizontal discs having an intermittent drive and a horizontal needle. The skill and care required by an operator, and the training time neces sary in order to gain proficiency is such that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain competent operators.

Aside from the slow and tedious period of training, the actual working, even by a skilled technician is relatively slow. Constant orientation of the fur along the desired seam line must be maintained, or an unsightly seam will result. This in turn has a marked effect upon the value of the finished product which is especially detrimental in an industry where the raw material, i.e., furs, is a relatively expensive commodity.

In addition to the above difficulties, the nature of the furs themselves creates problems of health, cleanliness and safety. Shedding of the fur is common and at the end of a work day it is not unusual to find an operator's hands and clothes covered with fur and an accumulation of fur about the sewing equipment and work station.

This shedded fur is further considered a waste product and is swept away or otherwise disposed of.

The fur industry has not been completely unmindful of this problem and for many years some attempts have been made to introduce equipment, methods or techniques, to alleviate some of the above problems, but none of these attempts have found acceptance in the industry. Some prior workers have suggested guide means either integral to the sewing equipment or as a supplement at the work station to guide the fur sections into proper alignment for sewing. Some have suggested air actuated systems to blow the fur hairs away from the seam line and another has suggested a vacuum arrangement for fur orientation. None of the foregoing have provided the solution to this long existing need.

The guides, while somewhat helpful, were readily distorted in use and required constant repair. Air actuating systems heretofore suggested were bulky and were so constructed as to adversely effect an operators line of sight. In addition, such a system added rather than detracted to the problem of shedding fur, since the air stream loosened and spread the fur. On the other hand, vacuum systems providing a vacuum along an axial line to the proposed seam line were undesirable. Vacuum orientation is generally undesirable due to the drag" imposed upon the fur pieces which in turn may provide an unevenness in the feeding of the fur to the sewing section.

According to the present invention, the foregoing problems have been overcome through the provision of an adapter readily integratable with existing equipment, which not only aligns the fur, but carries away the excess in such a manner as to make the same available for use, thus, not only enhancing the working conditions, but allowing for a possibit': byproduct which may be employed in related industries such as in the making of fur hats or in a fur flocking operation.

The apparatus of the present invention, further, in its preferred embodiment, is directly integratable with existing equipment and can be constructed in such a compatible manner that the visible structure of a machine encompassing the apparatus of the present invention deviates only in a minor degree from that of existing equipment, thus making the same more readily employable by operators trained on existing equipment.

The present invention provides means for directing at desired periods during the sewing operation of a stream of air upon the fur to orient the same away from the seam line and further provides a vacuum axially displaced from the seam line to carry excess fur away from the operators environment.

In its preferred embodiment, the nozzle member of the present invention is so constructed as to act as a supplemental guide and thus not only keeps the seam line free of hair, but further aligns the fur strips for proper delivery to the sewing needle.

While the emphasis herein has been placed upon the application of the present invention within the fur sewing industry, the invention has application inother sewing fields such as in the sewing of so-called fun furs" or in any of the sewing crafts where it is desirable to keep portions of the material being worked away from the seam line.

The present invention generally comprises in combination with sewing machines having a horizontal needle and a pair of horizontal feeding discs, material alignment means including guide means adapted to guide adjacent material between the feeding discs, means in advance of the guide means to direct a flow of air at an angle to the line of feed of the material and vacuum means along a plane away from the axial line between the discs adapted to draw off excess material.

The guide is preferably directly linked to the air delivery member of the present invention with the air delivery member operably linked internally of the sewing machine head so as to swing away from-its operable position and shut off upon the reorientation of the pressure discs upon the completion of a seam.

In its preferred form, the end of the air delivery member is provided with a lesser diameter, preferably transparent nozzle, and the air pressure and vacuum in an integrated system.

In addition, if desired, the automatic presentation of the air stream delivery mechanism may also be provided, thus freeing an operator's hands for sewing exclusively.

A Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out may be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a fur sewing machine including the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front detail of an alternate embodiment of an air delivery member of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of FIG. 1 showing two strips of fur being fed.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the guide of the present invention.

,FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. I.

FIG. 6 is a rear sectional view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view sectional detail of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum canister and fur assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9a is a side elevation of a foot pedal sequence of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a detail of the lever member of FIG. 9.

FIG. I1 is side view of an alternate air delivery member of the present invention.

Referring now to the FIGS. in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The basic sewing machine apparatus 1 illustrated in the FIGS. is substantially the well known fur sewing machine described in US. Pat. No. 2,132,379, issued Oct. II, 1938 to C. Bonis. The details respecting such machine are readily obtainable and the same will only be referred to herein as they are pertinent to the present invention.

Basically, the sewing machine 1 includes a head 2 which rests upon a work station with the wheel 3 driven by a belt 4 operably linked to a motor (not shown) and actuatable by foot pedals, see FIG. 9. Usually two foot pedals are provided. One, 44 actuates the belt 4 and the other 4L5 actuates the outer disc 5 of the two horizontal discs 5, 6 through actuation of the arm 7 which in turn is operably linked to the shuttle arm 8 (shown in FIGS. 5-7) which extends inward of the head 2 of the sewing machine 1. Thus, the disc 5 is adapted to move horizontally towards and away from the disc 6. A horizontally mounted needle reciprocates between the discs 5, 6 with the disc 5 having a needle guide 9 thereon. A looper 10 is generally provided to coact with the needle.

As presently employed, an operator generally hand feeds two inverted fur strips (FIG. 3) between the discs 5, 6, using his thumb to assure that the fur hairs do not get sewn into the seam.

In accordance with the present invention, a narrow elongate vacuum nozzle 11 is positioned at a point along the head at a point below the plane of the discs 5, and spaced from a plane extending between the discs and perpendicular to a line joining the centers of the discs although other positions are suitable so long as the nozzle 11 is away from the feedline of the material.

An air delivery member 12 is pivotally mounted within and extends from the hinged cover 13 of the sewing machine 1, with (as hereinafter more particularly described) the air delivery member adapted to pivot in the direction of the arrow A. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air delivery member 12 is shown in operative position with the end of the air delivery member 12 substantially adjacent the discs 5, 6 along the line of juxtaposing of such discs 5, 6.

lnterposed between the air delivery member 12 and the discs 5, 6 and either integral to or mounted to the periphery of the air delivery member is the guide member 14.

In its preferred form, the air delivery member 12 includes a lesser diameter portion 15, preferably of a transparent material such as plastic or the like. The shoulder 16 formed by the varying of the diameter further acts as a guide for the feeding of the adjacent materials through the guide and thence between the discs 5, 6 for sewing. The shoulder 16 is located at a height above the top of the guide so that the materials are fed about the air delivery member 12 and through the guide member 14 at an angle with the material being subject to air flow just prior to entry into the guide member 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lesser diameter portion 17 having longitudinal ribs 18 thereon may be employed for the air delivery member 12. In such manner, air flow exits the air delivery member 12 outward of the lesser diameter portion 17, both along lines between the ribs 18 and at the open orifice 19.

The guide member 14 shown in detail in FIG. 4 generally provides a pair of arcuate blade sections 21 in the shape of an elongated inverted V, having a vertical separator 22 extending from the apex of the V between the blades 21. A mounting block 23 may be employed to link the guide member 14 to the air delivery member 12 with the mounting vertically adjustable, such as by use of a clamp (not shown) and/or setscrew 24 arrangement. Vertical adjustment of the guide is desirable since the vertical position of the guide governs the height of feed between the discs 5, 6 and thus, the thickness of the seam.

As hereinafter described, the air delivery member 12 is itself adaptable to selective alignment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 57, the shuttle arm 8 herebefore described with respect to the positioning of the horizontal disc 5, is employed as the tap whereby the horizontal movement of the shuttle arm 8 found in existing sewing machines 1 can be tapped and employed for the selective orientation of the air delivery member 12 and the activation of the air pressure and vacuum mechanisms. The cover 13 illustrated only includes that mechanism relevant to the present invention; it should be noted, however, that except for a slight addition in height, the cover 13 is identical, and the mechanisms therein, the same as in existing machines, thus making the apparatus described herein readily adaptable for use with existing equipment.

Referring to FIGS. 57, the air delivery member extends through the cover 13 and is operably linked to an air delivery conduit 25. A collar 26 internal of the cover 13 in conjunction with the cam barrel assembly 27 secures the air delivery member 12 from displacement.

As illustrated, the cam barrel assembly 27 includes three

cam surfaces

28, 29 and 30. The cam surface 28 includes an inclined portion 31 and a horizontal portion 32 with the horizontal portion 32 extending from the uppermost extension of the inclined portion 31 and the inclined portion 31 inclined towards the front of the cover 13.

Cam arm 33 mounted on the shuttle arm 8 extends substantially vertically upward from the shuttle arm 8 so as to lie in substantial juxtaposition to the horizontal portion 32 on the cam surface 28.

As the shuttle arm 8 is disposed in a horizontal direction towards the front of the cover 13, the cam arm 33 will ride along the horizontal portion 32 and the inclined portion 31 of the cam surface 28, causing the cam barrel assembly 27 and with it the air delivery member 12, to rotate.

As hereinbefore described, the shuttle arm 8 is actuated by an operator when the operator desires to move the disc 5 away from juxtaposition with the disc 6 and thus, the action of the operator presently employed for clearing the sewn material and opening the discs 5, 6 for the positioning of material for a subsequent seam, automatically pivots the air delivery member 12 and the guide member 14 away from the discs 5,6 and needle area of the sewing machine 1.

A leaf spring 34 mounted to the underside of the cover 13 in alignment with the cam 29 on the barrel cam arrangement 27 interacts with the cam 29 to limit the rotational movement of the air delivery member 12 and further interacts with the cam 29 to impel the rotational movement instituted by the cam arm 33 riding along the incline 31.

The cam 30 coacts with the vertical setscrew 35 illustrated in FIG. 6 to allow for adjustment by an operator as to the angular position of the end of the air delivery member 12 and guide member 14. Switch switch means, such as a microswitch 36 is mounted within the cover 13 in a manner wherein a closed circuit will be provided for the motor 37 (FIG. 8) which drives the fan operating the vacuum and air pressure. Member 38, mounted so as to rotate with the pivotal action of the air delivery member 12 internal of the housing, closes the microswitch 36 when the cam arm 33 is positioned, juxtaposed to the horizontal portion 32 of the cam surface 28 and opens the microswitch 36 when the air delivery member 12 is pivoted into its nonfunctional position.

While various methods of supplying the desired vacuum and air pressure to their respective sources are possible an integrated unit having a removable receptacle, such as that illustrated in FIG. 8, is preferable.

As shown in FIG. 8, the unit generally includes motor 37 having a centrifugal fan or compressor 38, an air pressure outlet 39 to which the air delivery conduit 25 is mounted and a vacuum canister 40 having a vacuum inlet port 42 and a removable porous cup-shaped receptacle 41 therein.

In operation, an operator, usually by means of a foot pedal control provided therefor, moves the disc 5 away from the disc 6. The pieces of material to be sewn are positioned so that their leading edges are at the juncture between the discs 5, 6.

The air delivery member 12 is then hand pivoted into operable position and retained in such position by the interaction of the cam 29 and the leaf spring 34. Once the air delivery member 12 is in operable position, the microswitch automatically closes and the vacuum and air pressure are operable.

Once the seam has been completed and the operator, again, usually by means of a foot control, brings the disc 5 away from the disc 6, the air delivery member 12 will pivot away from the discs 5, 6 such as shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and the air pressure and vacuum will be shut down.

If desired, means may be provided wherein the air delivery member 12 may be automatically brought into operative position, again employing the means presently available for bringing this disc 5 into operative proximity with the disc 6.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sewing machine 1 is illustrated in its normal operative arrangement, that is, on a table 43.

There are two

foot pedals

44, 45 normally employed. The foot pedal 44 activates the needle and the foot pedal 45 actuates the disc 5.

The foot pedal 45 is connected by lever 46 to the shuttle arm 8. When the foot pedal 45 is in a substantially horizontal position (FIG. 9a) the discs 5, 6 are in juxtaposition. When an operator pivots the pedal 45 downward with the heel of his foot, the disc 5 moves away from the disc 6 into nonoperative position.

As shown in FIG. 9, a vertical arm 47, clamped by clamp 48, extends upward above the uppermost extension of the lever as, and as shown most clearly in H0. it), the arm 47 is pivotally interconnected with a portion of the air delivery member 1.2 as it enters the rear of the cover 113 of the sewing machine il.

Upon pressing down on the foot pedal 45 with the toe, the vertical movement of the lever 46 is imparted to the arm 47 and through the pivotal interconnection between the arm 47 and the air delivery member 12, a rotational movement is provided for the air delivery member 12. The toe down motion of the operator is beyond the horizontal position of the foot pedal 45 and as such, the discs 5, 6 remain in operative juxtaposition.

As shown in H6. 10, the interconnection between the arm 47 and the air delivery member l2 includes a ball joint 48a and a plate 49 with the ball joint 48a pivotally engaged in the plate 49 and the plate 49 secured to the periphery of the air delivery member 12.

Thus, the air delivery member 12 is brought into operative position through actuation of the foot pedal 45 and into nonoperative position by use of the barrel cam assembly 27 and shuttle arm 8 arrangement aforedescribed.

Oftentimes it is necessary to sew or mend along an alread completed seam line, or situations are presented wherein it is desired that the air delivery member 12 not be employed.

As shown in FIG. 11, the air delivery member 12 may be hinged, such as by hinge 50 at a point above the guide member M. The forward end of the air delivery member 12 can thus readily be pivoted away from the work area and line of sight of an operator. A spring lock 5i such as shown in FIG. it may be provided so as to firmly retain the end of the air delivery member 112 in operable orientation when the air delivery member 112; is to be employed.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description; it is recognized, though, that various modifications are possible.

We claim:

ll. An attachment for use with a sewing machine adapted to sew together strips of material having a plurality of furlike strands, the sewing machine having a pair of feeding discs, the feeding discs lying in horizontal plane, a sewing needle, means reciprocally moving the sewing needle along a horizontal axis, the strips of material being fed along a line of feed and between the feeding discs and past the reciprocating needle, said attachment including an air delivery member, means forming a delivery orifice in said air delivery member, the air delivery member being operatively positioned such that the delivery orifice is disposed adjacent the line of feed of the material strips and in front of a vertical plane which includes the axis of the needle, a vacuum nozzle, the vacuum nozzle being positioned below the horizontal plane of the discs and spaced from a vertical plane extending between and being perpendicular to a line joining the axes of the discs, means providing a suction at the vacuum noule, means providing a stream of air through the air delivery member, the stream of air passing through the delivery orifice, contacting the furlike strands of adjacent strips of material at the line of feed and forcing the strands away from the sewing needle, the suction means including a receptacle whereby strips of material may be sewn without the necessity of manually deflecting strands from the line of feed while loose strands separated from the materiai are drawn into the nozzle and collected in the receptacle.

2. The invention as claimed in claim it wherein means is provided to move the air delivery member from the operative position we nonoperative position wherein the delivery ori fice is spaced from the line of feed thereby facilitating insertion of strips of material between the discs as well as removal of seamed strips of material after a seam has been completed.

3. An attachment constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein means is provided to move the air delivery member from the nonoperative position to the operative position.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein the moving means includes means to operably link a horizontally actuatable member of the sewing machine adapted to move one of the discs toward and away from the other disc with said air delivery member to pivot said air delivery member into the nonoperative position when said one disc is moved away from said other disc.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said linking means on said air delivery member includes a cam barrel, said cam barrel including a horizontal surface and an inclined plane and said horizontally actuatable member includes a cam arm adapted to ride along said inclined plane to pivot said air delivery member.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cam barrel further includes a second camming surface and said sewing machine further includes spring means, said second camming surface adapted to cam against said spring means upon the pivoting of said air delivery member and impel said air delivery member towards the nonoperative position.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6 further including adjustment means adapted to selectively adjust the orientation of said air delivery member.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said horizontally actuated member is actuatable by a pivotal foot pedal in cluding a vertical lever linking said foot pedal and said horizontally actuatable member and said air delivery member further includes a pivot member and linking means between said pivot member and said vertical lever adapted to orient said air delivery member into operable position in response to a selected orientation of said foot pedal.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 8 wherein said linking means includes a vertical arm linked to said lever and said pivot member includes a ball member on the upper end of said vertical arm and a socket plate adapted to accept said ball member, a portion of said socket plate affixed to the periphery of said air delivery member.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the suction means and the air stream means include at least one air compressor, motor means, the compressor actuated by the motor means, said air compressor adapted to create air flow to the air stream means and a vacuum to the suction means, switch means, said motor means adapted to be actuated by the switch means and said air delivery member includes means to open said switch means when said air delivery member is in the nonoperative position.

it. The invention as claimed in claim 10 wherein said air stream flow means and said suction means are fed by a common compressor.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air delivery member further includes guide means thereon.

T3. The invention as claimed in claim i2 wherein said guide means is shaped substantially as an inverted V and includes a vertical member extending downward from the apex of said V.

M. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air delivery member includes a lesser diameter portion along its open end to forming a shoulder between said air delivery member and said lesser diameter portion.

E5. The invention as claimed in claim 14 wherein said lesser diameter portion is transparent.

in. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lesser diameter portion includes longitudinal ribs M on the interior surface thereof allowing the escape of a portion of the air in said air delivery member from between said ribs.

37. The invention as claimed in claim 14 further including inverted substantially V-shaped guide means on said air delivery member, said guide means adapted to guide adjacent pieces of material between said discs, wherein said shoulder is at a height above the apex of said guide means.

18. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air delivery member is pivotally mounted, the end portion of said air delivery member including a hinged section, said hinged section adapted to be swung away.

19. An attachment for use with a sewing machine adapted to sew together strips of material having a plurality of furlike strands, the sewing machine having a pair of feeding discs, the feeding discs lying in a horizontal plane, a sewing needle, means reciprocally moving the sewing needle along a horizontal axis, the strips of material being fed along a line of feed between the feeding discs and past the reciprocating needle, said attachment including an air delivery member, means forming an outlet orifice in the air delivery member, means providing a stream of air through the air delivery member, the stream of air passing through the delivery orifice, contacting the furlike strands of adjacent strips of material at the line of feed and forcing the strands away from the sewing needle, means joumaling the air delivery member for rotation along a horizontal axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of the needle, the air delivery member being operatively positioned such that the outlet orifice is disposed adjacent the line of feed of the material strips and forwardly of a vertical plane which includes the axis of the needle and means selectively rotating the air delivery member from the operative position to a nonoperative position wherein the outlet orifice is spaced from the line of feed, the rotating means including camming means extending along a portion of the air delivery member and operator actuated means engaging the camming means.

20. An attachment in combination with a sewing machine adapted to sew together strips of material having a plurality of furlike strands, the sewing machine having a pair of feeding discs, the feeding discs lying in a horizontal plane, a sewing needle, means reciprocally moving the sewing needle along a horizontal axis, the strips of material being fed along a line of feed between the feeding discs and past the reciprocating needle, said attachment including an air delivery member, means forming an outlet orifice in the air delivery member, means providing a stream of air through the air delivery member, the stream of air passing through the delivery orifice, contacting the furlike strands of adjacent strips of material at the line of feed and forcing the strands away from the sewing needle, means joumaling the air delivery member for rotation along a horizontal axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of the needle, the air delivery member being operatively positioned such that the outlet orifice is disposed adjacent the line of feed of the material strips and forwardly of a vertical plane which includes the axis of the needle and means selectively rotating the air delivery member from the operative position to a nonoperative position wherein the outlet orifice is spaced from the line of feed, the rotating means including camming means extending along a portion of the air delivery member and operator actuated means engaging the camming means, the sewing machine having a horizontally actuatable member adapted to move one of the discs towards and away from the other disc, a cam arm, the cam arm extending from the horizontally actuatable member, the camming means including a cam barrel, the cam arm engaging the cam barrel and rotating the air delivery member to the nonoperative position when the discs are separated.

Claims

1. An attachment for use with a sewing machine adapted to sew together strips of material having a plurality of furlike strands, the sewing machine having a pair of feeding discs, the feeding discs lying in horizontal plane, a sewing needle, means reciprocally moving the sewing needle along a horizontal axis, the strips of material being fed along a line of feed and between the feeding discs and past the reciprocating needle, said attachment including an air delivery member, means forming a delivery orifice in said air delivery member, the air delivery member being operatively positioned such that the delivery orifice is disposed adjacent the line of feed of the material strips and in front of a vertical plane which includes the axis of the needle, a vacuum nozzle, the vacuum nozzle being positioned below the horizontal plane of the discs and spaced from a vertical plane extending between and being perpendicular to a line joining the axes of the discs, means providing a suction at the vacuum nozzle, means providing a stream of air through the air delivery member, the stream of air passing through the delivery orifice, contacting the furlike strands of adjacent strips of material at the line of feed and forcing the strands away from the sewing needle, the suction means including a receptacle whereby strips of material may be sewn without the necessity of manually deflecting strands from the line of feed while loose strands separated from the material are drawn into the nozzle and collected in the receptacle.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein means is provided to move the air delivery member from the operative position to a nonoperative position wherein the delivery orifice is spaced from the line of feed thereby facilitating insertion of strips of material between the discs as well as removal of seamed strips of material after a seam has been completed.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said horizontally actuated member is actuatable by a pivotal foot pedal including a vertical lever linking said foot pedal and said horizontally actuatable member and said air delivery member further includes a pivot member and linking means between said pivot member and said vertical lever adapted to orient said air delivery member into operable position in response to a selected orientation of said foot pedal.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 10 wherein said air stream flow means and said suction means are fed by a common compressor.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12 wherein said guide means is shaped substantially as an inverted V and includes a vertical member extending downward from the apex of said V.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air delivery member includes a lesser diameter portion along its open end to forming a shoulder between said air delivery member and said lesser diameter portion.

15. The invention as claimed in claim 14 wherein said lesser diameter portion is transparent.

16. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lesser diameter portion includes longitudinal ribs 14 on the interior surface thereof allowing the escape of a portion of the air in said air delivery member from between said ribs.

17. The invention as claimed in claim 14 further including inverted substantially V-shaped guide means on said air delivery member, said guide means adapted to guide adjacent pieces of material between said discs, wherein said shoulder is at a height above the apex of said guide means.

19. An attachment for use with a sewing machine adapted to sew together strips of material having a plurality of furlike strands, the sewing machine having a pair of feeding discs, the feeding discs lying in a horizontal plane, a sewing needle, means reciprocally moving the sewing needle along a horizontal axis, the strips of material being fed along a line of feed between the feeding discs and past the reciprocating needle, said attachment including an air delivery member, means forming an outlet orifice in the air delivery member, means providing a stream of air through the air delivery member, the stream of air passing through the delivery orifice, contacting the furlike strands of adjacent strips of material at the line of feed and forcing the strands away from the sewing needle, means journaling the air delivery member for rotation along a horizontal axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of the needle, the air delivery member being operatively positioned such that the outlet orifice is disposed adjacent the line of feed of the material strips and forwardly of a vertical plane which includes the axis of the needle and means selectively rotating the air delivery member from the operative position to a nonoperative position wherein the outlet orifice is spaced from the line of feed, the rotating means including camming means extending along A portion of the air delivery member and operator actuated means engaging the camming means.

20. An attachment in combination with a sewing machine adapted to sew together strips of material having a plurality of furlike strands, the sewing machine having a pair of feeding discs, the feeding discs lying in a horizontal plane, a sewing needle, means reciprocally moving the sewing needle along a horizontal axis, the strips of material being fed along a line of feed between the feeding discs and past the reciprocating needle, said attachment including an air delivery member, means forming an outlet orifice in the air delivery member, means providing a stream of air through the air delivery member, the stream of air passing through the delivery orifice, contacting the furlike strands of adjacent strips of material at the line of feed and forcing the strands away from the sewing needle, means journaling the air delivery member for rotation along a horizontal axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of the needle, the air delivery member being operatively positioned such that the outlet orifice is disposed adjacent the line of feed of the material strips and forwardly of a vertical plane which includes the axis of the needle and means selectively rotating the air delivery member from the operative position to a nonoperative position wherein the outlet orifice is spaced from the line of feed, the rotating means including camming means extending along a portion of the air delivery member and operator actuated means engaging the camming means, the sewing machine having a horizontally actuatable member adapted to move one of the discs towards and away from the other disc, a cam arm, the cam arm extending from the horizontally actuatable member, the camming means including a cam barrel, the cam arm engaging the cam barrel and rotating the air delivery member to the nonoperative position when the discs are separated.