© SOFT Student Handouts,

By, Sunil Talekar, Sr. Faculty, SOFT-Pune

 WHAT IS FEED MECHANISM
Feed mechanisms is the basic motion of needles,
loopers and bobbins, the material being sewn
must move so that each cycle of needle motion
involves a different part of the material.
This motion is known as feed mechanism.
For general categories, there are: drop feed,
needle feed, Differential bottom feed mechanism,
puller, Unisom feed mechanism, Adjustable top
feed mechanism.
Besides these general categories, there are also
uncommon feed mechanisms used in specific
applications like edge joining fur, making seams
on caps, and blind stitching.
 FUNCTION OF FEED MECHANISM
Function:
• To advance the fabric in the feeding
zone of the sewing machine.
• To decide the length of individual
stitch (spm)
• Appropriate feed mechanism is
sleeted to confirm case in sewing
• Operation & to avoid different
sewing faults.
 FEED TYPES
Types:
Drop feed mechanism.
Differential bottom feed mechanism.
Adjustable top feed mechanism.
Needle feed mechanism.
Unisom feed mechanism.
Puller feed m mechanism.
DROP FEED MECHANISM
DROP FEED MECHANISM
DROP FEED MECHANISM
 PROBLEMS OF DROP FEED
• When two plies fabrics are sewn- lower ply moves forward
by the help of feed dog but foot.
• So two plies of fabric can not move forward at the same
speed. As a result lower ply is more fed than upper ply.
• This is called ply shifting/differential feeding
pucker/feeding pucker.
• Sometimes roping is occurred during making of hem for
ply shifting.
• It pitch of stitch s pitch of feeding dog same then fabric
may be damaged for repeating contact of feed dog teeth &
fabric at the same place.
NEEDLE FEED
 NEEDLE FEED
• Needle feed is the feed system in which
the needle itself moves forwards and
backwards.
• The needle enters the fabric, moves back
with it as it is moved along to begin the
next stitch.
• It is particularly useful in bulky sewing
situations such as when quilting through
the fabric and wadding. 2-needle, Needle-
feed, Lockstitch Machine
• Used for stitching slippery fabric as well
heavy material like leather, carpet etc.
 NEEDLE FEED
• On the needle feed, the needle moves to
and from as well as up and down.
• The other is a normal machine in which
the needle only moves up and down.
• Needle feed mechanisms are good at
preventing the layers of material from
slipping, which can be especially
important for slick fabrics.
• Since some needle feed mechanisms do
not put pressure on the fabric the way
feed dogs do, they will not leave any
marks on delicate fabric.
WHEEL FEED
WHEEL• FEED
A rotary wheel
with a
movement in
the direction of
feed.

• Incorporates a
friction surface
or clamping
surface that
feeds or assists
in feeding the
WHEEL FEED
• Has either an
intermittent
motion or a
continuous
motion.
• Continuous
motion wheel
feed must work
in unison with a
needle feed.
• Applicable to all
types of sports
shoes, shoes,
children shoes,
boots and other
footwear and
handbags
sewing.
UPPER AND LOWER WHEEL FEED.

• Wheel feed
system where an
upper and lower
wheel are both
driven.
• The material is
fed between the
wheels.
• There is positive
feeding pressure
both the top and
bottom of the
material at the
same time
UPPER AND LOWER WHEEL FEED.
UPPER AND LOWER WHEEL FEED.
 ROTARY WHEEL FEED.
• Mechanical foot
or bit, with teeth
or friction surface
or a smooth
surface, that
transports or
assists in the
transport of
material. Often a
foot working in
unison with a
drop feed.
• Has a directional
movement in
which the
 ROTARY WHEEL FEED.
• May push downwards
into the material to
capture material
between itself and
another feed
component or against
the bed or a plate on
the bed.
ROTARY WHEEL FEED.
ROTARY WHEEL FEED.
ROTARY WHEEL FEED.
ROTARY WHEEL FEED.
ROTARY WHEEL FEED.
VIBRATING PRESSER FOOT.
 VIBRATING PRESSER FOOT.
Jump foot.
* A vibrating presser foot whose forward and
backward motions are not driven, but spring
loaded.
* will usually incorporate a lifting motion on
the return stroke.
* Usually incorporates a lifting motion with the
backward stroke. This allows the foot to clear
the material and to drop relatively straight
down onto any raised or uneven portion of the
material without interference.
* Commonly called a walking foot, feeding
foot, or top feed.
 ALTERNATING PRESSER FEET

*A pair of feet that alternately press against the

material.
 ALTERNATING PRESSER FEET

*While one foot is pressing against or feeding the

material, the other foot is raised clear of the material.
 ALTERNATING PRESSER FEET

* he vibrating foot will feed or assist in feeding while the

rising and descending foot will hold the material down
 ALTERNATING PRESSER FEET

*One foot is typically a vibrating presser foot while the

other foot is typically a rising and descending presser
 ALTERNATING PRESSER FEET

* The rising and descending foot is often called a lifting

ALTERNATING PRESSER FEET

Walking foot.
*A vibrating
presser foot
with a lifting
motion on the
backward
(return) stroke.
 ALTERNATING PRESSER FEET

*Often part of an alternating presser foot assembly and

commonly used in conjunction with compound feed or a
REVERSE FEED
* The ability to
feed material
opposite of a
machines'
normal direction
of feed.
REVERSE FEED
*The reverse stitch length
may be capable of
providing as long of a
stitch length as the
forward feed does, or it
may be limited to
providing an average
reverse stitch length or a
maximum reverse stitch
length shorter than the
forward feed stitch length.
REVERSE FEED
*The ability of the
reverse feed to feed
material may be
equal to or less than
the ability of the
forward feed to feed
material.
 CLAMP FEED
*A clamp or clamps from above the material and pressing
downward, effectively holding the material between itself
and the machine bed or a clamp or clamps above and
below the material, holding the material firmly between
the upper and lower clamps.
BOX-X PROGRAMMABLE SEWING DECORATIVE PATTERN STITCHING
MACHINES and ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMABLE SEWING
TACKERS MACHINE
 CLAMP FEED
*The clamp or clamp set is driven by linkage.
*The linkage moves the clamp and material under the
needle as the stitches are being formed.

LABEL SEWING / ATTACHING POCKET DECORATION

PROGRAMMABLE SEWING PROGRAMMABLE SEWING
MACHINES MACHINES
 CLAMP FEED
*The movement of the clamp and material can be in any
direction or follow any pattern provided for in the linkage
drive mechanism.

BOX AND BOX X

AIR BAGS PROGRAMMABLE
PROGRAMMABLE SEWING
SEWING MACHINES
MACHINES FOR WEBBING
PULLER FEED
 PULLER FEED
*Usually accomplished by feed rolls; "rollers".
*Material passes between rolls, between upper roll and
bed, or between lower roll and presser foot.
 PULLER FEED
*A feed roll is mechanically driven to transport the
material.
PULLER FEED
*Commonly
used in
association
with any
other feed
system.

*Generally
suitable for
straight runs
or large
radius curves
only.
 PULLER FEED
• Modification of drop feed system.
• A pair of roller used.
• These rollers give a pulling motion on the
fabric behind the presser foot.
• Top roller is generally driven by machine
whitest the lower one moves due to control &
presser of the top roller .
• The surface speed of puller roller is slightly
higher then the feed dog speed to presser ply
shifting roping.
• Useful in multi needle machine specially for
W/B making.
 PULLER FEED
*Where material passes between two rolls, the
second roll may also be driven.
DIFFERENTIAL BOTTOM FEED
DIFFERENTIAL BOTTOM FEED
DIFFERENTIAL BOTTOM FEED
 DIFFERENTIAL BOTTOM FEED
• Modification of drop feed system.

• In the feed mechanism the feed dog

consists of 2 section one at back & one at
front of the needle.

• Mechanism of each section of feed dog is

like the drop feed system. But the speed
of each part can be adjusted separately.

• Extensively used for stretchy materials.

 COMPOUND/NEEDLE FEED
*A combination of needle feed and drop feed.
 COMPOUND/NEEDLE FEED
*The term is often used erroneously to indicate any combination of feed
systems.
 COMPOUND/NEEDLE FEED
• Another name of needle feed mechanism is
“Needle feed”.
• Needle itself moves forwards & backward.
• Needle penetrates the fabric enters into the
note of the feed dog & for the advance
movement of 1 stitch length of fabric feed dog
& needle pass the fame distance at the same
time.
• Then needle rise up & moves to form the next
stitch with one step advance.
• Practically useful in bulky sewing situation such
as when quilting through the fabric, wadding &
for slapping fabrics
• For the change of stitch length, setting of bath
 COMPOUND/NEEDLE FEED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Gt0ydA1Zo
UNISON FEED
UNISON FEED
 UNISON FEED
• AKA “walking foot system because the presser foot has
two independently driven section; the holding & the
holding & the feeding feet.
• Mode by combination of needle feed & positive top &
bottom feed.
• In this system one presser foot is inside the other presser
foot & gives movement at different times.

• The inside presser foot & needle are driven at the same
time toward the same direction.

• No possibility of ply shifting.

 UNISON FEED
• Suitable for sewing stitch fabric & for bulk
seam in heavy weight materials.

• Normally not so used unless special case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb9luOvPJ6A
 Thank you

Sources: You tube, Wikipedia