U.S. patent application number 14/435880 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-24 for frame side restricting device for sewing frame.
The applicant listed for this patent is TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Hirofumi Takaki, Katsuharu Yoshikawa.
Application Number | 20150267335 14/435880 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50544575 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150267335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshikawa; Katsuharu ; et
al. |
September 24, 2015 |
FRAME SIDE RESTRICTING DEVICE FOR SEWING FRAME
Abstract
A restricting member is positioned above a machine table but
beneath a sewing frame movable in X and Y directions on a sewing
machine. The restricting member is connected to the sewing frame in
such a manner that it moves in the Y direction together with the
sewing frame but does not follow movement of the sewing frame in
the X direction. The restricting member engages with two sides of
the sewing frame, extending in the X direction, so as to maintain
at a predetermined interval in the Y direction between the two
sides. A guide member is provided on the upper surface of the table
and slidably guides the restricting member in the Y direction. For
example, the guide member has a groove-like recessed portion formed
therein to open upward, and the restricting member is received in
the groove-like recessed portion and slidable along the recessed
portion.
Inventors: |
Yoshikawa; Katsuharu;
(Aichi-ken, JP) ; Takaki; Hirofumi; (Aichi-ken,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Aichi-KEN |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
50544575 |
Appl. No.: |
14/435880 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
October 17, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/078224 |
371 Date: |
April 15, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/103 ;
112/470.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B 39/00 20130101;
D05C 13/02 20130101; D05C 9/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D05C 9/04 20060101
D05C009/04; D05C 13/02 20060101 D05C013/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 22, 2012 |
JP |
2012-233325 |
Claims
1. A sewing-frame-side restricting device for preventing
deformation of a sewing frame in a sewing machine which includes:
the sewing frame; a moving member connected to the sewing frame so
that the sewing frame is movable in X and Y directions, and a drive
mechanism configured to drive the moving member in the X and Y
directions, said sewing-frame-side restricting device comprising: a
restricting member disposed beneath the sewing frame but above a
machine table (2), said restricting member being connected to the
sewing frame in such a manner that said restricting member moves in
the Y direction together with the sewing frame but does not follow
movement, in the X direction, of the sewing frame, said restricting
member engaging with two sides of the sewing frame, extending in
the X direction, so as to maintain a predetermined interval in the
Y direction between the two sides of the sewing frame; and a guide
member provided on an upper surface of the machine table, said
guide member guiding said restricting member in such a manner that
said restricting member is slidable in the Y direction along said
guide member.
2. The sewing-frame-side restricting device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said restricting member is a rigid elongated member and
includes restricting elements provided on positions of the
elongated member corresponding to respective ones of the two sides
of the sewing frame, and wherein said restricting elements engage
with the respective ones of the two sides of the sewing frame in
such a manner that said restricting elements are movable in the X
direction relative to the two sides of the sewing frame.
3. The sewing-frame-side restricting device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said guide member includes a portion for restricting
movement, in the X direction, of said restricting member.
4. The sewing-frame-side restricting device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said guide member defines a groove-like recessed portion in
the upper surface of the machine table, and said restricting member
is received in the groove-like recessed portion and slidable along
the groove-like recessed portion.
5. The sewing-frame-side restricting device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein said guide member includes a portion for restricting
movement, in the X direction, of said restricting member.
6. The sewing-frame-side restricting device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein said guide member defines a groove-like recessed portion in
the upper surface of the machine table, and said restricting member
is received in the groove-like recessed portion and slidable along
the groove-like recessed portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a frame side restricting
device for a sewing frame (sewing-frame-side restricting device)
for preventing deformation of the sewing frame retaining thereon a
sewing workpiece on a sewing machine.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Among the conventionally-known embroidery sewing machines
are ones in which a rectangular embroidery frame for retaining
thereon an embroidering fabric (i.e., fabric to be embroidered) is
provided on a machine table for movement in X and Y directions, and
in which the embroidery frame is driven in the X and Y directions
by activation of X-direction and Y-direction drive mechanisms,
respectively. Some of such embroidery sewing machines include a
restricting member for limiting or restricting an interval between
a front end section (a front transverse frame side located on a
front side in the Y direction) and a rear end section (a rear
transverse side (i.e., rear transverse frame side located on a rear
side in the Y direction) of the rectangular embroidery frame in
order to prevent the front and rear end sections and hence the
embroidery frame from deforming by being pulled by an embroidering
fabric as the embroidery proceeds.
[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication
HEI-05-163660 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Literature 1")
discloses an example of an embroidery sewing machine of the
aforementioned type. In the embroidery sewing machine disclosed in
Patent Literature 1, pluralities of X-direction and Y-direction
drive mechanisms are disposed on the underside of the machine
table. Each of the X-direction drive mechanisms includes an X
moving member (referred to as "fixed plate" in Patent Literature 1)
reciprocally drivable in the X direction by a drive motor, while
each of the Y-direction drive mechanisms includes a Y moving member
reciprocally drivable in the Y direction by a drive motor. Further,
an X-side base disposed on the machine table is fixed to the X
moving member of the X-direction drive mechanism, while a Y-side
base disposed on the machine table is fixed to the Y moving member
of the Y-direction drive mechanism. A right side section (i.e., a
vertical frame side located on the right side in the X direction)
of the embroidery frame is connected to the X-side base in such a
manner that the right side section is driven in the X direction
integrally or together with the X-side base and driven in the Y
direction relative to the X-side base. A rear end section (i.e., a
rea transverse frame side located on the rear side in the Y
direction) of the embroidery frame is connected to the Y-side base
in such a manner that the rear end section is driven in the Y
direction integrally or together with the Y-side base and driven in
the X direction relative to the Y-side base. In this manner, the
embroidery frame is drivable in the X and Y directions respectively
by the X-direction drive mechanism and the Y-direction drive
mechanism.
[0004] Further, in the embroidery sewing machine disclosed in
Patent Literature 1, a support mechanism is provided in front of a
middle one of the Y-direction drive mechanisms, and this support
mechanism includes guide rails and a movable plate that is movable
in the Y direction along the guide rails. Note that, although not
particularly disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the support
mechanism includes a support base fixing thereto the guide rails.
The movable plate has four rolling elements so that the movable
plate can move by the rolling elements rollingly moving along the
guide rails. One roller is rotatably provided on the upper surface
of the movable plate, and this roller projects on the upper surface
of the machine table through an opening formed in a table cover
fixed above the support mechanism. The movable plate is connected
to the front end section of the embroidery frame in such a manner
that, via the roller, the movable plate is driven in the Y
direction integrally or together with the front end section of the
embroidery frame and driven in the X direction relative to the
front end section of the embroidery frame. The movable plate is
connected to the Y moving member by a connection plate, so that the
movable plate can be reciprocally driven in the Y direction
together with the connection plate. By an interval between the Y
moving member and the movable plate being restricted by the
connection plate, the interval between the embroidery frame's front
end section and the embroidery frame's rear end section connected
to the Y-side base is restricted, so that deformation of the
embroidery frame can be prevented.
[0005] Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication
2007-61213 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Literature 2")
discloses another example of an embroidery sewing machine of the
aforementioned type. In the embroidery sewing machine disclosed in
Patent Literature 2, a base elongated in the X direction is
provided on the machine table in such a manner that it is movable
in the Y direction, and this base is connected at its left and
right ends to a Y-direction drive mechanism provided on the
underside of the machine table. A connection member movable in the
X direction is mounted to the base, and this connection member is
driven by an X-direction drive mechanism, provided on the base, in
the X direction relative to the base and driven in the Y direction
together with the movement, in the Y direction, of the base. The
embroidery frame is connected at its rear end section (a rear
transverse frame side located on a rear side in the Y direction) so
that it is mounted on a machine body in a cantilevered fashion so
as to extend along and generally parallel to the upper surface of
the machine table. In this manner, the embroidery frame is movable
in both of the X and Y directions together with the movement, in
the X and Y directions, of the connection member.
[0006] Further, in the embroidery sewing machine disclosed in
Patent Literature 2, a frame assisting tool that is a restricting
member for restricting an interval between the front and rear end
sections of the embroidery frame is provided between the front and
rear end sections of the embroidery frame. This frame assisting
tool, which is constructed to be bendable via a hinge member, can
be attached to the embroidery frame by the hinge member being
extended straight and detached from the embroidery frame by the
hinge member being bent. The interval between the front and rear
end sections of the embroidery frame is restricted by the frame
assisting tool, so that deformation of the embroidery frame can be
prevented.
[0007] In the above-discussed embroidery sewing machine disclosed
in Patent Literature 1, the support mechanism is provided in front
of the middle Y-direction drive mechanism, and the movable plate of
the support mechanism and the Y moving member of the Y-direction
drive mechanism are interconnected by the connection plate. The
interval between the front and rear end sections of the embroidery
frame can be restricted by the connection plate restricting the
interval between the movable plate and the Y moving member. Such
arrangements can reliably prevent deformation of the embroidery
frame. However, because the support mechanism includes the support
base, the guide rails and the movable plate having the four rolling
elements and because the table cover is fixed above the support
mechanism, the embroidery sewing machine is considerably
complicated in construction and has a large number of necessary
component parts. Thus, not only a high manufacturing cost of the
embroidery sewing machine would be required, but also operation for
assembling the embroidery sewing machine would require a long
time.
[0008] On the other hand, the frame assisting tool in the
embroidery sewing machine disclosed in Patent Literature 2 is
simple in construction and low in cost. However, the frame
assisting tool has to be detached and attached each time an
embroidering fabric is to be replaced with another, which would
require much time and labor. Further, the frame assisting tool is
moved in the X direction as well together with the embroidery
frame. Thus, when embroidery is to be performed on an entire
sewable range of the embroidering fabric, and once the embroidery
proceeds to a given halfway position, the mounted position of the
frame assisting tool has to be changed to another position so as to
prevent the frame assisting tool from disturbing a sewing needle,
and then the remaining embroidery has to be resumed. Such operation
would be cumbersome and require much time and labor.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0009] In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the
present invention to simplify a necessary construction for
preventing deformation of the sewing frame retaining thereon an
embroidering fabric and eliminate not only a need for time and
labor in replacing the embroidering fabric but also a need for
cumbersome position changing operation.
[0010] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, the
present invention provides a sewing-frame-side restricting device
for preventing deformation of a sewing frame (7) movable in X and Y
directions on a sewing machine, which comprises: a restricting
member (11) disposed beneath the sewing frame (7) but above a
machine table (2), the restricting member (11) being connected to
the sewing frame (7) in such a manner that the restricting member
(11) moves in a Y direction together with the sewing frame (7) but
does not follow movement, in a X direction, of the sewing frame
(7), the restricting member (11) engaging with two sides of the
sewing frame (7), extending in the X direction, so as to maintain a
predetermined interval in the Y direction between the two sides of
the sewing frame (7); and a guide member (10) provided on the upper
surface of the machine table (2), the guide member (10) guiding the
restricting member (11) in such a manner that the restricting
member (11) is slidable in the Y direction along the guide member
(10). Note that the same reference numerals and characters as used
for various constituent elements of a later-described embodiment of
the present invention are indicated in parentheses in the summary
below for ease of understanding.
[0011] According to the present invention, the restricting member
(11) is disposed beneath the sewing frame (7) but above the machine
table (2). Also, the restricting member (11) is connected to the
sewing frame (7) in such a manner that the restricting member (11)
moves in the Y direction together with the sewing frame (7) but
does not follow movement, in the X direction, of the sewing frame
(7). Further, the restricting member (11) engages with the two
sides of the sewing frame (7), extending in the X direction, so as
to maintain a predetermined interval in the Y direction between the
two sides of the sewing frame (7). With such arrangements, unwanted
deformation, in the Y direction, of the sewing frame (7) can be
prevented. Further, the restricting member disposed beneath the
sewing frame is guided by the guide member (10) on the upper
surface of the machine table, the sewing-frame-side restricting
device is simple in construction and has a small number of
necessary components parts, so that necessary manufacturing cost
and time for assembling the sewing-frame-side restricting device
can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the aforementioned
arrangements can not only eliminate the need for detaching and
attaching the restricting member each time a sewing fabric retained
on the sewing frame is to be replaced, but also reduce time and
labor for the replacement of the sewing fabric. Besides, because
the restricting member does not move in the X direction, operation
for changing the position of the restricting member need not be
performed when sewing is to be performed on an entire sewable range
of the fabric.
[0012] As an example, the restricting member (10) is a rigid
elongated member and includes restricting elements (13, 16)
provided on positions of the elongated member corresponding to
respective ones of the two sides of the sewing frame. Further, the
restricting elements (13, 16) engage with the respective ones of
the two sides of the sewing frame (7) in such a manner that the
restricting elements are movable in the X direction relative to the
two sides of the sewing frame.
[0013] As an example, the guide member (10) includes a portion for
restricting movement, in the X direction, of the restricting member
(11). Further, as an example, the guide member (10) defines a
groove-like recessed portion in the upper surface of the machine
table (2), and the restricting member (11) is received in the
groove-like recessed portion and slidable along the groove-like
recessed portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embroidery sewing machine to
which is applied an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional side view of a base and an
embroidery frame (sewing frame) mounted on the base.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a front view of a sewing-frame-side restricting
device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sewing-frame-side restricting
device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Hereinbelow, an embroidery sewing machine for embroidering an
embroidering fabric retained on an embroidery frame will be
described as an example of a sewing machine to which the present
invention is applicable. It should be appreciated, however, that
the present invention is applicable not only to embroidery sewing
machines but also to sewing machines where a sewing frame retaining
thereon a sewing fabric is provided for movement in X and Y
directions.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embroidery sewing machine,
so-called a cylinder-type embroidery sewing machine, which is
capable of embroidering sheet-shaped original fabrics, bag-shaped
or cylindrically-shaped items, such as sweat shirts and T shirts,
and hats and caps by switching among dedicated embroidery frames as
necessary. In the figure, reference numeral 1 represents a machine
frame, 2 a machine table having a front table 2a movable up and
down, 3 a machine head, 4 a cylinder head including a rotary hook
of a well-known construction, and 5 a needle plate. Further,
reference numeral 6 represents a base provided on the machine table
2 and elongated in the X direction, and the base 6 is connected at
its opposite ends to a not-shown Y-direction drive mechanism
provided beneath the machine table 2. Namely, the base 6 is a Y
moving member drivable by the Y-direction drive mechanism in the Y
direction. Further, a rectangular embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7
for retaining thereon a sheet-shaped original fabric (embroidering
fabric) is detachably mounted to the base 6 via a later-described
connection member 8. Note that, when the embroidery frame (sewing
frame) 7 is mounted, the front table 2a is set at a same height as
a fixed section of the machine table 2.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional side view of the base 6 and
the embroidery frame 7. The base 6 has a not-shown X-direction
drive mechanism provided thereon, and the connection member 8
slidable relative to the base 8 in the X direction is connected to
the X-direction drive mechanism. Thus, the connection member 8 is
movable in the Y direction integrally or together with the base 6
and movable in the X direction relative to the base 6. A rear
transverse frame side 7b located on a rear side, in the Y
direction, of the embroidery frame 7 is detachably fixed to the
connection member 8, so that the embroidery frame 7 is drivable in
the X and Y directions together with the connection member 8.
Namely, driving force in the Y direction applied by the Y-direction
drive mechanism is transmitted to the embroidery frame (sewing
frame) 7 via the base 6 and the connection member 8, and driving
force in the X direction applied by the X-direction drive mechanism
is transmitted to the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7 via the
connection member 8. Note that the term "X direction" is used
herein to refer to a horizontal left-right direction of the
embroidery sewing machine as viewed from the front of the machine
while the term "Y direction" is used herein to refer to a
front-rear direction of the embroidery sewing machine.
[0021] Next, a description will be given about an embodiment of a
sewing-frame side restricting device of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment of the sewing-frame-side
restricting device includes restricting members 11 provided on two
portions of the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7, and guide
members 10 provided on two portions of the upper surface of the
machine table 7 in corresponding relation to the restricting
members 11. FIG. 3 is a front view of the sewing-frame-side
restricting device, which representatively shows one of the
restricting members 11 and one of the guide members 10 of the
sewing-frame-side restricting device. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the
sewing-frame-side restricting device, which also representatively
shows one of the restricting members 11 and one of the guide
members 10 of the sewing-frame-side restricting device. Because the
two restricting members 11 are identical to each other in
construction and the two guide members 10 corresponding to the
restricting members 11 are also identical to each other in
construction, only one of the restricting members 11 and only one
of the guide members 10 will be described in detail hereinbelow.
Note that the sewing-frame-side restricting device of the present
invention may alternatively comprise only one restricting member 11
and only one guide member 10 corresponding to the restricting
member 11.
[0022] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the restricting member
11 is a rigid elongated member extending in the Y direction and
disposed beneath the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7 but above
the machine table 2. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the
restricting member 11 is fixed to the base 6 by means of mounting
screws 15 and movable in the Y direction together with the base 6
(and hence the embroidery frame 7). The vertical restricting member
11 includes restricting elements (i.e., positioning collars 13 and
rollers 16) provided on positions thereof corresponding to two
sides (front transverse frame side 7a and rear transverse frame
side 7b) of the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7 extending in the
X direction. The restricting elements (positioning collars 13 and
rollers 16) engage with respective ones of the two frame sides 7a
and 7b of the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7 in such a manner
that they are movable in the X direction relative to the two frame
sides 7a and 7b. With these restricting elements (positioning
collars 13 and rollers 16), a predetermined interval can be
maintained in the Y direction between the two frame sides (front
transverse frame side 7a and rear transverse frame side 7b) of the
embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7 extending in the X direction.
[0023] The machine table 2 has groove-like recessed portions 9
formed in (two) predetermined portions of the upper surface of the
machine table 2 and extending throughout the entire length, in the
Y length, of the machine table 2 including the front table 2a, and
the guide member 10 is received in the groove-like recessed
portions 9 so as to define a groove-like recessed portion of an
upwardly-opening inverted trapezoidal sectional shape. The guide
member 10 is divided into two parts at its position corresponding
to a rear end portion of the front table 2a in such a manner that
the front table 2a is movable up and down. Further, the restricting
member 11 is received in the groove-like recessed portion of the
guide member 10 in such a manner that it is slidable in the Y
direction. The restricting member 11 is formed in an inverted
trapezoidal shape corresponding to the upwardly-opening inverted
trapezoidal sectional shape of the guide member 10, and by being
received in the guide member 10 as above, the restricting member 11
is restricted in its left-right position (in its movement in the X
direction) by opposed side wall surfaces of the groove-like
recessed portion of the guide member 10. A plurality of
slide-promoting tapes 12 are attached to a surface of the
restricting member 11 opposed to the groove-like recessed portion
of the guide member 10 in such a manner that the restricting member
11 is slidable smoothly. Note, however, that such slide-promoting
tapes 12 are not necessarily essential.
[0024] The two positioning collars 13 are fixed to a rear portion
of the restricting member 11, each of the positioning collars 13
has an engaging groove 13a formed in its inner peripheral surface,
and U-shaped gutters 14 are formed in a front end portion of the
base 6 such that the engaging grooves 13a of the positioning
collars 13 are fitted therein. The restricting member 11 is fixed
at its rear end portion to a rear end portion of the base 6 by
means of the mounting screws 15 with the engaging grooves 13a of
the positioning collars 13 fitted in the U-shaped gutters 14. In
this manner, the restricting member 11 is movable in the Y
direction together with the base 6. Further, three rollers 16 are
provided on and extends upward from a front end portion of the
restricting member 11. The restricting member 11 is connected to
the front transverse frame side 7a via these three rollers 16 in
such a manner that the restricting member 11 is movable in the Y
direction together with the front transverse frame side 7a of the
embroidery frame 7 and movable in the X direction relative to the
front transverse frame side 7a.
[0025] With such a restricting member 11 having the positioning
collars 13 and the rollers 16 (i.e., restricting elements), an
interval between the base 6 and the front transverse frame side 7a
of the embroidery frame 7, in other words, an interval between the
rear transverse frame side 7b fixed to the connection member 8
connected to the base 6 and the front transverse frame side 7a is
restricted to a predetermined interval, so that deformation of the
embroidery frame 7 is prevented.
[0026] When the embodiment of the embroidery sewing machine should
embroider a bag-shaped or cylindrically-shaped item or a hat, the
embroidery frame 7 is replaced, as necessary, with another
embroidery frame dedicated to the cylindrically-shaped item or the
hat. At that time, not only the embroidery frame 7 but also the
restricting member 11 is detached. First, the rear transverse frame
side 7b of the embroidery frame 7 is detached from the connection
member 8, the front transverse frame side 7a of the embroidery
frame 7 is lifted up to cancel the connection between the front
transverse frame side 7a and the three rollers 16 provided on the
front end portion of the restricting member 11. Then, the
embroidery frame 7 is detached from the connection member 8. Next,
the two mounting screws 15 are detected from the rear end portion
of the restricting member 11, and the restricting member 11 is
moved toward the front of the machine table 2. Then, the
restricting member 11 is detached from the guide member 10 by the
two positioning collars 13 being removed from the U-shaped gutters
14. Then, the front table 2a is moved down, after which the
embroidery frame dedicated to the cylindrically-shaped item or the
hat is attached to the connection member 8 and the base 6. Note
that the embroidery frame 7 is attached to the connection member 8
and the base 6 in an order opposite the aforementioned. With the
aforementioned construction of the present invention, detachment
and attachment of the restricting member 11 can be facilitated.
[0027] According to the above-described embodiment of the present
invention, the interval, in the Y direction, between the two frame
sides (the front transverse frame side 7a and the rear transverse
frame side 7b) of the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7 extending
in the X direction is restricted by the restricting member 11
disposed beneath the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7, so that a
predetermined interval can be maintained between the two frame
sides (the front transverse frame side 7a and the rear transverse
frame side 7b). Thus, it is possible to prevent deformation of the
embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7 and thereby prevent deformation
or distortion of an embroidery pattern sewn onto a sewing fabric
retained on the embroidery frame (sewing frame) 7.
[0028] Further, because the restricting member 11 is provided above
the machine table 2, the sewing-frame-side restricting device can
be simplified in construction, and the number of necessary
component parts of the sewing-frame-side restricting device can be
reduced. As a result, necessary manufacturing cost and time for
assembling the sewing-frame-side restricting device can be
minimized.
[0029] Further, because the restricting member 11 is provided
beneath the embroidery frame 7, it is neither necessary to detach
and attach the restricting member 11 each time the sewing fabric is
replaced with another one, nor is it necessary to change the
position of the restricting member 11 when sewing is to be
performed on an entire sewable range of the sewing fabric. Thus,
much time and labor is not required for the change.
[0030] Whereas the groove-like recessed portion of the guide member
10 has an upwardly-opening inverted trapezoidal sectional shape and
the restricting member 11 has an inverted trapezoidal sectional
shape in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is
not so limited. For example, the groove-like recessed portion of
the guide member 10 may be formed to have a U sectional shape, and
the restricting member 11 may be formed to have a rectangular
sectional shape corresponding to the U sectional shape of the guide
member 10. Alternatively, the guiding structure of the guide member
10 may be in the form of a rail-shaped protruding portion rather
than a groove-like recessed portion, in which case a groove-like
recessed portion may be formed in the underside of the restricting
member 11 so that the restricting member 11 can be guide by the
rail-shaped protruding portion. In another alternative, the
groove-like recessed portion defined by the guide member 10 may be
formed to project on the upper surface of the table 2. Namely, two
rows of side wall ridges may be formed on the upper surface of the
table 2 so that the restricting member 11 is placed and guided
between the two rows of side wall ridges. In such cases, the
rail-shaped protruding portion or the two rows of side wall ridges
need not necessarily be formed to extend continuously, and they may
be formed to extend intermittently as necessary. In short, it is
only necessary that the guide member 10 be shaped in such a manner
that the restricting member 11 is slidable in the Y direction along
the guide member 10 but restricted in left-right position (i.e., in
the X direction) (i.e., has a portion for restricting movement, in
the X direction, of the restricting member 11). Note, however,
that, depending on the length, in the Y direction, of the
embroidery frame 7, i.e. the total length of the restricting member
11, the restricting member 11 need not necessarily be restricted in
the left-right position. Therefore, the guide member 10 may be
constructed to be merely placed on the upper surface of the machine
table and slidable in the Y direction on the upper surface of the
machine table 2, without having a particular recessed portion or
protruding portion as above.
[0031] Further, the basic principles of the present invention may
be applied to embroidery sewing machines where the pluralities of
the X-direction and Y-direction drive mechanisms are disposed on
the underside of the machine table. Among examples of such a type
of embroidery sewing machine are the one disclosed in
above-described Patent Literature 1 where the X-side and Y-side
bases are provided on the machine table, one in which any one of
the X-side and Y-side bases is provided on the machine table, and
one in which the embroidery frame is connected directly to the
X-direction/Y-direction drive mechanism. Note that, in such a case,
the sewing-frame-side restricting device is provided on a position
displaced laterally in the left-right direction from the
Y-direction drive mechanism.
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