A needle bar 4 is supported by a needle bar supporter in a manner freely movable up and down relative to a frame. A crank 2 is fixed to an upper shaft 1, rotates with the upper shaft 1, and an output end thereof moves circularly. A crank rod 3 is connected to the crank 2 in a freely rotatable manner. A connection rod 8 is connected to an intermediate portion of the crank rod 3 in a freely rotatable manner, and is connected to the needle bar 4 in a freely rotatable manner. A length of the needle bar 4 and a length from a connecting position of the connection rod 8 and the crank rod 3 to a slider 7 differ. When the crank 2 circularly moves, the connecting position of the connection rod 8 and the crank rod 3 draws a trajectory of an ellipse.

A sewing machine moves a needle up and down relative to a cloth based on drive force from a rotating upper shaft to form a stitch. A first output generating unit reciprocates a first output point along an output axis so as to convert the rotational motion of the upper shaft into a linear motion. An assist rod that serves as a connection portion links the first output point with a needle bar. A needle-bar swing unit swings the needle bar. An output shaft moving unit moves a guide that is the output axis in a cloth feeding direction in accordance with the motion of the needle-bar swing unit. The assist rod changes the inclination in accordance with the movement of the output axis, and reciprocates the needle bar in substantially parallel with the output axis while maintaining the inclination.

A sewing machine moves a needle up and down relative to a cloth based on drive force from a rotating upper shaft to form a stitch. A first output generating unit reciprocates a first output point along an output axis so as to convert the rotational motion of the upper shaft into a linear motion. An assist rod that serves as a connection portion links the first output point with a needle bar. A needle-bar swing unit swings the needle bar. An output shaft moving unit moves a guide that is the output axis in a cloth feeding direction in accordance with the motion of the needle-bar swing unit. The assist rod changes the inclination in accordance with the movement of the output axis, and reciprocates the needle bar in substantially parallel with the output axis while maintaining the inclination.

A method for penetrating a material with a fastener dispensing needle includes the steps of partially penetrating the material using a first penetration stroke, partially withdrawing the needle from the material using a first withdrawal stroke and, in turn, fully penetrating the material using a second penetration stroke. Once fully penetrated, a plastic fastener is dispensed from the fastener dispensing needle. Thereafter, the fastener dispensing needle is fully withdrawn from the material. Additional partial penetration and withdrawal strokes could be incorporated into the needle penetration cycle in a repeating pattern, as needed, with each penetration stroke preferably having a stroke length which is twice the length of each withdrawal stroke. The use of an oscillating, back-and-forth, linear needle penetration cycle serves to minimize the risk of lateral needle deflection which can result in bending or breakage of the needle as well as damage to the penetrated material.

A sewing machine in which a base configured to support a throat plate, a shuttle or a looper, and an input shaft for a stitching operation to the shuttle or the looper with respect to a bed portion of a frame is supported to be movable along a direction of approaching or separating from a sewing needle is provided. The sewing machine includes a connecting member which changes to any one of a state in which the input shaft and a transmission shaft are aligned in the same straight line to be in a torque transmission state and a state in which the input shaft moves together with the base with respect to the transmission shaft, between the input shaft on the base side and the transmission shaft which transmits power to the input shaft.

A sewing machine in which a base configured to support a throat plate, a shuttle or a looper, and an input shaft for a stitching operation to the shuttle or the looper with respect to a bed portion of a frame is supported to be movable along a direction of approaching or separating from a sewing needle is provided. The sewing machine includes a connecting member which changes to any one of a state in which the input shaft and a transmission shaft are aligned in the same straight line to be in a torque transmission state and a state in which the input shaft moves together with the base with respect to the transmission shaft, between the input shaft on the base side and the transmission shaft which transmits power to the input shaft.

A quilting device (1) comprises a processing unit (5) which is mounted on a frame (3) so as to be manually displaceable in two movement directions (M1, M2) by an operator. A detection device (29) having sensors (27) detects the guiding force which is exerted in these movement directions (M1, M2) by the operator. A controller device (35) controls or regulates, respectively, auxiliary motors (33a, 33b) which support the guiding force, so as to depend on the detected guiding force.

A quilting device (1) comprises a processing unit (5) which is mounted on a frame (3) so as to be manually displaceable in two movement directions (M1, M2) by an operator. A detection device (29) having sensors (27) detects the guiding force which is exerted in these movement directions (M1, M2) by the operator. A controller device (35) controls or regulates, respectively, auxiliary motors (33a, 33b) which support the guiding force, so as to depend on the detected guiding force.

The present invention provides a sewing machine that can actuary detect a physical amount of a movement of a fabric without depending on an estimated value. Thus, thread tension can be precisely adjusted. A sewing machine 1 includes a spherical body 22a exposed partly from a needle plate 2. The spherical body 22a is rotated following a feed of a fabric 100. The rotation of the spherical body 22a is detected by rotary encoders 22c, 22d. A physical amount of the movement of the fabric 100 is calculated based on a detection result of the rotary encoders 22c, 22d. The physical amount of the movement of the fabric 100 is, for example, a moving amount and a moving speed.