GB2183368A - Sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Multiple sewing data which are required for a sewing operation based on a desired pattern and are prepared by a programming device are stored in a removable card 21 equipped with an integrated circuit capable of reading and writing such data. A stitch forming device and a work fabric feeding device are actuated on the basis of the data, thereby forming stitches on a work fabric. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sewing machine The present invention relates to a sewing machine having a memory capable of storing sewing data.

This type of a prior art sewing machine is equipped with multiple storage media as a means for storing data required for performing a sewing operation based on a predetermined sewing pattern. For instance, the sewing machine which was disclosed in U.S. PATENT NO. 4,051,794 is provided with a programable read only memory (P.ROM) defined as the above-described storage means. The P.ROM is, however, attended with such a problem thatthis memory is not invested with high durability against an irnpact orstaticelectricity and ittherefore needs a particular protective package, this leading to an increase in cost of production.

The sewing machines which were disclosed in U.S. PATENT NOS. 4,160,422 and 4,258,636 are respectively include, as a strorage means, non-volatile replaceable memory media such as a cassette tape, a floppydiscorthe like. There arise, however, such problems inherent in these sewing machines that appropriate devices such as a cassette recorder, a flopy disc drive unitorthe like are required forerasing the sewing data and writing them, this conducing to not only a rise in the production cost but also redu nda ncy of tim e to processtheabove-mentioned data because of inconvenience of treatment thereof.

Accordingly, itis a primary object of the present invention to provide an easilytreatablesewing machine which does not need particular devices both for reading the data and for writing them and can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

To this end, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a sewing machine including a storage means which is so connected to a control means thereof as to be separatable from the outside, this storage means being composed by a card equipped with an integrated circuit capable of reading and writing the sewing data.

Figures 1to3in combination showoneembodi- mentofthe present invention.

Figure lisa perspective view of a sewing machine; Figure2 is a block diagram showing an electrical constitution ofthe sewing machine; and Figure 3 is an explanatory view of sewing data for one stitch.

One embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It can be observed through Figure 1 that a machine frame4 consisting of an arm 2 and a bed 3 is disposed on the upper surface of a table 1.A needle bar6 including a needleS is so fitted to the lower end ofthe arm 2 as vertically movable, which vertical motion is made concomitantly with rotation of a main shaft (not illustrated) of the sewing machine. The needle 5 and a loop taker (not iilustrated) provided within the bed 3 constitute a stitch forming device. The needle 5 and the loop taker are so operated as to be concomitant with the rotation of the main shaft ofthe sewing machine,therebyforming stitches on a work fabric.

To the lower surface of the table 1 is attached a motor 7 for rotationally driving the above-mentioned main shaft; and this rotation ofthe motor istransmitted to the main shaft through a well known rotation transmitting mechanism which includes a driven pulley 8 provided atthe end ofthe main shaft. Afirst driving means is composed by this motor 7.

A holding device 11 composed by a material holding frame 9 and a material supporting pallet 10 is disposed on a work fabric supporting surface in front ofthe bed 3. The holding device 11 is moved in the back and forth direction as well as in the lateral direction bya pairofpulse motors 12, 13which are shown in Figure 2 whiletheworkfabric is held between the material supporting pallet 10 and the material holding frame 9, thus feeding the work fabric. It is to be remarked that a second driving means is constituted by the pulse motors 12,13. The material holding frame9 is vertically moved through actuation ofa material holding frame operating electromagnetic solenoid 14 illustrated in Figure 2.The material holding frame 9 is raised to the ascent position, in which state the work fabric is arranged to be set between the material holding frame 9 and the material supporting pallet 10.

As shown in Figure 1, an ON-OFFswitch 15 for inputting a power source to the sewing machine is provided on the front lower surface ofthe table 1, and at the lower portion thereof are provided: an actuating switch 1 Swhich is manipulated by depressing forac- tuating the electromagnetic solenoid 14; andastart- ing switch 17which is manipulated by depressing for starting the sewing machine.

On the right side upper surface of the table 1 ,there is disposed a programing device 18 for preparing the sewing data including driving data usedforthe motor7 and operating data forthe pulse motors 12, 13 which are required for effecting the sewing oper- ation on the basis of a desired sewing pattern. Acon- trol box 19 is mounted on the right lower surface of the table 1; and on the front surface thereof is provided a card installing portion 20. An integrated circuit card 21 having a thin plate-like configuration, which storesthe sewing data such asto be capable of reading and writing the same data, is attachably and detachably installed in the card installing portion 20.

This integrated circuit card is formed of plastic and includes an IC (integrated circuit) which is embedded therein. The integrated circuit card 21 employed in this embodiment involves "MELCARD" (Brand Name) made by Mitsubishi Electric Corp.. The integrated circuit ofthe integrated circuit card is constituted buy a RAM and a battery.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 2, a central processing unit (CPU) 22 serving as the control means is built in the control box 19, to which CPU 22 is connected a read only memory (ROM) 23.

A program intended to control the actuation ofthe sewing machine as a whole is stored in this ROM 23.

In the case of preparing the sewing data, the integrated circuit card 21 is installed in the card installing portion 20from outside, andsimultaneouslya recording paper in which the configuration of desired sewing pattern is drawn beforehand is held by the holding device 11. The holding device is moved so thatthe sewing pattern goes along needle dropping positions. Videlicet, in orderthatthe needle 5 makes a relative movementwith respecttothe holding device 11 along the above-described sewing pattern, a predetermined key (ex. jog key) of the programing device 18 is manipulated.This predetermined key or programing device 18 is disclosed in U.S. Pats. No.

4,444,135, No.4,403,559 and No.4,385,570. Upon an input of a predetermined signal from the programing device 18 via an interface 24to the CPU 22, the CPU 22 actuates the respective pulse motors 12, 13 by way of drive circuits 25, 26 in response to thesignal, thereby moving the holding device 11.

On the basis ofthis programing operation, the CPU 22 writes the sewing data in the integrated circuit card 21 for every stitch, the sewing data including the operation data forthe pulse motors 12,13 and the control data forthe sewing machine motor7.

The sewing data for one stitch is, as shown in Figure 3, constituted by 2 bites. Ofthe sewing data 2 bits are allocated to the control data (sewing machine information on a stop, a low speed operation, a high speed operation and a termination of the pattern and so on) forthe sewing machine motor; and to the operation dataforthe pulse motors 12,13 are allocated 14 bits. 2 bits ofthe 14 bits are defined as the data in regard to the rotational direction ofthe pulse motors 12,13, via., thefeeding direction data ofthe holding device 11, and the rest (12 bits) thereof are the data on the number of driving pulses of the pulse motors 12,13.

When performing the sewing operation on the basis of the sewing data prepared bythe abovementioned programing operation, at the first onset, the ON-OFF switch 15 is manipulated in orderto in put the power sou rce to the sewing machine. The integrated circuit card 21 is installed in the card installing portion 21 to be electrically connected to the CPU 22. In the wake ofthis, immediately when manipulating the actuating switch 16, the CPU 22 en ergizesthe electromagneticsolenoid 14through the interface 24and a drive circuit28, and then arranges forthe material holding frame 11 to be raised with the help of the electromagnetic solenoid 14.

In such a state, the workfabric is set between the material holding frame 9 and the material supporting pallet 10. Thereafter, upon an operation ofthe starting switch 17, starting signals are inputted to the CPU 22. In response to these signals, the CPU 22 deenergizes the electromagnetic solenoid 14to lowerthe material holding frame 11, and then reads the sewing data from the integrated circuit card 21; and the sewing machine motor7 and each ofthe pulse motors 12,13aredriven inaccordancewith such data. With the motor7 driven, the needle5 penetrates the work fabric disposed on the workfabric supporting surface and keeps on moving vertically.

Concurrently, the loop taker is actuated, and the workfabric is fed through the actuation of the indi vidual pulse motors 12, 13. With such steps, it isfeas- isle to form stitches on the work fabric on the basis of the sewing pattern recorded in the recording paper.

In this embodiment, after the sewing operation has been completed, the integrated circuit card 21 is removed from the card installing portion 20 and can be preserved in a state wherein the card 21 stores the sewing data. In such a case, the integrated circuit card 21 takesthethin plate-like shape and hence it is easy of treatment. Moreover, a space for preservation can be reduced. In this embodiment, the sewing data are read our written from the integrated circuit card 21 and a particular device is therefore unnecessary. In addition, it is most unlikelythat preparation ofthe storage means does not create any obstacle against an offer of a low-priced sewing machine.

As many apparently widely different embodiments ofthis invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be un derstoodthattheinvention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A sewing machine having: stitch forming means including a reciprocating needle and a material supporting surface; first driving means for driving said stitch forming means; material holding means for holding a material on the material supporting surface; second driving means for causing relative movement between said stitch forming means and material holding means; storage means for storing necessary sewing data; control means for controlling saidfirstdriving means and said second driving means in accordance with said sewing data stored in said storage means; and wherein said storage means includes an IC card capable of reading data; and being connected detachablyto said control meansfromoutside.

2. Asewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said IC card comprises a platic card having an integrated circuittherein.

3. Asewing machinehaving: stitch forming means including a reciprocating needle and a material supporting surface; first driving means for driving said stitch forming means; material holding means for holding a material on the material supporting surface; second driving means for causing relative movement between said stitch forming means and material holding means; programing means for providing necessary sewing data; storage means for storing the sewing data provided by the programing means; control means for controlling said first driving means and said second driving means in accordance with said sewing data stored in said storage means; and wherein said storage means includes an IC card capable of reading and writing data, and being connected detachably to said control means from outside.

4. Asewing machine according to claim 3, wherein said IC card comprises a plastic card having an integrated circuit therein.

5. Asewing machine according to any preceding claim, wherein said first driving means includes an electricmotorfordriving a main shaftofsaid sewing machine.

6. A sewing machine according to any preceding claim, wherein said second driving means includes a pair of pulse motors driven by actuating signals transferred from said control means.

7. Asewing machine according to any preceding claim, wherein said material holding means includes a material supporting pallet and a material holding frameforsupporting and holding the material respectively, said material is held therebetween.

8. Asewing machine according to claim 7, wherein said material holding frame is adapted to be vertically moved in accordance with actuation of an electromagnetic solenoid.

9. Asewing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.