U.S. patent application number 10/854233 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for embroidering system.
This patent application is currently assigned to AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Hagino, Seiichiro.
Application Number | 20050178306 10/854233 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34836378 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050178306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hagino, Seiichiro |
August 18, 2005 |
EMBROIDERING SYSTEM
Abstract
An embroidering system includes a central control device and a
plurality of embroidering machines. The plural embroidering
machines are synchronously operated by a command from the central
control device. The central control device individually adjusts
embroidering speeds of the plural embroidering machines.
Inventors: |
Hagino, Seiichiro;
(Chiryu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Kariya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
34836378 |
Appl. No.: |
10/854233 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/102.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05C 5/02 20130101; D05B
19/12 20130101; D05B 19/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/102.5 |
International
Class: |
D05B 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 17, 2004 |
JP |
2004-040357 |
Claims
1. An embroidering system comprising: a central control device; a
plurality of embroidering machines being operable in stand-alone
mode; wherein the central control device synchronously operates the
plural embroidering machines in response to both (i) confirming the
operable state of the plural embroidering machines and (ii) the
central control device detecting that at least one of the plural
embroidering machines is manipulated to operate after embroidering
data has been transferred from the central control device to the
plural embroidering machines.
2. (canceled)
3. The embroidering system according to claim 1, wherein the
central control device stops all embroidering machines when at
least one of the plural embroidering machines is operated to be
stopped or stopped due to abnormality.
4. The embroidering system according to claim 1, wherein each of
the plural embroidering machines is configured to be released from
the synchronous operation.
5. (canceled)
6. The embroidering system according to claim 4, wherein each of
the plural embroidering machines is released from being
synchronously operated when a synchronous switch which is provided
in each of the plural embroidering machines is turned off.
7. The embroidering system according to claim 4, wherein each of
the plural embroidering machines is released from being
synchronously operated by manipulation of the central control
device.
8. The embroidering system according to claim 1, wherein the
central control device drives the plural embroidering machines at a
same speed.
9. The embroidering system according to claim 1, wherein the plural
embroidering machines are configured to operate at different speeds
when synchronously operated, and wherein, even if one of the plural
embroidering machines ceases to operate, the other embroidering
machines continue to operate.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2002-344342, filed on Nov. 27, 2002, and is based on and claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Japanese Patent Application
2004-040357, filed on Feb. 17, 2004, the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to an embroidering system.
More particularly, the present invention pertains to an
embroidering system including plural embroidering machines.
BACKGROUND
[0003] With known embroidering systems including plural
embroidering machines, an operator has to intialize each
embroidering machine in order to operate all the embroidering
machines simultaneously. For more efficient operation, for example,
a known embroidering system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Publication No. H06-304372 operates a first embroidering machine
simultaneous with the other embroidering machines by allowing the
first embroidering machine to memorize the information including
the embroidering data and by transferring the memorized information
to the other embroidering machines.
[0004] Notwithstanding, with the construction of the known
embroidering system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Publication No. H06-304372, although the operational efficiency is
increased for simultaneously embroidering the identical embroider
pattern with the plural embroidering machines because the
information is transferred from the first embroidering machine to
the other embroidering machines, it is not practical for
embroidering plural embroidering patterns with the plural
embroidering machines.
[0005] Further, with the construction of the known embroidering
system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
H06-304372, the minor errors between the embroidering machines are
inevitable and thus the embroidering cannot be completed
simultaneously at all embroidering machines even if the plural
embroidering machines are started to operate simultaneously. In
other words, because the timing for the completion of the
embroidering is different depending on the embroidering machines,
the operational efficiency is declined. More particularly, in case
at least one of the embroidering machines is still operated, the
embroidered products cannot be removed simultaneously, which
significantly declines the operational efficiency.
[0006] A need thus exists for an embroidering system which
completes the embroidering approximately simultaneously when the
embroidery is performed with the plural embroidering machines
synchronously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides an
embroidering system which includes a central control device, and a
plurality of embroidering machines. The plural embroidering
machines are synchronously operated by a command from the central
control device. The central control device individually adjusts
embroidering speeds of the plural embroidering machines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of
the present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embroidering machine
system according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embroidering machine
included in an embroidering system of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the process for the
preparation of the embroidering.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process for the
embroidering.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing other control systems
according to the embroidering system of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a graph used for explaining the operation of the
other control systems shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] One embodiment of the present invention will be explained
with reference to the illustrations of the drawing figures as
follows.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, an embroidering machine system 10
includes a personal computer PC serving as a control device. The
personal computer PC is connected to, for example, four
embroidering machines EM. The four embroidering machines EM are
simultaneously actuated by the embroidering data sent from the
personal computer PC for forming a predetermined embroidering
pattern with plural colors.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the embroidering machine EM includes an
embroidery frame actuation device 6 for two-dimensionally actuating
an embroidery frame 56 on a horizontal surface, a sewing mechanism
1 for actuating an embroidery needle provided over a needle
piercing hole 60 in the upward and downward direction, and a needle
selecting device 16 as described, for example, in Japanese
Published Examined Application No. S53-43336 and Japanese Published
Examined Application No. S55-8626.
[0018] With the construction of the first embodiment, because the
needle selecting device 16 selectively sets one of needles 581-586
right above the needle piercing hole 60, the thread threaded at the
needle positioned right above the needle piercing hole 60 is used
for the embroidering.
[0019] An embroidering machine arm is provided with a bobbin table
55R and a bobbin table 55L for holding thread bobbins on the left
and right sides of the embroidering arm. Four bobbins are always
held at each bobbin table 55P, 55L. Threads wound around six
bobbins out of eight bobbins in total are selectively threaded at
the needles 581-586 through a tension 61, each hole of a thread
guiding board 62, and a hole of a thread take-up lever,
[0020] The embroidering machine EM includes a control portion
having a CPU as a primary part. When the embroidering data is sent
from the personal computer PC to the control portion via an
interface, the embroidering pattern with plural colors is
embroidered on a cloth set at the embroidering frame 56 by the
embroidering machine EM.
[0021] The embroidery sewing information of the several kinds of
the embroidering patterns, in other words, the embroidering data,
is written in a first embroidery device provided in the personal
computer PC. The embroidering patterns are specified with unique
names (i.e., file names). The embroidering sewing information of
the tile name of each pattern includes small number of management
data and large number of stitch data. The management data includes
the data indicating a predetermined thread color Ci and the thread
color selecting order. The stitch data includes control data and
frame actuation amount data. The control data includes thread
change command data, end command data (i.e., the command data for
completion of the embroidering), or the like. The frame actuation
amount data shows a predetermined actuation amount (i.e., an X-axis
moving amount and a Y-axis moving amount) from the last embroidery
frame position (i.e., the last embroidering frame position is
defined at a position where the center of the frame is positioned
right above the needle piercing hole 60 at start). The stitch data
includes the frame actuation amount data in order by one stitch
unit when the thread is not changed and the embroidery is not
completed. The thread change command data is inserted at the timing
of changing the thread. The timing of the completion of the
embroidering, that is, the end of the stitch data, corresponds to
the end command data. With the thread color, RGB code is
adopted.
[0022] The personal computer PC includes a second memory device.
The second memory device is provided with the information of needle
numbers N1-N6 provided at the six needles 581-586 of the
embroidering machine EM and colors of the threads is supplied at
the needles 581-586 as the pairs [Nj, Cj] (j=1-6) via an input
device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like in advance.
[0023] In order to produce the desired embroidering patterns with
plural colors with the embroidering machines EM (1-4) by operating
the embroidering machine system 10, the operation is prepared in
the following process as shown in FIG. 3.
[0024] First, an image of the embroidering pattern with plural
colors appears on a colored display. The pattern on the screen is
shown with a line drawing showing threads with corresponding
colors.
[0025] In order to replace the color for each thread, the operator
selects the desired color from the color data chart displayed on
the screen when clicking the corresponding line drawing.
Thereafter, the content of the predetermined thread color Ci of the
management data is amended to add the needle number Ni
simultaneously in order to correspond to the selected color. In
case the selected color is supplied at none of the needles, it is
judged that the closest color is selected.
[0026] The embroidering data is transmitted from the personal
computer PC to the CPU of the embroidering machine.
[0027] Each embroidering machine EM (1-4) individually includes an
activation switch and a stop switch. The CPU of the personal
computer PC always recognizes the state of the activation switch as
the stop switch as an activation signal of the binary signal.
[0028] The operation and the embroidering process by the
embroidering machine system is explained, for example, taking the
case that the activation switch of the embroidering machine EM (1)
is ON as shown in FIG. 4.
[0029] When the activation switch of the embroidering machine EM
(1) is ON, the activation signal recognized by the CPU of the
personal computer PC is switched from OFF to ON so that the CPU of
the personal computer PC provides the command to the all
embroidering machines EM (1-4) for requesting the response of the
state confirmation signal. The embroidering machine EM which has
completed the preparation operation responds to the CPU of the
personal computer PC with the state confirmation status signal. In
case at least one of the embroidering machines does not respond
with the state confirmation status signal, the CPU of the persona
computer PC indicates the relevant embroidering machine for urging
the operator to prepare the operation of the embroidering machine.
The CPU of the personal computer PC maintains the stopped state of
the embroidering machine system 10 unless the preparation operation
is completed for the embroidering machines which had not responded
with the state confirmation status signal.
[0030] When the state confirmation status signal is responded from
the all embroidering machines EM (1-4), the CPU of the personal
computer PC actuates the all embroidering machines EM (1-4).
Simultaneous with the response of the state confirmation status
signal, the embroidery frame initial position coordinate signal is
responded so that the CPU of the personal computer PC commands, the
embroidery frame to move to the initial position.
[0031] In case the stop switch of one of the embroidering machines
is turned on to transmit the stop signal to the CPU of the personal
computer PC or the error status signal is transmitted to the CPU of
the personal computer PC from the embroidering machine having the
error during the embroidering operation by the operation of the all
embroidering machines EM (1-4), the CPU of the personal computer PC
commands to stop the all embroidering machines EM (1-4).
[0032] In case at least one of the embroidering machines is stopped
in accordance with the completion of the embroidering operation,
the state of the other embroidering machines is maintained.
[0033] Each embroidering machine EM (1-4) includes a synchronous
switch. For example, when the synchronous switch of the
embroidering machine EM (2) is OFF, the command for requesting the
response of the state confirmation signal is not provided from the
CPU of the personal computer PC to the embroidering machine EM (2).
In other words, the embroidering machine EM (1), the embroidering
machine EM (3), and the embroidering machine EM (4) are
synchronously actuated and the embroidering machine EM (2) is
released from the synchronous actuation. Thus, the release of one
of the embroidering machines, for example, the embroidering machine
EM (2), from the synchronous actuation of the other embroidering
machines, for example, the embroidering machine EM (1), the
embroidering machine EM (3), and the embroidering machine EM (4) is
advantageous for independently actuating the embroidering machine
EM (2) and for actuating the other embroidering machines
synchronously even when the embroidering machine EM (2) is out of
order.
[0034] The switching between the synchronous operation and
non-synchronous operation of the particular embroidering machine
with the other embroidering machines may be set at the personal
computer PC. The switching of the synchronous operation and the
non-synchronous operation may be applied not only for the integral
actuation but also for the particular operation (e.g., the start,
the stop, the error stop, the initial setting of the frame
position, or the like) and may be changed in accordance with the
operational environment.
[0035] Although the foregoing processes are explained in case that
the different embroidering patterns are embroidered with the
embroidering machines EM (1-4), the same is applied when the
embroidering machines EM (1-4) embroider the common pattern. In
case the embroidering machines (1-4) embroider the common pattern
at the embroidering system 10, the particular problem is raised,
which is immediately solved as explained with reference to FIG.
5.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the embroidering machine EM includes a
stitch detection means 600 (1-6). The stitch detection means 600
(1), 600 (2), 600 (3), 600 (4), 600 (5), 600 (6) transmit the pulse
signal to the CPU of the personal computer PC every upward and
downward reciprocation of the needle 581, the needle 582, the
needle 583, the needle 584, the needle 585, and the needle 586
respectively. Every time the pulse signal is transmitted to the
CPU, a total stitch number counter adds by one. The value shown at
the total stitch number counter corresponds to the stitch number
for the embroidery from the start of the embroidering by the
embroidering machine EM. The embroidering machine EM includes a
speed sensor 620 and a timer 630 for detecting the rotational
number of a common motor 610 for actuating the needle 581, the
needle 582, the needle 583, the needle 584, the needle 585, and the
needle 586. The speed sensor 620 always transmits the pulse signal
showing the rotational number of the motor 610 to the CPU of the
personal computer PC. In place of the plural stitch detection
means, the rotational number of a sewing machine main shaft may be
countered.
[0037] The stitch number is supposed to be always the same with the
embroidering machines EM (1-6) in terms of the designing. However,
the stitch number may be varied because of the manufacturing
tolerance, or the like. With the embroidering machine system 10,
even if the stitch number is varied depending on the embroidering
machine, the variations are detected immediately to amend the
stitch number to be the identical within a predetermined time. More
particularly, as shown in FIG. 6, in case, for example, the
embroidering machine EM (1) and the embroidering machine EM (2) are
started simultaneously to have the stitch number d1 of the
embroidering machine EM (1) and the stitch number d2 of the
embroidering machine EM (2) the same up to a time t1 but the stitch
number d2 assumes less than the stitch number d1 at a time t2
(i.e., for the explanatory purpose, the operation of the other
embroidering machines is disregarded), the CPU commands to increase
the rotational speed of the motor 610 (2) of the embroidering
machine EM (2) (i.e., the embroidering speed of the embroidering
machine EM(2)) within a predetermined time T so that the stitch
number d1 and the stitch number d2 arc equalized again (i.e.,
d1=d2). Defining the embroidering speed of the embroidering machine
EM (1) and the embroidering speed of the embroidering machine EM
(2) as V1, V2 respectively, the following formula is
established.
V1+V1+(d1-d2)/T
[0038] Thus, the CPU commands to increase the rotational speed of
the motor 610 (2) of the embroidering machine EM (2) within the
predetermined time T until the embroidering speed V2 of the
embroidering machine ELM (2) attained from the formula is
detected.
[0039] By performing the motor rotational number control every
predetermined time, the stitch number d1 of the embroidering
machine EM (1) and the stitch number d2 of the embroidering machine
EM (2) can be maintained to be equalized, and thus the completion
timing of the embroidering of the embroidering machine EM (1) and
the embroidering machine EM (2) can be equalized.
[0040] According to the embroidering system of the embodiment, the
efficient sewing operation can be achieved because the plural
patterns or the single pattern can be synchronously embroidered
with the plural embroidering machines. Further, the synchronous
operation is always achieved because the other embroidering
machines do not operate when one of the embroidering machines is
not at the operation.
[0041] According to the embroidering system of the embodiment, the
particular embroidering machine can be released from the
synchronous actuation of the plural embroidering machines. This is
advantageous for the individual actuation of the particular
embroidering machine and the non-operation of the particular
embroidering machine due to the failure.
[0042] According to the embroidering system of the embodiment, the
embroidering by the plural embroidering machines actuated
synchronously can be completed approximately simultaneously.
[0043] The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation
of the present invention have been described in the foregoing
specification. However, the invention which is intended to be
protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular
embodiment disclosed. Further, the embodiment described herein is
to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations
and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed,
without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations,
changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of
the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced
thereby.
* * * * *