Arrangement for group stitch sewing machines for feeding material to be stitched in sections

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION WITH A SEWING MACHINE OF THE TYPE ADAPTED TO EFFECT GROUP STITCHING OPERATIONS SUPPORTED ON A BASE AND HAVING A MACHINE MOTOR AND A FEEDING FRAME OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR: A. A MATERIAL TIGHTENING DEVICE OPERATIVE TO RETAIN THE MATERIAL BEING SEWN, B. AND POSITIONING MEANS INCLUDING A RACK CARRYING SAID TIGHTENING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID RACK OPERATIVE UNDER CONTROL OF THE SEWING MACHINE TO MOVE SAID TIGHTENING DEVICE WITH THE MATERIAL BEING SEWN IN STEPS IN A FIRST DIRECTION TO THE AREA OF STITCH FORMATION WITHIN SAID FEEDING FRAME, C. AND GUIDING MEANS INCLUDING SAID FEEDING FRAME OPERATIVE TO MOVE THE MATERIAL DURING THE AUTOMATIC STITCHING OPERATIONS OF THE MACHINE IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY OF SAID FIRST DIRECTION, D. SAID RACK BEING VERTICALLY DISPOSED AND MOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE AND INCLUDING A LOWER HORIZONTAL GUIDE RAIL MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY WITH SAID RACK AND SAID TIGHTENING DEVICE IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION, E. AND SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING SAID GUIDE RAIL AND STATIONARY MEANS ENGAGED BY SAID GUIDE RAIL AND MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND PROVIDING PIVOTAL SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID RACK AND SAID TIGHTENING DEVICE IN SAID TRANSVERSE DIRECTION, F. AND SAID RACK INCLUDING AN UPPER HORIZONTAL RAIL SUPPORTING SAID TIGHTENING DEVICE.