U.S. patent application number 12/861151 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for sewing machine system and thread spool storage device.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Harumi KATO, Tsuneo OKUYAMA, Hirotsugu TAKAHATA, Noriharu TASHIRO.
Application Number | 20110048304 12/861151 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43622952 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110048304 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KATO; Harumi ; et
al. |
March 3, 2011 |
SEWING MACHINE SYSTEM AND THREAD SPOOL STORAGE DEVICE
Abstract
A sewing machine system is disclosed that is configured by a
sewing machine and a thread spool storage device communicably
connected by way of a communication element. The sewing machine is
provided with a compartment identifier that searches and finds
thread color information pertaining to thread color data contained
in the pattern data when a selection of pattern data is validated
by a pattern selection validator. The compartment identifier
transmits the compartment identification for identifying a location
of the compartment of the thread spool storage device that is
mapped to the found thread color information. Based on the
compartment identification, the thread spool storage indicates the
location of the compartment identified by the compartment
identification.
Inventors: |
KATO; Harumi; (Nagoya-shi,
JP) ; OKUYAMA; Tsuneo; (Inabe-gun, JP) ;
TAKAHATA; Hirotsugu; (Nagoya-shi, JP) ; TASHIRO;
Noriharu; (Nagoya-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Nagoya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
43622952 |
Appl. No.: |
12/861151 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/302 ;
206/389 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2701/50 20130101;
D05B 91/16 20130101; B65H 2557/10 20130101; D05C 11/16
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/302 ;
206/389 |
International
Class: |
B65H 57/00 20060101
B65H057/00; B65D 85/00 20060101 B65D085/00; B65H 75/00 20060101
B65H075/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 2009 |
JP |
2009-198202 |
Claims
1. A sewing machine system comprising: a sewing machine capable of
sewing patterns with a plurality of thread colors based on pattern
data; and a thread spool storage device that is provided with a
plurality of compartments for storing a plurality of thread spools
and that is communicably connected to the sewing machine by a
communication element; wherein the sewing machine includes: a
pattern selection validator that validates a selection of the
pattern data containing a plurality of thread color data, a thread
color information storage that stores a mapping of thread color
information of the thread spools to the compartments of the thread
spool storage device, a compartment identifier that, when the
selection of the pattern data is validated by the pattern selection
validator, searches the thread color information storage to find
the thread color information pertaining to the thread color data
contained in the pattern data and that transmits compartment
identification information that locates the compartment being
mapped to the found thread color information to the thread spool
storage device, and wherein the thread spool storage device
includes: a compartment location indicator that indicates a
location of at least one of the compartments, and a location
indication controller that controls the compartment location
indicator to indicate the locations of the compartments based on
the compartment identification information obtained from the sewing
machine by way of the communication element.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the compartment
location indicator of the thread spool device comprises a first
light emitting element provided at each of the compartments.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the
compartments of the thread spool storage device is capable of
storing a plurality of thread spools, and the thread spool storage
device further includes: a thread spool remainder detector that
detects a remaining count of the thread spools within each of the
compartments, a thread spool remainder indicator that indicates the
remaining count or presence/absence of the thread spools within
each of the compartments, and a remainder indication controller
that provides instructions to the thread spool remainder indicator
to indicate the remaining count or the presence/absence of the
thread spools within each of the compartments based on the
detection of the thread spool remainder detector.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the thread spool
remainder indicator of the thread spool storage device comprises a
second light emitting element provided at each of the
compartments.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pattern data of the
sewing machine includes a thread change command that specifies a
replacement thread color to which a current thread color is to be
changed when changing the thread spool attached to the sewing
machine, and the compartment identifier initially transmits the
compartment identification information of a first used thread color
information to the thread spool storage device and thereafter
transmits the compartment identification information of a
subsequently used thread color information indicated by the thread
change command to the thread spool storage device prior to the
changing of the thread spool to the replacement thread color
indicated by the thread change command, and the location indication
controller of the thread spool storage device, when receiving the
compartment identification information of the first used thread
color information, instructs the compartment location indicator to
indicate the location of the compartment storing the thread spool
of the first used thread color information, and when receiving the
compartment identification information of the subsequently used
thread color information, instructs the compartment location
indicator to stop the indication produced by a previously received
compartment identification information and thereafter indicates the
location of the compartment storing the thread spool of the
subsequently used thread color information.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sewing machine
further includes a provisional pattern selector that provisionally
selects the pattern data prior to the validation of the selected
pattern data, and when the pattern data is provisionally selected
by the provisional pattern selector, the compartment identifier
searches to find all the thread color information pertaining to the
thread color data contained in the provisionally selected pattern
data from the thread color information storage and transmits
provisional compartment identification information for
provisionally indicating locations of all the compartments of the
found thread color information to the thread spool storage device,
and when the location indication controller of the thread spool
storage device receives the provisional compartment identification
information, instructs the compartment indicator to produce an
indication which differs in mode of the indication produced based
on the compartment identification information.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein either of the mode of
indication based on the compartment identification information and
the mode of indication based on the provisional identification
information comprises an intermittent indication mode that
instructs the compartment indicator to produce an intermittent
indication and the remaining other comprises a continuous
indication mode that instructs the compartment indicator to produce
a continuous indication.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sewing machine
further comprises a color display and presents a mapping between
the compartments of the thread spool storage device and thread
colors on the color display.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sewing machine only
allows attachment of a single thread spool.
10. A thread spool storage device that is provided with a plurality
of compartments for storing a plurality of thread spools and that
is communicably connected by a communication element to a sewing
machine capable of selectively using a plurality types of threads
to obtain compartment identification information that identifies
locations of the compartments where the thread spools that carry
thread colors used by the sewing machine are stored, the thread
spools storage device, comprising: a compartment location indicator
that produces an indication to locate at least one of the
compartments; and a location indication controller that instructs
the compartment location indicator to indicate the locations of the
compartments based on the compartment identification information
obtained from the sewing machine by way of the communication
element.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the compartment
location indicator comprises a first light emitting element
provided at each of the compartments.
12. The device according to claim 10, wherein each of the
compartments is capable of storing a plurality of thread spools,
and further comprising: a thread spool remainder detector that
detects a remaining count of the thread spools within each of the
compartments; a thread spool remainder indicator that indicates the
remaining count or presence/absence of the thread spools within the
compartments; and a remainder indication controller that instructs
the thread spool remainder indicator to indicate the count of
thread spools or the presence/absence of the thread spool within
the compartments based on the detection of the thread spool
remainder detector.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the thread spool
remainder indicator comprises a second light emitting element
provided at each of the compartments.
14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the location
indication controller instructs the compartment location indicator
to indicate the locations of the compartments identified based on
the compartment identification information pertaining to the thread
color of an embroidery pattern formed by the sewing machine
obtained from the sewing machine by way of the communication
element.
15. A sewing machine system comprising: a sewing machine that is
capable of sewing patterns with a plurality of thread colors based
on pattern data and that is provided with a transfer element that
transfers a workpiece being held by an embroidery frame, a thread
spool storage device that is provided with a plurality of
compartments for storing a plurality of thread spools and that is
communicably connected to the sewing machine by a wire
communication element; wherein the sewing machine includes; a
pillar being provided with a wire communication section on a first
side thereof and the embroidery frame being moved over a plane
residing in a second side thereof opposite the first side; a
pattern selection validator that validates a selection of the
pattern data containing a plurality of thread color data, a thread
color information storage that stores a mapping of thread color
information of the thread spools to the compartments of the thread
spool storage device, a compartment identifier that, when the
selection of the pattern data is validated, searches the thread
color information storage to find the thread color information
pertaining to the thread color data contained in the pattern data
and that transmits compartment identification information that
locates the compartment being mapped to the found thread color
information to the thread storage device, and wherein the thread
spool storage device includes: a drawer that stores the thread
spools and that can be drawn out of the compartments; a compartment
location indicator that indicates at least one of the compartments;
a position indication controller that instructs the compartment
location indicator to indicate the locations of the compartments
based on the compartment identification information obtained from
the sewing machine by way of the wire communication element.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application 2009-198202,
filed on Aug. 28, 2009, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine system
configured by a sewing machine and a thread spool storage device
communicably interconnected through a communication element and a
thread spool storage device for use with the sewing machine
system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Sewing machines are known to utilize multiple colors of
threads in operations such as embroidery pattern sewing. In doing
so, multiple thread spools or bobbins each carrying different
thread color are stored at their designated places such as a
storage device. Then, on execution, the user is to retrieve the
thread spool or the bobbin, whichever is required, carrying the
desired thread color from the storage device.
[0004] One typical example of a storage device is a bobbin storage
container for storing supply of multiple bobbins for use with a
sewing machine. The bobbin storage container is configured by
multiple layers of independent bobbin support bases each having
multiple bobbin support pins. Each of the bobbin bases are pivoted
rotatably to a base shaft. Under such configuration, the user is
required to find the bobbin carrying the desired thread color from
the multiplicity of bobbins with his/her very eyes and thus
necessitates troublesome search on the part of the user.
[0005] A possible solution to such problem may be a thread spool
stand. A thread spool stand is configured by a thread support base
with six threads spool pins extending from the base to allow
attachment of six thread spools. The thread spool stand is
connected to the embroidery sewing machine through a dedicated
cable. The thread spool base is driven rotatably by a motor and the
rotational position of thread spool stand is sensed by a position
sensor. When the thread spool stand receives a thread color code
from the sewing machine, the motor is controlled to drive the
thread spool base in rotation to bring the thread spool
corresponding to the thread color code in front of the user.
[0006] Because the thread spool stand requires a number of
components such as the motor, position sensor, and the motor
controller, the overall configuration becomes somewhat complicated.
Further, since the size of the device increases with the capacity
to hold greater number of thread spools, the device becomes more
costly and space consuming. Because of such tradeoffs it is not
easy to increase the number of thread spools and thus to undertake
embroidering using large number of thread colors.
SUMMARY
[0007] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a sewing
machine system allowing readily retrievable storage of multiplicity
of thread spools of various colors for use in a sewing machine and
a thread spool storage device.
[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is
provided a sewing machine system including a sewing machine capable
of sewing patterns with a plurality of thread colors based on
pattern data; and a thread spool storage device that is provided
with a plurality of compartments for storing a plurality of thread
spools and that is communicably connected to the sewing machine by
a communication element. The sewing machine includes a pattern
selection validator that validates a selection of the pattern data
containing a plurality of thread color data, a thread color
information storage that stores a mapping of thread color
information of the thread spools to the compartments of the thread
spool storage device, a compartment identifier that, when the
selection of the pattern data is validated by the pattern selection
validator, searches the thread color information storage to find
the thread color information pertaining to the thread color data
contained in the pattern data and that transmits compartment
identification information that locates the compartment being
mapped to the found thread color information to the thread spool
storage device. The thread spool storage device includes a
compartment location indicator that indicates a location of at
least one of the compartments, and a location indication controller
that controls the compartment location indicator to indicate the
locations of the compartments based on the compartment
identification information obtained from the sewing machine by way
of the communication element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
disclosure will become clear upon reviewing the following
description of the illustrative aspects with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which,
[0010] FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a sewing machine
according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a thread spool storage
device;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a compartment of the
thread spool storage device;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a front view of a display panel;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a block diagram indicating an electric
configuration of a sewing machine system;
[0015] FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are flowcharts of control flows
executed in the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic image of a needle transfer data;
[0017] FIG. 8 is an image of a screen outputted on display; and
[0018] FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 8 and indicates a second
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] A description will be given hereinafter on a first exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to FIGS. 1 to
8. As shown in FIG. 1, sewing machine system M is configured by
sewing machine 1 and thread spool storage device 14. Body 2 of
sewing machine 1 is configured by an integral assembly of bed 3
extending in the left and right direction, pillar 4 extending
upward from the right end of bed 3, and arm 5 extending leftward
from the upper end of pillar 4 as viewed in FIG. 1. Arm 5
terminates into head 6. Throughout the disclosure, unless otherwise
defined herein, the position in which the user or the operator
positions himself/herself relative to body 2 of sewing machine 1
indicates the front side and naturally, the opposite side indicates
the rear side. The direction towards which pillar 4 is located on
bed 3 indicates the right side and naturally, the opposite side
indicates the left side.
[0020] Though neither shown nor described in detail, head 6
contains components such as needle bar, presser bar, and presser
foot 7. Bed 3 allows detachable attachment of embroidery frame
transfer device 8 which in turn allows detachable attachment of
embroidery frame 11. Though not shown in detail, embroidery frame
transfer device 8 well known in the field is provided with
Y-direction transfer mechanism 9 and an X-direction transfer
mechanism contained in body 8a of embroidery frame transfer device
8. These transfer mechanisms transfer embroidery frame 11 in the
front and rear direction represented as the Y direction and the
left and right direction represented as the X direction. The
aforementioned needle bar and the presser bar are supported movably
up and down by head 6. At the lower end of needle bar, a sewing
needle not shown is attached, whereas at the lower end of presser
bar, presser foot 7 is attached which is used in embroidering. Bed
3 further contains rotary shuttle not shown acting as a thread loop
taker. A sewing machine as such exemplified in FIG. 1 only has a
single sewing needle and a single needle thread associated with it.
Thus, the needle thread is replaced as required by the embroidery
pattern to be formed.
[0021] Sewing machine 1 is further provided with a sewing machine
motor, a needle-bar drive mechanism that drives the needle bar, a
thread take-up, and a thread take-up mechanism that drives the
thread take-up, and a shuttle drive mechanism that drives the
rotary shuttle neither of which are shown. The needle bar, the
thread take-up, and the rotary shuttle are driven in synchronism
with the sewing machine motor by way of the foregoing drive
mechanisms. The needle bar, the thread take-up, and the rotary
shuttle cooperate to form stitches on a workplace cloth.
[0022] On the upper portion of arm 5, cover 5a is provided which
can be opened and closed. In the lateral middle of arm 5, thread
spool 10 is set that feeds needle thread to the sewing needle.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, at the front face of arm 5, a plurality
of operable key switches 12 including start/stop key 12a for
instructing the start and stop of the sewing operation is provided.
On the front face of pillar 4, a sizeable and elongate full color
display 13 configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided
for displaying images of multiplicity of stitch patterns such as
utility stitches and embroidery stitches, names of functionalities
that need to be executed in the sewing operation, and other
information such as various messages. On the front face of display
13, a transparent touch panel switch 13a is provided which is
controlled, as later detailed, by touching the switch or the touch
key desired for selection of stitch patterns and allowing execution
of various functionalities presented on display 13.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2, thread spool device 14 is primarily
configured by a rectangular body 15 which is partitioned into 16
compartments identified as 15A to 15P. Each of compartments 15A to
15P takes a drawer configuration in which drawers 16A to 16P can be
taken in and out. As can be seen in FIG. 3, each of drawers 16A to
16P can accommodate more than one thread spool 10. On the front
panel of each of drawers 16A to 16B, handle 16a is provided for
facilitating user access. On the bottom of drawers 16A to 16P,
slope 16b is provided that is gradually inclined forwardly
downward. Thread spool 10, when placed in one of drawers 16A to
16P, slides or rolls forward along slope 16b by its own weight.
[0025] Still referring to FIG. 2, on the front face of body 15,
display panel 15a is provided above each of compartments 15A to
15P. Display panel 15a is provided with status LEDs 17A to 17P and
remainder indicators 18A to 18P. Status LEDs 17A to 17P, when
illuminated, emanate red light, for example. As shown in detail in
FIG. 4, each of remainder indicators 18A to 18P is configured by 5
LEDs 18a to 18e that each emanates different color of light.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, at the inner upper portion of each of
compartments 15A to 15P of body 15, remainder sensors 19A to 19P
are provided. Each of remainder sensors 19A to 19P are configured
by six reflective optical sensors 19a to 19f, for instance, which
are located substantially straight above thread spools 10 stored
within drawers 16A to 16P of compartments 15A to 15P.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, sewing machine 1 and thread spool
storage device 14 are communicably interconnected by, for instance,
USE cable 20. Embroidery frame 11 is transferred at one side of
pillar 4, whereas USB cable 20 extends from the other side of
pillar 4 to establish wire communication between sewing machine 1
and thread spool storage device 14, meaning that USB cable 20 and
embroidery frame 11 are isolated from each other to prevent
entanglement.
[0028] FIG. 5 indicates the electric configuration of sewing
machine system M. Turning first to the electric configuration of
sewing machine 1, controller 21 is configured by microcomputer
provided with subcomponents such as CPU, RAM and ROM. Controller 21
is capable of communicating with control circuit 24 residing in
thread spool storage device 14.
[0029] Controller 21 receives input signals from input section 22.
Controller 21 is responsible for controlling display 13 and the
sewing operation in general. Controller 21 is further connected to
nonvolatile memory 23.
[0030] Input section 22 includes earlier mentioned components such
as key switches 12 at the front face of arm 5 and switches such as
touch panel switches 13a.
[0031] Nonvolatile memory 23 stores collection of unique IDs
hereinafter referred to as compartment ID which is associated with
each of compartments 15A to 15P. Compartment ID specifies location
information of each of compartments 15A to 15P through, for
instance, identification by row number counted from the top and
column number counted from the left. Further, thread color
information of thread spools 10 stored in each of compartments 15A
to 15P is associated with each of compartments 15A to 15P.
Compartment ID and the thread color information of thread spools 10
are mapped to each other in the form of compartment ID-thread color
database which is stored in nonvolatile memory 23. Nonvolatile
memory 23 further pre-stores embroidery pattern data.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 7, embroidery pattern data is
configured by a color data table containing multiple thread color
data and needle transfer data containing multiple color-wise needle
transfer data that is dedicated to each thread color data. For
instance, in FIG. 7, the topmost thread color information for "red"
is indicated by RGB value in implementation. The color data table
is organized by sewing sequence. For instance, the sewing sequence
of each color is designated in ascending order from top to bottom
starting with the topmost "red", "blue", "yellow", and the
lowermost "green". The embroidery pattern data is further appended
with thread color code that specifies the thread color
corresponding to each of the thread color of the multiple entries
of color-wise needle transfer data and stores the data in
nonvolatile memory 23.
[0033] Next, a description will be given on the electric
configuration of thread spool storage device 14. Control circuit 24
is capable of communicating with sewing machine 1 by way of USB
cable 20. Control circuit 24 is provided with a detection circuit
that detects the count or the presence/absence of thread spools 10
within each of drawers 16A to 16P based on optical sensors 19a to
19f provided at each of remainder sensors 19A to 19P. Control
circuit 24 is further provided with remainder indicator circuit for
indicating the count of thread spools based on the detection of the
detection circuit and status LED indicator circuit pertaining to
the display of status LEDs 17A to 17P. Remainder indicator circuit
flickers the leftmost LED 18a among the 5 LEDs 18a to 18e of
remainder indicator 18A provided in the corresponding compartment
15A when the count of detected thread spools 10 by remainder sensor
19A is 0. Remainder indicator circuit illuminates the leftmost LED
lea when the count of detected thread spool is 1. Remainder
indicator circuit illuminates the leftmost LED 18a and LED 18b
second from the left when the count of detected thread spool is 2.
Thereafter, the remainder indicator circuit increases the count of
LED to be illuminated depending upon the count of detected thread
spools and when 5 or more thread spools have been detected, all of
LEDs 18a to 18e are illuminated. Compartments 15B to 15P operate in
the same manner.
[0034] The status LED indicator circuit indicates the location of
compartments 15A to 15P on status LEDs 17A to 17P based on the
acquired compartment ID.
[0035] Referring now to the flowcharts indicated in FIGS. 6A to 6C,
a description will be given on the control flow of controller 21
provided at sewing machine 1 and control flow of control circuit 24
provided at thread spool compartment 14. The following description
is based upon the assumption that sewing machine 1 and thread spool
storage device 14 are interconnected by USB cable 20. Sewing
machine 1 is plugged into commercial power supply by way of power
cord not shown, whereas thread spool storage device 14 is connected
to commercial power supply by way of power cord 25 shown in FIG. 1.
Thread spool storage device 14 may be configured to receive power
from sewing machine 1 via USB cable 20 instead of commercial power
supply, which in case, power cord 25 can be eliminated.
[0036] Description is given hereinafter on the process flow of
controller 21 subdivided into steps S1 to S20. After power switch
not shown of sewing machine 1 is turned on the process flow begins
with Step S1 which presents a mapping of compartments 15A to 15P to
thread color as exemplified as screen H1 in FIG. 8. On the upper
portion of screen H1 presented on display 13, a virtual thread
spool storage device is presented as user interface where
compartments 15A to 15P are represented as compartment images Ha to
Hp and status LED 17A to 17P are represented as status LED images
Ia to Ip. On the lower portion of screen H1, color pallet Cr is
presented which comprises multiplicity of color image samples to
provide the user with sample of color images. Compartment images Ha
to Hp as well as color pallet Cr are implemented as touch panel
switches 13a so as to be operable by the user. Because display 13
is configured as a color display, user interface such as status LED
images Ia to Ip and color pallet Cr can be displayed in multiple
colors.
[0037] To elaborate, thread colors of thread spools 10 set to
compartments 15A to 15P are presented through status LED indicators
Ia to Ip. For instance, in compartment ID-thread color data base,
supposing that thread color green is associated with the
compartment ID of compartment 15A, status LED image Ia which
represents compartment 15A is displayed in green.
[0038] After presenting the relation of compartments 15A to 15P to
thread color on display 13 at step S1, the process proceeds to step
S2 in which determination is made as to whether or not input
section 22 has been operated. The input operations which are the
subjects of determination in this case are: (a) input operations
for specifying thread color to each of compartments 15A to 15P: and
(b) switch operation for switching the screen output of display 13
to embroidery pattern selection screen.
[0039] Color specification under case (a) begins with the user
operation of the touch panel switch 13a associated with the desired
compartment image Ha to Hp in screen H1. Then, the user proceeds to
touch the touch panel switch 13a associated with the desired color
image within the color pallet Cr, whereafter switch 13a associated
with "SET" image Hset is touched. The above described sequence of
touch operation is referred to as color specification input. Based
on the color specification input (step S3: Yes), the compartment ID
corresponding to either of the touch operated compartment images Ha
to Hp is associated with the color information of the touch
operated color image within the color pallet Cr. The color
information thus designated to the compartment ID is stored in
nonvolatile memory 23 (step S4).
[0040] Switching the screen output of display 13 to embroidery
pattern selection screen for case (b) is effected by touching
either of screen switch control Ga and screen switch control Gb
presented on screen H1. When this operation has been made (step S5:
YES), the succeeding step S6 changes the screen output to
embroidery pattern selection screen not shown. The embroidery
pattern selection screen displays samples of embroidery patterns
which can be selected. The user is to select one of the embroidery
patterns through touch operation. The selection made at this stage
is considered as a provisional selection. When determining that
provisional embroidery pattern selection is made, step S7 makes a
YES decision and the process proceeds to step S8.
[0041] At step S8, the compartment ID corresponding to all the
colors to be used in sewing the embroidery pattern provisionally
selected at step S7 are transmitted to the thread spool storage
device 14. To elaborate, step S8 begins with the task of reading
the embroidery pattern data for the embroidery pattern
provisionally selected at step S7 from nonvolatile memory 23. This
is followed by the task of searching the thread color information
(i.e. compartment ID-thread color data base) of thread spool 10
stored in nonvolatile memory 23 to find color information that
matches the thread color data contained in the provisionally
selected embroidery pattern data. Then, compartment ID associated
with the thread color information for which a match was found by
the search are transmitted to thread spool storage device 14. The
operation of thread spool storage device 14 carried out in step S8,
that is, indication or alert produced by status LEDs 17A to 17P
will be later described in detail.
[0042] Then, when a pattern selection validation switch not shown
is operated, a YES decision is made at step S9 which is an
indication that the embroidery pattern has been finally selected
and the process proceeds to step S10. Step S10 transmits the
compartment ID associated with the first sewn thread color among
the thread color data contained in the finally selected embroidery
pattern data to thread spool storage device 14. Taking the example
of a case where the embroidery pattern data indicated in FIG. 7 has
been finally selected, the topmost entry in FIG. 7 for the color
"red" is read as the thread color data that corresponds to the
first thread change code. Then, the compartment ID-thread color
data base is searched to find the thread color information of the
color "red" and the compartment ID associated with searched thread
color information for the color "red" is transmitted to thread
spool storage device 14. As later described in detail, thread spool
storage device 14 produces and indication to inform the user of the
location compartment 15A to 15P where the "red" thread spool 10 is
stored based on the transmitted compartment ID. Thus, the user is
allowed to take out the "red" thread spool 10 required in the
sewing operation from the designated compartment 15A to 15P to
replace it with thread spool 10 presently attached to sewing
machine 1.
[0043] Thereafter, when sewing operation is started by operating
start/stop key 12a (step S1: YES), the process proceeds to step S12
which initiates the sewing of the first color. At this instance,
embroidery frame transfer device 8 is controlled based on
color-wise needle transfer data providing the needle transfer data
pertaining to a given single color, which is red in this case, in
coordination with the needle bar, the thread take-up, and the
rotary shuttle to execute a series of sewing operation pertaining
to the thread color "red". Then, the subsequent step S13 determines
the presence/absence of a thread change code for the next
color-wise needle transfer data and if found (step S13: YES), the
process proceeds to step S14. Step S14 reads the thread color data
corresponding to the second thread change code, in this case "blue"
according to the example shown in FIG. 7. Then, compartment
ID-thread color data base is searched to find the thread color
information for the color "blue", and the compartment ID associated
with the found color information for "blue" is transmitted to
thread spool storage device 14.
[0044] Then, when sewing of a given color in this case for the
color "red" is completed based on color-wise needle transfer data
(steps 15: YES), a request for prompting thread replacement is made
through a request screen outputted on display 13 (step S16). Thread
spool storage device 14, on the other hand, produces an indication
as later described in step T8 to inform the user of the location of
the compartment 15A to 15P where "blue" thread spool 10 is stored
based on the transmitted compartment ID. Responsively, the user is
prompted by the request screen to take out the "blue" thread spool
10 from compartment 15A to 15P and replace it with the "red" thread
spool 10 currently attached to sewing machine 1. Then, when
start/stop switch key 12a is operated again to restart the sewing
operation, a YES decision is made at step S17 and the process
proceeds to step S12 to start sewing based on the color-wise needle
transfer data for the subsequent given single color of thread.
Then, as described earlier, if step S13 determines the presence of
the next thread change code, steps S14 to S17 are executed. In the
current example, steps S14 to S17 are repeated for the three colors
"red", "blue", and "yellow" identified by the thread color code and
when sewing is started based on the color-wise needle transfer data
for the final color "green", step S13 makes a No decision meaning
that no more thread change code exists. In such case the process
proceeds to step S18 and turn off command transmitted to thread
spool storage device 14 for turning off each and every status LED
17A to 17P.
[0045] After completing the sewing based on the last color-wise
needle transfer data (step S19: YES), a message is outputted on
display 13 indicating to that effect (step S20).
[0046] Next, the operation of control circuit 24 of thread storage
device 14 is described by also referring to FIGS. 6A to 6C. When
power is supplied to thread spool storage device 14, operation of
control circuit 24 begins with step T1 which acquires signals
outputted from optical sensors 19a to 19f implemented at each of
remainder sensors 19A to 19P. Then, step T2 produces an indication
to inform the count of thread spools 10 within each of drawers 16A
to 16P through remainder indicators 18A to 18P based on the
acquired signals.
[0047] Based on the remainder indication, the user is allowed to
readily notice which of compartments 15A to 15P of thread spool
storage device 14 has few thread spools or no thread spools at all.
Further, the user is allowed to verify the thread color designated
to each of compartments 15A to 15P though screen H1 outputted to
display 13 of sewing machine 1 as earlier described in step S1.
Thus, the user is able to preemptively supply thread spool 10 to
compartments 15A to 15P in need.
[0048] Step T3 determines whether or not the compartment ID
associated with the thread color information of the provisionally
selected embroidery pattern transmitted from sewing machine 1 at
step S8 has been received. If so (step T3; YES), the process
proceeds to step T4 to continuously illuminate status LED 17A to
17P indicating the location of the compartment designated by the
compartment ID. Thus, the location of the compartment associated
with each of the thread colors, in this case, "red", "blue",
"yellow", and "green" contained in the provisionally selected
embroidery pattern data is informed to the user. Advantageously,
the user is given advance notice of where the thread spools 10 of
the 4 colors used in the embroidering of the provisionally selected
embroidery pattern is stored.
[0049] Step T5 corresponds to step S10 carried out by sewing
machine 1. That is, a determination is made as to whether or not
the compartment ID associated with the first used thread color
information has been received. If so (step T5: YES), the process
proceeds to step S6 to turn off the currently illuminated status
LED 17A to 17P and status LED 17A to 17P associated with the
compartment ID received at step T5 is flickered. Stated
differently, mode transition takes place in which a continuous
indication mode that produces continuous indication through the
above described illumination of the status LEDs 17A to 17P for each
and every color used in the embroidery pattern transitions to an
intermittent indication mode that produces intermittent indication
through flickering of the status LEDs 17A to 17P for only the first
thread color used. The user is thus, given a notice as to which of
the compartments 15A to 15P stores the first used thread spool 10
which is "red" in the current example. Responsively, the user is to
take out the "red" thread spool 10 from compartment 15A to 15P and
set it to sewing machine 1. After setting thread spool 10, step 11
is executed by sewing machine 1 which is an operation to start
sewing.
[0050] As sewing with the first thread color is started at sewing
machine 1, thread spool storage device 14 is standing by at step T7
to receive the compartment ID corresponding to the thread color of
the second thread change code. When receiving the compartment ID
from sewing machine 1 (step S7: YES), the process proceeds to step
T8 which turns off the currently illuminated status LEDs 17A to 17P
and flickers status LED 17A to 17P corresponding to the compartment
ID. Thus, the user is given an advance notice on where the "blue"
thread spool successively used is stored. This allows the user to
take out the second color thread spool 10 to prepare for sewing of
the second color while the sewing of the first color is
ongoing.
[0051] If another transmission takes place at Step S14 from sewing
machine 1, thread spool storage device 14 responsively executes
step T7 and step T8. That is, by repeating step T7 and step T8 for
the thread change codes designating "yellow" and "green", the user
is allowed to prepare thread spool, etc. for thread replacement in
a smooth and efficient fashion.
[0052] If there is no more succeeding thread change code, meaning
that sewing is started with the last color-wise needle transfer
data, thread spool storage device 14 receives the turn off command
transmitted at step S18 (step T9; YES). Responsively, the process
proceeds to step T10 and turns off each and every status LED 17A to
17P that was flickering. Thus, the user is notified the fact that
there is no more thread replacement.
[0053] Sewing machine system M according to the present exemplary
embodiment automatically extracts the thread colors) used in the
embroidery once sewing machine 1 selects the embroidery pattern
data. Further, the compartment IDs which designate the locations of
compartments 15A to 15P in which the thread spools 10 of the
extracted thread colors are stored are transmitted automatically to
thread spool storage device 14. Based on the transmitted
compartment IDs, thread spool storage device 14 produces an
indication to inform the user of the location of compartment where
thread spool 10 used in sewing the selected embroidery pattern is
stored. Thus, the user will be able to readily find where the
designated thread spool 10 is stored without fail because the
indication is produced by thread spool storage device 14 from which
the designated thread spool 10 is actually stored and taken out.
The above described configuration is further advantageous in
keeping thread spool storage device 14 simple in construction
without necessitating motors or any such complicated mechanism.
Still further, because of the above described highly reliable
configuration for finding the designated thread spool 10, the
system will be able to manage increasing number of thread spools
10.
[0054] Thread spool storage device 14 is provided with status LEDs
17A to 17P one for each of compartments 15A to 15P. Thus, the
location of compartment 15A to 15P designated by sewing machine 1
can be informed directly to the user especially because the
indication is brought to the attention of the user by way of light
with reliability.
[0055] Each of compartments 15A to 15P provided at thread spool
storage device 14 is capable of storing more than one thread spools
10. Thus a stock of multiple thread spools 10 may be stored in each
compartment 15A to 15P to reduce the frequency of replenishing
thread spool 10. Further, the count of remaining thread spool or
the presence/absence of thread spools within compartments 15A to
15P can be informed to the user in the form of a remainder
indication through remainder indicators 18A to 18P based on the
detection of remainder sensors 19A to 19P. Thus, thread spool 10
can be replenished prior to or after sewing in response to the
indication and prevent situations where sewing has to be
interrupted for the purpose of replenishing thread spool 10 during
the ongoing sewing.
[0056] Remainder indicators 18A to 18P provided at thread spool
storage device 14 are configured by LEDs 18a to 18e and are
provided one by one to each of the compartments 15A to 15F. Thus,
the remaining amount of thread spool 10 can be indicated through
LEDs 18a to 18e for each individual compartment 15A to 15P.
Further, because the indication is given by light, it is clearly
noticeable to the user.
[0057] The embroidery pattern data of sewing machine 1 contains a
thread change code that instructs changing of thread color to a
specific color. As described earlier, sewing machine 1 initially
transmits the compartment ID of the thread color first used to
thread spool storage device 14 and thereafter transmits the
compartment ID corresponding to the thread color information by the
thread change code to thread spool storage device 14 prior to the
timing of actual thread replacement. Based on the compartment ID
associated with the first used color information, thread spool
storage device 14, through its control circuit 24, informs the user
of the location of compartment 15A to 15P designated by compartment
ID through status LED 17A to 17P. The above described configuration
allows thread spool storage device 14 to inform the user of thread
spool 10 carrying the first used thread color and thread spool 10
which must be changed in a smooth and organized manner.
[0058] Further, according to sewing machine system M, selection of
embroidery pattern is made at sewing machine 1 in two steps where
the user makes a provisional selection of an embroidery pattern to
be sewn and thereafter finalizes the selection by validating it.
Thus, the location of compartment 15A to 15P associated with each
and every thread color contained in the thread color data can be
informed to the user through thread color storage device 14. This
provides an advance notice to the user as to the location of
compartments 15A to 15P associated with each and every thread color
used in the embroidery pattern prior to finalizing the selection of
embroidery pattern, which is convenient to the user in determining
the embroidery pattern. Further, the locations of compartments 15A
to 15P of the thread colors used in the provisionally selected
embroidery pattern are given in a different mode of indication
compared to the mode, of indication for the finally selected
embroidery pattern. Thus, it is readily distinguishable to the user
as to whether or not the indication pertains to the thread colors
of the provisionally selected embroidery pattern.
[0059] More specifically, the mode of indication under the
provisionally selected embroidery pattern is given in a continuous
mode in which the illumination is continuous, whereas the mode of
indication under the finally selected embroidery pattern is given
in an intermittent mode in which the illumination is intermittent.
The switch in the mode of indication from the continuous mode to
the intermittent mode, which is visually recognizable by the user,
makes it apparent to the user that the indication being presented
to the user is based upon the finally selected information which
was finally selected after having been provisionally selected.
[0060] Sewing machine 1 is provided with display 13 capable of
displaying in color and that provides a mapping between the thread
color and compartment location with which the thread color is
associated. The user is thus, allowed to readily recognize which
color of thread spool 10 is stored in which compartment.
[0061] Thread spool storage device 14 is provided with status LEDs
17A to 17P which provides an indication of the location of the
compartment where the designated thread color is located under the
control of control circuit 24. To elaborate, control circuit 24
obtains compartment ID from sewing machine 1 by way of USB cable 20
and instructs status LEDs 17A to 17P to indicate the location of
compartments 15A to 15P which are designated in the compartment ID.
Thus, the location of compartments 15A to 15P which store thread
spools 10 of thread colors used in the embroidering by sewing
machine 1 is readily noticeable to the user with a simple system
configuration. Thus, thread spool 10 of the thread color used in
the embroidering is readily and reliably accessible to the
user.
[0062] Statue LEDs 17A to 17P provided one for each of compartments
15A to 15P of thread spool storage device 14 indicates the location
of compartments 15A to 15P designated by sewing machine 1 by way of
light which is reliably noticeable to the user.
[0063] Each of compartments 15A to 15P provided at thread spool
storage device 14 is capable of storing more than one thread spools
10. Thus a stock of multiple thread spools 10 may be stored in each
compartment 15A to 15P to reduce the frequency of replenishing
thread spool 10. Further, the count of remaining thread spool or
the presence/absence of thread spools within compartments 15A to
15P can be informed to the user in the form of a remainder
indication through remainder indicators 18A to 18P based on the
detection of remainder sensors 19A to 19P. Thus, thread spool 10
can be replenished prior to or after sewing in response to the
indication and prevent situations where sewing has to be
interrupted for the purpose of replenishing thread spool 10 during
the ongoing sewing.
[0064] Remainder indicators 18A to 18P provided at thread spool
storage device 14 are each configured by 5 LEDs 18a to 18e and are
each provided one by one to each of the compartments 15A to 15P.
Thus, the remaining amount of thread spool 10 can be indicated
through LEDs 18a to 18e for each individual compartment 15A to 15P.
Further, because the indication is given by light, it is clearly
noticeable to the user.
[0065] The configuration of sewing machine system M is not limited
to the foregoing exemplary embodiments but may be modified as
follows.
[0066] The thread color information designated for each of
compartments 15A to 15P can be seen at a glance through status LED
images la to lp of screen H1 as described in step S1. In addition
to such mode of presentation, an approach exemplified in FIG. 9 may
be employed as well. FIG. 9 illustrates a second exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure through another example of
screen H1. Based on the touch operation of touch panel switch 13a
of compartment images Ha to Hp, controller 21 outputs the thread
color information associated with compartments 15A to 15P specified
by the touch operation to a separate section identified by Ix of
screen H1.
[0067] Provision of drawers 16A to 16P to compartments 15A to 15P
is not mandatory. Instead, the compartments may be configured in
the form of a box, preferably with an operable/closable lid
provided over the box opening, that allows thread spool 10 to be
taken in out.
[0068] The count of LEDs 18a to 18e configuring the remainder
indicators 18A to 18P is not limited to 5 but may be 3 or any other
appropriate count. The color of light emitted by LEDs 18a to 18e
may be modified as required. Remainder sensors 19A to 19P may be
configured by a weight sensor instead of an optical sensor.
[0069] Status LED 17A to 17P may be configured to indicate the
location of at least one of the compartments from the multiple
compartments. Status LED 17A to 17P and remainder indicators 18A to
18B providing information by way of light may be replaced by other
elements that provide information in different approaches such as a
liquid crystal display and audio element.
[0070] Sewing machine 1 may be provided with a sensor that senses
detachment of thread spool 10 from sewing machine 1. When the
detachment of thread spool 10 is sensed by the sensor, thread spool
storage device 14 may be configured to indicate the location of the
compartment where the relevant thread spool 10 was originally
stored.
[0071] In the foregoing exemplary embodiments, the mode of
indication under the provisionally selected embroidery pattern is
given in the continuous mode, whereas the mode of indication under
the finally selected embroidery pattern is given in the
intermittent mode. The above correlation may be interchanged as
long as the two modes are distinguishable. In either case, the
distinction can be made with a single set of indicator to
advantageously simplify the system configuration.
[0072] In the foregoing exemplary embodiments, sewing machine 1 has
been configured to accept only a single set of needle thread,
however, it may be configured to accept multiple sets of needle
threads. Further, the capacity of sewing machine 1 is not limited
to forming embroidery patterns but may also be capable of forming
utility patterns or any other patterns so long as such patterns
have thread attributes such as color designated to them.
[0073] While various features have been described in conjunction
with the examples outlined above, various alternatives,
modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features
and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set
forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may
be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the
underlying principles.
* * * * *