Workpiece pallet having a detachable workpiece holder

A workpiece pallet for use in a programmable sewing machine having a sewing station at which a workpiece is located during a sewing operation and a stored program for determining a predetermined stitch pattern, said workpiece pallet comprising:

• a frame for receiving any one or more of said plurality of workpiece holders, each of said one or more of said plurality of workpiece holders having a cutout portion determined by said predetermined stitch pattern;
• a fastener for detachably fastening said one or more of said plurality of workpiece holders to the frame, said fastener enabling the workpiece pallet to accommodate workpieces of different shapes and also enabling the workpiece pallet to secure workpieces which are to be sewn with different predetermined stitch patterns;
• wherein said fastener includes a yieldable pivotal coupler;
• and
• wherein said yieldable pivotal coupler is a universal coupler.

A method for securing a workpiece at a station so that a predetermined pattern may be applied thereto, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a workpiece holder having at least one cut-out portion determined by said pattern from a plurality of workpiece holders capable of holding said workpiece in a workpiece pallet;
• fastening said workpiece holder to said workpiece pallet;
• changing the workpiece holder to a second workpiece holder in response to a change in the pattern;
• and
• pivotally mounting either said workpiece holder or said second workpiece holder to said workpiece pallet.

A workpiece pallet for use with a sewing machine having a sewing station, said workpiece pallet comprising:

• a frame member;
• a plurality of plates;
• a pivotal coupler for detachably and pivotally securing at least one plate of said plurality of plates to said frame member to secure the workpiece in said frame member;
• and
• wherein the pivotal coupler is a universal coupler.