# US 4,394,840 A · Workpiece guide for automatic sewing machine

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- Number: US 4,394,840 A
- Document ID: US4394840A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/326,193
- Filed: 1981-12-01
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1980-12-02
- Assignees: Durkoppwerke GmbH
- Inventors: Herbert Diekmann; Helmut Niedrich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394840A

## CPC

- D05B 35/105: {Guiding while stretching the workpiece, e.g. by means of weighted clips}
- D05B: SEWING (appliances for the tailoring trade A41H; sewing tables A47B29/00; sewing in bookbinding B42B2/00; sewing machines modified for knitting D04B39/08)

## Abstract

A thread guide is used in combination with a standard sewing machine having a work table and a fabric feed for displacing a workpiece to be sewn on the table in a predetermined forward longitudinal direction through a sewing station on the table. The fabric guide comprises a transversely elastically deformable band extending generally in the workpiece-displacement direction and oriented on edge and holders engaging the band at a plurality of longitudinally offset locations for securing the band on the table with each of the locations in any of a multiplicity of transversely offset positions. Thus the band can be deformed into and held in a nonstraight shape. The guide further has a carriage displaceable on the table along the guide and provided with a clip fastenable on the workpiece, and a counterweight urging the carriage and clip longitudinally in a backward longitudinal direction opposite the forward longitudinal direction. The band is a ribbon of flexible spring steel that is longitudinally substantially inextensible and that is only deformable transversely to its plane.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In combination with a sewing machine having a work table and a fabric feed for displacing a workpiece to be sewn on said table in a predetermined forward longitudinal direction through a sewing station on said table, a fabric guide comprising:
a transversely elastically deformable band extending generally in said direction and oriented on edge;
holder means engaging said band at a plurality of longitudinally offset locations for securing said band on said table with each of said locations in any of a multiplicity of transversely offset positions, whereby said band can be deformed into and held in a nonstraight shape;
a carriage displaceable on said table along said guide and provided with a clip fastenable on said workpiece; and
means urging said carriage and clip longitudinally in a backward longitudinal direction opposite said forward longitudinal direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fabric guide defined in claim 1 wherein said holder means includes:
respective holders extending transverse to said direction and each having an inner end secured to said band at the respective location and an outer end;
respective anchors at said outer ends securing same to said table; and
respective means for varying the effective length of said holders between their respective ends and thereby varying said shape of said band.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fabric guide defined in claim 2 wherein each of said holders is provided at the respective inner end with a pivot defining a vertical inner pivot axis between said inner end and said band at the respective location.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fabric guide defined in claim 3 wherein each of said anchors includes a lower base part secured to said table and an upper clamp pivotal relative to the respective lower base part about a respective outer vertical axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fabric guide defined in claim 4 wherein said clamps each include:
a lower clamp part;
an upper clamp part forming with the respective lower part a passage in which the respective outer end is receivable and transversely displaceable; and
means for urging said upper parts down against the respective lower parts and for thereby clamping the respective holder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The fabric guide defined in claim 5 wherein said holders are rods.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The fabric guide defined in claim 5 wherein said means for urging includes a vertical screw centered on the respective outer axis and threaded into the respective lower part, said clamps being pivotal about the respective screws in the loosened condition of same.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The fabric guide defined in claim 5 wherein said upper and lower clamp parts are respectively formed with downwardly and upwardly open alignable grooves forming the respective passages.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The fabric guide defined in claim 5 wherein said anchors include a rail secured to said table, extending generally parallel to said directions, and carrying said bases.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The fabric guide defined in claim 9, further comprising means for releasably securing said rail to said table.