U.S. patent application number 13/747180 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-25 for workpiece holding frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Tomoki Hashimoto, Terutada Kojima.
Application Number | 20130186317 13/747180 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48742483 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130186317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kojima; Terutada ; et
al. |
July 25, 2013 |
Workpiece Holding Frame
Abstract
A holding frame includes upper and lower frame members having
substantially the same thicknesses, and an inner frame member
detachably attachable to the inner peripheries of the upper and
lower frame members. The upper and lower frame members are fixed
together in vertically superposed relation to each other with a
workpiece sandwiched therebetween. The workpiece can be set on the
frame in any desired of a first stretched-taut state where the
workpiece is stretched taut and generally flush with the upper
surface of the upper frame member by being pressed upward via the
inner frame member, and a second stretched-taut state where the
workpiece is stretched taut and generally flush with the lower
surface of the lower frame member by being pressed downward via the
inner frame member. The workpiece can be held on the frame with
substantially the same degrees of tautness in the first and second
stretched-taut states.
Inventors: |
Kojima; Terutada;
(Nagoya-shi, JP) ; Hashimoto; Tomoki;
(Hashima-gun, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA; |
Kasugai-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Kasugai-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
48742483 |
Appl. No.: |
13/747180 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/260 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05C 9/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/260 |
International
Class: |
D05C 9/04 20060101
D05C009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 24, 2012 |
JP |
2012012493 |
Claims
1. A workpiece holding frame comprising: an upper frame member; a
lower frame member having generally a same thickness as said upper
frame member; a fixing member for mutually fixing said upper frame
member and said lower frame member vertically superposed on each
other with a workpiece sandwiched therebetween; and an inner frame
member detachably attachable to inner peripheries of said upper
frame member and said lower frame member, said workpiece holding
frame being capable of setting thereon the workpiece in any desired
one of a first stretched-taut state where the workpiece is
stretched taut and generally flush with an upper surface of said
upper frame member by being pressed upward via said inner frame
member, and a second stretched-taut state where the workpiece is
stretched taut and generally flush with a lower surface of said
lower frame member by being pressed downward via said inner frame
member.
2. The workpiece holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
fixing member is constructed to mutually fix said upper frame
member and said lower frame member by magnetic force.
3. The workpiece holding frame as claimed in claim 1, which further
comprises a member for fixing said inner frame member to at least
one of said upper frame member and said lower frame member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on, and claims priority to, JP PA
2012-012493 filed on 24 Jan. 2012. The disclosure of the priority
application, in its entirety, including the drawings, claims, and
the specification thereof, is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates generally to frames for
holding a workpiece, such as a fabric, in a stretched-taut state,
and more particular to a workpiece holding frame detachably
attachable to both of a printing apparatus for performing printing
on a workpiece and an embroidery sewing machine for performing
embroidery on the workpiece while keeping the same workpiece held
thereon.
[0003] Among a wide variety of embroidery products made today are
ones having a combination of printed and embroidered patterns. To
make such a product having a combination of printed and embroidered
patterns, printing of a desired pattern is performed on a fabric
(workpiece) by means of a printing apparatus, and then embroidery
of a desired pattern is performed on the fabric by means of an
embroidery sewing machine. The printing apparatus, which may
comprise for example a printer for use with a personal computer or
the like, includes a print head movable in an X direction, and a
transfer device for moving, in a Y direction, a member, called
"platen", capable of holding a workpiece, such as a T-shirt, in a
stretched-taut state. The platen having the workpiece held therein
is moved in the Y direction by the transfer device on the basis of
image data but also the print head is moved in the X direction, so
that desired printing is performed on the workpiece.
[0004] The embroidery sewing machine includes a machine head having
a sewing needle drivable reciprocatively in a vertical (up-down)
direction, and a frame transfer mechanism for moving the embroidery
frame in the X and Y directions. The embroidery frame, as
conventionally known, includes an outer frame member and an inner
frame member, and a workpiece is sandwiched and held stretched taut
between the inner peripheral surface of the outer frame member and
the outer peripheral surface of the inner frame member. Such an
embroidery frame having the workpiece held thereon in a
stretched-taut state is set onto the frame transfer mechanism and
then moved in the X and Y directions, but also the sewing needle of
the machine head is driven in the vertical direction to perform
embroidery onto the workpiece.
[0005] Namely, a typical example of the conventionally-known
technique is arranged in such a manner that, when performing
printing on the workpiece, the workpiece is held on the platen of
the printing apparatus in a stretched-taut state, and that, when
performing embroidery on the workpiece, the workpiece is held on
the embroidery frame of the embroidery sewing machine in a
stretched-taut state. Namely, with the typical conventionally-known
technique, it is necessary to perform operations for attaching and
detaching the workpiece to and from the platen and then attaching
and detaching the workpiece to and from the embroidery frame. Thus,
with the conventionally-known technique, much time and labor would
be required, and positional alignment between a print pattern and
an embroidery pattern tends to be considerably difficult.
Therefore, it has heretofore been contemplated to attach the
embroidery frame to the printing apparatus to both of the printing
apparatus and the embroidery sewing machine with the workpiece kept
held on the embroidery frame. However, generally, the embroidery
frame sandwiches the workpiece between the inner peripheral surface
of the outer frame member and the outer peripheral surface of the
inner frame member, and the workpiece is stretched taut at
generally the same height as the lower surfaces of the outer and
inner frame members. Thus, if the embroidery frame is attached
as-is to the printing apparatus, the print head would be located at
a height over the workpiece where it interferes with the inner
frame member, i.e. it is interfered with by the inner frame member.
Therefore, the print head is allowed to move only within a range
where it does not interfere with, or it is not interfered with by,
the inner frame member, i.e. within a limited range in the
neighborhood of the middle of the frame. In such a case, however,
movement of the print head is considerably limited because the
print head has a great horizontal width and depth, which would
result in a considerably reduced printable range. An improved
embroidery frame capable of avoiding such an inconvenience is
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-36330
(hereinafter referred to as "relevant patent literature").
[0006] In the embroidery frame disclosed in the relevant patent
literature, at the time of embroidering, a workpiece is sandwiched
between the outer frame member and the inner frame member and
stretched taut at generally the same height as the lower surfaces
of the outer and inner frame members, as in the aforementioned
conventionally-known technique. At the time of printing, on the
other hand, an auxiliary frame is inserted from below along the
inner peripheral surface of the inner frame member, more
specifically into a space defined by the inner peripheral surface
of the inner frame member, so that the workpiece is stretched taut
at generally the same height as the upper surfaces of the outer and
inner frame members. Because the workpiece is stretched taut at
generally the same height as the upper surfaces of the outer and
inner frame members at the time of printing, the print head does
not interfere with the inner frame member, and thus, the printable
range would not decrease.
[0007] In many of embroidery products comprising a combination of
printed and embroidered patterns, embroidery is performed after
printing in such a manner that an embroidery is superposed on a
part of a printed pattern. The embroidery frame disclosed in the
relevant patent literature first holds a workpiece in a
stretched-taut state by means of outer and inner frame members.
Where printing is to be performed before embroidery, an auxiliary
frame member is pressed or inserted from below along the inner
periphery of the inner frame member (more specifically, into the
space defined by the inner periphery of the inner frame member),
and then the workpiece is stretched taut at generally the same
height as the upper surfaces of the outer and inner frame members.
The embroidery frame placed in that state is set onto a printing
apparatus so that printing is performed on the workpiece. After
completion of the printing, the embroidery frame is removed from
the printing apparatus, and the auxiliary frame member is detached
from the embroidery frame. Then, the workpiece is placed in a state
where the workpiece is stretched taut at generally the same height
as the lower surfaces of the outer and inner frame members. The
embroidery frame placed in this state is set onto an embroidery
sewing machine so that embroidery is performed on the
workpiece.
[0008] With the embroidery frame disclosed in the relevant patent
literature, where the auxiliary frame member is pressed into the
space defined by the inner periphery of the inner frame member, the
workpiece can be held stretched with increased tightness or
tautness. Thus, when embroidery is to be performed subsequently
after removal of the auxiliary frame member, the tautness of the
workpiece would slack, producing unwanted slackness or looseness in
the workpiece. As a consequence, quality of an embroidery made in
the aforementioned manner would deteriorate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the foregoing prior art problems, it is an object
of the present invention to provide an improved workpiece holding
frame which can effectively prevent or minimize slackness of a
workpiece regardless of whether the workpiece is stretched taut in
alignment with the upper surface of the frame or in alignment with
the lower surface of the frame.
[0010] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, the
present invention provides an improved workpiece holding frame,
which comprises: an upper frame member; a lower frame member having
generally a same thickness as the upper frame member; a fixing
member for mutually fixing the upper frame member and the lower
frame member vertically superposed on each other with a workpiece
sandwiched therebetween; and an inner frame member detachably
attachable to the inner peripheries of the upper frame member and
the lower frame member, the workpiece holding frame being capable
of setting thereon the workpiece in any desired one of a first
stretched-taut state where the workpiece is stretched taut and
generally flush with the upper surface of the upper frame member by
being pressed upward via the inner frame member, and a second
stretched-taut state where the workpiece is stretched taut and
generally flush with the lower surface of the lower frame member by
being pressed downward via the inner frame member.
[0011] Because the workpiece is sandwiched between the upper and
lower frame members having generally the same thicknesses, a degree
of tautness of the workpiece in the first stretched-taut state
where the workpiece is stretched taut and generally flush with the
upper surface of the upper frame member by being pressed upward via
the inner frame member and a degree of tautness of the workpiece in
the second stretched-taut state where the workpiece is stretched
taut and generally flush with the lower surface of the lower frame
member by being pressed downward via the inner frame member are
substantially equal to each other. If the inner frame member is not
attached as above, the workpiece sandwiched between the upper and
lower frame members would be stretched taut and flat at the height
of the boundary (middle position) between the upper and lower frame
members. However, if the inner frame member is attached as above,
the workpiece is pressed upward via the inner frame member by a
first displacement amount or distance from the middle position into
the first stretched-taut state in one operation, or the workpiece
is pressed downward by a second displacement distance from the
middle position into the second stretched-taut state in another
operation. Because the first displacement amount or distance and
the second displacement amount or distance are substantially equal,
the degree of tautness in the first stretched-taut state and the
degree of tautness in the second stretched-taut state are
substantially equal to each other. In this way, the present
invention can eliminate or minimize the possibility of unwanted
slackness or distortion being produced in both of a case where
printing is performed on the workpiece in the first stretched-taut
state and a case where embroidery is performed on the workpiece in
the second stretched-taut state. The workpiece can be held on the
frame with substantially the same degrees of tautness in the first
and second stretched-taut states in the aforementioned manner, so
that no unwanted slackness would be produced in the workpiece even
where switched between the first and second stretched-taut
states.
[0012] Thus, in the case where embroidery is performed on the
workpiece in the second stretched-taut state, the present invention
can avoid the inconvenience of deteriorated embroidering quality
due to insufficient workpiece-stretching force. Similarly, in the
case where printing is performed on the workpiece in the first
stretched-taut state, the present invention can avoid the
inconvenience of deteriorated printing quality due to insufficient
workpiece-stretching force. Further, because, in the case where
printing is performed on the workpiece in the first stretched-taut
state, the workpiece is stretched taut at generally the same height
as the upper surface of the upper frame member, the holding frame
would not interfere with the print head during the printing, so
that the present invention can prevent a printable range of the
print head from undesirably decreasing.
[0013] The following will describe embodiments of the present
invention, but it should be appreciated that the present invention
is not limited to the described embodiments and various
modifications of the invention are possible without departing from
the basic principles. The scope of the present invention is
therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in detail, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a
workpiece holding frame of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the holding frame;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the holding
frame showing an example construction for fixing an inner frame
member to the inner periphery of an upper frame member;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional side view showing the
example construction for fixing the inner frame member to the upper
frame member;
[0019] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional side view showing an example
construction for fixing the inner frame member to a lower frame
member;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a sectional front view showing a workpiece
introduced between the upper frame member and the lower frame
member with the inner frame member fixed to the lower frame
member;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a sectional front view showing the workpiece held
in a first stretched-taut state where the workpiece is stretched
taut by being sandwiched between the upper and lower frame members
and then pressed upward via the inner frame member from the state
of FIG. 6 in such a manner as to lie generally flush with the upper
surface of the upper frame member;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a sectional front view showing the inner frame
member positioned above the upper frame member with the workpiece
sandwiched between the upper and lower frame members;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a sectional front view showing the workpiece held
in a second stretched-taut state where the workpiece is stretched
taut by being pressed downward via the inner frame member from the
state of FIG. 8 in such a manner as to lie generally flush with the
lower surface of the lower frame member;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus to
which the embodiment of the holding frame can be applied;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating relationship
among a support base of the printing apparatus, a platen of the
printing apparatus and the holding frame; and
[0026] FIG. 12 shows a single-head type embroidery sewing machine
to which the preferred embodiment of the holding frame is
applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a
workpiece holding frame S of the present invention. In the figure,
the workpiece holding frame S includes upper and lower frame
members 1 and 2 that are annular in shape and have generally the
same thicknesses, and an inner frame member 3 having a thickness
generally equal to a total thickness of the upper and lower frame
members 1 and 2 when vertically superposed, face to face, on each
other. Holding plates 4 and 5 for setting the holding frame S onto
an embroidery sewing machine are fixed to respective generally
middle portions of left and right sides of the upper frame member
1. A block 6 having a through-hole 6a formed therein is fixed to an
upper portion of each of four corner sections of the upper frame
member 1. Further, a plurality of circular recessed portions are
formed in the upper surface of the upper frame member 1, and a
magnet 7 is fitted in each of the circular recessed portions.
Furthermore, left and right covers 8 and 9, which are separate left
and right members, are disposed on the upper surface of the frame
member 1 so as to prevent the magnets 7 from accidentally getting
out of the recessed portions.
[0028] Further, a block 10 having a through-hole 10a formed therein
is fixed to a lower portion of each of four corner sections of the
lower frame member 2. A plurality of recessed portions are formed
in the lower surface of the lower frame member 2, and a magnet 11
is fitted in each of the recessed portions. Furthermore, left and
right covers 12 and 13, which are separate left and right members,
are disposed on the lower surface of the lower frame member 2 so as
to prevent the magnets 11 from accidentally getting out of the
recessed portions. An elongated guide member 14 is fixed to and
projects from the upper surface of each of front and rear sides of
the lower frame member 2, and two short-length guide members 15 are
fixed, in a vertical row, to the upper surface of each of left and
right sides of the lower frame member 2 and project from the upper
surface of each of left and right sides of the lower frame member
2. Furthermore, engaging grooves 16 each for engaging with the
corresponding guide member 14 are formed in the lower surface of
the front and rear sides of the upper frame member 1, and engaging
grooves 17 each for engaging with the corresponding guide member 15
are formed in the lower surface of the left and right sides of the
upper frame member 1.
[0029] As the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 are vertically
superposed on each other, the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2
adhere to each other by the magnetic force of the magnets 7 and 11
so that a workpiece is sandwiched between the upper and lower frame
members 1 and 2. At that time, respective superposed positions of
the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 are determined
automatically through engagement between the guide members 14, 15
of the lower frame member 2 and the engaging grooves 16 and 17 of
the upper frame member 1. Namely, in the illustrated example, the
magnets 7 and the magnets 11 function as fixing members for
mutually fixing the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 by the
magnetic force. Note that one of the mutually-adhering magnets 7
and 11 may be replaced with a ferromagnetic substance, such as
iron.
[0030] The inner frame member 3 has its outer periphery slightly
smaller in size than the inner periphery of each of the upper frame
member 1 and the lower frame member 2. The inner frame member 3
have protruding portions 18 formed on upper portions of its four
corner sections and having generally the same size as the inner
periphery of each of the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2.
Furthermore, a block 19 having a through-hole 19a formed therein is
fixed to each of the upper portions of the four corner sections of
the inner frame member 3. Such an inner frame member 3 is inserted
into a space defined by the inner peripheries of the upper and
lower frame members 1 and 2 to hold a workpiece in a stretched taut
state.
[0031] In an embroidering operation, the inner frame member 3 is
inserted into the space defined by the inner peripheries of the
upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 from above (i.e., above the
upper frame member 1) and then fixed to the upper frame member 1.
To fix the inner frame member 3 to the upper frame member 1, the
through-holes 19a formed in the blocks 19 of the inner frame member
3 are positioned in alignment with the through-holes 6a formed in
the blocks 6 of the upper frame member 1. Then, fastening pins 20
are inserted from outside through the respective through-holes 6a
of the blocks 6 of the upper frame member 1 so that the distal ends
of the fastening pins 20 are inserted into the through-holes 19a of
the blocks 19 of the inner frame member 3. FIG. 3 is a sectional
plan view showing in enlarged scale the blocks 6 and 19 etc. to
illustrate a construction for fixing the inner frame member 3 to
the upper frame member 1. As clear from FIG. 3, a ball plunger 21
is provided laterally to the axis of the through-hole 6a of the
block 6 of the upper frame member 1. The fastening pin 20 has
grooves 20a and 20b formed in its substantially-middle portion and
distal end portion for engagement with a ball provided at the
distal end of the ball plunger 21. By engaging the
substantially-middle groove portion 20a with the ball of the ball
plunger 21, each of the fastening pins 20 is held in a position
where its distal end portion is inserted in the through-hole 19a of
the block 19 of the inner frame member 3, so that the inner frame
member 3 is attached to the upper frame member 1. FIG. 4 is a
sectional side view of the blocks 6 and 19 in the state where the
inner frame member 3 is attached to the upper frame member 1, where
"H" represents a workpiece (fabric). In the state of FIG. 4 (i.e.,
hereinafter referred to as "second stretched-taut state"), as will
be later described, the workpiece H pressed downward by the lower
surface of the inner frame member 3 lies in substantially the same
plane with the lower surface of the lower frame member 2, i.e. lies
substantially flush with the lower surface of the lower frame
member 2. In this case, a combination of the fastening pin 20 and
the through-holes 6a and 19a constitute a member for fixing the
inner frame member 3 to the upper frame member 1.
[0032] Further, by engaging the groove 20b, formed in the distal
end portion of the fastening pin 20, with the ball of the ball
plunger 21, the fastening pin 20 is held in a position where its
distal end portion is fitted in the through-hole 6a of the block 6
of the upper frame member 1; in this state, the inner frame member
3 can be taken out of the space defined by the inner peripheries of
the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 and then again inserted
into the space as desired. Note, however, that the groove 20b in
the distal end portion of the fastening pin 20 is not necessary
essential.
[0033] In a printing operation, on the other hand, an up-down
(vertical) orientation of the inner frame member 3 is reversed from
that in the embroidering operation, and then, the inner frame
member 3 thus reversed in up-down orientation is inserted into the
space defined by the inner peripheries of the upper and lower frame
members 1 and 2 from below (i.e., below the lower frame member 2)
and fixed to the lower frame member 2. To fix the inner frame
member 3 to the lower frame member 2, the through-holes 19a formed
in the blocks 19 of the inner frame member 3 are positioned in
alignment with the through-holes 10a formed in the blocks 10 of the
lower frame member 2. Then, the fastening pins 20 are inserted from
outside through the respective through-holes 10a of the blocks 10
of the lower frame member 2 so that the distal ends of the
fastening pins 20 are inserted into the through-holes 19a of the
blocks 19 of the inner frame member 3. Each of the blocks 10 of the
lower frame member 2 also has a ball plunger 21, like the blocks 6
of the upper frame member 1. By engaging the substantially-middle
groove portion 20a with the ball of the ball plunger 21, each of
the fastening pins 20 is held in a position where its distal end
portion is inserted in the through-hole 19a of the block 19 of the
inner frame member 3, so that the inner frame member 3 is attached
to the lower frame member 2. FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the
blocks 10 and 19 in the state where the inner frame member 3 is
attached to the lower frame member 2. In the state of FIG. 5 (i.e.,
hereinafter referred to as "first stretched-taut state"), as will
be later described, the workpiece H pressed upward by the upper
surface of the upper frame member 3 lies in substantially the same
plane with the upper surface of the upper frame member 1, i.e. lies
substantially flush with the upper surface of the upper frame
member 1. In this case, a combination of the fastening pin 20 and
the through-holes 10a and 19a constitute a member for fixing the
inner frame member 3 to the lower frame member 2.
[0034] Next, a description will be given about a manner in which
the workpiece H is held on the holding frame S in a stretched-taut
state, assuming that the printing operation is first performed on
the workpiece H followed by the embroidering operation.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 6, the inner frame member 3 is inserted
into the space defined by the inner periphery of the lower frame
member 2 and attached to the lower frame member 2 by means of the
fastening pins 20 in advance. Then, the workpiece H is placed on
the lower frame member 2 and the inner frame member 3, and the
upper frame member 1 is vertically superposed on the lower frame
member 2 from above the workpiece H. Thus, the upper frame member 1
and the lower frame member 2 are adhered to each other by the
magnetic force of their respective magnets 7 and 11 so that the
workpiece H is sandwiched therebetween. Because the inner frame
member 3 projects upward above the lower frame member 2 by an
amount generally equal to the thickness of the upper frame member
1, the workpiece H is pressed upward by the upper surface of the
inner frame member 3 so that it is stretched taut at generally the
same height as the upper surface of the upper frame member 1, i.e.
in generally the same plane as the upper surface of the upper frame
member 1, as shown in FIG. 7; namely, the workpiece H is stretched
taut and substantially flush with the upper surface of the upper
frame member 1, and such a state is the first stretched-taut state.
Whereas the inner frame member 3 has been described above as
attached to the lower frame member 2 in advance, the present
invention is not so limited. For example, the inner frame member 3
may be inserted from below the lower frame member 2 into the space
defined by the inner peripheries of the upper frame member 1 and
the lower frame member 2 and then attached to the lower frame
member 2 after the workpiece H is sandwiched between the upper
frame member 1 and the lower frame member 2. Then, the holding
frame S having the workpiece H held thereon in the first
stretched-taut state as shown in FIG. 7 is set onto the printing
apparatus.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows the printing apparatus, which includes a print
head 22 movable in an X direction and a transfer plate 23 for
moving the workpiece H in a Y direction. A support base 24 is
provided on the upper surface of the transfer plate 23 by being
magnetically adhered to the transfer plate 23, and a platen 25 for
retaining the holding frame S is detachably attached to the support
base 24. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the support base 24,
platen 25 and holding frame S. Support blocks 26 and 27 are fixed
to front and rear end portions, respectively, of the support base
24. The support blocks 26 and 27 have recessed portions 26a and 27a
formed in their respective upper surfaces. The platen 25 has front
and rear engaging arms 28 and 29 formed on its front and rear end
portions, respectively, for engagement with the recessed portions
26a and 27a of the support blocks 26 and 27. A leaf spring 29 for
resiliently pressing against the upper surface of a distal end
portion of the platen's engaging arm 28 engaging with the recessed
portion 26a of the front support block 26 is fixed to the front
surface of the front support block 26. Similarly, a leaf spring 31
for resiliently pressing against the upper surface of the platen's
engaging arm 29 engaging with the recessed portion 27a of the rear
support block 27 is fixed to the upper surface of the rear support
block 27. The platen 25 includes a support section 32 for
supporting the holding frame S, and a guide projection 33 for
positioning the holding frame S by fitting in a space defined by
the inner periphery of the inner frame member 3. The guide
projection 33 has a height such that its upper surface contacts the
workpiece H, held on the holding frame S in the stretched-taut
state, when the holding frame S is set on the platen 25, so that
the upper surface of the guide projection 33 supports the lower
surface of a portion of the workpiece H to be printed on.
[0037] To set the holding frame S onto the platen 25, the platen 25
is detached from the support base 24, and then the holding frame S
is fitted over the outer periphery of the guide projection 33 of
the platen 25 so that it is supported on the support section 32. If
the workpiece H is a generally-bag-shaped workpiece, such as a T
shirt, an underside (back-surface side) portion, which is not held
in the stretched-taut state, of the workpiece H may be positioned
underneath the platen 25 at that time. After the holding frame S is
set onto the platen 25, the platen 25 is attached to the support
base 24. Note that the holding frame S may be set onto the platen
25 with the support base 24 detached from the transfer plate
23.
[0038] After the holding frame S is set onto the printing apparatus
in the aforementioned manner, the workpiece H is moved in the Y
direction via the feeding plate 23 on the basis of image data of a
desired pattern to be printed onto the workpiece H, but also the
print head 22 is moved in the X direction to print the desired
pattern onto the workpiece H. After completion of the printing, the
holding frame S is detached from the printing apparatus.
[0039] Next, the fastening pins 20 inserted in the four corners of
the lower frame member 2 are pulled out from the four corners, and
then the inner frame member 3 is pulled downward away from the
lower frame member 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the up-down
(vertical) orientation of the inner frame member 3 is reversed from
that in the printing operation and then positioned above the upper
frame member 1. After that, the inner frame member 3 is inserted
into the upper frame member 1 from above and fixed to the upper
frame member 1 by means of the fastening pins 20. Thus, the
workpiece H is pressed downward by the lower surface of the inner
frame member 3, so that the workpiece H is stretched taut at
generally the same height of the lower surface of the lower frame
member 2, i.e. in generally the same plane as the lower surface of
the lower frame member 2, as shown in FIG. 9; namely, the workpiece
H is stretched taut and substantially flush with the lower surface
of the lower frame member 2, and such a state is the second
stretched-taut state. Then, the holding frame S having the
workpiece H held thereon in the second stretched-taut state as
shown in FIG. 9 is set onto the embroidery sewing machine.
[0040] In FIG. 8, it is shown that some slackness has been produced
in the workpiece H by the workpiece H having been stretched in the
first stretched-taut state at the previous step. Further, in FIG.
9, it is shown that the above-mentioned slackness is absorbed by
the workpiece H having been pressed downward and stretched in the
second stretched-taut state, and that the workpiece H is stretched
with generally the same degree of tautness as in the first
stretched-taut state. The reason why the workpiece H is stretched
in the second stretched-taut state with generally the same degree
of tautness as in the first stretched-taut state is as follows.
Namely, the workpiece H sandwiched between the upper and lower
frame members 1 and 2, having generally the same thicknesses, would
be stretched taut and flat at the height of the boundary (middle
position) between the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2, if the
inner frame member 3 is not inserted and attached. However, if the
inner frame member 3 is inserted and attached as above, the
workpiece H is pressed upward by a first displacement amount or
distance from the middle position into the first stretched-taut
state in the printing operation, while the workpiece H is pressed
downward by a second displacement distance from the middle position
into the second stretched-taut state in the embroidering operation.
Because the first displacement amount or distance and the second
displacement amount or distance are substantially equal to each
other, the degree of tautness in the first stretched-taut state and
the degree of tautness in the second stretched-taut state are
substantially equal to each other.
[0041] FIG. 12 shows a single-head type embroidery sewing machine
to which the preferred embodiment of the holding frame S is
applied. This single-head type embroidery sewing machine includes:
a machine head 34 having a sewing needle drivable vertically (in
the up-down direction) in a reciprocative fashion; a cylinder head
35 having a rotationally-drivable rotary hook, and a pair of
holding bases 36 and 37 to which the holding frame S is attachable
and which is drivable in the X and Y directions.
[0042] To set the holding frame S onto the embroidery sewing
machine, the holding plates 4 and 5 are inserted into respective
distal end portions of the pair of holding bases 36 and 37, so that
the holding frame S is held on the pair of holding bases 36 and 37.
After the holding frame 35 is set as above, desired sewing is
performed on the workpiece S in the well-known manner by not only
the sewing needle of the machine head 34 being vertically driven
but also the rotary hook of the cylinder head 35 being rotationally
driven. Also, at that time, the holding frame S is moved in the X
and Y directions together with the pair of holding bases 36 and 37
to perform embroidery on the workpiece H based on embroidery data.
After completion of the embroidery, the holding frame S is detached
from the embroidery sewing machine, and then the workpiece H is
removed from the holding frame S.
[0043] According to the above-described workpiece holding frame S
of the present invention, the workpiece H is stretched taut at
generally the same height as the upper surface of the upper frame
member 1 in the printing operation, while the workpiece H is
stretched taut at generally the same height as the lower surface of
the lower frame member 2 in the embroidering operation. Thus, the
holding frame S would not interfere with the print head 22 during
the printing operation, so that the printable range can be
prevented from decreasing.
[0044] Further, because the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2
have generally the same thicknesses and because the workpiece H is
stretched taut by being pressed by generally the same displacement
distances via the inner frame member 3 from the boundary (middle
position) between the upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 to the
upper surface of the upper frame member 1 and from the boundary to
the lower surface of the lower frame member 2 at the time of the
printing operation and the embroidering operation. Thus, the
workpiece H can be stretched with generally the same degrees of
tautness in the printing operation and in the embroidering
operation. In this way, the preferred embodiment of the holding
frame can prevent the tautness of the workpiece H from undesirably
decreasing in one of the printing operation and the embroidering
operation, and thus, it can prevent the workpiece H from slackening
and thereby prevent deterioration of the printing or embroidering
quality due to slackness produced in the workpiece H.
[0045] It should be appreciated that the above-described embodiment
of the holding frame S is just illustrative and may be of any of
various desired shapes and sizes. Namely, the holding frame S may
be constructed in any desired shape and size depending on the type
of the workpiece and designs (sizes etc.) of the printing and
embroidery. Further, the guide projection 33 of the platen 25 of
the printing apparatus may be constructed in any desired manner
corresponding to the shape and size of the holding frame S
used.
[0046] Furthermore, whereas the embodiment of the present invention
has been described above in relation to the case where the inner
frame member 3 is fixed to the upper frame member 1 or lower frame
member 2 by means of the fastening pins 20, the construction for
fixing the inner frame member 3 to the upper frame member 1 or
lower frame member 2 is not so limited. For example, a ball plunger
may be provided in the inner frame member 3 and recessed portions
engageable with the ball of the ball plunger provided in the inner
frame member 3 may be formed in the upper and lower frame members 1
and 2 so that the inner frame member 3 can be attached by the ball
of the ball plunger engaging with the recessed portion. Further,
any other desired fastening means or construction comprising
screws, clips, springs, etc. rather than the pins 20 may be
employed. Alternatively, the inner frame member 3 may be half-fixed
to the upper or lower frame member 1 or 2 by being press-fitted
into the upper or lower frame member 1 or 2. In short, it is only
necessary that the inner frame member 3 be detachably attached to
the inner periphery of the upper or lower frame member 1 or 2.
[0047] Further, the member or construction for mutually fixing the
upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 is not limited to the one
using magnetic force as in the above-described embodiment, and any
other member or construction comprising screws, clips, springs,
etc. may be employed.
* * * * *