JP2002336572A - Sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set optimum stitch balancing thread tension while taking a sewing mode or the kind of pattern into account. SOLUTION: The initial value (supply coefficient) of stitch balancing thread tension set by a bobbin thread supply device is fine-tuned to a weak or strong value according to selected patterns 80, 81 and 82. A control part computes the amount that the thread is supplied according to the supply coefficient thus fine-tuned, and the thread is supplied by the computed amount of thread supply by controlling a solenoid. This arrangement enables the stitch balancing thread tension automatically set by the bobbin thread supply device to be independently set in a more detailed manner according to the kinds of seams and the sewing mode, and enables the stitch balancing thread tension set as the initial value to be further fine-tuned to achieve sewing of high quality.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sewing machine, and more particularly, to a sewing machine for setting a thread tension and performing sewing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art During sewing, if the upper thread is strong, the overlap of the upper thread and the lower thread appears on the surface of the cloth, and if the upper thread is weak, the overlap of the upper thread and the lower thread can be made on the back. The tone is set and adjusted so that the upper thread and the lower thread intersect at substantially the center of the cloth.

Normally, the thread tension is automatically set by an upper thread supply device under computer control so that an optimal thread tension can be obtained according to the type of cloth or the type of thread, sewing data, and the like. As described above, when the thread tension is automatically set by the computer, the user further has, for example, “weakness”,
You can change the thread tension level like "normal" or "strong"
The thread tension can be finely adjusted.

[0004]

Conventionally, when setting the thread tension automatically, as described above, it is possible to change the thread tension into three levels of "weak", "normal" and "strong". Since the setting is a common value for each pattern, in the case of straight line and zigzag in practical sewing, if the thread density of zigzag sewing is high, the thread consumption may be slightly increased,
Further, since the thread density of the zigzag sewing is higher in the embroidery sewing than in the practical sewing, the thread consumption tends to be further increased. For example, when a zigzag with a high thread density is performed when the cloth is thin and soft, a difference in thread consumption sometimes appears as a wrinkle in sewing.

In such a case, the conventional thread tension setting requires changing or returning the value of the automatic thread tension when switching between practical sewing and zigzag sewing or embroidery sewing. Had become.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine capable of setting an optimum thread tension in consideration of a sewing mode or a pattern type.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, sewing data of a pattern selected by an operator is read from sewing data corresponding to a plurality of patterns stored in advance, and the sewing data is read out. In a sewing machine that forms a stitch on a cloth with an upper thread and a lower thread while feeding the cloth according to data, a thread supply unit that supplies a thread in contact with the upper thread or the lower thread when the stitch is formed, a sewing mode and / or a pattern Determining means for determining the type of thread, and calculating a thread supply amount supplied by the thread supplying means, and setting at least a supply coefficient determined according to sewing data according to the determined sewing mode and / or pattern type. A configuration including a setting unit and a control unit that calculates the yarn supply amount based on the set supply coefficient and controls the yarn supply unit to supply the calculated yarn supply amount is employed.

In such a configuration, the thread tension (supply coefficient) automatically set by the automatic thread tension device can be independently set in detail according to the type of stitch and the type of sewing mode, and is set as an initial value. Further fine adjustment can be made to the thread tension.

[0009] The thread tension is set in detail when a fine sewing tension is required. Since the frequency of use is low, it is more convenient to open the pattern directly from the pattern selection screen. It is configured so that it can be set on a screen that is collected together with other infrequently set items.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

An embroidery sewing machine 1 which is an example of the sewing machine of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a sewing machine body 2, a sewing machine arm 3, a sewing machine bed 6 which is detachable from the embroidery sewing machine 1, a start / stop switch 4a and a reverse switch. 4b, a thread trimming switch 4c, a half-needle switch 4d for alternately moving a needle to an upper position or a lower position, an operation panel 5, and a sewing speed adjustment volume 25.

The sewing machine bed 6 has an embroidery device 8 mounted thereon for embroidery sewing (FIG. 1), and the sewing machine bed 6 has no embroidery device 8 and uses a feed dog of the sewing machine body to form a practical pattern or a zigzag pattern. (Not shown), and the control unit 11 (FIG. 2) detects which sewing machine bed 6 by the connector 50 for mechanically and electrically connecting the sewing machine to the sewing machine. When the embroidery device 8 is mounted, the sewing mode is set to the embroidery mode, and when the embroidery device 8 is not mounted, the sewing mode is set to the main body mode. The selection of the motor is performed.

In the sewing machine bed 6 when the embroidery device 8 is mounted, the embroidery device 8 includes an embroidery frame 8a (represented by a two-dot chain line) for holding a cloth to be embroidered. On the other hand, an embroidery frame 8a is detachably attached. The carriage 7 includes a control unit 11 described below.
Under the control of FIG. 1, it is configured to be movable in the left-right direction (arrow X direction) and the front-back direction (arrow Y direction) in FIG. The embroidery frame 8a is driven by the carriage 7,
The geometric pattern, picture pattern,
The embroidery pattern such as characters is moved back and forth and right and left so as to be embroidered on the fabric. In the embroidery sewing machine 1, when the start / stop switch 4a is turned on, the sewing needle 9 attached to the sewing machine arm 3 and the carriage 7 cooperate to perform embroidery sewing. .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the concept of the control system 10 of the embroidery sewing machine 1.

The control system 10 includes a control unit 11, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, a flash memory 15 connected to the control unit 11, and a ROM card 1 as external storage means.
2 and various switches and a detection board.

The control unit 11 is formed of, for example, a microcomputer board and has a CPU and an input / output interface.

A ROM (storage means) 13 stores a control program and control data for executing a sewing operation in the embroidery sewing machine 1 and a display process to be described later, as well as practical sewing as a built-in pattern, pattern sewing, character sewing, and Pattern storage means for storing pattern information (hand movement information and display information) for embroidery, sewing description information corresponding to the type of pattern described later, and general sewing machine irrespective of the type of individual pattern An explanation information storage unit is provided for storing information on how to use the sewing machine, advice information, troubleshooting information, error message information, and inquiry information as explanation information. The flash memory 15 is a memory that can store various data in a nonvolatile manner and can write and read the data.
It may be AM.

ROM card 12 as external storage means
May be a writable and readable storage medium.
The OM card stores display data of various embroidery patterns and embroidery data for forming the embroidery patterns for each pattern. The embroidery data in the ROM 13 and the ROM card 12 has hand movement information for each color for a multicolor pattern.

The RAM 14 has a general configuration in which data is temporarily stored in a free area in a work area during sewing work or display processing. Further, the RAM 14 has a role as an editing buffer for storing a selected pattern and an edited pattern corresponding to the pattern selection screen displayed on the operation panel 5. To this end, first and second buffers 14a and 14b are provided.

Based on the control program, control data, embroidery data, and embroidery data stored in the ROM card 12, the control section 11 uses various signals and data input based on the embroidery data in the ROM card 12 to perform an embroidery sewing operation. And various display processes on the operation panel 5 are controlled.

The power supply board 20 converts a commercial power supply into a DC power supply and supplies it to the embroidery sewing machine 1.
When 1 is turned on, DC power is supplied to the control unit.

When a control signal relating to the main motor 23 is input from the controller 11 via the power supply board, the main motor 23 is driven, and the sewing machine needle 9 moves up and down. The rotation speed of the main motor 23 is detected by an MP (motor pulse) detection board 24 arranged in the vicinity. The rotation speed of the main motor 23 is controlled via the controller 26 and the slide volume 25 connected to the control unit 11, and the start / stop is
This is performed by operating the start / stop switch 4a provided on the switch board 30. The switch board 30 also includes a reverse switch 4b for changing the cloth feeding direction, a thread cutting switch 4c for operating a thread cutting device for cutting the upper thread and the lower thread, and a half-needle switch. 4d is connected.

In the embroidery sewing machine, three stepping modes, a needle mode 32, a feed mode 34, and a transverse mode 36, which are connected to the control section 11, are incorporated. When the embroidery device 8 is not mounted on the sewing bed 6 mounted on the sewing machine, the connection is detected by the connector 50 when the power is turned on, and a so-called main body sewing mode is set. The pattern to be sewn with is automatically set,
It is displayed so that the pattern can be selected and edited.

When the sewing machine is started, the needle feed mode 32, the feed mode 34, the traverse mode 36 and the main mode 23 cooperate with the cloth feed by the cloth feed teeth and the needle swing movement to form the main body. As the pattern selected by the sewing machine, practical pattern sewing such as straight line, zigzag, button attaching, various character sewing, and small point sewing such as one-point sewing are performed. Each motor is provided with a swing detection board 31, a feed detection board 33, a traverse detection board 35, and a spindle detection board 37 for detecting each operation, and enables a motor control based on sewing data. .

The first solenoid 40, the second solenoid 4
1. The encoder 42 and the potentiometer 43 constitute an upper thread supply device that supplies a predetermined amount of the upper thread and adjusts the stitch position (thread tension) between the upper thread and the lower thread. Detects the amount of the upper thread that has been fed out.If the amount of feed becomes zero due to a break in the upper thread, the upper thread no sensor is used to judge that the upper thread is broken and warn the operator. Function. The potentiometer 43 is a sensor for measuring the cloth thickness of the cloth presser, and gives data when calculating the needle thread feeding amount.

The one-needle stitching switch 38 is a stitching switch controlled to stop the main mode of the sewing machine with one stitch. Buttonhole switch 44 composed of BH stop switch 44a and BH reverse switch 44b
In order to sew a buttonhole, the stitch ends of the left and right parallel portions are detected so that the buttonhole stitch can be formed in four directions.

The bobbin thread detecting LED board 45 and the bobbin thread detecting light receiving board 46 detect the amount of winding of the bobbin thread wound around the bobbin. A warning is issued.

The bobbin winding switch 47 detects whether or not the bobbin is mounted on the bobbin when the bobbin is wound around the bobbin. The vertical movement of the needle bar is stopped so that the bobbin can be wound.

The lamp switch 48 is a switch for turning on / off a lamp 49 for illuminating the hand at the time of sewing work.

An XY driving means 51 for driving the carriage 7 mounted on the embroidery device 8 (FIG. 1) in the XY directions under the control of the control section 11 is connected to the control section 11 via a relay connector 50. .

The XY driving means 51 is provided with a frame switch 52 and a frame switch 53 for detecting the type of the embroidery frame, that is, the size of the embroidery range. Depending on the size of the frame, one of the frame switch 52 and the frame switch 53 is provided. Is turned on,
The type of the frame is determined. The X-direction mode 54 and the Y-direction mode 55 are stepping modes for moving the embroidery frame 8a in the X-direction and the Y-direction. 54 and the origin of the Y-direction motor 55 are detected.

When the power is turned on, if the embroidery device 8 is mounted on the sewing machine bed 6 mounted on the sewing machine, the connection is detected by the connector 50 and the control unit 11 enters the embroidery mode and the ROM card 12 is turned on. Alternatively, the patterns to be selected and edited which are read out from the ROM 13 and displayed are automatically set so that the patterns for embroidery sewing are all targeted in the embroidery mode. When the sewing machine starts, the main motor 23 and the X-direction mode are set. The evening 54 and the Y-direction mode 55 cooperate with each other to form stitches on the cloth fixed to the embroidery frame, and embroidery sewing is performed.

The display substrate 60 is provided on the operation panel 5 shown in FIG.
Is a color liquid crystal display unit as a display means built in, and performs a predetermined display according to a control signal from the control unit 11. A backlight 61 is provided on the back of the display substrate 60, and an inverter substrate 62 supplies power to the backlight 61. The operation panel 5 includes a display screen and a touch panel 63 on which a transparent touch switch is arranged.
When a desired position on the touch panel 63 is pressed and input, the control unit 11 detects the position and determines the content of the display means displayed at the same position, and executes the control related to the display content. The display screen of the display substrate 60 can be switched as needed.

The automatic upper threading device 65 sets an upper thread from a bobbin installed at the upper end of the sewing machine in advance in the automatic upper threading device, and presses an automatic upper threading key 70d, which will be described later. Is automatically threaded through a balance or an automatic thread feeding device, and further through an eye of a needle attached to the lower end of the needle bar.

The automatic bobbin winding device 66 sets the bobbin thread pulled out from either the upper thread passed through the needle or the bobbin for the lower thread into the shuttle by pressing an automatic bobbin winding key 70e described later. The bobbin is hooked on the bobbin in the set state, and then the bobbin is rotated, so that the bobbin is automatically wound on the bobbin by an appropriate amount. With such a configuration, not only is the relieved from troublesome bobbin winding work, but also if the bobbin thread runs low in the embroidery mode, the bobbin bobbin is wound continuously with the embroidery frame mounted on the carriage. Can be performed.

When the sewing machine is determined to be in the sewing machine main mode when the power of the sewing machine is turned on, a screen as shown in FIG. 3 appears on the operation panel 5 as an initial screen. Fixed switch 70 including switches 70a to 70f under display substrate 60
Is always indicated by printing, and the color liquid crystal display substrate 6
The whole of the 0 and fixed switches 70 are covered by the transparent touch switch panel 63. The fixed switch 70 includes a “guide” key 70a, a “save and read” key 70b, a “manual adjustment” key 70c, and an “automatic upper threading” key 70.
d, "Automatic bobbin threading" key 70e, "Temporary save" key 7
0f. When any one of the fixed switches is directly pressed, the transparent touch switch panel 63 immediately detects the operation and can execute a desired function.

Next, the operation of adjusting the thread tension of the upper thread supply device in the sewing machine configured as described above will be described.

In the sewing machine main mode when the power is on, FIG.
Appears on the display substrate 60. The user can select various patterns 64 displayed here by using selection means such as the touch panel 63. "Guide" key 7
0A is operated, the screen shown in FIG. 4A is obtained.
When the screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed and the "option" key 72 is subsequently operated, a screen showing the initial values of the thread tension shown in FIG. 5A appears.

The initial value of the thread tension is a value automatically set so as to obtain an optimal thread tension in accordance with at least sewing data (sewing length), sewing parameters such as cloth thickness, and the like. The supply coefficient of the yarn supply amount supplied by the solenoids 40 and 41 is determined. In the present invention, the supply coefficient (initial value) can be further finely adjusted by further classifying it into, for example, a pattern type, that is, a linear pattern 80, a zigzag pattern 81, and another pattern 82 (such as a custom pattern). Has become. For these patterns, the “Wait” and “Tsutoku” buttons 80
a, 80b; 81a, 81b; 82a, 82b are arranged. When the user wants to change the initial value according to the pattern selected in FIG. To finely adjust the thread tension. When the "temporary save" key 70f is operated, the finely adjusted thread tension is stored in the flash memory 15 as a supply coefficient by overwriting the initial value. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, since the setting contents are saved, a message appears on the screen not to turn off the power.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a block for determining a supply coefficient used for calculating the yarn supply amount.
Is the sewing data (sewing length) of the pattern selected in FIG. 3,
Based on parameters such as the cloth thickness signal from the potentiometer 43 and the like, a supply coefficient is calculated so as to obtain an optimum thread tension, and this is stored as an initial value in, for example, the flash memory 15 as storage means. When the screen of FIG. 5A is not selected, the control unit 11 as a control unit reads an initial value of the supply coefficient, calculates a yarn supply amount based on the initial value, and operates as a yarn supply unit. The first solenoid 40 and the second solenoid 41 are controlled to supply a predetermined amount of upper thread.

On the other hand, when it is desired to finely adjust the initial value, the control section 11 as a determining means determines the sewing mode signal from the connector 50 and the type of the pattern selected in FIG. ) Is displayed.
Buttons 80a, 80 according to each pattern 80, 81, 82
81a, 81b; 82a, 82b are displayed, and the user selects the buttons 80a, 80b; 81a, 81b; 82 according to the selected pattern type 80, 81, 82.
a, 82b are operated. At this time, the control unit 11 sets the initial value read from the flash memory 15 so that the thread tension is weakened by the operated button signal.
Or change it to be stronger. As described above, the supply coefficient is finely adjusted according to the type of the pattern.
Calculates the yarn supply amount based on the set (changed) supply coefficient, and calculates the first solenoid 40 and the second solenoid 41
To supply a predetermined amount of the upper thread.

The sewing machine forms a predetermined stitch while feeding the cloth in accordance with the sewing data of the selected pattern using the upper thread and the lower thread that have been optimally tensioned.

In the above-described embodiment, the sewing mode in the main body mode in which the embroidery device 8 is not mounted has been described.
When the embroidery device 8 is mounted, a screen for selecting an embroidery pattern and a screen for setting thread tension according to each embroidery pattern corresponding to FIG. 5A are displayed. The supply coefficient can be set as desired according to the embroidery pattern.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the thread tension automatically set by the upper thread supply device can be set independently and in detail according to the type of pattern or the sewing mode. Since it can be adjusted, high quality sewing can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an appearance of a sewing machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the sewing machine.

FIG. 3 is a display diagram showing an initial screen in a main body mode.

FIG. 4 is a display diagram showing a screen that appears until a thread tension is set.

FIG. 5 is a display diagram showing a screen appearing when setting a thread tension.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration for determining a thread tension.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 5 operation panel 8 embroidery device 11 control unit 40 first solenoid 41 second solenoid

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiro Kawashima 8-2, Kokuryo-cho, Chofu-shi, Tokyo F-term in Juke Corporation (reference) 3B150 AA07 AA15 CB03 CB04 CD01 CE01 CE03 CE04 CE07 CE09 CE23 FD07 GD14 GD22 GD25 GE05 GF02 GF03 GG04 JA02 JA03 JA11 LA02 LA50 LA51 LA52 LA73 LA92 LB01 LB02 MA15 NA02 NA47 NA64 NA71 NA78 NA79 NB15 NB18 QA06 QA08

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sewing machine reads out sewing data of a pattern selected by a worker from sewing data corresponding to a plurality of patterns stored in advance and stitches the cloth with an upper thread and a lower thread while feeding the cloth according to the sewing data. A thread supply means for supplying a thread in contact with an upper thread or a lower thread when forming a stitch; a determination means for determining a sewing mode and / or a type of a pattern; Used for calculating the thread supply amount,
Setting means for setting at least a supply coefficient determined according to the sewing data according to the determined sewing mode and / or pattern type; calculating a thread supply amount based on the set supply coefficient; and controlling the thread supply means. And a control means for supplying the calculated thread supply amount. 2. The sewing machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing a set value of the supply coefficient. A display unit for displaying a plurality of patterns; a selection unit for selecting a displayed pattern; and a display unit for displaying an initial value of a supply coefficient corresponding to the type of the pattern. 3. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the setting is performed by changing the displayed initial value. 4. The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein a screen displaying the plurality of patterns and a screen displaying an initial value of the supply coefficient are different from each other.