Patent ID: 8176860
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: D05B

Abstract:
1. A sewing machine, comprising: a needle bar having a lower end, the lower end being configured to hold a sewing needle; a needle bar drive mechanism configured to vertically drive the needle bar; a presser foot that is capable of applying releasable pressure on a workpiece cloth and that is configured to release the pressure to allow manual movement and sewing of the workpiece cloth; a regulatory needle that includes a tip and that is capable of assuming a pierced state in which the tip is pierced through the workpiece cloth and a non-pierced state, wherein the regulatory needle is movable along with the workpiece cloth while retaining the pierced state of the tip in which the tip is pierced through the workpiece cloth; a regulatory needle drive unit configured to vertically drive the regulatory needle between the pierced state in which the tip is pierced through the workpiece cloth and the non-pierced state; and a regulatory needle regulator configured to limit horizontal movement of the regulatory needle in the pierced state in which the tip is pierced through the workpiece cloth so that the horizontal movement does not exceed a predetermined stitch pitch.