Automatic sewing machine control having a manually controlled operating sequence

Claim 2

A control mechanism for controlling operations on a terminal edge portion of a moving workpiece by a machine, said control mechanism including an operator actuated speed control mechanism for controlling the speed of operation of the machine with said speed control mechanism having an operator controlled position for the operation of said machine at a predetermined speed, a control device for automatically controlling the operation of said machine during a terminal portion of an operating cycle thereof, detector means for detecting the arrival of a trailing edge of a workpiece at a predetermined position, and control means for actuating said control device only when an operator has placed said speed control mechanism in said predetermined speed position and the trailing edge is detected as reaching said predetermined position.

Claim 3

The control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said control means includes an electrical circuit having a switching element controlled by said detector means.

Claim 4

A control mechanism for controlling operations on a terminal edge portion of a moving workpiece by a machine, said control mechanism including a speed control mechanism for controlling the speed of operation of the machine with said speed control mechanism having a position for the operation of said machine at a predetermined speed, a control device for automatically controlling the operation of said machine during a terminal portion of an operating cycle thereof, detector means for detecting the arrival of a trailing edge of a workpiece at a predetermined position, and control means for actuating said control device only when said speed control mechanism is in said predetermined speed position and the trailing edge is detected as reaching said predetermined position, said control means including an electrical circuit having a first switching element controlled by said detector means and a second switching element positioned in accordance with the setting of said speed control mechanism in said predetermined speed position.

Claim 5

A control mechanism for controlling operations on a terminal edge portion of a moving workpiece by a machine, said control mechanism including a speed control mechanism for controlling the speed of operation of the machine with said speed control mechanism having a position for the operation of said machine at a predetermined speed, a control device for automatically controlling the operation of said machine during a terminal portion of an operating cycle thereof, detector means for detecting the arrival of a trailing edge of a workpiece at a predetermined position, and control means for actuating said control device only when said speed control mechanism is in said predetermined speed position and the trailing edge is detected as reaching said predetermined position, said control means including an electrical circuit having a first switching element controlled by said detector means and a second switching element positioned in accordance with the setting of said speed control mechanism in said predetermined speed position.

Claim 6

The control mechanism of claim 3 wherein said first and second switching elements are disposed in parallel circuits.

Claim 7

The control mechanism of claim 4 wherein actuation of said control device is controlled by a switching element actuated by a relay, and said parallel circuits are holding circuits for said relay.

Claim 8

The control mechanism of claim 5 wherein said speed control mechanism has a manually operable position, and said relay hAs an energizing circuit under the control of said speed control mechanism in the manually operable position thereof.

Claim 9

The control mechanism of claim 6 wherein said relay controls the position of another switching element in said holding circuits.

Claim 10

The control mechanism of claim 5 wherein there is another control device for controlling the operation of said machine at a leading edge of a workpiece, said relay controlling the position of a further switching element in a control circuit for said another control device.

Claim 11

The control mechanism of claim 8 wherein said machine is a sewing machine and has a reverse feed control device, and said another control device is operatively connected to said reverse feed control device and is operable upon the initiation of a sewing cycle to permit a workpiece to advance a predetermined number of stitches, then to operate said reverse feed control device for a predetermined number of stitches, and then to permit the sewing operation to proceed normally under the manual control of an operator.

Claim 12

The control mechanism of claim 9 wherein the first mentioned control device is also operatively connected to said reverse feed control device and is operable when energized to effect a reverse workpiece feeding for a predetermined number of stitches.

Claim 13

The control mechanism of claim 8 wherein said speed control mechanism has a manually controllable position wherein said machine may be operated at varying speeds under the control of an operator, said relay has an energizing circuit including a switch element closable when said speed control mechanism is in said manually controllable position, and said holding circuits permitting said speed control mechanism to be selectively actuated in a normal manner during a sewing cycle without effecting the energization of said relay or the operation of said control devices after the initiation of a sewing cycle.

Claim 14

The control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said speed control mechanism has a manually controllable position wherein said machine may be operated under normal conditions at varying speeds.

Claim 15

The control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said detector means includes a scanning device.

Claim 16

The control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said control means includes an electrical circuit having a first switching element controlled by said detector means and a second switching element, and a second detector means operable in accordance with the position of a workpiece trailing edge for positioning said second switching element and moving said speed control mechanism to said predetermined speed position.