U.S. patent application number 11/914913 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for embroidery frame support device.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Takeo Fujimori, Ikuo Tajima, Tomoaki Yoshimura.
Application Number | 20090071384 11/914913 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37431356 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090071384 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tajima; Ikuo ; et
al. |
March 19, 2009 |
EMBROIDERY FRAME SUPPORT DEVICE
Abstract
In an embroidery sewing machine, an embroidery frame support
device for supporting a front end portion of an embroidery frame
installed in a cantilevered manner includes: a base member that is
a base for attaching the embroidery frame support device to the
embroidery sewing machine, and a Y slide rail (support member)
having a movable end that can move relatively with the base member.
The embroidery frame support device supports a front end portion of
the embroidery frame from a lower surface thereof through an X
slide rail attached to a tip portion of the Y slide rail. The
embroidery frame support device can be attached to the embroidery
sewing machine by screwing a base member to a cylinder bed. The
screwing of the base member to the cylinder bed can be carried out
from the upper side of a sewing machine table.
Inventors: |
Tajima; Ikuo; (Nagoya-shi,
JP) ; Yoshimura; Tomoaki; (Komaki-shi, JP) ;
Fujimori; Takeo; (Kasugai-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSSI, KIMMS & McDOWELL LLP.
20609 Gordon Park Square, Suite 150
Ashburn
VA
20147
US
|
Assignee: |
TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Kasugai-shi, Aichi
JP
|
Family ID: |
37431356 |
Appl. No.: |
11/914913 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
May 19, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/310052 |
371 Date: |
November 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05C 9/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/103 |
International
Class: |
D05C 9/04 20060101
D05C009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 19, 2005 |
JP |
2005-147173 |
Claims
1. An embroidery frame support device for supporting a free end of
an embroidery frame, movably supported in a cantilevered manner in
an embroidery sewing machine, so as to follow the movement of the
embroidery frame, the embroidery frame support device comprising. a
base member fixedly attached to a predetermined portion of the
embroidery sewing machine; and a support member supported on the
base member so as to be relatively movable with the base member and
movably supporting the free end of the embroidery frame.
2. The embroidery frame support device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the support member includes a Y slide mechanism constructed
so as to be retractable in a Y direction to follow movement of the
embroidery frame in the Y direction.
3. The embroidery frame support device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the support member includes an X slide mechanism supporting
the free end of the embroidery frame so as to be slidable in an X
direction.
4. The embroidery frame support device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the support member includes an X slide mechanism supporting
the free end of the embroidery frame so as to be slidable in an X
direction.
5. The embroidery frame support device as claimed in claim 4,
wherein the X slide mechanism includes first and second slide
members each sliding in the X direction relatively with each other;
the first slide member is coupled to the Y slide mechanism; the
second slide member is coupled to the free end of the embroidery
frame; and the embroidery frame can be separated from the
embroidery frame support device along with the X slide mechanism by
releasing the coupling between the first slide member and the Y
slide mechanism.
Description
[0001] This application is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCT
International Application PCT/JP2006/310052 filed on May 19,
2006.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an embroidery frame support
device for supporting attachment of an embroidery frame that holds
an embroidered object in an embroidery sewing machine, by which an
embroidery operation can be carried out against a tubular
embroidered object such as a T-shirt and a cap.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Heretofore, in an embroidery sewing machine, when an
embroidery operation is carried out against a tubular embroidered
object such as a T-shirt and a cap, the embroidery sewing machine
is constructed so that an embroidery frame for supporting the
embroidered object is supported in a cantilevered manner. For
example, when the embroidery operation is carried out against a
T-shirt, a sweat shirt or the like, the embroidery frame is
supported by a holding arm that protrudes in a cantilevered manner
from a frame drive element. In such a configuration, in the case
where weight of the embroidered object is great, the cantilevered
holding arm is caused to bend downward due to the weight of the
embroidered object. This causes the front end portion of the
embroidery frame to bend, and defect that a harmful influence is
exerted on a sewing operation has occurred. As a technique to
prevent this defect, an embroidery frame support device that
supplementarily supports the front end portion of the embroidery
frame has been known conventionally (for example, see patent
document 1 below).
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
Publication No. 2000-303339
[0005] The embroidery frame support device of the above-mentioned
patent document 1 includes support arms disposed at both end
portions of a cylinder bed in which a hook is embedded, and a
support plate fixed at a tip of each of the support arms and
functioning as a support member. The support arm is supported to
the cylinder bed through a linear guide fixed to a side surface of
the cylinder bed so as to be capable of moving in the cross
direction. A rear end portion of the embroidery frame support
device is fixed on a lower surface of a Y direction drive element
(a member for drive in the cross direction with respect to the
sewing machine) that causes the embroidery frame to move in the
cross direction. This allows the support plate fixed to the tips of
the support arms to move in the cross direction integrally with the
movement of the embroidery frame in the cross direction. According
to the embroidery frame support device of the above-mentioned
patent document 1, since the support plate configured as described
above supports the front end portion of the embroidery frame from
the lower surface side, it is possible to prevent the front end
portion of the embroidery frame from bending even in the case where
weight of the embroidered object is great. This dissolves the
defect that a harmful influence is exerted on a sewing
operation.
[0006] In the embroidery sewing machine as described above, that
is, the sewing machine that carries out an embroidery operation
against a tubular embroidered object such as a T-shirt and a cap,
multiple kinds of embroidery frames can be set in accordance with
the form of the embroidered object. The multiple kinds of
embroidery frames include a bag frame for holding a bag, a cap
frame for holding a cap, and a working fabric frame for holding a
working fabric, for example.
[0007] In the case where the kind of embroidery frame to be set in
the embroidery sewing machine is changed, there is a need to change
a support element for supporting the embroidery frame in accordance
with the kind of embroidery frame to be used. Namely, since a
usable frame is limited to a bag frame in the embroidery frame
support device disclosed in the patent document 1 described above,
the bag frame is to be removed when other kind of frame such as a
cap frame and a working fabric frame is used. A removing operation
of the embroidery frame support device is a complicated operation
in which the support arm of the embroidery frame support device is
released from the Y direction drive element and the linear guide of
the support arm is released from the cylinder bed. Further, in an
attaching operation of the embroidery frame support device, it
requires time to adjust alignment of attachment of the member (such
as a support arm or a linear guide) and the like. Namely, since
such time is required for replacement of the embroidery frame when
the embroidery frame is to be changed, operating efficiency is
bad.
[0008] Further, even though the kind is limited to the bag frame,
the size is extremely varied. The embroidery frame (bag frame)
having a different size is to be changed in accordance with the
size of an embroidered object. However, in the configuration of the
embroidery frame support device shown in the above-mentioned patent
document 1, the support plate attached to the tips of the support
arms is to be positioned at the lower surface of the front end
portion of the bag frame. Thus, there has been an inconvenience
that a plurality of support arms each having a different length are
prepared in accordance with the sizes of bag frames and one support
arm is to be changed in accordance with the size of the bag frame
appropriately.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an embroidery frame support device in which an
attaching and releasing operation requires a little work and this
makes it possible to heighten convenience thereof.
[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided an
embroidery frame support device for supporting a free end of an
embroidery frame, movably supported in a cantilevered manner in an
embroidery sewing machine, so as to follow the movement of the
embroidery frame, the embroidery frame support device including: a
base member fixedly attached to a predetermined portion of the
embroidery sewing machine; and a support member supported on the
base member so as to be relatively movable with the base member and
movably supporting the free end of the embroidery frame.
[0011] Further, in the embroidery frame support device of the
present invention, it is preferable that the support member
includes a Y slide mechanism constructed so as to be retractable in
a Y direction to follow movement of the embroidery frame in the Y
direction. Moreover, it is preferable that the support member
includes an X slide mechanism supporting the free end of the
embroidery frame so as to be slidable in an X direction.
[0012] According to the present invention, the embroidery frame
support device is constructed so that the base member is fixedly
attached to the predetermined portion of the embroidery sewing
machine, the support member is supported on the base member so as
to be capable of moving relatively with the base member, and the
free end of the embroidery frame is movably supported to the
support member. Thus, it is possible to attach the embroidery frame
support device to the embroidery sewing machine while the support
member and the base member are integrated. In addition, it is
possible to release the embroidery frame support device from the
embroidery sewing machine. Since the support member and the base
member are integrated, the present invention achieves a brilliant
effect that it is possible to omit work of alignment when the
embroidery frame support device is attached, and the attaching and
releasing operation of the embroidery frame support device itself
can be carried out easily. Further, in the case where the
embroidery frame to be installed in the embroidery sewing machine
is exchanged, the structure in which the free end of the embroidery
frame is attached to the support member may merely be changed to
one fitting the embroidery frame after exchange. Thus, it is
possible to carry out an operation for changing a different type of
embroidery frame easily without changing the attaching structure of
the support member to the base member. Moreover, since the support
member includes the Y slide mechanism constructed to be capable of
expanding and contracting in the Y direction so as to follow the
movement of the embroidery frame in the Y direction, it is possible
to freely correspond to the embroidery frames having various sizes.
Therefore, the present invention achieves a brilliant effect that
it is possible to deal with the embroidery frame support device
without seriously changing the configuration of the embroidery
frame support device even in the case where a size and/or a type of
the embroidery frame to be used are to be changed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embroidery
sewing machine when viewed from an oblique upper side thereof in an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embroidery frame portion of
the embroidery sewing machine in the embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an extracted embroidery
frame support device in the embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view explanatory of an attaching
structure of the embroidery frame support device shown in FIG. 3 to
a cylinder bed;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cylinder bed in the
embodiment to which the embroidery frame support device is not
attached;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the embroidery frame
support device when viewed from the upper side thereof in the
embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view explanatory of an attaching
structure of an X slide rail at a tip portion of the embroidery
frame support device in the embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.
7;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the embroidery frame in
the embodiment when viewed from a top surface in which the state
where the embroidery frame is released from the embroidery sewing
machine and the embroidery frame support device is shown;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing the
state where the embroidery frame is moved; and
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a working fabric frame
to which the embroidery frame support device in the embodiment can
be applied.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0024] One embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a single-head
embroidery sewing machine according to the present embodiment when
viewed from a forward oblique upper side thereof. In the present
embodiment, when the sewing machine is viewed from the front
surface thereof, a right-and-left (horizontal) direction thereof is
referred to as an "X direction", while a front-and-behind direction
thereof is referred to as a "Y direction". In FIG. 1, a reference
numeral 1 denotes a sewing machine table, a reference numeral 2
denotes a sewing machine head, and a reference numeral 3 denotes a
cylinder bed. A front portion (front table) la of the sewing
machine table 1 is configured to be capable of displacing upward
and downward in a similar manner to this type of sewing machine
known in the prior art. By displacing the front table la toward a
lower position, it is possible to embroider a so-called tubular
embroidered object. A sewing machine head 2 is configured so as to
include a sewing needle that moves upward and downward in response
to the rotation of a main shaft of the sewing machine, a thread
take-up lever, a press foot and the like. The cylinder bed 3 has a
shaft rotatively driven in synchronous with the main shaft of the
sewing machine. A hook is fixed to a tip of the shaft. As is well
known, sewing by the sewing machine is carried out in corporation
with the hook and the sewing needle provided in the sewing machine
head 2.
[0026] A reference numeral 4 denotes a Y direction drive element.
The Y direction drive element 4 is driven only in a Y direction by
means of a Y direction drive mechanism (not shown) provided on a
lower surface of the sewing machine table 1. Further, a reference
numeral 5 denotes an X direction drive element. The X direction
drive element 5 is incorporated into the Y direction drive element
4. When the Y direction drive element 4 is moved in the Y direction
with respect to the sewing machine table 1, the X direction drive
element 5 moves in the Y direction together with the Y direction
drive element 4. Moreover, the X direction drive element 5 is
driven in an X direction relatively with the Y direction drive
element 4 by means of an X direction drive mechanism (not shown)
mounted on the Y direction drive element 4. Namely, the X direction
drive element 5 is driven not only in the X direction by means of
the X direction drive mechanism, but also the X direction drive
element 5 moves in the Y direction together with the movement of
the Y direction drive element 4 in accordance with the Y direction
drive mechanism. In other words, the X direction drive element 5
can be driven in the X and Y directions. A reference numeral 6
denotes an embroidery frame for holding an embroidered object. The
embroidery frame 6 is installed in the sewing machine in a
cantilevered manner by attaching a rear end portion thereof to the
X direction drive element 5. Since the embroidery frame 6 is
attached to the X direction drive element 5, the embroidery frame 6
moves in the X and Y directions together with the X direction drive
element 5 so as to follow the movement of the X direction drive
element 5 in the X and Y directions. The X direction and Y
direction drive mechanisms are controlled of drive on the basis of
embroidery data according to embroidery contents to be carried out.
Thus, the embroidery frame 6 is driven in the X and Y directions on
the basis of the embroidery data through the Y direction drive
element 4 and the X direction drive element 5.
[0027] A reference numeral 7 denotes an embroidery frame support
device. The embroidery frame support device 7 is used for
supplementarily supporting the embroidery frame 6 attached in the
cantilevered manner. The embroidery frame support device 7 is
positioned at a lower surface side of the embroidery frame 6, and
supports a front end portion (free end) of the embroidery frame 6
from under the lower side. As will be described in detail later,
the embroidery frame support device 7 according to the present
embodiment has a feature to facilitate an attaching and releasing
operation of the embroidery frame support device 7 to a sewing
machine body, and to be configured to accommodate various sizes of
embroidery frames 6.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vicinity of the embroidery
frame 6 in the sewing machine of FIG. 1 when viewed from the top
thereof As shown in FIG. 2, the embroidery frame support device 7
is disposed in the same axle as the cylinder bed 3, which extends
toward the front of the sewing machine from the sewing machine
table 1 in the lower surface side of the embroidery frame 6, that
is, disposed so as to extend in the cross direction of the sewing
machine. The tip portion of embroidery frame support device 7 is
substantially positioned at a front end portion of the embroidery
frame 6. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the embroidery frame
support device 7 so as to be extracted. FIG. 4 is an explanatory
drawing for attaching the embroidery frame support device 7.
[0029] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the embroidery frame support device 7 is
basically constructed from a base member 11 to become an attaching
base of the embroidery frame support device 7, a Y direction slide
rail (hereinafter, referred to simply as the "Y slide rail") 12
fixed to the base member 11, and a rail cover 13. The base member
11 is a member whose sectional surface is a U-shaped form. Three
screw holes, to which three screws N1 are to be inserted to fix the
embroidery frame support device 7 to the cylinder bed 3, are
respectively formed at predetermined positions of the base member
11. Three screw holes, to which the three screws N1 are to be
inserted, are also formed at predetermined positions of the upper
surface side of the cylinder bed 3 (see FIG. 4 and the like). By
screwing the base member 11 to the cylinder bed 3 by means of the
three screws N1, the embroidery frame support device 7 is fixed to
the cylinder bed 3, that is, mounted on the sewing machine body. As
shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to carry out screw clamp between
the base member 11 and the cylinder bed 3 from the upper side of
the sewing machine body. Namely, since the screw clamp operation
can be carried out from the upper side of the sewing machine table
1 (see FIG. 1), it is easy for an operator to implement the
operation. In this regard, the base member 11 may be fixed not only
to the cylinder bed 3 but also to an other appropriate portion at
the sewing machine body side such as a frame of the sewing
machine.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cylinder bed 3 to
which the embroidery frame support device 7 is not attached.
Attachment procedures of the embroidery frame support device 7 will
be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case, in FIG.
5, a shaft 8 and a hook 9 provided at a tip of the shaft 8 are
shown with an imaginary line (dotted line). As shown in FIG. 5, in
the state where the embroidery frame support device 7 is not
attached, a cover 10 is mounted on the upper surface of the
cylinder bed 3 by means of the screw clamp of three positions. The
screw clamp positions on the cover 10 may be the same positions at
which the base member 11 of the embroidery frame support device 7
is screwed.
[0031] When the embroidery frame support device 7 is attached, the
cover 10 is removed, and as shown in FIG. 4, the embroidery frame
support device 7 is attached to the cylinder bed 3 by means of the
three screws N1. Namely, the embroidery frame support device 7 may
be arranged so as to be overlapped above the cylinder bed 3 and the
three tapped holes of the base member 11 are caused to correspond
with the three tapped holes of the cylinder bed 3. The embroidery
frame support device 7 and the cylinder bed 3 may then be secured
from the upper side of the base member 11 using the three screws
N1. On the contrary, in order to release the embroidery frame
support device 7, the three screws N1 on the base member 11 may
just be removed to release the fixing of the embroidery frame
support device 7.
[0032] The upper surface of the base member 11 is a position to be
exposed on the upper surface of the table and the front side of the
sewing machine for an operator. Since the embroidery frame support
device 7 is configured to be fixed by means of the screw clamp from
the upper surface side of the embroidery frame support device 7,
the attaching and releasing operation of the embroidery frame
support device 7 to the sewing machine becomes simple and easy.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the Y slide rail 12 is
constructed from a pair of rail members respectively attached to
right and left side surfaces of the base member 11. The tip portion
(end portion at the front side of the sewing machine) extends
toward the front side of the sewing machine from the base member
11. FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view of the embroidery frame support
device 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the Y slide rail 12 is constructed
from a three-step type of rail member including an outer channel
12a, a first inner channel 12b provided so as to be slidably moved
on the outer channel 12a, and a second inner channel 12c provided
so as to be slidably moved on the first inner channel 12b. The Y
slide rail 12 is fixed to the base member 11 in the outer channel
12a positioned at an outermost side. Thus, the first and second
inner channels 12b, 12c can be moved relatively with the cylinder
bed 3 in the Y direction. In this regard, the Y slide rail 12 may
be a well-known rail configuration used for a drawer of a chest,
for example. The tip portion of the second inner channel 12c
becomes a tip portion (movable end) of the whole embroidery frame
support device 7. Further, in FIG. 6, illustration and explanation
of a coupling member, a stopper and the like of the respective
channels constituting the Y slide rail 12 are omitted. In this
regard, the structure of the Y slide rail 12 is not limited to one
constructed from the channel members 12a to 12c of three-step
configuration as shown in the drawings, and may be one constructed
from a two-step configuration or a four-step configuration. In
addition, the Y slide rail 12 is not limited to one using the
channel members 12a to 12c, and may be constructed from any
structure so long as the Y slide rail 12 has an expandable and
contractible structure.
[0034] The rail cover 13 is a cover member provided at each of the
outer sides of both of the side surfaces of the base member 11 and
the Y slide rail 12. The rail cover 13 is fixed at four portions in
the vicinity of the tip of the second inner channel 12c via studs
14 (see FIG. 6). The rail cover 13 can be moved together with the
sliding movement of the Y slide rail 12 in the Y direction,
[0035] Further, as shown with a dashed-two dotted line in FIG. 3,
an X slide rail 15 is attached to the tip portion of the Y slide
rail 12 (second inner channel 12c) through a bracket 16. A notch
13a that allows the X slide rail 15 to be positioned is formed on
the upper surface of the tip portion of the rail cover 13. As shown
in FIG. 2, the X slide rail 15 is installed at the lower surface
side of the front end portion of the embroidery frame 6. Namely,
the embroidery frame support device 7 supports the front end
portion (free end) of the embroidery frame 6 on the X slide rail
15a. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bracket 16 and the X
slide rail 15 so as to be extracted, and shows an attaching
structure of the tip portion of the rail cover 13 to the Y slide
rail 12. Further, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line
A-A of the bracket 16 and the X slide rail 15 in FIG. 7.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the X slide rail 15 is
constructed from an outer channel 15a having substantially the same
length as the length of the embroidery frame 6 in the
right-and-left direction, and an inner channel 15b installed inside
the outer channel 15. The inner channel 15b is allowed to slidably
move in the right-and-left direction (X direction) of the sewing
machine relatively in the outer channel 15a. The X slide rail 15 is
fixed to the bracket 16 at the inner channel 15b through a screw N2
as shown in FIG. 8, and is fixed to the front end portion (free
end) of the embroidery frame 6 at the outer channel 15a through a
screw N4 as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the outer channel 15a of the X
slide rail 15 is allowed to move in the X direction relatively with
the bracket 16. The bracket 16 is a member formed in a bridge
manner. By respectively fixing right and left legs to respective
tip portions of the second inner channels 12c through screws N3,
the bracket 16 is laterally bridged between the right and left
second inner channels 12c (see FIG. 7). Thus, the outer channel 15a
of the X slide rail 15 is movably attached to the cylinder bed 3
relatively in the X direction with the movement of the embroidery
frame 6 in the X direction.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embroidery frame 6 when
viewed from an oblique upper side thereof. As shown in FIG. 9, the
embroidery frame 6 has a receiving frame 17 constituting an overall
outer frame, and a pressing frame 18 for sandwiching an embroidered
object between the receiving frame 17 and the pressing frame 18.
Window openings 17a, 18a are respectively formed in the receiving
frame 17 and the pressing frame 18. The window openings 17a, 18a
become an embroidery area for the embroidery frame 6. As is
apparent from a position of the tip portion (the position in which
the hook 9 is embedded) of the cylinder bed 3 with respect to the
window openings 17a, 18a, the position of the embroidery frame 6
when sewing is carried out in the center of the embroidery area is
shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 9, a bracket 19 provided along a rear
margin of the embroidery frame 6 is fixed to the X direction drive
element 5. Namely, the embroidery frame 6 is fixed to the X
direction drive element 5 through the bracket 19. A pair of air
cylinders 20 swingably provided through a support shaft fixed on
the upper surface of the bracket 19, and a pair of bearing members
21 are disposed. A shaft 22 is laterally bridged between the
respective tip portions of the pair of bearing members 21. Rotary
arms 23 are respectively pivoted at both ends of the shaft 22. A
shaft 24 is laterally bridged between the respective one ends of
both of the rotary arms 23 (a rear end portion of the sewing
machine). The tip portion of each of the air cylinders 20 is
coupled to the shaft 24. Further, a support arm 25 is attached to
the other end of each of the rotary arms 23 (a front end portion of
the sewing machine). The support arm 25 is formed in a U-shaped
manner so as to substantially follow the shape of the rear end
portion of the pressing frame 18. The both ends of the support arm
25 pivotably support substantially the center portion of each of
right and left sides of the pressing frame 18. According to the
above configuration, when the rotary arms 23 are rotated in
accordance with the operation of the air cylinders 20, the pressing
frame 18 is moved upward and downward in conjunction with the
rotary arms 23. Thus, downward movement of the pressing frame 18
according to the operation of the air cylinders 20 allows the
embroidered object mounted on the receiving frame 17 to be pressed.
The embroidered object is sandwiched and held between the pressing
frame 18 and the receiving frame 17 in the embroidery frame 6 in
this manner.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 9, the X slide rail 15 provided at a tip of
the embroidery frame support device 7 is fixed at the lower surface
of the tip portion of the embroidery frame 6 (receiving frame 17)
through the outer channel 15a. Namely, the embroidery frame support
device 7 supplementarily supports the tip of the embroidery frame 6
mounted on the sewing machine body in a cantilevered manner at the
X slide rail 15 provided at the tip of the embroidery frame support
device 7 (also see FIG. 2 and the like). Thus, even though weight
of an embroidered object to be held on the embroidery frame 6 is
greater, it is possible to prevent the tip of the embroidery frame
6 from being weighted down.
[0039] FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing the portion of the
embroidery frame 6 similar to FIG. 2 to be extracted, and shows the
state where the embroidery frame 6 is forward moved toward the near
side of the operator and laterally moved in the left direction with
respect to the cylinder bed 3. As is apparent from FIG. 10, since
the embroidery frame 6 is fixed to the tip of the embroidery frame
support device 7 through the X slide rail 15, the Y slide rail 12
is expanded or contracted with the forward or backward movement of
the embroidery frame 6 (movement in the Y direction). Further,
since the X slide rail 15 intervenes therebetween, the embroidery
frame 6 is laterally moved relatively with the embroidery frame
support device 7 with horizontal direction (X direction) movement
of the embroidery frame 6. Since the embroidery frame support
device 7 is configured so that the embroidery frame 6 is fixed to
the tip of the embroidery frame support device 7 through the Y
slide rail 12 and the X slide rail 15 in this manner, it is
possible to ensure freedom (or movement) of the embroidery frame 6
in the cross and right-and-left directions with respect to the
sewing machine body while supporting the embroidery frame 6 by
means of the embroidery frame support device 7. Moreover, since the
movement in the cross and the right-and-left directions is actively
guided through the Y slide rail 12 and the X slide rail 15, the
movement of the embroidery frame 6 is carried out smoothly even
though weight of an embroidered object is greater.
[0040] Procedures to carry out an embroidery operation in the
embroidery sewing machine having the above configuration will now
be described briefly. The embroidery frame 6 is mounted on the
sewing machine body in a cantilevered manner at the rear end side
through the bracket 19, and is supplementarily supported at the
lower surface of the front end portion by the embroidery frame
support device 7. At an embroidery operation, the air cylinders 20
of the embroidery frame 6 are first operated to move the pressing
frame 18 upward. A tubular embroidered object is thereby installed
between the receiving frame 17 and the pressing frame 18. The air
cylinders 20 are then operated inversely to move the pressing frame
18 downward. The embroidered object is thereby sandwiched between
the receiving frame 17 and the pressing frame 18 to be held on the
embroidery frame 6. The Y direction drive element 4 and the X
direction drive element 5 are driven on the basis of embroidery
data corresponding to embroidery contents to be carried out,
whereby the embroidery operation is carried out in corporation with
the sewing needle and the hook 9 of the sewing machine head 2 while
driving the embroidery frame 6 in the X and Y directions. The
embroidery to the embroidered object is carried out in this manner.
In this case, since the front end of the embroidery frame 6 is
supported by the embroidery frame support device 7, it is possible
to prevent the tip of the embroidery frame 6 from being weighted
down effectively, and this has no harmful influence on the sewing.
Further, the movement of the embroidery frame 6 in the X and Y
directions with respect to the embroidery frame support device 7 is
allowed because of interposition of the Y slide rail 12 and the X
slide rail 15.
[0041] Next, the case where the embroidery frame 6 and the
embroidery frame support device 7 currently attached to the sewing
machine are removed in order to use other type of embroidery frame
will be described. The screws N3 that fix the bracket 16 to the Y
slide rail 12 are first released (see FIG. 7), and the embroidery
frame 6 (the bracket 19) is removed from the X direction drive
element 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the removed embroidery frame 6 is
released from the embroidery sewing machine while the X slide rail
15 and the bracket 16 are attached thereto. Subsequently, the three
screws N1 that fix the embroidery frame support device 7 to the
cylinder bed 3 are released, and the embroidery frame support
device 7 is removed from the cylinder bed 3 (see FIG. 4). The cover
10 is then attached to the upper surface of the cylinder bed 3, and
other kind of embroidery frame (for example, a cap frame or the
like) and a support member for the embroidery frame may be attached
to the embroidery sewing machine. In this regard, the operation
when the embroidery frame 6 and the embroidery frame support device
7 are attached is carried out in the inverse procedures.
[0042] In the embodiment described above, the example in which the
embroidery frame support device 7 according to the present
invention is used to supplementarily support the embroidery frame 6
has been described. Hereinafter, the example in which the
embroidery frame support device 7 is used to support a working
fabric frame for holding a working fabric will now be introduced as
another example of use of the embroidery frame support device 7
according to the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a
working fabric frame 26 for holding a working fabric. As is well
known, the working fabric frame 26 is configured to hold a working
fabric that is an embroidered subject using an embroidery clip 27.
The working fabric frame 26 is fixed to the X direction drive
element 5 at the rear end portion thereof by means of screws,
whereby the working fabric frame 26 is attached to the embroidery
sewing machine so as to be capable of driving in the right-and-left
direction (X direction). The X slide rail 15 and the bracket 16 are
attached to the lower surface of the front end portion of the
working fabric frame 26, whereby the front end portion of the
working fabric frame 26 can be supported by means of the embroidery
frame support device 7 in the similar manner to the attaching
structure of the above-described embroidery frame 6. Namely, the
working fabric frame 26 is fixed to the X direction drive element 5
at the rear end portion thereof to be supported in the sewing
machine in a cantilevered manner. The working fabric frame 26 is
also supported by means of the embroidery frame support device 7 so
that the front end portion is not weighted drown. Thus, in the
embroidery sewing machine provided with the embroidery frame
support device 7 according to the present invention, the working
fabric frame 26 can be installed therein in the similar support
form to that of the embroidery frame 6 supported in a cantilevered
manner. This makes it possible to exchange both sides. When the
working fabric frame 26 is used in a conventionally known
embroidery sewing machine, the position of the front table la
capable of displacing upward and downward (see FIG. 1) is generally
set to an upper position, and the front table la supports the
overall working fabric frame 26. Thus, when the embroidery frame 6
and the working fabric frame 26 are exchanged, there is a need to
change the position of the front table 1a (see FIG. 1). On this
regard, since the front end portion of the working fabric frame 26
is supported by means of the Y slide rail 12 and the X slide rail
15 using the embroidery frame support device 7 according to the
present invention, there is no need to displace the position of the
front table even when the working fabric frame 26 is used in place
of the embroidery frame 6. Therefore, it becomes easier to mutually
use the embroidery frame 6 and the working fabric frame 26.
[0044] As explained above, according to the present embodiment, the
embroidery frame support device 7 is configured so that the
embroidery frame support device 7 can be fixed to the cylinder bed
3 (sewing machine body) by means of the screw clamp using the three
screws N1, and the screw clamp operation of the three screws N1 can
be carried out from the front upper side of the sewing machine
table 1. Thus, the attaching and releasing operation of the
embroidery frame support device 7 can be carried out very
easily.
[0045] Further, in the embroidery frame support device 7, the Y
slide rail 12 (support member) and the base member 11 that is the
attaching base of the embroidery frame support device 7 are
integrated. Thus, the embroidery frame support device 7 can be
attached and released while the Y slide rail 12 (support member) is
attached to the base member 11. Therefore, there is no need to
carry out an alignment operation of the Y slide rail 12 when the
embroidery frame support device 7 is attached to the cylinder bed
3. For this reason, it is possible to carry out the attaching and
releasing operation of the embroidery frame support device 7
effectively.
[0046] Moreover, in the removing operation of the embroidery frame
6 from the embroidery frame support device 7, by removing the
screws N3 positioned at the front side for the operator, the
bracket 16 is removed from the Y slide rail 12, whereby the
embroidery frame 6 can be removed together with the X slide rail 15
(see the state of FIG. 9). The embroidery frame 6 can be removed
very easily. Furthermore, when the embroidery frame 6 is exchanged,
there is no need to remove the Y slide rail 12 from the cylinder
bed 3. Thus, the exchange operation is very easy and can be carried
out easily.
[0047] Further, according to the embroidery frame support device 7
of the present embodiment, the embroidery frame support device 7 is
configured so that the embroidery frame 6 is supported by the tip
of the Y slide rail 12 whose length can be varied. Thus, it is
possible to freely correspond to embroidery frames having various
sizes. Namely, the sliding amount of the Y slide rail 12 is ensured
sufficiently so as to correspond to the embroidery frame having the
maximum size to be used, whereby it is possible to freely
correspond to embroidery frames having various sizes by means of
the same embroidery frame support device 7.
[0048] In this regard, in the present embodiment, although it has
been described that the screws N3 fixing the Y slide rail 12 to the
bracket 16 are released when the embroidery frame 6 is removed (see
FIG. 7), the present invention is not limited thereto. The screw N2
fixing the X slide rail 15 to the bracket 16 may be released (see
FIG. 8). When the screw N2 is released, a releasing operation of
the screw N2 is carried out from under the embroidery frame support
device 7. However, since the screw clamp portion is positioned at
the front side of the sewing machine anyway, this operation can be
carried out easily.
[0049] Further, in the present embodiment, although the example in
which the X slide rail 15 constructed from two-step channel members
is provided at the tip portion of the embroidery frame support
device 7 as a member for supporting the embroidery frame 6 has been
explained, the embroidery frame support device 7 may be configured
so that a linear rail (a rail and a slider engaged to the rail) is
provided in place of the X slide rail 15, the rail is provided at
the lower surface of the tip portion of the embroidery frame 6, and
the slider is provided on the bracket 16. In short, the embroidery
frame support device 7 may be configured so that the embroidery
frame 6 and the bracket 16 are moved in the Y direction together,
and the embroidery frame 6 is moved in the X direction relatively
with the bracket 16.
[0050] Moreover, a bag frame can be used in place of the embroidery
frame 6. In this case, a support member that can mount a front end
portion of the bag frame thereon (which is moved in the Y direction
together with the bag frame, and allows the mounted bag frame to
slide in the X direction) may be attached in place of the X slide
rail 15. Thus, since there is no need to exchange the Y slide rail
12, it is very easy to exchange the embroidery frame to a different
type of embroidery frame.
[0051] In this regard, in the present invention, supporting the
free end of the embroidery frame is not always limited to
supporting the free end (tip) itself of the embroidery frame
strictly. An appropriate portion near the free end (tip) may be
supported in the embroidery frame.
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