U.S. patent application number 09/897180 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-07 for embroidery sewing machine.
Invention is credited to Ebata, Yoshikazu, Murakami, Eiji, Ninomiya, Masashi, Orll, Akira, Sano, Yasuro.
Application Number | 20020014190 09/897180 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27481492 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020014190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ebata, Yoshikazu ; et
al. |
February 7, 2002 |
Embroidery sewing machine
Abstract
The invention has been made to provide an embroidery sewing
machine which may be automatically operated to withdraw the
embroidering frame to a predetermined inoperative position. More
particularly, in case the power source switch is turned off, the
power happens to be in failure, the power cord happens to be
disconnected, the sewing operation is interrupted for a
predetermined period of time, or the instruction is given to
withdraw the embroidering frame to a predetermined inoperative
position, the CPU 50 is responsive to these situations to control
the X-Y moving mechanism 67 to withdraw the embroidering frame to
the predetermined inoperative position.
Inventors: |
Ebata, Yoshikazu; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Ninomiya, Masashi; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Murakami, Eiji; (Tokyo, JP) ; Sano, Yasuro;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Orll, Akira; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kevin S. Lemack
Nields & Lemack
Suite 8
176 E. Main Street
Westboro
MA
01581
US
|
Family ID: |
27481492 |
Appl. No.: |
09/897180 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/102.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05C 9/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/102.5 |
International
Class: |
D05B 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2000 |
JP |
2000-230156 |
Jul 31, 2000 |
JP |
2000-230157 |
Jul 31, 2000 |
JP |
2000-230158 |
Sep 29, 2000 |
JP |
2000-298255 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An embroidery sewing machine having a stitch forming means
including a vertically reciprocating needle and a means for holding
a work to be stitched and being movable relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle so that stitches may be formed on the work,
said embroidery sewing machine comprising: (a) a moving means for
moving said work holding means relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle; (b) a means for detecting a power source of
said sewing machine being off; (c) a means for maintaining power
supply in case the power source is detected to be off; (d) a means
operated by the maintained power supply to withdraw said moving
means to a predetermined position.
2. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein
said moving means includes a multi-stepped extendible mechanism
composed of at least a first moving assembly and a second moving
assembly which is movable on and relative to said first moving
assembly, and wherein said withdrawing means is operated to
withdraw at least a half of a total length of said first and second
moving assemblies.
3. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein
said power supply maintaining means includes a means for postponing
the time for interception of power.
4. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein
said power supply maintaining means includes a battery.
5. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a means for setting said predetermined position.
6. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a means for giving information regarding the weight of
said work holding means and means for deciding said predetermined
position on the basis of said information.
7. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a means for detecting a position of said work holding
means and means for memorizing a position of said work holding
means at which said work holding means is located before the same
is withdrawn to said predetermined position.
8. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein
said withdrawing means is designed to move said moving means only
in the depth direction of said sewing machine.
9. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a means for operating said stitch forming means to form
stitches for preventing loosening of the preceedingly formed
stitches before said moving means is withdrawn to said
predetermined position.
10. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a means for rendering said sewing machine into an
economy mode for saving power in case said moving means has been
withdrawn to said predetermined position.
11. An embroidery sewing machine having a stitch forming means
including a vertically reciprocating needle and a means for holding
a work to be stitched and being movable relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle so that stitches may be formed on the work,
said embroidery sewing machine comprising: (a) a moving means for
moving said work holding means relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle; (b) a first detecting means for detecting
said stitch forming means and said work holding means being
stopped; (c) a second detecting means for detecting an elapse of
time from the time said stitch forming means and said work holding
means have been stopped; (d) a means for discriminating if said
elapse of time is more than a predetermined elapse of time, said
discriminating means withdrawing said moving means to a
predetermined position.
12. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, wherein
said moving means includes a multi-stepped extendible mechanism
composed of at least a first moving assembly and a second moving
assembly which is movable on and relative to said first moving
assembly, and wherein said withdrawing means is operated to
withdraw at least a half of a total length of said first and second
moving assemblies.
13. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, further
comprising a means for setting said predetermined elapse of
time.
14. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, further
comprising a means for setting said predetermined position.
15. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, further
comprising a means for giving information including at least a
weight of said work holding means; and a means for deciding said
predetermined position on the basis of said weight of said work
holding means.
16. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, further
comprising a means for detecting a position of said work holding
means; and a means for memorizing a position of said work holding
means prior to withdrawal of said work holding means to said
predetermined position.
17. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, wherein
said means for withdrawing said moving means is operated to move
said moving means only in a depth direction of said sewing
machine.
18. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, further
comprising a means for operating said stitch forming means prior to
withdrawal of said moving means to form the stitches for preventing
the preceedingly formed stitches from loosening.
19. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 11, further
comprising a means for rendering said sewing machine in an economy
mode for saving power when said moving means has been withdrawn to
said predetermined position.
20. An embroidery sewing machine having a stitch forming means
including a vertically reciprocating needle and a means for holding
a work to be stitched and being movable relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle so that stitches may be formed on the work,
said embroidery sewing machine comprising: (a) a moving means for
moving said work holding means relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle; (b) an operating means operated to withdraw
said moving means to a predetermined position; (c) a means
responsive to operation of said operating means to control said
moving means to move said predetermined position.
21. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 20, further
comprising a means for rendering said sewing machine in an economy
mode for saving power when said moving means has been withdrawn to
said predetermined position.
22. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 20, further
comprising a means responsive to operation of said operating means
to operate said stitch forming means prior to withdrawal of said
moving means to form the stitches for preventing the preceedingly
formed stitches from loosening.
23. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 20, wherein
said withdrawing means is operated to withdraw said moving means
only in a width direction of said sewing machine.
24. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 20, wherein
said moving means includes a mult-stepped extendible mechanism
composed of at least a first moving assembly and a second moving
assembly which is movable on and relative to said first moving
assembly, and wherein said withdrawing means is operated to
withdraw at least a half of a total length of said first and second
moving assemblies.
25. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 20, further
comprising a means for setting said predetermined position.
26. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 20, further
comprising a means for giving information including a weight of
said work holding means; and a means for deciding said
predetermined position on the basis of said information.
27. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 20, further
comprising a means for detecting a position of said work holding
means; and a means for memorizing a position of said work holding
means prior to withdrawal of said work holding means to said
predetermined position.
28. An embroidery sewing machine having a stitch forming means
including a vertically reciprocating needle and a means for holding
a work to be stitched and being movable relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle so that stitches may be formed on the work,
said embroidery sewing machine comprising: (a) a moving means for
moving said work holding means relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle, said moving means having said work holding
means removably mounted thereto and being movable to at least one
predetermined position; (b) a means for detecting presence of said
work holding means on said moving means, said detecting means
detecting absence of said work holding means on said moving means
to move said moving means to said predetermined position.
29. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 28, wherein
said at least one predetermined position includes a first position
where said moving means is located when the ordinary stitching
operation is carried out and a second position where said moving
means is located when the embroidery stitching operation is
started.
30. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 28, wherein
said detecting means is responsive to turning on of a power source
of said sewing machine to move said moving means to said first or
second position.
31. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 28, wherein
said detecting means moves said moving means to said first or
second position instantly upon detecting absence of said work
holding means on said moving means.
32. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 28, wherein
said detecting means moves said moving means to said first or
second position in response to an instruction which is given after
said detecting means detects absence of said work holding means on
said moving means.
33. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 28, further
comprising a means for giving a notice in response to detection by
said detecting means of the presence of said work holding means on
said moving means.
34. The embroidery sewing machine as defined in claim 32, further
comprising a means for noticing a user to give said instruction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an embroidery sewing
machine having an embroidering frame holding a work to be stitched
and a mechanism for moving the embroidering frame relative to a
vertically reciprocating needle, and more particularly relates to
an embroidery sewing machine which is responsive to the turning off
operation of a power source switch to withdraw the embroidering
frame from a position where the same is partly extended out from
the base of sewing machine to a predetermined position where the
embroidering frame is substantially located on the base of sewing
machine
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Generally an embroidery sewing machine is operated to move
an embroidering frame holding a work to be stitched in X-Y
direction relative to a vertically reciprocating needle, thereby to
form stitches on the work.
[0005] The embroidering frame is moved in a limited area which is
determined in connection with an area in which a frame moving
mechanism of the sewing machine may move. In case of the embroidery
sewing machine, the frame moving mechanism is generally housed in a
base of the sewing machine of a limited space. The embroidering
frame is accordingly limited to move relative to the vertically
reciprocating needle, additionally with existence of a standard
portion of the sewing machine occupying a considerable part of the
sewing machine body.
[0006] However, recently a frame moving mechanism has been proposed
by the same applicant of this patent application, the frame moving
mechanism including a moving assembly having another moving
assembly additionally provided thereon to be relatively moved
thereto formed as a multi-stepped moving assembly. According to the
frame moving mechanism, the embroidering frame may be moved in a
larger area than the area limited by the space of the base and by
the standard portion of the sewing machine.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] But apart from this advantage, in case the power source is
turned off while the embroidering frame is partly extended out from
the base of sewing machine and remains to be returned to a
predetermined rest or inoperative position, or in case the sewing
machine is stopped during stitching operation due to power failure
or disconnection of electric cord from the power source, the sewing
machine may happen to remain as occupying a large area or space
with the embroidering frame being considerably extended out from
the sewing machine. Further, in case the thread is changed from one
color to another during embroidering operation while the
embroidering frame is extended out from the sewing machine, the
embroidering frame will become an obstacle to the thread changing
operation. Particularly the multi-stepped moving assembly is
mechanically fragile to impact or load, and further it is rather
difficult to provide a mechanism that is manually operated to
withdraw the embroidering frame to the rest or inoperative
position.
[0008] The invention has been provided to eliminate the defects and
disadvantages of the prior art. It is, therefore, a primary object
of the invention to provide an embroidery sewing machine which is
prevented from being left with the embroidering frame being partly
extended out from the base of sewing machine while the sewing
machine remains unused.
[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide an
embroidery sewing machine which is responsive to the turning off
operation of a power switch to withdraw the embroidering frame from
a position where the same is partly extended out from the base of
sewing machine to a predetermined position where the same is
substantially located on the base of sewing machine.
[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a memory
for memorizing a stitching position of the embroidering frame so
that the embroidering frame may be automatically returned to the
stitching position from the withdrawn position.
[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a detector
for detecting turning off operation of a power switch and a device
operated in association with the detector to maintain supply of
power until the embroidering frame is withdrawn to the
predetermined position.
[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a detector
for detecting a predetermined elapse of time after the power source
switch is turned off and a device operated in association with the
detector to withdraw the embroidering frame to the predetermined
position and simultaneously intercepting the power source.
[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a loose
stitch preventing program memory so that the stitches may be formed
to prevent the preceedingly formed stitches from being loose before
the embroidering frame is withdrawn to the predetermined
position.
[0014] It is another object of the invention to withdraw the
embroidering frame a shortest allowable distance towards the base
of sewing machine so that the embroidering frame may be quickly
returned to the stitching position.
[0015] It is still another object of the invention to initialize an
embroidering frame carrying member prior to starting the embroidery
stitching operation for the purpose of avoiding interference of the
embroidering frame with another member of the sewing machine during
withdrawing movement of the embroidering frame to the predetermined
position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] For attaining the objects, the embroidery sewing machine of
the invention comprises a stitch forming means including a
vertically reciprocating needle, a means for holding a work to be
stitched, a moving means for moving the work holding means relative
to the vertically reciprocating needle, wherein in case a power
source switch is turned off, the sewing operation is interrupted
for a predetermined period of time, or an instruction is given to
withdraw the moving means to a predetermined positron (or a
position where the moving position is housed), the moving means is
automatically operated to withdraw to the predetermined position.
Thus, the sewing machine may be prevented from being left unused
while the work holding means remains as is extended out from the
sewing machine.
[0017] The power off condition is detected by a detector and
subsequently power is maintained as supplied by a power supply
maintaining means such that the moving means may be operated by the
maintained power to withdraw to the predetermined position.
[0018] According to the invention, in case the power source is
intercepted, power is maintained to withdraw the moving means.
Therefore, the sewing operation will not be interrupted for a long
time without withdrawal of the moving means to the predetermined
position. The means for maintaining the power supply may include
various means. This means may, however, be something responsive to
a switch-off signal to immediately postpone the power interception
for a predetermined period of time. In this connection, a battery
may be provided as a power source to be automatically switched over
thereto at the time of power interception. This may cope with power
failure or incidental disconnection of power cord.
[0019] Interruption of sewing operation for a predetermined period
of time may be detected by a detector for detecting the stopped
condition of the stitch forming means and the work holding means,
and discriminated by a means for deciding if the stopped condition
has continued for a predetermined period of time and for
withdrawing the moving means to the predetermined position at the
end of the predetermined period of time. Therefore, since the
moving means moving the work holding means is withdrawn to the
predetermined position in case the sewing machine has been stopped
for a predetermined period of time, the sewing machine may be
prevented from being left unused for a long time while the work
holding means remains as is extended out from the sewing machine.
Preferably, the predetermined period of time may be optionally set
by the user by operating a means provided for setting the period of
time.
[0020] The instruction for withdrawing the moving means may be
given by the user who operates an operating means provided to be
accessed by the user and the instruction may be carried out by a
means responsive to operation of the operating means to withdraw
the moving means to the predetermined position. Thus, the
withdrawing means will operate in response to operation of the
operating means to withdraw the moving means. Therefore, the sewing
machine may be prevented from being left unused while the work
holding means remains as is extended out from the sewing machine in
case the sewing operation is interrupted. The withdrawing means may
be provided as indicated, for example, at a touch panel of a
display.
[0021] The moving means may be of a multi-stepped extendible
mechanism composed of at least two moving assemblies, wherein one
moving assembly has another moving assembly mounted thereon to be
movable relative thereto. On the other hand, the withdrawing means
is preferably formed to withdraw more than a half of the total
length of the moving assemblies. In case at least more than a half
of the total length of the moving assemblies is withdrawn, the
moving assemblies may be prevented from damage which may otherwise
be caused at the time of impact given thereto.
[0022] Further, a means may be provided to be operated by the user
for optionally setting the predetermined position to which the
moving means is withdrawn, and further a means may be provided to
be operated in accordance with information including a weight of
the moving means to automatically decide the predetermined
position.
[0023] Preferably a means is provided for detecting a position of
the work holding means so that the position of the work holding
means prior to withdrawal to the predetermined position may be
memorized for the purpose of automatically returning the work
holding means to the memorized position.
[0024] The withdrawing direction may be either or one of the X and
Y directions. However, normally the width direction (Y direction)
is sufficient.
[0025] It is further preferable that the stitches may be formed for
preventing loosening of the preceedingly formed stitches before the
work holding means is withdrawn to the predetermined position so
that the embroidery stitching operation may be started again
smoothly.
[0026] Further, a means may be provided for rendering the sewing
machine into an economy mode to save power immediately after the
work holding means or the moving means has been withdrawn to the
predetermined position.
[0027] Further, during withdrawing movement of the moving means to
the predetermined position, it may happen that the work holding
means (embroidering frame) will contact the other constituent
member or members of the sewing machine. This problem must be taken
into consideration especially in case the work holding means is
capable of movement in a larger area.
[0028] In order to solve the problem, it is preferable to provide a
means for detecting prior to withdrawal of the moving means if the
work holding means is mounted or not on the moving means so that
the moving means may be withdrawn to the predetermined position
only when the work holding means is not mounted to the moving
means. The permission that the moving means may be withdrawn to the
predetermined position only when the work holding means is not
mounted to the moving means may be applied additionally to the
cases wherein the power source switch is turned on or off, wherein
the moving means is withdrawn when the sewing machine is switched
over from embroidery stitching to ordinary stitching, or wherein
the moving means is subjected to initializing operation to move to
the original stitching point at the time of starting the embroidery
stitching operation.
[0029] In case presence of the work holding means is detected, the
initializing operation may be carried out immediately or in
response to an initializing instruction to be given after the work
holding means is removed from the moving means. It is preferable to
provide a means for giving a notice to the user in case presence of
the work holding means is detected. Further, in case the
initializing operation is carried out in response to the
initializing instruction, it is preferable to provide a means for
giving a notice to the user to give the initializing instruction.
The noticing means nay be a display which is normally provided on
the sewing machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of embroidery
sewing machine of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 2 a plan elevational view of an embodiment of X-Y
moving mechanism of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functions of the
invention.
[0033] FIGS. 4 through 7 are flow charts showing the operations of
the invention.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operations of another
embodiment of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operations of still
another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] The invention will be described in detail in reference to
the preferred embodiments of the invention.
[0037] As sown in FIG. 1, the embroidery sewing machine of the
invention has an arm frame 1 extending horizontally from the top of
an upright standard and a base 2 extending horizontally from the
bottom of the standard. As shown in FIG. 2, an X-Y moving mechanism
is provided in the base 2.
[0038] A distal end carriage 7 is operatively connected to the X-Y
moving mechanism 67 and may be moved as is extended out of the base
2. The distal end carriage 7 has a distal end 20 to which an
embroidering frame 21 is removably mounted. In the arm frame 1,
there is provided a stitch forming mechanism 62 (FIG. 3) including
a vertically reciprocating needle bar 70 and a needle 71 attached
to the lower end of the needle bar 70.
[0039] The embroidering frame 21 has a work such as a cloth held
thereon and is moved in X-Y direction relative to the needle 71 as
the distal end carriage 7 is moved such that stitches may be formed
on the cloth as the needle 71 is vertically reciprocated. The
embroidery stitching operation may be selected by operating a
stitching mode selecting button 54 (FIG. 3) which is otherwise
operative to provide an ordinary stitching mode wherein a work such
as a cloth is transported relative to the vertically reciprocating
needle 71 by a work feeding device (not shown) such that stitches
may be formed on the cloth.
[0040] A start/stop switch 57 (FIG. 3) is provided, which is
operated to start or stop the operation of the sewing machine.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the X-Y moving mechanism includes a
multi-stepped extendible assembly substantially composed of a base
carriage 5 which may be moved in X-direction (width direction of
sewing machine), an intermediate carriage 6 which is mounted on the
base carriage 5 and may be moved in Y-direction perpendicularly of
the X-direction and the distal end carriage 6 which is mounted on
the intermediate carriage 6 and may be moved in Y-direction.
According to the embodiment, the extendible assembly is two-
stepped. It is, however, needless to say that the assembly may be
made more than two-stepped. The embroidering frame 21 is mounted to
the end 20 of the distal carriage 7 and is moved in X-Y direction
as the distal end carriage 7 is moved. The moving amount of the
distal end carriage 7 will enlarge the moving area of the
embroidering frame 21 in X-Y direction in addition to the moving
area wherein the intermediate carriage 6 may be moved in X-Y
direction.
[0042] The intermediate carriage 6 is fixedly connected to a first
endless belt 9 which is driven by a Y-direction drive motor 15, and
may be reciprocatingly moved in Y-direction. A second endless belt
11 is provided on the base carriage 5 and is moved in association
with the movement of the intermediate carriage 6. The distal end
carriage 7 is fixedly connected to the second belt 11 such that the
same may be reciprocatingly moved in Y-direction as the second belt
11 is moved.
[0043] An x-direction drive motor 19 is provided to move a third
endless belt 17 which is fixedly connected to the base carriage 5
to reciprocatingly move the same in X-direction along a guide rail
16.
[0044] The frame moving mechanism including the multi-stepped
extendible assembly is disclosed in detail, for example, in U.S.
Pat. No. 604,351, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware of essential
elements of the sewing machine. These elements will be described in
reference to FIG. 1.
[0046] CPU 50 is operated in accordance with the programs stored in
a program memory 51 to do control operations. In case of the
ordinary stitching operation, the CPU 50 is responsive to an
instruction from a rotation speed instructing device 53 which may
be a foot operated controller or the like to control a machine
motor drive circuit 60, thereby to drive a machine motor 61 at a
speed instructed by the rotation speed instructing device 53 and
thus to drive the stitch forming mechanism 62. The embroidery
stitching operation may be carried out at a rotation speed of the
machine motor 61 decided by a speed setting program stored in a
speed setting program memory 33.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the stitch forming mechanism 62 includes
the needle bar 70, needle 71 and the cloth feeding device (not
shown) which is operated in synchronism with vertical reciprocating
movement of the needle 71 to transport the cloth relative to the
needle 71 to form stitches on the cloth. The number of times of
rotation of the machine motor 61 is detected by a motor rotation
detector 63 and is fed back to the CPU 50 so as to be used for
speed control of the machine motor 61.
[0048] The embroidery sewing machine is provided with an X-Y motor
drive circuit 65, X-Y motors 66 and the X-Y moving mechanism 67 in
addition to the machine motor drive circuit 60 and is operated in
accordance with the pattern data read out from a stitch data memory
30 to carry out a pattern stitching operation. As mentioned
hereinbefore in reference to FIG. 1, the X-Y moving mechanism 67
includes the distal end carriage 7 having the end 20 to which the
embroidering frame 21 is mounted, the embroidering frame 21 having
a cloth held thereon and being moved in X-Y direction relative to
the reciprocating needle such that stitches may be formed on the
cloth. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sign X indicates the width direction
of the sewing machine body and Y indicates the depth direction of
the sewing machine body.
[0049] A timing signal producing device 64 is provided to detect
the rotation phases of an upper drive shaft of the sewing machine
and produce the signals indicating the positions of vertically
reciprocating needle 71 which is operatively connected to the upper
drive shaft. The signals are used to synchronize the movement of
the X-Y moving mechanism 67 with the movement of the vertically
reciprocating needle 71, the X-Y moving mechanism 67 being moved by
way of the X-Y motor drive circuit 65 and the X-Y motors 66 which
are under control of the CPU 50 having the timing signals entered
thereto.
[0050] The embroidery stitching operation and the ordinary
stitching operation may be alternatively selected by operating the
stitching mode selecting button 54 which is provided on a front
side of the arm frame 1 of sewing machine as shown in FIG. 1.
[0051] A display 56 is provided on the front side of the arm frame
1 of sewing machine. and is operated to display various information
under control of a display control device 55 which is operated in
accordance with the instructions from the CPU 50 as shown in FIG.
3.
[0052] Further, a temporary memory 31 is provided.
[0053] A frame position detector 32 is provided to detect the
position of the embroidering frame 21. According to the embodiment,
the position of the embroidering frame 21 may be successively
detected from the initial position of the same and the stitch data
stored in the stitch data memory 30. Alternatively, the position of
the embroidering frame 21 may be detected by a detector provided to
the X-Y motors 66, the Z-Y moving mechanism 67, the distal end
carriage 7 or the embroidering frame 21 itself.
[0054] The CPU 50 has further a cloth/frame type selecting button
36, a cloth/frame type detector 37 and a cloth/frame type
information memory 38 connected thereto.
[0055] The cloth/frame type selecting button 36 is operated by a
machine user to enter a type of cloth and/or a type of embroidering
frame. The type of cloth may be classified on the basis of weight,
thickness and/or material. The material may be mainly determined on
the basis of friction resistance. The type of embroidering frame
may be classified on the basis of size, weight band the like. The
cloth and embroidering frame may, however, be otherwise classified
as required. The information of the types of cloth and embroidering
frame is stored in the cloth/frame type information memory 38 and
may be read out therefrom by operation of the cloth/frame type
selecting button 36.
[0056] The cloth/frame type detector 37 and the cloth/frame type
selecting button 36 may be alternatively or both of the two may be
provided.
[0057] The cloth/frame type detector 37 is provided to detect the
type of embroidering frame 21 mounted to the end 20 of distal end
carriage 7 and the type of cloth held on the embroidering frame 21.
For example, the type of embroidering frame 21 may be discriminated
by a sensor arranged on the end 20 of distal end carriage 7 for
detecting a discrimination signal provided on the embroidering
frame 21. The type of cloth may be discriminated by a photosensor
for detecting a reflected light or by a weight sensor for detecting
the weight of cloth. In response to the type of cloth or of
embroidering frame detected by the cloth/frame type detector 37,
the corresponding information is read out from the cloth/frame
information memory 38.
[0058] An embroidering frame detector 41 is provided to detect the
embroidering frame 21 mounted to the end 20 of distal end carriage
7. Any sensor may be available if it detects the presence of
embroidering frame 21 mounted to the frame mounting end 20. The
frame detector 41 may be a sensor which will produce a
discriminating signal in response to a type of embroidering frame
21.
[0059] The CPU 50 further has a timer 42 connected thereto for
measuring a time span in which the sewing machine is stopped. In
case the CPU 50 recognizes the stop of the stitch forming mechanism
62 and of the X-Y moving mechanism 67, it gives an instruction for
operating the timer 42 to measure the time span of stop. In case a
predetermined span of time is reached, the distal end carriage 7 is
withdrawn to a predetermined position after the position of
embroidering frame 21 detected by a frame position detector 32 is
stored in the temporary memory 31. The predetermined span of time
may be optionally decided by operating a withdrawal start setting
button 46. The withdrawal position is normally a position in the
base 2 where the distal end carriage 7 is housed, but may be
optionally decided by operating a withdrawing position setting
button 44. With operation of the withdrawing position setting
button 44 to move a shortest possible distance, the time may be
shortened taken by the embroidering frame 21 for returning to the
position preceedingly memorized in the temporary memory 31.
[0060] Further, an withdrawing position deciding device 43 is
provided. The device is operated to decide a position to which the
embroidering frame 21 is withdrawn in accordance with the type of
embroidering frame 21 selected by operation of the cloth/frame type
selecting button 36. With the withdrawal position deciding device
43 being provided, the withdrawal position may be decided in
consideration of the size and weight of embroidering frame 21. Thus
a suitable position may be decided in accordance with the type of
embroidering frame 21. When the start/stop button 57 is operated
after the embroidering frame 21 is withdrawn, the CPU 50 is
operative to read out the position of the embroidering frame 21
preceedingly memorized in the temporary memory 31 to control the
movement of the X-Y moving mechanism 67, thereby to return the
embroidering frame 21 to the position memorized in the temporary
memory 31 and simultaneously start the embroidery stitching
operation.
[0061] A power source switch 52 is provided so as to be operated to
turn the sewing machine electrically on or off. According to the
embodiment, in case the power source switch 52 is turned off, the
sewing machine is not instantly cut off from the power source and
remains electrically on for a predetermined time. Namely, the CPU
50 is responsive to the off signal from the power source switch 52
to give a signal to a power intercepting device 80 after elapse of
a predetermined time. The power intercepting device 80 is then
operative to electrically cut off the sewing machine from the power
source.
[0062] The predetermined time is a time that is required to move
the X-Y moving mechanism 67 to the initial position wherein the
base carriage 5, the intermediate carriage 6 and the distal end
carriage 7 are returned to predetermined positions (original
positions) respectively in the base 2 of the sewing machine.
According to the embodiment, the interception of power source is
postponed until the respective carriages 5, 6, 7 are confirmed to
have been returned to the predetermined positions in the base 2 of
sewing machine.
[0063] Namely, the CPU 50 is responsive to the power source turning
off signal to control the movement of X-Y moving mechanism 67 to
move the carriages 5, 6, 7 to the predetermined positions (original
positions) respectively. With confirmation of the carriages 5, 6, 7
having been returned to the predetermined positions (original
positions), the CPU 50 gives an instruction to a power intercepting
device 80 to cut off the power source.
[0064] With combination of the constituent elements, the
intermediate carriage 6 and the distal end carriage 7 may be
prevented from remaining as extending out of the base 2 of sewing
machine after the sewing machine is turned off.
[0065] According to the embodiment, a battery switching device 81
may be provided so as to be responsive to the turning off signal
from the power source switch 52 to make operative a battery or the
like (not shown) provided in the sewing machine as a support power
source for returning the carriages 5, 6, 7 to the predetermined
positions (original positions) respectively.
[0066] Further according to the embodiment, a power off detector 58
is provided to detect power failure or disconnection of a cord from
the power source such that the detection signal from the power off
detector 58 may make operative the battery to return the carriages
5, 6, 7 to the predetermined positions (original positions)
respectively.
[0067] Further, a frame withdrawing key 4 is provided so as to be
operated to make the CPU 50 operative to memorize the position of
embroidering frame 21 in the temporary memory 31 and simultaneously
control the movement of X-Y moving mechanism 67 to withdraw the
distal end carriage 7 to a predetermined position.
[0068] The aforementioned predetermined positions are original
positions of the respective carriages 5, 6 and 7 within the base 2
of sewing machine. The positions may, however, be optionally
varied. For example, the respective carriages may be withdrawn only
in the Y-direction such that the carriages may be so quickly
returned to the stitching positions when the embroidery stitching
operation is started again. In FIG. 2, the intermediate carriage 6
and the distal end carriage 7 are shown as extending out of the
base 2. It is preferable that the carriages are withdrawn until at
least more than a half of the total length is located within the
base 2. In this condition, the damage of the carriages 6, 7 may be
reduced in case impact is given to the carriages.
[0069] According to the embodiment, a loose stitch preventing
program memory 90 is provided such that the CPU 50 may be
responsive to operation of the embroidering frame withdrawing key 4
to control the movement of stitch forming mechanism 62 by use of
the program stored in the memory 90 to form the stitches for
preventing the preceedingly formed stitches from loosening prior to
withdrawal of the embroidering frame 21.
[0070] In case the embroidering frame 21 is withdrawn after the
loose stitch preventing operation is made, the irregularity of
stitches will be prevented when the embroidery stitching operation
is started again.
[0071] Further, according to the embodiment, a power saving mode
program memory 91 is provided. The memory 91 is responsive to
operation of the frame withdrawing key 4 to render the sewing
machine into a power saving operation mode after the embroidering
frame 21 is withdrawn to save the consumption of power.
[0072] Operation of the embodiment will be described in reference
to FIG. 4.
[0073] In FIG. 4, In case the power switch 52 is turned off (step
S1), the CPU 50 will postpone the power interception (step S2), and
control the X-Y moving mechanism 67 to withdraw the base carriage
5, the intermediate carriage 6 and the distal end carriage 7 to the
predetermined positions (step S3). After the carriages have been
withdrawn to the predetermined positions respectively, the CPU 50
will operate the power intercepting device 80 to intercept the
power (step S4).
[0074] FIG. 5 shows the operation in case the power cord is
disconnected to cause the sewing machine to be power off. When the
power off detector 58 gives an off signal (step S10), the CPU 50
switches over the power source to the battery (step S11), thereby
to control the X-Y moving mechanism 67 to withdraw the base
carriage 5, the intermediate carriage 6 and the distal end carriage
7 to the predetermined positions respectively (step S12). After the
carriages are withdrawn to the predetermined positions, the battery
is cut off (step S13).
[0075] FIG. 6 shows the operation in case the sewing machine is
standstill for more than a predetermined span of time. When the CPU
50 recognizes the stop of the stitch forming mechanism 62 and the
X-Y moving mechanism 67 (step S20), it operates the timer 42 and
checks the elapse of time (step S21). In case a predetermined time
has elapsed, the CPU 50 gives the instruction to withdraw the
carriages to the predetermined positions (step S22).
[0076] Though there is not shown a flow chart of the carriage
withdrawing operation in case the frame withdrawing key 4 is
operated, the operation is carried out by the instruction given by
the CPU 50 which is responsive to operation of the frame drawing
key 4.
[0077] The carriage withdrawing operation of steps S3, S12 and S22
will be described in reference to FIG. 7.
[0078] At first, the CPU 50 gives an instruction for carrying out
the loose stitch prevention stitching operation (step S30), though
the operation may not be carried out.
[0079] Subsequently, the present position of distal end carriage 7
(embroidering frame 21) is memorized in the temporary memory 31
(step S31). In case the withdrawing position setting button 44 is
operated to set the withdrawing position (step S32), the set
position is read in (step S33). In case the withdrawing position is
not set, the withdrawing position deciding device 43 reads in the
type of embroidering frame 21 (step S34) and decides the
withdrawing position (step S35), and then the carriage is withdrawn
to the withdrawing position (step S36). After the carriage has been
withdrawn to the withdrawing position, the sewing machine is
switched over to the power saving mode (step S37).
[0080] In case the instruction is given by operation of the
start/stop button 57 for starting the embroidery stitching
operation again (38), the position of embroidering frame 21
preceedingly memorized in the temporary memory 31 is read out (step
S39) and simultaneously the sewing machine is switched over from
the power saving mode to the ordinary mode (step S40). The X-Y
moving mechanism 67 is then controlled to move the distal end
carriage 7 to the former position, thereby to move the embroidering
frame 21 to the former stitching position (step S41).] The
embroidery stitching operation is started again (step S42).
[0081] With the combination of elements, the base carriage 5, the
intermediate carriage 6 and the distal end carriage 7 may be
automatically withdrawn to the predetermined positions respectively
in case of turning off of power, power failure or disconnection of
power cord.
[0082] Subsequently, another embodiment of the invention will be
described.
[0083] According to the embodiment, the distal end carriage 7 is
prevented from being withdrawn to the predetermined position while
the embroidering frame 21 is mounted to the carriage 7, because the
embroidering frame 21 may interfere with another member of the
sewing machine on the way to the predetermined position.
[0084] Namely, the distal end carriage 7 is subjected to a series
of initializing movements. For example, upon turning the power
source on, the distal end carriage 7 is moved to a predetermined
initial position. Prior to starting the embroidery stitching
operation, the distal end carriage 7 is moved to a stitch starting
original point. Further, in case the sewing machine is switched
over from the embroidery stitching mode to the ordinary stitching
mode, the distal end carriage 7 is moved to the predetermined
initial position. In each case, the carriage 7 is prevented from
being moved while the same has the embroidering frame 21 mounted
thereto.
[0085] Each time of the distal end carriage 7 is moved, the CPU 50
discriminates by the signal from the frame detector 41 if the
embroidering frame 21 is mounted to the distal end carriage 7. In
case the there is the embroidering frame 21, the CPU 50 makes a
warning at the display 56, and moves the carriage 7 after
confirming absence of the embroidering frame 21.
[0086] Otherwise the CPU 50 may make a notice at the display 56
requiring the user to take the initializing operation again.
[0087] The operation will be described in reference to FIG. 8.
[0088] In case the distal end carriage 7 is ready to move (step
S40), the CPU 50 discriminates on the basis of the information from
the frame detector 41 if the embroidering frame 21 is present on
the distal end carriage 7 (step S41). In case the embroidering
frame is absent, the CPU 50 allows the carriage 7 to move (step
42). In case the embroidering frame is present, the CPU 50 gives a
warning to this effect at the display 56 (step 43). In case the
user removes the embroidering frame 21 from the carriage 7, the
carriage 7 is allowed to move (step 42).
[0089] Still another embodiment of the invention will be described
in reference to FIG. 9.
[0090] The operation will be described in reference to FIG. 8.
[0091] In case the distal end carriage 7 is ready to move (step
S50), the CPU 50 discriminates on the basis of the information from
the frame detector 41 if the embroidering frame 21 is present on
the distal end carriage 7 (step S51). In case the embroidering
frame is absent, the CPU 50 allows the carriage 7 to move (step
52). In case the embroidering frame is present, the CPU 50 gives a
warning to this effect at the display 56 (step 53). In case the
user removes the embroidering frame 21 from the carriage 7 (step
54), the CPU 50 gives a notice at the display 56 requiring the user
to take the initializing operation again (step S55). In case the
user takes the initializing operation (step S56), the carriage 7 is
allowed to move (step 57).
[0092] According to the second and third embodiments of the
invention as described above, prior to starting the movement of
distal end carriage 7, it is detected if the embroidering frame 21
is present or not on the carriage 7. In case the embroidering frame
7 is present, the carriage 7 is prevented from being moved until
the embroidering frame 21 is removed. It is, therefore, possible to
prevent the accident that the embroidering frame 21 will otherwise
interfere with another member of sewing machine on the way
withdrawing to the predetermined position. Further, since the
notice is given to remove the embroidering frame 21, the user may
instantly take the required action.
[0093] Further, in case of starting the distal end carriage 7
again, the instruction is represented so that the user may operate
the sewing machine in accordance with the instruction.
[0094] Finally according to the invention, the embroidery sewing
machine may be prevented from being left for a long time as the
embroidering frame is extended out from the sewing machine, and
further may be prevented from being damaged by interference of the
embroidering frame with another member of the sewing machine.
[0095] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications are intended to be included within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *