JP5091601B2 - Sequin feeder and sewing machine capable of sequin sewing - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sequin feed device in a sewing machine that sews a sequin to a sewing object while cutting the sequin from a sequin coupling body, and more particularly to a sequin feed device that can switch sequins to be sewn during sewing. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a sewing machine suitable for sewing sequins having different pitches in combination.

As conventional sequin feeders, for example, those shown in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 or 3 below are known. Such a sequin feeding device is configured to feed out the sequin coupling body from a reel in which a sequin coupling body formed by connecting a large number of sequins (sequins) is wound and placed on the upper surface of the support plate. Equipped with a feed mechanism that feeds the sequined linked body at a predetermined pitch corresponding to the size of one sequin by reverse movement, cutting one sequin from the sequined linked body fed in conjunction with the sewing operation of the needle bar of the sewing machine However, sequins are sewn on the workpiece.
German utility model registration No. G9209764.2 US Pat. No. 5,755,168 German patent DE19538084 (corresponding to Patent Document 2)

Further, Patent Document 4 below discloses an embroidery sewing machine in which a sequin feeder can be sewn to an embroidery object such as an embroidery cloth by attaching a sequin feeding device to a sewing head of the embroidery sewing machine.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-167097

On the other hand, in Patent Documents 5 and 6 below, there is shown a device that can sew while changing sequins during sewing. In this conventional apparatus, two sequin reels each wound with a sequin coupling body in which sequins of a predetermined shape and color are coupled, and individual sequin coupling bodies fed out from the sequin coupling bodies are individually fed toward the needle base. A feed bar is provided, and by selecting a feed operation by the feed bar based on the control signal, sequin sewing can be performed continuously while switching the sequin coupling body to be fed. However, only one common cutter is provided for cutting sequins from the sequin linking body. Of the two sequin linking bodies, the sequin of the sequin linking body that has been fed out is used as the common cutter. It is configured to cut with Therefore, the sequin sizes in the two sequin linked bodies can be different from each other, but once the apparatus is configured to set sequins of a predetermined size, the size cannot be freely changed anymore. . This is because, when the sizes of two series of sequins are made different from each other, the structure of the cutter shared by the two sequin linked bodies is a movable cutter having a predetermined step structure and a fixed blade having the same step structure ( This is because the step structure of these movable cutters and fixed blades must be mechanically fixed.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2006-68405 Korean Patent No. 10-614630 (corresponding to Patent Document 5)

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and includes a plurality of sequin feed units so that sequins to be sewn can be switched during sewing, and the sequin feed amount in each series can be arbitrarily changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sequin feeder capable of performing the above. Further, the sewing machine is intended to provide a sewing machine suitable for combining and sewing sequins having different arbitrary feed pitches using such a sequin feeder.

The sequin feeding device according to the present invention includes at least two sequin feeding mechanisms for feeding the sequin coupling body toward a predetermined cutting position, and a sequin cutting cutter disposed at the predetermined cutting position. A sequin feed unit, a sequin selection mechanism for selecting one of the at least two sequin feed units and positioning it at a predetermined sewing operation position, and the one sequin feed unit positioned at the predetermined sewing operation position Each sequin feed mechanism, and a drive mechanism that drives the sequin feed mechanism engaged according to a sewing operation and feeds the sequin coupling body toward a predetermined cutting position. Each unit has its predetermined cutting position independent of other units. A possible integer, drives the cutter unit in accordance with sewing operation, characterized by cutting the sequin from fed out the continuous sequin strip to the predetermined cutting position.
The sewing machine according to the present invention comprises the sequin feeding device in association with the sewing head.

  Each sequin feed unit has a sequin feed mechanism and a cutter unit, and each sequin feed unit can adjust the predetermined cutting position independently of other units. Accordingly, each unit has a configuration in which the sequin cutting position by the cutter unit with respect to the needle drop position can be arbitrarily adjusted independently, and sequins of any feed size can be handled. As a result, the sequin feed amount in each train can be arbitrarily changed independently, so that in the sewing machine to which the sequin feed device according to the present invention is applied, the sequin sewing is performed by combining the sequins of arbitrary different feed pitches. Will be able to do.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In FIG. 1, a four-head embroidery sewing machine having four sewing heads H is shown. Each sewing head H is provided with a needle bar case 2, and a needle plate 70 is disposed below each needle bar case 2. The sequin feeder 1 is mounted on the left side and / or the right side of each needle bar case 2, and is mounted only on the left side in this embodiment. Each needle bar case 2 has a multi-needle structure. When the sequin feeder 1 is mounted on the left side of the needle bar case 2 as in this embodiment, the leftmost needle bar in the needle bar case 2 is sequined. Used as a needle bar (sequin needle bar). As is generally known, the embroidery frame 80 is driven in the horizontal direction (X direction) and the vertical direction (Y direction) in accordance with the sewing data.

[First Example]
First, the sequin feeder 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged right side view showing a part of one sequin feed device 1, FIG. 3 is a left side view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a front view thereof showing only the sequin feed device 1. FIG. As a base member for attaching the sequin feeder 1 to the sewing machine head H, a base 3 fixed to the left side surface of the needle bar case 2 and an attachment base 4 arranged to be movable up and down on the fixed base 3 are provided. Yes. Two guide rods 5 are fixed to the base 3 and a screw shaft 6 is pivotally supported (in FIG. 3, the other guide rod 5 is located on the back side of the screw shaft 6). . The screw shaft 6 is connected to a motor shaft of a motor 7 fixed to the base 3. A moving body 8 slidably fitted to two guide rods 5 is fixed to the mounting base 4. A nut member 9 screwed onto the screw shaft 6 is fixed to the moving body 8. As a result, when the screw shaft 6 is rotated by driving the motor 7, the mounting base 4 is moved along the guide rod 5 and the sequin feed device 1 is sewn in a sewn position, and the sequin feed device 1 is sewn in the sequin. It will be moved up and down between the retreat positions where no operation is performed. 2 and 3 show a state where the sequin feed device 1 is located at the lowered position, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show a state where the sequin feed device 1 is located at the retracted position. Show. Furthermore, the mounting base 4 is fixed with a positioning block 12 that fits between both positioning plates 11 whose front ends protrude and are fixed to the left and right sides of the base 3 when the mounting base 4 is in the lowered position. . When the positioning block 12 is fitted between the positioning plates 11, the mounting base 4 at the lowered position is positioned left and right (lateral direction).

  One sequin feed device 1 is roughly divided into two sequin feed units 20, 21 and a sequin selection mechanism for selecting one of the two sequin feed units 20, 21 and positioning it at a predetermined sewing operation position. (Parts indicated by reference numerals 44 to 50, 60 to 67 and the like which will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 and the like) and the sequin feed mechanism 19 of one sequin feed unit positioned at a predetermined sewing operation position, According to the operation, the engaged sequin feed mechanism 19 is driven to feed the sequin coupling body 13 toward a predetermined cutting position (parts 51-59 and the like which will be described later with reference to FIG. 7). And. These sequin feed units 20 and 21, a sequin selection mechanism (44 to 50, 60 to 67, etc.), and a feed drive mechanism (51 to 59, etc.) are mounted on the mounting base 4, and are connected to the fixed base 3. As the mounting base 4 is raised and lowered, these are raised and lowered between a retracted position where the sequin is not sewn and a lowered position where the sequin is sewn.

  Each sequin feed unit 20, 21 includes a sequin feed mechanism 19 for feeding the sequin coupling body 13 toward a predetermined cutting position, and a sequin cutting cutter section (FIG. 7) arranged at the predetermined cutting position. , And the like, which will be described later with reference to FIG. Here, in order to supply the sequin coupling body 13 corresponding to each sequin feeding unit 20, 21, the reel (sequin storage part) 14 around which the desired sequin coupling body 13 is wound is provided as shown in FIG. It is provided in series. The reel 14 corresponding to each sequin feed unit 20, 21 has a sequin coupling body 13 formed by connecting sequins of any shape, color, and size (feed size according to the dimension from the needle through hole to the outer edge). It is wound and stored. That is, by using one sequin feeding device 1, sequins can be sewn by appropriately combining two different sequins as sequins to be sewn in one embroidery pattern. As shown in FIG. 4, two reels 14 (supply sources) each storing sequin coupling bodies 13 of two different kinds of sequins that are suitable for the purpose of the combination sequin design are set. For example, in FIG. 4, the left reel 14 corresponds to the left sequin feed unit 20, and the right reel 14 corresponds to the right sequin feed unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, these two reels 14 are coaxially mounted in parallel with the reel mounting shaft provided on the fixed base 3. Further, the fixed base 3 supports a first roller 15, a second roller 16, and a third roller 17 that guide the sequin coupling body 13 fed out from each reel 14, and the mounting base 4 has a first roller 15. Four rollers 18 are supported. Two of each of these rollers are also provided in parallel. Two tension rollers 10 are provided between the first roller 15 and the second roller 16. The tension roller 10 is supported by tension bases 72 and 73 which are rotatably provided on the shafts of the first roller 15 and the second roller 16, respectively. Torsion springs (not shown) are provided on the shafts of the first roller 15 and the second roller 16, and in FIG. 2, the tension base 72 is urged clockwise and the tension base 73 is urged counterclockwise. The stopper 74 fixed to the base 3 is in contact with each other.

  The sequin coupling body 13 fed out from the reel 14 is passed over the first roller 15, the tension roller 10, the second roller 16, the third roller 17, and the fourth roller 18 in this order as shown in FIG. The sequin feed mechanism 19 is guided. As a result, when the mounting base 4 is retracted to the retracted position, the sequin coupled body 13 is appropriately lifted by the fourth roller 18, and the sequin coupled body 13 is excessively loosened when moving to the retracted position. Does not happen.

  FIG. 7 is a further enlarged view of sequin feed units 20 and 21, sequin selection mechanisms (44 to 50, 60 to 67, etc.) and feed drive mechanisms (51 to 59, etc.) in the sequin feeder 1 as seen from the back side. FIG. 8 is a rear view thereof, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. As is apparent from these drawings, two sequin feed units 20 and 21 are provided facing each other in the mounting base 4, and these units 20 and 21 are provided with a sliding rod 47 provided on the mounting base 4. , 48 can be slid horizontally with respect to the mounting base 4. This sliding operation is performed by a sequin selection mechanism (44-50, 60-67, etc.), and either one of the sequin feed units 20, 21 is selected and connected to a feed drive mechanism (51-59, etc.) By transmitting the driving force of the feed drive mechanism (51-59, etc.) to the one connected sequin feed unit 20, 21, the sequin is sent out from the selected one sequin feed unit 20, 21. Yes.

  The two sequin feed units 20 and 21 provided opposite to each other are composed of the same mechanical elements, but the mechanical arrangement and shape are symmetrical between the two. Therefore, with reference to FIG. 9, only the one sequin feed unit 20 will be described in detail. One sequin feed unit 20 is roughly divided into a support plate 22, a support plate 23 provided horizontally at the lower end of the support plate 22, and various elements (reference numerals 24-35, etc.) mounted on the support plate 22. ) And a cutter part (fixed blade 23b and movable blade 36) disposed at the cutting position of the tip of the support plate 23. The sequin coupling body 13 fed out from the corresponding reel 14 is guided onto the support plate 23 and is fed by the sequin feeding mechanism 19 toward the cutting position, that is, toward the cutter portion. The support plate 23 is provided with a slit 23a having an appropriate width in the front-rear direction (Y direction) (see FIG. 10). As will be described later, the engaging claw 33a of the lock lever 33 in the sequin feed mechanism 19 can enter the slit 23a.

  First, details of the sequin feed mechanism 19 will be described. A linkage arm 25 is fixed to the shaft 24 supported by the support plate 22, and a linkage pin 26 having an inclined surface formed at the tip is fixed to the free end of the linkage arm 25. A swing arm 27 is fixed to the shaft 24 with a screw 28, and a feed lever 29 having a hook portion 29 a formed at the tip of the swing arm 27 is rotatably supported by a shaft 30 at the free end of the swing arm 27. ing. The shaft 30 is provided with a torsion spring (not shown) that urges the feed lever 29 in the clockwise direction, and the tip end side of the feed lever 29 is always urged in a direction approaching the support plate 23. Further, the oscillating arm 27 is urged in the direction in which it abuts against the stopper 31 by the urging of the feed lever 29 in the clockwise direction. The stopper 31 is a screw rod screwed to a bracket 32 fixed to the support plate 22 and is locked by tightening a nut. The swing arm 27 abuts on the rear end thereof. A lock lever 33 is provided above the feed lever 29. The lock lever 33 has an engagement claw (engagement protrusion) 33 a at the tip on one end side and a stopper portion 33 b on the other end side, and an intermediate portion of the lock lever 33 on the support block 34 attached to the support plate 22. On the other hand, it is supported by a pin 35 so as to freely rotate. The engaging claw 33 a of the lock lever 33 passes through a through hole 29 b formed in the feed lever 29. A pin 35 provided on the support block 34 is provided with a torsion spring (not shown), and the lock lever 33 is urged to rotate counterclockwise by the torsion spring. By this urging force, the lock lever 33 is in a posture in which the stopper portion 33b contacts the receiving portion 34a of the support block 34 in the free state, and the end portion of the engaging claw 33a faces the slit 23a of the support plate 23. It is supposed to be retained. The engaging claw 33a of the lock lever 33 held in this posture engages with the sewing hole Sa of one sequin S of the sequin coupling body 13 guided on the support plate 23, and is sewn (disconnected). The sequin coupling 13 is locked so as not to move.

  Next, the details of the cutter unit composed of the fixed blade 23b and the movable blade 36 will be described. A movable blade 36 is rotatably supported by a pin 37 at the tip of the support plate 23, and is always in a retracted position spaced upward from a fixed blade 23b formed on the end edge of the support plate 23 by a torsion spring 38. Is retained. The movable blade 36 is pushed by a needle clamp 40 at the lower end of the needle bar 39, and when it is pressed by the needle clamp 40, it swings against the elasticity of the torsion spring 38, and the fixed blade 23b. The joint Sb (see FIG. 10) of the sequin S at the tip is cut in cooperation with the above. When the needle holder 40 rises together with the needle bar 39, the movable blade 36 returns to the retracted posture by the restoring force of the torsion spring 38.

  Next, a guide mechanism for guiding the sequin coupling body 13 fed out from the reel 14 to each sequin feed unit 20 or 21 will be described with reference to FIG. A bracket 41 is fixed to the support plate 22, and a guide portion 42 that guides the sequin coupling body 13 onto the support plate 23 is provided on the bracket 41. The guide part 42 can be exchanged according to the width of the sequin coupling body 13. A pressing member 43 formed of a plate material having elasticity such as a spring steel plate is fixed to the bracket 41. The free end of the pressing member 43 is in elastic contact with the upper surface of the support plate 23, and the sequin coupling body 13 guided from the guide portion 42 is inserted therebetween.

  Next, the sequin selection mechanism (44-50, 60-67, etc.) will be described. The sequin feed units 20 and 21 having the above-described configuration are fixed to the slide plate 45 via fixing brackets 44 as shown in FIG. A slide body 46 is fixed to the left and right ends of the slide plate 45. Both slide bodies 46 are slidably supported by a first rod 47 fixed to the mounting base 4. A second rod 48 is provided over both fixed brackets 44. The second rod 48 is slidably supported on the two support portions 49 a of the support member 49. The support member 49 is fixed to the bracket 50, and the bracket 50 is fixed to the mounting base 4 (specifically, the bracket 50 is fixed to the mounting base 4 via the bearing body 51).

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which one (hereinafter referred to as “first”) sequin feed unit 20 is selected. FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view of the sequin feed units 20 and 21 and the sequin selection mechanism in the state of FIG. FIG. 12 is a front view similar to FIG. 11, but shows a state where the other (hereinafter referred to as “second”) sequin feed unit 21 is selected. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7, but shows a state where the other sequin feed unit 21 is selected as shown in FIG.

  As apparent from FIG. 11, one end of the connecting arm 60 is pivotally supported on the slide plate 45. The other end of the connecting arm 60 is connected to one end of a rotating arm 62 that is rotatably supported by a motor base 61 fixed to the mounting base 4. A drive arm 64 is fixed to the motor shaft of the motor 63 fixed to the motor base 61, and the free end of the drive arm 64 is connected to the other end of the rotating arm 62 via a connecting metal 65. Accordingly, when the motor 63 is driven to reciprocate, the two sequin feed units 20 and 21 are integrally slid left and right (laterally, that is, in the X direction). The first rod 47 is provided with restricting members 66 for defining the limit of the slide position of the sequin feed units 20 and 21 on the left and right sides of the left slide body 46, respectively. As shown in FIG. 11, when the left slide body 46 is in the slide position where it abuts against the right regulating member 66 via the buffer body 67, the first sequin feed unit 20 is selected and this is sewn to a predetermined stitch. It is in a state where it is positioned at the operating position. FIG. 8 similarly shows a state where the first sequin feed unit 20 is selected. In this state where the first sequin feed unit 20 is selected and positioned at a predetermined sewing operation position, as shown in FIG. 8, the link pin 26 of the link arm 25 of the first sequin feed unit 20 is In addition, the sewing hole Sa of the sequin S that is engaged with the engaging portion 54a of the transmission lever 54 in the feed drive mechanism (51 to 59, etc.) and fed by the first sequin feed unit 20 is in the needle drop position (the needle plate 70). And the position of the needle-passing hole 71).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the left slide body 46 is in the slide position where it abuts the left regulating member 66 via the buffer body 67, the second sequin feed unit 21 is selected and set to a predetermined position. The sewing machine is positioned at the sewing operation position. In this state, the linkage pin 26 of the second sequin feed unit 21 is engaged with the engaging portion 54a of the transmission lever 54 in the feed drive mechanism (51 to 59, etc.) (see FIG. 13), and at the feed unit 21 The sewing hole Sa of the sequin S to be fed coincides with the needle drop position (the position of the needle passage hole 71 of the needle plate 70). In this way, by sliding the two sequin feed units 20 and 21 together, one of the units 20 and 21 is selectively positioned at a predetermined sewing operation position. As will be described later, sequins are sewn using the selected feed unit. As a modification, one sequin feed unit is selectively positioned at a predetermined sewing operation position by selectively moving one of the two sequin feed units 20 and 21 without sliding them integrally. It is also possible to change the design.

  In addition, a sliding operation by a sequin selection mechanism (44 to 50, 60 to 67, etc.) performed to select the sequin feed unit 20 or 21 in order to switch the sequin to be sewn while performing a series of sequin pattern sewing. Is performed while the needle bar 39 is in the upper position. Then, it is not necessary to pause (so-called jump) the vertical movement of the needle bar 39 in order to switch sequins, and the efficiency of the sewing work is improved.

  Next, the feed drive mechanism (51 to 59, etc.) will be described. Referring to FIG. 7 or FIG. 9, a rotating shaft 52 is rotatably supported on the bearing body 51 attached to the attachment base 4, and a driven lever 53 and a transmission lever 54 are supported on the rotating shaft 52. It is fixed. At the free end of the transmission lever 54, an engaging portion 54a formed of a U-shaped recess that engages with the linkage pin 26 of the linkage arm 25 of each sequin feed unit 20, 21 is formed. When the sequin feed units 20 and 21 are slid in the horizontal direction as described above, the engaging pin 54 of the U-shaped recess is formed so that the linking pin 26 of each unit 20 and 21 is relative to the engaging portion 54a. Therefore, only the linkage pin 26 of one selected sequin feed unit 20, 21 is engaged with the engaging portion 54a. In addition, it is good to form the inclined surface in the front-end | tip of each linkage pin 26 so that the engagement may be performed smoothly. Such an inclined surface may be formed on the engaging portion 54a side of the transmission lever 54, or may be formed on both the linkage pin 26 and the engaging portion 54a.

  The free end of the driven lever 53 is connected to the free end of the drive lever 56 via a connecting link 55. The drive lever 56 is fixed to the motor shaft of the motor 57 fixed to the left side surface of the mounting base 4. The rotation shaft 52 is provided with a torsion spring 58, and the driven lever 53 and the transmission lever 54 are oscillated and urged clockwise in FIG. 9, and the contact piece 56 a of the drive lever 56 is always in contact with the stopper 59. It will be. In order to send out sequins, the motor 57 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9, and then rotated (returned) by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction for one reciprocating stroke drive within a predetermined angle range.

  Next, the sequin feed operation by the sequin feed mechanism 19 will be described. In accordance with the counterclockwise rotational drive of the motor 57 during the forward movement, the drive lever 56 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle, and the connection point between the lower end of the connection link 55 and the free end of the driven lever 53 is It is rotated downward by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction, and accordingly, the rotation shaft 52 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle, and the engaging portion 54a at the lower end of the transmission lever 54 is moved backward (right in FIG. 9). Direction, ie counterclockwise). In response to the rear drive of the engaging portion 54a, the linkage pin 26 of the sequin feed mechanism 19 of one feed unit (20 or 21) engaged with the engaging portion 54a moves rearward together. In the sequin feed mechanism 19 of the one feed unit (20 or 21), the linkage arm 25 and the swing arm 27 are moved clockwise in FIG. 9 around the shaft 24 according to the movement of the linkage pin 26. The feed lever 29 supported by the free end (lower end) of the swing arm 27 is moved forward (leftward in FIG. 9). Next, each element is moved in the opposite direction to that described above in accordance with the clockwise rotation drive of the motor 57 during the backward movement, and the feed lever 29 supported by the free end (lower end) of the swing arm 27. Is moved backward (in the right direction in FIG. 9, that is, in the direction of a predetermined cutting position).

  One stroke length of the feed lever 29 at the time of forward movement or backward movement substantially corresponds to the feed amount of one pitch of the sequin coupling body 13. As described in detail in the above-mentioned Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-167097), the sequin feeding operation is performed by sewing the sequin S at the tip end shown in FIG. 10 (and cutting at the joint Sb associated therewith). ) Is done. At this time, the hook portion 29a at the tip of the feed lever 29 is engaged with the sewing hole of the next sequin S1, and the engaging claws 33a of the lock lever 33 are some of them (for example, two ) Engage with the sequin hole that follows.

  This sequin feed operation is the same as that described in detail in the above-mentioned Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-167097), but will be briefly described below. When the feed lever 29 is moved forward (leftward in FIGS. 9 and 10) as described above during the forward movement, first, the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 comes out of the sewn hole of the sequin S1. At the time of withdrawal, the engaging claw 33a of the lock lever 33 is still engaged with the sewing hole of the subsequent sequin, so that the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 is urged to come out of the sewing hole of the sequin S1. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the sequin coupling body 13 from moving. When the feed lever 29 moves further forward (leftward in FIGS. 9 and 10) from this state, the lock lever 33 resists the urging force of the torsion spring by engagement with the lip of the through hole 29b of the feed lever 29. Then, it rotates clockwise in FIG. 9, and the engaging claw 33a is separated upward from the sequin, and the engagement of the engaging claw 33a with the sewn hole of the sequin is released. At the end of the forward stroke, the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 is positioned slightly forward (leftward in FIGS. 9 and 10) slightly ahead of the sequin sewing hole adjacent to the sequin S1 (that is, the sewing stop). The lock lever 33 also remains in the upper position. As a modification, at the end of the forward stroke, the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 may enter the sequin sewing hole adjacent to the sequin S1. During the forward stroke, the sequin coupling body 13 that has been disengaged from the engagement claw 33a of the lock lever 33 is pressed by the spring elasticity of the pressing member 43, so that it moves together with the movement of the feed lever 29. Never move.

  Next, when the feed lever 29 is moved rearward (rightward in FIGS. 9 and 10) as described above at the time of backward movement, the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 is sewn in the sequin hole next to the sequin S1. The sequin coupling body 13 is sent out toward the predetermined cutting position (rightward in FIGS. 9 and 10). In the course of the movement, when the lip of the through hole 29b of the feed lever 29 is separated from the lock lever 33, the lock by the lip of the through hole 29b of the feed lever 29 is released, and the lock lever 33 is moved to the pin 35. It is urged to rotate counterclockwise by the elasticity of the torsion spring provided on. As a result, the engaging claw 33a of the lock lever 33 comes into elastic contact with the upper surface of the sequin coupling body 13 and slides relatively on the upper surface of the sequin. At the end of the backward movement stroke, the tip sequin S1 reaches a predetermined cutting position (that is, the sewing position) in the same manner as the tip sequin S shown in FIG. As described above, the engaging claw 33 a of the lock lever 33 engages with a predetermined sequin sewing hole of the sequin coupling body 13.

Next, an adjustment mechanism (68, 69) for variably adjusting the cutting position (position with respect to the sewing needle 77) in each sequin feed unit 20, 21 will be described. FIG. 14 is a side view of the support plate 22 of one sequin feed unit 21 as viewed from the side opposite to the side where the sequin feed mechanism 19 is provided. As shown in FIG. 14, the support plate 22 is fixed to the fixing bracket 44 with screws 68. A hole 44a through which the screw 68 of the fixing bracket 44 passes is formed as a long hole. The fixing bracket 44 is provided with an adjustment screw (or bolt) 69 whose tip is screwed into a screw hole formed in the support plate 22 so that it can rotate but does not move in the screw shaft direction. . By loosening the screw 68 fixing the support plate 22 and turning the adjustment screw 69 clockwise or counterclockwise, the support plate 22 is linearly moved forward or backward with respect to the fixing bracket 44, and the front and rear positions thereof are changed. Adjusted. After the adjustment to the desired position, the screw 68 is tightened to fix the support plate 22 to the fixing bracket 44.
By the way, by adjusting the position of the support plate 22, the position of the linkage pin 26 of the linkage arm 25 also moves back and forth, and the positional relationship of the transmission lever 54 at the return position with respect to the engaging portion 54 a becomes out of order. When adjusting the position of the support plate 22, the screw 81 (see FIG. 8) that fixes the linkage arm 25 to the shaft 24 is loosened in advance so that the linkage arm 25 is in a free state. When this is done, the transmission lever 54 at the return position does not swing, and after adjustment, the screw 81 may be tightened to fix the linkage arm 25 to the shaft 24.

  By adjusting the position of the support plate 22, the front / rear position of the sequin feed unit 21 is adjusted. Since the position (horizontal direction position) of the sewing needle 77 attached to the needle bar 39 of the sewing machine head is relatively fixed, the adjustment of the front / rear position of the sequin feed unit 21 with respect to the sewing needle 77 is performed. The position of the cutter part (36, 23b), that is, the cutting position (the horizontal distance between the vertical movement axis of the sewing needle 77 and the fixed blade 23b) is adjusted. This cutting position is adjusted according to the sequin size of the sequin coupling body 13 set in the sequin feed unit 21 (distance from the sewing hole Sa to the joint Sb shown in FIG. 10). Therefore, when the reel (sequin storage portion) 14 attached corresponding to the feed unit 21 is replaced with the reel (sequin storage portion) 14 storing the sequin coupling body 13 of a different size (feed size) than before. Then, the cutting position is adjusted. Specifically, for example, when a reel 14 containing a sequin coupling body 13 is newly mounted, the sequin coupling body 13 is drawn out therefrom and placed on the support plate 23, and the sequin S at the tip thereof is shown in FIG. In this way, the joint Sb comes out before the fixed blade 23b so as to match the position of the fixed blade 23b, and the center of the sewing hole Sa of the sequin S at the tip matches the center of the sewing needle 77. As described above, the front and rear positions of the feed unit 21 are adjusted by turning the adjustment screw 69 clockwise or counterclockwise.

  The distance from the center of the sewing needle 77 to the fixed blade 23b is determined based on the distance data from the sewing hole Sa of the sequin stored in the mounted reel 14 to the joining portion Sb. While measuring, this measured distance may be adjusted to be equal to the distance indicated by the data. Further, adjustment based on data and copying adjustment may be combined. Further, an appropriate scale is provided in relation to the adjustment screw 69 so that the correspondence between the current setting state of the adjustment screw 69 and the cutting position (the distance from the center of the sewing needle 77 to the fixed blade 23b) can be grasped. Also good. The adjusting mechanism is not limited to the one using the adjusting screw 69 but may be one using another linear displacement mechanism. Alternatively, the front and rear positions of the support plate 22 may be adjusted by grasping and moving the support plate 22 by hand in a state where the screw 68 fixing the support plate 22 is loosened without providing the adjustment screw 69. Conversely, the cutting position may be variably adjusted by automatically linearly displacing the corresponding sequin feed unit 20 or 21 using a driving means such as a linear motor.

  The mechanism for adjusting the cutting position of the other sequin feed unit 20 is also configured in the same manner as described above. However, each sequin feed unit 20, 21 can independently adjust its cutting position, that is, the position of the cutter portion (36, 23b) with respect to the sewing needle 77, that is, the cutting position. That is, each sequin feed unit 20, 21 can be slid integrally with the fixed bracket 44 in the lateral direction according to the movement of the slide plate 45, but is independent of the fixed bracket 44 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the cutting position can be adjusted independently. Thus, when the respective cut positions are adjusted in accordance with the sequin size (distance from the sequin sewn hole Sa to the joint Sb) of the sequin coupling body 13 set in each sequin feed unit 20, 21, If they are different, as shown in FIG. 15, the arrangement positions of the front and rear of the support plates 23 of the feeding units 20 and 21, that is, the positions of the cutter portions (36, 23b) are appropriately different.

  Next, variable setting of the sequin feed amount (feed pitch) of the sequin feed mechanism 19 in each sequin feed unit 20, 21 will be described. In any of the sequin feed units 20 and 21, when a reel 14 containing a sequin coupling body 13 whose feed pitch is to be adjusted is newly installed, the sequin feed amount (feed pitch) of the sequin feed mechanism 19 of the unit 20 or 21 is set. ). First, the screw 28 (see FIG. 9) that fixes the swing lever 27 is loosened so that the swing lever 27 can be easily turned by hand with respect to the rotating shaft 24. Further, the nut screw of the stopper 31 is loosened to release the lock, and the sequin coupling body 13 is fed out from the reel 14 onto the support plate 23 so that the sequin S at the tip thereof is ahead of the fixed blade 23b as shown in FIG. So that the joint Sb matches the position of the fixed blade 23b. This state corresponds to a state in which the sequin feed for one pitch of the sequin feed mechanism 19 has been completed. In this “feed end state”, the swing lever 27 and the feed lever 29 are moved by hand, and the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 is engaged with the sewing hole of the second sequin S1 from the tip. That is, the swing lever 27 and the feed lever 29 are made to follow the “feed end state” of one pitch for the sequin. In this way, in order to fix the state of the swing lever 27 and the feed lever 29 following the “feed end state”, the nut of the stopper 31 is tightened and locked, and the screw 28 is tightened to the rotation shaft 24. The swing lever 27 is fixed.

  Next, the lock block 33 of the lock lever 33 is unlocked and the lock lever 33, the feed lever 29, and the sequin coupling body 13 on the support plate 23 are left in the “feed end state” as described above. The lever 33 is adjusted. In a state where the stopper portion 33b at the upper end of the lock lever 33 is in contact with the receiving portion 34a of the support block 34, the engagement claw 33a of the lock lever 33 has a predetermined sequin (feed lever) in the sequin coupling body 13 on the support plate 23. The position of the lock lever 33 is adjusted by manually adjusting the front / rear position of the support block 34 so that it engages with several (for example, two sequins subsequent to the sequin S1) with which the 29 hooks 29a are engaged. Adjust. With the position of the lock lever 33 adjusted as described above, the support block 34 is locked.

  When the sequin feed amount (feed pitch) of the sequin feed mechanism 19 is variably set, first, as described above, the “feed end state”, that is, the start / end position of the reciprocating stroke for feeding one pitch is set and adjusted. This is done by adjusting the mechanical position of the swing lever 27, the feed lever 29 and the lock lever 33. Next, for the position of the end of the forward stroke in the reciprocating stroke in which the feed for one pitch is performed = the start position of the reverse stroke, the rotation range of the motor 57 that performs the feed drive for one pitch is set to one pitch of the feed lever 29. This is done by setting data to a value corresponding to the feed amount. This data setting may be set by performing a manual setting operation on the operation panel 90 (FIG. 1) of the sewing machine, or may be incorporated as sequin feed amount setting data in the embroidery sewing data. It may be. Of course, data setting for setting the feed amount for one pitch is performed independently for each of the units 20 and 21. That is, the common motor 57 is used for the feed drive, but when the feed drive for the first sequin feed unit 20 is performed, the feed drive amount (rotation range) set for the unit 20 is used. When the motor 57 is drive-controlled and feed driving for the second sequin feed unit 21 is performed, the motor 57 is driven and controlled by the feed driving amount (rotation range) set for the unit 21.

  Basically, it is only necessary to feed the sequins to be fed out with a size (diameter) of 1 pitch. However, practically, in order to make the sequin linking body 13 fed out more reliably, the sequin size ( A value slightly larger than (diameter) is set as the feed amount for one pitch of the feed lever 29. For example, in the case of a sequin having a diameter of 6 mm, the one feed pitch is set to about 7 mm, or in the case of a sequin having a diameter of 4 mm, the one feed pitch is set to about 5 mm. Thus, by setting the feed amount for one pitch of the feed lever 29 to a value slightly larger than the sequin size (diameter), as described above, at the end of the forward stroke of the feed lever 29, the feed lever 29 is fed. The hooking portion 29a of the lever 29 is positioned slightly forward (leftward in FIGS. 9 and 10) slightly beyond the sewing hole of the subsequent sequin next to the first sequin S1 (that is, does not enter the sewing hole). ) As soon as the return stroke starts from this state, the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 enters and engages with the sequin hole of the subsequent sequin next to the front sequin S1, and the sequin coupling body 13 is disconnected. Can be sent in the direction of In principle, the feed amount for one pitch of the feed lever 29 may be set to the same value as the sequin size (diameter). In this case, the end of the forward stroke of the feed lever 29 is caused by an error. Thus, the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 may stop before entering the sewing hole of the succeeding sequin next to the first sequin S1 and stop. If this happens, even if the feed lever 29 starts the backward stroke next time, the hooking portion 29a of the feed lever 29 will not engage with the sequin sewing hole, and the feed operation of the sequin coupling body 13 will not be performed. Become. In order to prevent such inconvenience, it is preferable to set the feed amount for one pitch of the feed lever 29 to a value slightly larger than the sequin size (diameter).

  Next, an example of performing a sequin sewing operation using the above-described sequin feeder 1 will be described. When performing sequin sewing using the sewing machine head H in which the sequin feed device 1 is set, two different sequin feed units 20 and 21 are used by switching between them in a series of sewing patterns. Sequins can be sewn freely. According to the present invention, as described above, the sequin feed units 20 and 21 can arbitrarily set and change the sequin feed pitch, so that the shape and color differ from these two different types of sequins. Not only the size (diameter) may be different. Further, even with the same sequin feed device 1, sequins of any size (diameter), that is, a feed pitch can be sewn each time according to the design of sequin sewing. The sewing control described below is performed by a control device (computer or the like) (not shown) that realizes the sewing control according to the procedure described below based on the sewing pattern data of a desired sequin pattern related to two types of sequin combination embroidery. It is realized by executing the program. Although these sewing control procedures are omitted from the flow chart of the program, such a flow chart can be easily realized from the description of the sewing control procedure below.

  First, according to the design of two kinds of sequin combination embroidery to be sewn, two reels 14 each having a sequin coupling body 13 of different shapes, colors and sizes wound and stored are prepared, and each sequin feed is prepared. Corresponding to the units 20 and 21, they are set in parallel on the base 3. The sequin coupling body 13 is fed out from both reels 14 and is passed over the first roller 15, the tension roller 10, the second roller 16, the third roller 17, and the fourth roller 18 in this order, and then to the sequin feed units 20 and 21. invite. In FIG. 4, the sequin coupling body 13 fed from the right reel 14 is guided to the support plate 23 of the right feed unit 21, and the sequin coupling body 13 fed from the left reel 14 is guided to the support plate 23 of the left feeding unit 20. . At this time, the guide portions 42 (FIG. 9) corresponding to the respective sequin feed units 20 and 21 are also replaced if necessary in accordance with the lateral width of the sequin coupling body 13. Then, in each sequin feed unit 20, 21, various adjustments described above (“cutting position” adjustment, “feed amount” adjustment, etc.) are performed in accordance with the sequin size of the set sequin coupling body 13. These various adjustments may be performed in an appropriate order.

  When all prescribed adjustments and settings have been completed, the sewing machine starts running. When the sewing machine operation starts, a sequin embroidery sewing operation is executed based on the sewing pattern data of a desired sequin pattern that uses a combination of at least two types of sequins in accordance with the control of the control device. For example, the sewing pattern data of a desired sequin pattern includes embroidery sewing data (an embroidery frame is driven in accordance with the desired sewing pattern in an XY manner) in an existing embroidery sewing data format programmed to realize the desired sewing pattern. The data includes data for selecting (switching) sequins used for sewing corresponding to each of the initial stitch and any one or a plurality of stitches. First, based on data for selecting a sequin corresponding to the initial stitch, it is instructed which of the two sequin feed units 20 and 21 should be used. For example, when the first sequin feed unit 20 is instructed, the motor 63 is driven to position the first sequin feed unit 20 at the sewing operation position as shown in FIG. In this state, the motor 57 is driven for each sewing operation, the swing arm 27 of the first sequin feed unit 20 is swung, and the sequin coupling body 13 is fed out. The leading sequin S of the fed sequin coupling body 13 is sewn to the fabric stretched on the embroidery frame 80 by the sewing needle 77, and at the same time, the movable blade 36 is driven downward by the needle clamp 40 of the needle bar 39 that has moved downward. The sequined top sequin S is cut off from the sequin coupling body 13. In this way, the sequin fed from the first sequin feed unit 20 is sewn.

  When a stitch for switching sequins comes along with the progress of sequin sewing, for example, the second sequin feed unit 21 is instructed based on the embroidery sewing data. Then, while the needle bar 39 is on the upper side, the motor 63 is driven to position the second sequin feed unit 21 at the sewing operation position as shown in FIG. As a result, the drive of the motor 57 is transmitted to the swing arm 27 of the second sequin feed unit 21, and thereafter, the sequin coupling body 13 of the second sequin feed unit 21 is sent to the cutting position. become. In order to perform the sequin switching slide and the sequin sending out while the needle bar 39 is in the upward direction in one cycle of the vertical movement of the needle bar 39, the sequin switching slide operation is performed first, and then the motor 57 Performs one reciprocating stroke drive for sending out sequins. In this way, the sequin fed from the second sequin feed unit 21 is now sewn. Thereafter, the sequin feed unit used for sewing can be switched to the other as needed.

  In this way, sequin can be switched from one to the other at any time without stopping the sewing machine rotation and without causing the needle bar 39 to jump. Of course, the method of switching control is not limited to this, and the needle bar 39 may be jumped during a sliding operation for switching sequins.

  The embroidery sewing data is not limited to the example in which the sequin selection (switching) data is included only in correspondence with the stitch for switching sequins as described above, but the sequin selection (switching) data is included for each stitch. It may be left.

  Further, the slide control for sequin switching is not limited to the one based on the embroidery sewing data as in the above example, but may be automatically performed based on a predetermined sequin switching pattern, or the operator However, it may be performed manually at any time by operating the operation panel 90. The predetermined sequin switching pattern is, for example, that the sequins of the first unit 20 are continuously sewed by a predetermined number n and then the sequins of the second unit 21 are continuously sewed by a predetermined number m. The sequins to be sewn are switched by repeating this pattern. In this case, it is preferable that the operator can arbitrarily set and change the values of n and m manually by operating the operation panel 90. Alternatively, a plurality of sequin switching patterns may be prepared in advance, and an operator may select an arbitrary pattern by operating the operation panel 90 from among them.

  In addition, in the said Example, although the two sequin feed units 20 and 21 which have a symmetrical structure were provided facing each other, you may install the sequin feed units 20 and 21 of the same structure in the same direction. In this case, the linkage arm 25 that fixes the linkage pin 26 is changed to a shape that can be slipped through without interfering with the transmission lever 54 when the units 20 and 21 are slid. Further, when the shape / structure of the linkage arm 25 is changed as such, not only the two sequin feed units 20 and 21 but also three or more sequin feed units can be arranged side by side so that they can be selected. The number of possible sequins can be increased to more than three.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cutting position of each sequin feed unit 20, 21 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the support plate 22 (the entire sequin feed unit), but the support plate 23 is positioned relative to the support plate 22. The adjustment may be performed and the position adjustment of only the support plate 23 may be performed. In that case, as a mechanism for linearly displacing the support plate 23, a rotating linear conversion mechanism such as the adjusting screw 69 described above, a linear motor, or the like may be appropriately used.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the sequin feeder 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 16 is a right side view of the sequin feeder 100 according to the second embodiment. The sequin feeder 100 according to the second embodiment is provided with a detection device 101 for detecting that the sequin coupling body 13 wound around the reel 14 has been supplied. That is, the detection device 101 detects whether or not the supply of the sequin coupling body 13 supplied from the supply source (reel 14) to each of the sequin feed units 20 and 21 is interrupted. In addition, because of the arrangement of the detection device 101, the arrangement of the rollers for guiding the sequin coupling body 13 fed out from the reel 14 is the same as that of the first embodiment in the sequin feeding device 100 according to the second embodiment. Although somewhat different from the sequin feeder 1, both embodiments are the same with respect to the other configurations.

  FIGS. 17 to 20 are enlarged views of configuration examples of the detection apparatus 101. FIG. 17 is a right side view, FIG. 18 is a view taken along an arrow A in FIG. 17, and FIG. It is sectional drawing. The mounting bracket 102 of the detection device 101 includes a mounting portion 102a that is mounted on the base 3 and a first base plate 102b that is bent at a right angle from the mounting portion 102a. As shown in FIG. 18, the first base plate 102 b is provided with inverted T-shaped protrusions 103 at the lower edge, and guide pieces 103 a and 103 b for guiding the sequin coupling body 13 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the protrusion 103. It extends. A second base plate 104 having substantially the same shape as the first base plate 102 b is attached to the mounting bracket 102 in parallel with the first base plate 102 b via a stud 105. That is, the second base plate 104 is provided with guide pieces 104a and 104b similar to the guide pieces 103a and 103b of the first base plate 102b. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 19, two rows of sequin coupling bodies 13 hanging from above are supported (guided) on the left and right of the guide pieces 103a and 103b (104a and 104b), respectively, and the sequin coupling of each row is performed. The body 13 is guided between two points by guide pieces 103a and 104a (103b and 104b) that move back and forth. Between the first and second base plates 102 b and 104, a right lever 106 and a left lever 107 are rotatably attached by pins provided on the projecting piece 103. Both levers 106 and 107 are extended to arms 106a and 107a that can abut on the sequin coupling body 13 spanned between the upper and lower guide pieces 103a and 104a (103b and 104b). Detection pieces (metal) 106b and 107b are provided, and knobs 108 are attached to the free ends of both arms 106a and 107a, respectively.

Each lever 106, 107 corresponds to a displacement member that is displaced between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the displacement member (lever 106, 107) is in contact with the sequin coupling body 13 and stopped, and the second position is the displacement member (the displacement member (lever 106, 107) is stopped when the sequin coupling body 13 is interrupted). The levers 106 and 107) pass through the first position without coming into contact with the sequin coupling body (13).
FIG. 18 shows a state in which two rows of sequin coupling bodies 13 are respectively hung on the left and right guide pieces 103a and 103b (104a and 104b). In this state, the arms 106a and 107a of the right lever 106 and the left lever 107 rotated downward by the weight of each knob 108 are in contact with the respective sequin coupling bodies 13 from above, and the levers 106 and 107 are Located in the first position. On the other hand, when the sequin coupling body 13 is not stretched over the guide pieces 103a, 103b (104a, 104b) (that is, when the sequin coupling body 13 is interrupted), the knob as in the right lever 106 shown in FIG. The arm 106a that rotates clockwise by its own weight 108 passes through between the guide pieces 103a and 104a through the arm 106a that rotates downward, and the knob 108 is oriented in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Located at position 2.

  On the upper surface of the second base plate 104, a magnetic sensor 109 is provided on the rotation trajectory of the detection pieces 106b and 107b, and a permanent magnet 110 facing the magnetic sensor 109 is attached to the lower surface of the first base plate 102b. As shown in FIG. 18, when the detection pieces 106b and 107b do not block between the magnetic sensor 109 and the permanent magnet 110, the magnetic sensor 109 is in the ON state. When the right sequin coupling body 13 disappears and the right lever 106 rotates in the clockwise direction, that is, when it changes from the first position to the second position, the detection piece 106b becomes the magnetic sensor 109 and the permanent magnet 110 as shown in FIG. Is temporarily interrupted, and the magnetic sensor 109 is turned off. Thereby, it can be detected that the sequined linked body 13 fed out from the reel 14 is lost.

  Furthermore, the operation of the detection apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment when sewing sequins will be described. First, as in the case of the first embodiment, two reels 14 each having a sequin coupling body 13 having different shapes and sizes are wound and stored in the base 3 in parallel. As shown in FIG. 16, the sequin coupling body 13 fed out from both reels 14 is guided to the respective sequin feed units 20 and 21 after being passed over the respective rollers and the detection device 101. The sequin coupling body 13 is set on the left and right guide pieces 103a, 104a, 103b, and 104b to the detection device 101, respectively. For example, a case where the sequin coupling body 13 is set to the detection apparatus 101 on the right side will be described. When the sequin coupling body 13 is not set on the right side, the right lever 106 is in a position (second position) where the knob 108 is directed in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Hold the knob 108 of the right lever 106 in the second position and rotate it counterclockwise so that the arm 106a of the right lever 106 is located above the position (first position) shown in FIG. The right sequin connector 13 is inserted and set between the arm 106a and the guide pieces 103a and 104a. As a result, the right lever 106 is received by the upper surface of the sequin coupling body 13 spanned between two points by the adjacent guide pieces 103a and 104a, and the arm 106a is turned sideways (the first position shown in FIG. 18). Position). The left sequin coupling body 13 is set in the same manner with respect to the left side of the detection apparatus 101.

  When the sequin coupling body 13 is set and sequin sewing is started, the levers 106 and 107 are held at the first position shown in FIG. 18 while the sequin coupling body 13 is present, and the magnetic sensor 109 is The magnetism of the permanent magnet 110 is detected and the ON state continues. As the sequin sewing progresses, for example, when the right sequin coupling body 13 is completely supplied and the sequin coupling body 13 disappears from the right guide pieces 103a and 104a, the right lever 106 is shown in FIG. Move to the second position. At this time, when the detection piece 106b of the right lever 106 passes between the magnetic sensor 109 and the permanent magnet 110, the magnetism of the permanent magnet 110 is temporarily cut off, and the magnetic sensor 109 is temporarily turned off. Return to the ON state. The output of the magnetic sensor 109 is supplied to a control device (not shown). When the control device detects that the output of the magnetic sensor 109 is in the OFF state, the control device determines that the sequin coupling body 13 has disappeared, automatically stops the sewing machine, and uses appropriate visual and / or audible means. Thus, the operator is notified that the sequin coupling body 13 has been lost.

  By the way, in the detection apparatus 101 described above, when the lever 106 or 107 is held at the second position, the magnetic sensor 109 is in the ON state. When performing sequin sewing with only one sequin coupling body 13 (no sequin color change), the sequin coupling body 13 is set such that the levers 106 and 107 on the side where the sequin coupling body 13 is not set are retracted. There is no need to prevent undetected side states from being detected. Therefore, when performing one kind of sequin sewing, there is no need to perform extra control, which is convenient. At this time, the lever 106 or 107 on the side where the sequin coupling body 13 is not set is held so that the knob 108 is directed in the vertical direction only by the weight of the knob 108, and therefore the vibration of the embroidery sewing machine is large. And the lever 106 or 107 may rotate and may be erroneously detected. To avoid this, when the levers 106 and 107 are in the second position (the position where the knob 108 points in the vertical direction), a leaf spring that suppresses the movement of the levers 106 and 107 so as not to swing due to vibration. You may provide holding members, such as. Alternatively, a biasing member such as a torsion spring that normally biases the levers 106 and 107 so as to be positioned at the second position (position where the knob 108 points in the vertical direction) may be provided. In this case, it is preferable to provide a stopper for stopping the biased levers 106 and 107 at the second position.

  In the second embodiment, the detection device 101 only detects that one of the two sequined links 13 in the two rows of sequined links 13 is not present. It is not detected whether there is no state. This is because a necessary and sufficient function can be achieved by automatically stopping the sewing machine based on the detection that one of the sequin coupling bodies 13 is not present or notifying the operator. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a detection device may be provided corresponding to each row of the sequin linked bodies 13 so that it can be detected which sequin linked body 13 is not present.

Note that the detection device (101) for detecting that the sequin coupling body 13 is not present is provided with two rows (or a plurality of rows) of sequin coupling bodies 13 as in the first and second embodiments. Thus, the present invention can be applied not only to the type of sequin feeder 1 that can select sequins, but also to a conventional type of sequin feeder that performs a feeding operation of only one row of sequin couplings. In that case, the configuration of the detection apparatus 101 shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 is used as it is, and the sequin coupling body 13 is guided only by one of the left and right guide pieces 103a and 104a (or 103b and 104b). You can do it. Alternatively, the configuration of the detection apparatus 101 shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 is modified to provide one of the left and right guide pieces 103a, 104a (or 103b, 104b) and the corresponding lever 106 (or 107). What should I do?
The detection device 101 is not limited to a magnetic sensor, and any detection means such as an optical sensor or a mechanical sensor may be used.

[Other ideas or changes]
A spring member for pressing the reel 14 from the side is provided at a place where the two reels 14 are set in parallel so that the reel 14 does not rotate excessively. Therefore, the two reels 14 arranged in parallel act to rotate together, and when the reel 14 that is being sewn is rotated, the reel 14 that is not sewn is also rotated together and sequined. The connecting body 13 may loosen and adversely affect sewing. In order to avoid this, it is desirable to take measures to prevent the two reels 14 from rotating together. As a countermeasure, it is preferable to provide a washer between the two reels 14 by forming a key groove on the reel mounting shaft that supports the reel 14 and forming a key that fits in the key groove on the inner peripheral edge. In addition, a part of the reel mounting shaft may be a flat surface (substantially D-shaped), and a washer provided with a hole having the same shape may be provided between the two reels 14. In this way, the two reels 14 do not rotate together, and the side pressing by the spring member acts on both of the two reels 14.

  The mounting base 4 may be stopped at an intermediate position between the lowered position and the retracted position. For example, when switching from sequin sewing to embroidery with a sequin needle bar, conventionally, the mounting base 4 is kept in the lowered position without stopping the sewing machine. To the middle position. As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem that the movable blade 36 is easily damaged and the sewing machine noise increases due to the movable blade 36 being hit unnecessarily by the needle holder 40. And the time required for the raising / lowering may be short, and there is no loss of working time compared with the case where it is performed in the lowered position in order not to stop the sewing machine. At this time, the needle bar may be in a jump state, and even in this case, the loss of work time is small. The intermediate position may be anywhere as long as the movable blade 36 is not hit by the needle holder 40. When the sewing machine can be stopped at the intermediate position as described above, the attachment base 4 may be retracted from the intermediate position to the retracted position when the sewing machine is stopped. Further, when the lifting / lowering of the mounting base 4 is carried out by the operator, whether to keep the lowered position or raise it to the intermediate position or the retracted position in various predetermined states such as when performing thread trimming or detecting thread breakage. It may be set individually.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the sequin feeder 1 is attached to the left end of the needle bar case 2, the right sequin feeder unit 21 of the two sequin feeder units 20, 21 in the sequin feeder 1 is set as the sewing operation position. The state to be used is set as the reference position, and when the sequin sewing is not performed, it is preferable to set it to the reference position (set the right sequin feed unit 21 to the sewing operation position). As a result, the sequin feeding device 1 does not get in the way of threading to the needle bar located on the right side of the sequin needle bar in the needle bar case 2, and the threading can be performed easily. When the sequin feed device 1 is attached to the right end of the needle bar case 2, the state where the left sequin feed unit 20 is in the sewing operation position is preferably set as the reference position, contrary to the above.

  For each sequin feeder 1, a delivery switch for instructing an operation for delivering the sequin coupling body 13 and a changeover switch for instructing to switch the sequin feed unit to be delivered to either the left or right unit 20 or 21. Alternatively, a lift switch for instructing to raise or lower the sequin feeder 1 may be provided so that the operator can manually instruct a desired operation by manually operating the desired switch.

  During sewing operation, the embroidery sewing data may be read ahead for several stitches and sequin switching may be performed at the stitch before the sewing is performed. Specifically, when a stitch to be sewn is identified by switching the sequin by prefetching the embroidery sewing data, it is determined whether the sequin can be switched with the previous stitch. If the previous stitch is a stitch that does not send out sequins, it is possible to switch the sequins, and the sequins are switched at the previous stitch. If the previous stitch is a stitch that sends out sequins, it is impossible to switch sequins, and jump stitch data that jumps the needle bar between stitches is inserted, and sequin switching is performed while the needle bar is jumping. To.

  Switching of sequins at this time will be described by taking as an example a case where the sequin patterns shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 are sewn. The sequin patterns shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 are obtained by alternately sewing sequins of different sizes. A large sequin A is a sequin feed unit 21 and a small sequin B is a sequin feed unit 20. It shall be sewn. In both figures, P1 is the first stitch, P2 is the second stitch, and P3, P4,. . . It continues with. As is clear from this, in the sequin pattern shown in FIG. 21, stitches that do not sew sequins are provided between the sequins A and B. In FIG. 22, different sequins A and B are continuously different for each stitch. The form is sewn.

  The processing procedure by the control device (computer) for sewing the sequin pattern shown in FIG. 21 will be described. First, the sequin feed unit 21 is positioned at the sewing operation position corresponding to sequin A to be sewn first, and then In addition, the first stitch seam P1 is formed without sewing sequins. Next, the sequin A is sent out by the sequin feed unit 21, and the sequin A is sewn by the seam P2 of the second stitch. Based on the pre-reading of the embroidery sewing data, the sewing of the sequin B of the fourth stitch is identified, and it is determined whether the sequin switching at the previous third stitch is possible. Since the third stitch is a stitch that does not send out sequins and sequin switching is possible, it is determined that sequin switching is performed by the third stitch. Based on this, the sequin feed unit 20 is then positioned at the sewing operation position corresponding to sequin B, and then the third stitch seam P3 is sewn without sequins being sewn. At this time, switching of the sequin feed unit to be positioned at the sewing operation position is performed when the needle bar between the second needle and the third needle is above. Next, the sequin B is sent out by the sequin feed unit 20 already positioned at the sewing operation position, and the sequin B is sewn by the stitch P4 of the fourth stitch. Next, after the sequin feed unit 21 corresponding to the sequin A is positioned at the sewing operation position in the same manner as described above, the fifth stitch seam P5 in which the sequin is not sewn is formed. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated in the same manner, and a sequin pattern as shown in FIG. 21 is sewn.

  The processing procedure by the control device (computer) for sewing the sequin pattern shown in FIG. 22 will be described. First, the sequin feed unit 21 is positioned at the sewing operation position corresponding to sequin A to be sewn first, and thereafter The first stitch seam P1 is formed. Next, the sequin A is sent out by the sequin feed unit 21, and the sequin A is sewn by the seam P2 of the second stitch. Sewing of the third stitch Sequin B is identified by pre-reading the embroidery data, and it is determined whether or not sequin switching at the second stitch before that is possible. Since the second stitch is a stitch for sewing sequin A, it is determined that sequin switching is impossible, and jump stitch data for jumping the needle bar is inserted between the second stitch and the third stitch. As a result, the needle bar is jumped by a jump stitch, and the sequin feed unit 20 is positioned at the sewing operation position corresponding to sequin B. Next, the sequin B is sent out by the sequin feed unit 20, and the sequin B is sewn by the seam P3 of the third stitch. Next, jump stitch data is inserted in the same manner as described above, the needle bar is jumped, and the sequin feed unit 21 corresponding to sequin A is positioned at the sewing operation position. Next, the sequin A is sent out by the sequin feed unit 21, and the sequin A is sewn by the seam P4 of the fourth stitch. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated and the sequin pattern shown in FIG. 22 is sewn. In this way, by switching the sequins in the stitches before the sewing is performed, the sequins may be switched and sent out in different stitches.

Even when there is a stitch that does not send out sequins before the stitch that sews sequins, as in the sequin pattern shown in FIG. 21, it is determined that sequin switching is impossible when the embroidery frame 80 moves to the near side. You may make it do. This is because when the embroidery frame 80 moves to the near side, the previous stitch position enters below the sequin feed units 20 and 21, and the upper thread T is moved to the tip of the sequin feed units 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. 36), and when the front and rear positions of the sequin feed units 20 and 21 are different from each other as shown in FIG. 15 according to the size of the sequin, for example, the sequin feed unit 21 is switched to the sequin feed unit 20. This is because the upper thread T may enter the cutter portion (36, 23b) of the sequin feed unit 20. When the upper thread T enters the cutter section (36, 23b), not only the sewing is affected, but the upper thread T is cut by the movable blade 36 when sewing sequins. In this way, when it is impossible to switch sequins when the embroidery frame 80 moves to the near side, it is further determined whether or not sequins can be switched in the previous stitch, and the stitches send out sequins. When the embroidery frame 80 does not move to the near side with no stitches, sequin switching is performed with the stitches. On the other hand, if it is impossible to switch sequins even in the stitch, jump stitch data is inserted. Incidentally, the upper thread T cutter unit in order to reliably prevented from entering the (36,23b), said upper thread to the needle thread T from entering the cutter unit (36,23b) to sequin feed units 20 and 21 A guide member for guiding T may be provided. Alternatively, the sewing speed of the sewing machine may be reduced by a pre-reading of the embroidery sewing data so that the sewing speed of the sewing machine is lowered before the number of stitches to switch the sequin, and the sewing speed may be returned when the sequin is not switched for a certain stitch.

  Next, an example of creating a sequin pattern composed of a new pattern using the present invention will be described. Using the sequin feeding device 1 according to the present invention, a sequin pattern composed of a new pattern that has not existed before is created by stitching two sequins C and D of different types as shown in FIG. Can do. An example of the sewing processing procedure by the control device (computer) in this case will be described with reference to FIG. First, the sequin feed unit (20 or 21) used for sewing sequin C is positioned at the sewing operation position, and then the first stitch seam P1 shown in FIG. 25A is formed. Next, the sequin C is sent out, and the sequin C is sewn by the seam P2 of the second stitch. Next, the other sequin feed unit (21 or 20) is positioned at the sewing operation position, and then the third stitch seam P3 is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 25 (b), the sequin D is sent out, and the sequin D is sewn by the seam P4 of the fourth stitch. Thereafter, in order to securely seize sequins C and D, stitches P5, P6, and P7 of fifth, sixth, and seventh stitches are sequentially formed as shown in FIG. During this time, the sequin feed unit (20 or 21) for sewing the next sequin C is positioned at the sewing operation position, and the next sequin C is sewn with the eighth stitch. Thereafter, the operations of the third to eighth stitches are similarly repeated, and a sequin pattern as shown in FIG. 24 is sewn. In the above-described sewing, there are portions where a plurality of seams overlap. In that case, the seam may be formed at the same position, or the seam may be formed at a slightly shifted position.

[Another example of sequin feeder]
Another embodiment of the sequin feeder is shown in FIG. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the sequin feed device 120 as viewed from the back side. The feed drive mechanism 121, the sequin selection mechanism 122, the left sequin feed unit 123, and the right sequin feed unit 124 that constitute the sequin feed device 120 are shown. The part is shown enlarged. In this sequin feed device 120, an adjustment mechanism for variably adjusting the cutting position (position with respect to the sewing needle 77) in the sequin feed unit is provided in each sequin feed unit 123, 124, and the cutting adjusted according to the size of the sequin. The position is maintained even when the sequin feed units 123 and 124 are detached from the sequin feed device 120. Further, the sequin feed units 123 and 124 can be attached to the sequin feed device 120 in a fixed position at a predetermined position.

  The configuration of the sequin feed units 123 and 124 and their attachment portions will be described. The sequin selection mechanism 122 includes base members 125 for attaching sequin feed units 123 and 124 on both the left and right sides. The sequin feed units 123 and 124 include a mounting bracket 126, and a mounting groove 126a and a hole 126b are formed in the mounting bracket 126. The sequin feed units 123 and 124 can be detachably fixed to the base member 125 with two stepped screws 132. The height of the groove 126a of the mounting bracket 126 and the diameter of the hole 126b are stepped. The shaft 132a of the screw 132 is dimensioned to enter without play. As a result, the mounting bracket 126 is always positioned at the same position with respect to the base member 125.

  The mounting bracket 126 is fixed to the support plate 127 with two fixing screws 128. The attachment portion of the fixing screw 128 of the support plate 127 is formed in a stepped shape between a through-hole through which the screw portion of the fixing screw 128 passes and an enlarged diameter portion into which the head portion of the fixing screw 128 enters, and these portions extend in the front-rear direction. It is a hole. A guide hole 126c extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the mounting bracket 126, and a guide pin 129 fixed to the support plate 127 is fitted into the guide hole 126c. An adjustment screw 130 is rotatably supported on a support portion 126d bent at a right angle of the mounting bracket 126, but is supported so as not to move in the screw axis direction, and the tip end portion of the adjustment screw 130 is fixed to the support plate 127. The receiving member 131 is screwed into the screw hole. Therefore, in accordance with the rotation of the adjusting screw 130, the screw 130 is not linearly displaced, and the receiving member 131 and the support plate 127 in which the screw holes are formed are linearly displaced. Accordingly, when the two fixing screws 128 are loosened and the adjusting screw 130 is turned clockwise or counterclockwise, the support plate 127 is linearly moved forward or backward with respect to the mounting bracket 126, and the front-rear position thereof is adjusted. It becomes. The configuration of the sequin feeding device 120 other than that described above is the same as the sequin feeding device 1 of the first embodiment, although the shape and arrangement of each part are slightly different, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In this sequin feed device 120, when adjusting according to the size of the sequin to be sewn, the sequin feed units 123 and 124 to be adjusted are removed from the sequin feed device 120 and the sequin feed amount is adjusted (the swing lever, lock lever Position adjustment). If the guide part needs to be replaced, it is replaced. Thereafter, the sequin feed units 123 and 124 are attached to the sequin feed device 120, and the cutting position (position with respect to the sewing needle 77) in the sequin feed units 123 and 124 is turned clockwise or counterclockwise as described above. The support plate 127 is moved back and forth to adjust. After that, if necessary, the rotation range of the motor that performs feed driving is set to a value corresponding to the feed amount for one pitch of sequin. Thus, the sequin feed units 123 and 124 are removed from the sequin feed device 120 and the sequin feed amount is adjusted, so that the adjustment can be easily performed.

  Further, since the mounting bracket 126 is fixed at the same position with respect to the base member 125, the sequin feed unit 123, 124 can be attached or detached after the position of the support plate 127 is adjusted according to the sequin size. The cutting positions at 123 and 124 are not changed. Therefore, a scale indicating the adjustment position of the support plate 127 according to the size of each sequin is provided, and the adjustment of the cutting position can be performed with the sequin feed units 123 and 124 removed from the sequin feeder 120. In this case, the adjustment can be easily performed. In addition, each sequin feed unit adjusted to the size of each sequin is prepared, and instead of making various adjustments according to the size of the sequin used, it is replaced with a sequin feed unit adjusted to that size. You can use it just by doing it.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the structure for sliding the sequin selection mechanism is configured using two rods and a member slidably supported by the rods, but is not limited thereto. Any other slide structure such as a linear rail may be employed.

The perspective view which shows an example of the embroidery sewing machine to which the sequin feeder of this invention is applied. It is a right view which shows 1st Example of the sequin feeder which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The sequin feeder is in the down position. The left view of the Example. The front view of the Example. The right view which shows the state in which the sequin feeder of the Example is located in a retracted position. The left view of the sequin feeder similarly located in the retracted position. The perspective view which expanded the part of the sequin feed unit in the sequin feeder of the Example, a sequin selection mechanism, and the feed drive mechanism, and was seen from the back side. The rear view of the sequin feeder of the Example. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 8. The top view which extracts and shows the state which cut | disconnects the front-end sequins from the sequin coupling body on the support plate in one sequin feed unit. The front view which expands and shows the part of the sequin feed unit and the sequin selection mechanism in the state in which the 1st sequin feed unit is selected. The front view which expands and shows the part of the sequin feed unit and the sequin selection mechanism in the state in which the 2nd sequin feed unit is selected. The perspective view similar to FIG. 7 in the state in which the 2nd sequin feed unit is selected. The side view which looked at the support plate of the 2nd sequin feed unit from the opposite side to the side in which the sequin feed mechanism was provided. The top view which shows that each cutting position is adjusted according to the size of the sequin of the sequin coupling body set to the 1st and 2nd sequin feed unit. The right view of the sequin feeder which concerns on 2nd Example. The right view which expands and shows the structural example of the detection apparatus used by the 2nd Example. The A arrow line view of FIG. BB sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing that one sequined connected body is not present in FIG. 18. The figure which shows an example of the sequin pattern which sews different types of sequins alternately. The figure which shows another example of the sequin pattern which sews different types of sequins alternately. The side view which shows the state which the stitch position sewed previously entered below the sequin feed unit. The figure which shows an example of the sequin pattern which piled up and sewn two sequins of a different type. The figure which shows the sewing procedure when two sequins of different types are piled up and sewed. The disassembled perspective view which looked at another Example of the sequin feeder from the back side.

Explanation of symbols

1,100,120 Sequin feeder 2 Needle bar case 3 Fixed base 4 Mounting base 13 Sequin coupling body 14 Reel (sequin storage part)
19 Sequin feed mechanism 20, 21 Sequin feed unit 22 Support plate 23 Support plate 23b Fixed blade 29 Feed lever 33 Lock lever 36 Movable blade 39 Needle bar 40 Needle holder 69 Screw 70 for adjusting the cutting position Needle plate 77 Sewing needle 80 Embroidery frame 90 Operation panel H Sewing head

Claims (17)

A sequin feed mechanism for feeding toward the continuous sequin strip at a predetermined cutting position, said predetermined cutting position to arranged a sequin cutter portion for cutting each including two sequin feed units,
A sequin selection mechanism for positioning in a predetermined sewing operation position by selecting one of the units of the previous SL two sequin feed units,
The sequin feed mechanism is engaged with the sequin feed mechanism of the one sequin feed unit positioned at the predetermined sewing operation position, the sequin feed mechanism is driven according to the sewing operation, and the sequin coupling body is moved to a predetermined position. A drive mechanism for sending out toward the cutting position,
Each sequin feed unit includes an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the cutter unit with respect to the position of the sewing needle independently of the other units,
Driving the cutter unit according to a sewing operation, cutting sequins from the sequin coupling body fed to the predetermined cutting position ,
The two sequin feed units are arranged side by side so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction.
The sequin selection mechanism slides the two sequin feed units integrally to position one unit at a predetermined sewing operation position,
Each of the sequin feed mechanisms of the two sequin feed units has a linking member, and is configured to send out the sequin linked body according to a reciprocating motion given to the linking member, The linkage members of both sequin feed mechanisms are arranged side by side in the direction of the slide with a gap therebetween,
The drive mechanism has an engagement portion that engages with one of the linkage members, and the engagement portion is positioned when the one unit is positioned at the predetermined sewing operation position by the sequin selection mechanism. An engagement portion is arranged to engage with the linkage member of the one unit positioned at the predetermined sewing operation position, and the engagement portion is connected to the linkage member of the one unit via the engagement portion. By applying reciprocating motion, the corresponding sequin connection body is sent out toward the predetermined cutting position . Each cutter part of the two sequin feed units includes a movable blade that is rotatably supported by one fulcrum, and the movable blade of each cutter part has a distance between the movable blades. The sequin feeder according to claim 1, wherein the sequin feeders are arranged symmetrically adjacent to each other so as to be shorter than a distance between the fulcrums. In conjunction with the needle bar that moves downward during the sewing operation, the movable blade of the one unit positioned at the predetermined sewing operation position is driven downward, so that the one unit is brought to the predetermined cutting position. The sequin feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the sequin is cut from the fed sequin coupling body. The said adjustment mechanism adjusts the said cutting position by the said cutter part by carrying out the linear displacement of the whole corresponding sequin feed unit, The sequin feed apparatus in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Each sequin feed unit includes a support plate that supports a fed sequin coupling body, and the cutter portion is provided at the tip of the support plate,
The sequin feed device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts the cutting position by the cutter portion by linearly displacing the support plate. The sequin feed device according to claim 4 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a mechanism for linearly displacing the corresponding sequin feed unit as a whole. The sequin feed device according to claim 6 , wherein the mechanism for linearly displacing the entire corresponding sequin feed unit includes a mechanism for converting the rotation of the adjusting screw into the linear displacement of the sequin feed unit. The sequin feeder according to claim 5 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a mechanism for linearly displacing the corresponding support plate. The sequin feeder according to claim 8 , wherein the mechanism for linearly displacing the corresponding support plate includes a mechanism for converting rotation of an adjusting screw into linear displacement of the support plate. Said sequin feed mechanism of the sequin feed units, sequin feeder apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is possible independently sequin feed amount setting.   The drive mechanism drives the sequin feed mechanism with a drive amount corresponding to the sequin feed amount set by the sequin feed mechanism of the one sequin feed unit currently positioned at the predetermined sewing operation position. The sequin feeder according to claim 10. The drive mechanism is
And before Symbol engaging portion,
A motor driven in conjunction with the sewing operation;
And a link mechanism for transmitting the motion of the motor to the engagement portion, in response to movement of said motor, said linkage and said engagement portion moves, via the linkage member for engaging the engagement portion The sequin feed mechanism of the one sequin feed unit positioned at the predetermined sewing operation position is moved, and the sequin coupling body is fed toward the predetermined cutting position by the movement of the sequin feed mechanism. The sequin feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 11 . The sequin feed device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a detection device for detecting whether or not the supply of the sequin connection body supplied from the supply source to the sequin feed unit is interrupted. The sequin feed device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each sequin feed unit is detachably attached to a base portion of the sequin selection mechanism. The sequin feed unit according to any one of claims 1 to 14 , wherein each sequin feed unit includes a guide member that guides the upper thread so that the upper thread does not enter the cutter portion.   A sewing machine comprising the sequin feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 15 in association with a sewing head. The front SL two sequin feed units, two different sequin strip is adapted to be supplied from a source,
Any desired based on the sewing pattern data sequin pattern, two previous SL controls the sequin selection mechanism in the sewing position to switch the sequin to be used for sewing the sequin feed units are used in combination the two sequin A control device for selecting one and controlling sequin sewing using the selected sequin feed unit;
The sewing machine according to claim 16 , further comprising:

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