JP2004337531A - Embroidery machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely retain an unused thread take-up lever in a top dead center by a small number of components. <P>SOLUTION: This embroidery machine is provided with a thread take-up lever retainer mechanism allowing a thread take-up lever, which is selected by a color changing mechanism 40 out of a plurality of thread take-up levers 15, to be driven and retaining the unselected thread take-up levers in prescribed attitudes. The thread take-up lever retainer mechanism comprises engagement recesses 16c provided in the respective thread take-up levers; lock levers 18 provided swingably corresponding to the respective thread take-up levers, making engagement projections 18b formed in one ends fit in the engagement recesses 16c and retaining the corresponding thread take-up levers in the prescribed attitudes; spring members 20 energizing the respective lock levers in the direction where the engagement projections 18b are fitted in the engagement recesses 16c; and retention releasing mechanism 30 swinging the lock levers 18 against the energizing force of the spring members 20 by engaged with the lock levers corresponding to the thread take-up levers selected by the color changing mechanism 40 and escaping the engagement projections 18b from the engagement recesses 16c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an embroidery machine used for forming a multicolor embroidery pattern on an embroidery cloth or the like by selectively using a plurality of needle bars, and more particularly, for holding an unused balance in a predetermined posture. An embroidery machine having a balance holding mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-235271
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Patent Document 1 discloses an embroidery sewing machine that is used to form a multicolor embroidery pattern on an embroidery cloth or the like by selectively using a plurality of needle bars. (1) A structure for directly pressing with a spring plate, and (2) A structure for inserting and removing an end of a slide member capable of moving forward and backward into and out of an engagement groove provided in a boss portion of a balance. Have been. In the above configuration (1), when each spring plate is deformed by the contact with the engagement releasing means, it receives a torsional force, so that there is a problem of setting of the spring due to long-term use. Even with such a structure that does not receive the torsional force, the spring plate still has a disadvantage that the spring force is apt to decrease, and the reliable holding is not permanent. If the balance is not held in a secure position, a serious situation occurs in which the balance and other members are destroyed by the color changing operation. Further, in the configuration (2), since a total of three links are used as a structure for sliding the slide member, not only an operation error is likely to occur due to backlash of each link connection part, but also cost is reduced. There was a drawback that it led to up.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an embroidery machine capable of reliably holding a balance in a predetermined posture with a small number of parts.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a support for supporting a plurality of balances and a plurality of needle bars, and a color change for selectively driving any one of the plurality of balances and the plurality of needle bars and the needle bar. An embroidery machine comprising: a mechanism; and a balance holding mechanism that allows a balance selected by the color changing mechanism among the plurality of balances to be driven by rotation of a main shaft and holds an unselected balance in a predetermined posture. Wherein the balance holding mechanism includes an engagement recess provided in each of the plurality of balances, and a swingable portion corresponding to each of the balances, and an engagement protrusion formed at one end formed by the engagement recess. A lock lever that holds the corresponding balance in a predetermined posture by being fitted into the lock member; a spring member that urges each of the lock levers in a direction in which the engagement protrusion is fitted into the engagement recess; and the color changing mechanism. Lock lever corresponding to the balance selected in And a holding release mechanism for causing the lock lever to swing against the urging force of the spring member by the engagement of the lock member, and causing the engagement protrusion to escape from the engagement recess. Machine.
[0006]
According to this, the lock levers provided so as to be capable of swinging in correspondence with the plurality of balances, respectively, have one end (swinging end) fitted into an engaging recess provided in the corresponding balance, thereby setting the balance. It has an engagement projection that holds it in a predetermined posture. The spring member urges the lock lever in a direction in which the engagement convex portion is fitted into the engagement concave portion. When the balance is not selected by the color changing mechanism (when not in use), the spring member is used. The engagement protrusion is fitted into the corresponding engagement recess by the urging force, so that the lock lever can hold the corresponding balance stopped at a predetermined posture such as a top dead center position. Further, the holding release mechanism is configured to swing the lock lever against the urging force of the spring member by engaging with a lock lever corresponding to the balance selected by the color changing mechanism, and Is released from the engagement concave portion to release the lock from being held by the lock lever. Thus, the balance can be driven.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a single-head type embroidery machine according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, a sewing machine arm 2 is provided on a sewing machine table 1 constituting a main body of the embroidery machine. The sewing machine arm 2 is set up substantially from the rear end side of the center of the sewing machine table 1, and extends in the front-rear direction (Y direction) with the front end portion facing forward (the side where the worker is located). A sewing machine head 3 is supported at the tip of the arm 2 so as to be slidable bidirectionally in the left-right direction (X direction). The sewing machine head 3 includes a support 3a which is located below the head 3 and supports a plurality of (9 in the illustrated example) needle bars 4, and a thread adjusting table 3b provided above the support 3a. It is configured. A plurality (9) of thread tensioners and a plurality (9) of thread tensioners are arranged in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to the plurality of needle bars 4 on the front side of the thread adjusting table 3b.
[0008]
On the sewing machine table 1, below the sewing machine arm 2, a Y-direction moving body 5 is arranged extending in the X direction. Both ends of the Y-direction moving body 5 are connected to a Y-direction driving unit (not shown) installed on the lower surface of the sewing machine table 1, and the Y-direction moving body 5 is driven to move in the Y-direction by the driving of the Y-direction driving unit. You. The Y-direction moving body 5 has an X-direction moving body incorporated therein, and the X-direction moving body is moved and driven in the X-direction by the driving of the X-direction driving source 6 disposed on the Y-direction moving body 5. . A pair of frame holding arms 7 are connected to the X direction moving body, and the frame holding arms 7 are driven to move in the X direction in conjunction with the movement of the X direction moving body. Then, an embroidery frame (not shown) is held by the pair of frame holding arms 7. The embroidery frame holds the embroidery object (embroidery cloth) in a developed state, and moves the Y-direction moving body 5 and the frame holding arm 7 on the sewing machine table 1 together with the embroidery object in the X direction and Y direction. It is horizontally moved in the direction. In the illustrated example, an embroidery machine of a type in which embroidery can be performed on a bag as an embroidery object is shown, and a central portion 8 of the sewing machine table 1 is lowered to a lower position, and a cylinder supporting a shuttle is provided. 10 is revealed.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the support 3a shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the thread adjusting table 3b located above the support 3a and a cover member that covers the front surface of the support 3a are shown by imaginary lines and are not shown. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 as viewed from above, and FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view for explaining the internal mechanism of the support 3a of FIG.
In FIG. 2, a support 3a is a case member that supports nine needle bars 4 and a plurality of (in this example, nine) balances 15 corresponding to the needle bars 4, and the nine support bars 3a are provided. The needle bars 4 are arranged side by side along the sliding movement direction (X direction) as shown in FIG. Each needle bar 4 is supported by the support 3a so as to be able to move up and down, and is urged upward by a spring fitted therein, so that the needle bar 4 is held at the top dead center position by the urging force of the spring. I have. Further, a presser foot 11 is provided corresponding to each needle bar 4, and each presser foot 11 is held in a state of being urged downward by a spring force. A sewing needle is detachably attached to the lower end of each needle bar 4, and the needle bar 4 and the sewing needle selected by a color changing mechanism 40 described later are reciprocated up and down by a needle bar driving mechanism (not shown). You. The non-selected needle bar 4 remains at the top dead center position and is held at the top dead center position until selected by the color changing mechanism 40.
[0010]
A balance support shaft 12 is laid along the sliding direction (X direction) between the left and right side surfaces of the support 3a above the support 3a. A plurality of (in this example, nine) balances 15 corresponding to each of the plurality of needle bars 4 are attached to the balance support shaft 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the balances 15 are arranged side by side in the X direction such that the front ends thereof project from the support 3a to the front side. In FIG. 4, a boss 16 is fixed to the base end (rear end) of the balance 15, and the balance support shaft 12 is fitted into a center hole 16 a of the boss 16. That is, each balance 15 is attached to the balance support shaft 12 via the center hole 16a of the boss portion 16 and is supported by the balance support shaft 12 in a vertically swingable state. The balance 15 selected by the color changing mechanism 40 described later is reciprocated up and down in accordance with the rotation of the sewing machine upper shaft (main shaft) 26 described later. As will be described in detail later, the non-selected balance 15 remains at the top dead center position by the balance holding mechanism according to the present invention and is held at the top dead center position until it is selected by the color changing mechanism 40.
The boss portion 16 is formed with a fitting groove 16b into which a roller 22a provided on the drive lever 22 described later is fitted at a predetermined location on the rear peripheral surface, and at a predetermined location on the front peripheral surface. An engagement groove (engagement concave portion) 16c is formed in which a claw (engagement convex portion) 18b of the lock lever 18 described later can be engaged. The claw (engaging convex portion) 18b and the engaging groove (engaging concave portion) 16c function as one component of the balance holding mechanism.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 4, a support shaft 17 is supported on the support 3 a above the balance support shaft 12 in parallel with the balance support shaft 12. Nine correspondingly provided lock levers 18 are supported. The lock lever 18 is provided with a support hole 18a at its base end and a claw 18b at its free end (swinging end). Each lock lever 18 is supported in a swingable state with the support hole 18a as a fulcrum by being fitted to the support shaft 17 through the support hole 18a. A torsion spring 20 is fitted to the base end of each lock lever 18 along the outer periphery of the support hole 18a. One end of the torsion spring 20 is locked to the main body of the lock lever 18, and the other end is hooked on an engagement bar 21 provided in parallel with the support shaft 17. Each lock lever 18 is oscillated and urged counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by the torsion spring 20, and the urging force causes the pawl 18 b at the free end of the lock lever 18 to engage with the corresponding boss 16. It acts in the direction of fitting into the groove 16c. The lock lever 18 and the torsion spring 20 are components of a balance holding mechanism that holds the balance 15 in a predetermined posture, and the lock lever 18 is engaged with an engagement groove 16 c provided in the boss 16 of the balance 15. By engaging the claw 18b provided at the free end of the balance 15, the balance 15 is fixed so as not to swing while being held in a predetermined posture (top dead center position).
[0012]
2 to 4, a color changing mechanism 40 is disposed on the upper surface of the front end of the sewing machine arm 2. The color changing mechanism 40 includes a cam body 41 having a cam groove 41a formed on a peripheral surface, a motor 43 for driving the cam body 41 to rotate, and an encoder 44 for monitoring the rotation of the motor 43. .
On the other hand, nine cam followers 45 corresponding to the nine needle bars 4 and the balance 15 project from the upper rear surface of the support 3a. The cam follower 45 is a member that fits into the cam groove 41a of the cam body 41, and is arranged in parallel with the needle bar 4 at the same pitch along the X direction, according to the rotation of the cam body 41. Thus, the cam followers 45 are sequentially fitted into the cam grooves 41a. That is, when the cam body 41 makes one rotation, the cam followers 45 fitted to the cam grooves 41a are sequentially shifted to adjacent ones. Thus, the support 3a is slid relative to the sewing machine arm 2 by the distance between the centers of the needle bars 4 (one pitch of the juxtaposed pitch) in accordance with one rotation of the cam body 41. Become. The selection of the needle bar 4 and the balance 15 by the color changing mechanism 40 is performed by relatively sliding the support 3a (that is, the sewing head 3) in accordance with the rotation of the cam body 41. The motor 43 rotates in response to the selection command signal of the needle bar 4, and when the rotation stops, the needle bar 4 and the balance 15 corresponding to the cam follower 45 fitted in the cam groove 41a are selected by the color changing mechanism 40. The needle bar 4 and the balance 15. FIG. 3 shows, as an example, a state in which the fourth needle bar 4 from the right and the balance 15 are selected. The needle bar 4 is vertically reciprocated by a needle bar driving mechanism (not shown).
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 4, a balance driving mechanism for swingingly driving the balance 15 is provided at the front end of the sewing machine arm 2. The balance driving mechanism includes a driving lever 22, a shaft 23 for swingably supporting the driving lever 22, a lever 24 integrally connected to the driving lever 22, and a groove cam body 25. Reference numeral 25 is fixed to an upper shaft (main shaft) 26 of the sewing machine. A roller 22 a that fits into the fitting groove 16 b of the boss 16 is provided at the tip of the drive lever 22. A cam roller 24 a is provided at a free end of the lever 24, and the cam roller 24 a is fitted into a cam groove of the grooved cam body 25. When the sewing machine upper shaft 26 is driven to rotate in one direction, the rotation is transmitted to the drive lever 22 via the grooved cam body 25 and the lever 24, and the drive lever 22 is driven to swing.
The boss 16 of the balance 15 (fourth balance from the right in the example of FIG. 3) corresponding to the needle bar 4 selected by the color changing mechanism 40 is located in front of the drive lever 22. The roller 22a supported by the tip of the drive lever 22 fits into the fitting groove 16b of the boss portion 16. Thus, the swing drive of the drive lever 22 is transmitted to the balance 15. In this state, since the holding of the balance 15 by the lock lever 18 has been released as described below, the selected balance 15 swings up and down in conjunction with the swing drive of the drive lever 22. .
[0014]
3 and 4, a roller 30 is rotatably supported by a vertical support shaft at a center position on the left and right of the front end of the sewing machine arm 2 when viewed from above. The roller 30 is used as one component of the holding release mechanism to release the lock state of the balance 15 by the lock lever 18. The roller 30 is disposed substantially directly below the cam body 41 of the color changing mechanism 40, and is engaged with the lock bar 18 corresponding to the needle bar 4 and the balance 15 selected by the color changing mechanism 40. The projection 18c (see FIG. 4) can be abutted. Since the roller 30 is disposed substantially directly below the cam body 41, the roller 30 comes into contact with the engagement projection 18c of the lock lever 18 corresponding to the currently selected balance 15. In FIG. 3, the roller 30 is in contact with the selected engagement projection 18c of the lock lever 18 corresponding to the fourth balance 15 from the right. The lock lever 18 is pushed forward by the contact of the roller 30 with the engagement projection 18 c, and swings clockwise about the support shaft 17 as a fulcrum against the urging force of the torsion spring 20. . When the lock lever 18 is pivotally displaced clockwise, the claw 18b of the lock lever 18 comes out of the engagement groove 16c of the boss 16 as shown in FIG. Thus, in the balance 15 selected by the color changing mechanism 40, the lock (holding the predetermined posture) is released.
[0015]
5A is a side view showing a state in which the balance 15 is unlocked by the balance holding mechanism, and FIG. 5B is a side view showing a state in which the balance 15 is locked by the balance holding mechanism (balance holding state). .
As shown in FIG. 5A, in the balance 15 selected by the color changing mechanism 40, the roller 30 is in contact with the engagement protrusion 18 c of the lock lever 18. Pushed clockwise against the force, the claw 18b at the free end escapes from the engagement groove 16c of the boss 16, and the lock of the balance 15 is released. In the balance 15 selected by the color changing mechanism 40, the roller 22 a supported by the tip of the drive lever 22 is fitted in the fitting groove 16 b of the boss 16. In (a), since the swing lock of the balance 15 is released, when the drive lever 22 is driven to swing, the boss 16 swings about the balance support shaft 12 in conjunction with the drive lever 22. In response to the swing of the boss 16, the balance 15 is vertically swung between a top dead center position indicated by a solid line and a bottom dead center position indicated by an imaginary line 15 'in FIG.
[0016]
On the other hand, in FIG. 5B, when the balance 15 is at the top dead center position, the engagement groove 16c of the boss portion 16 is at a position where the corresponding claw 18b of the lock lever 18 can be fitted. If the balance 15 is an unused (non-selected) balance, the lock lever 18 is urged to swing counterclockwise by the urging force of the torsion spring 20, so that the pawl 18 b is engaged with the corresponding boss 16. Fit into the mating groove 16c. The swinging position of the boss 16 is relatively fixed by fitting the claw 18b into the engagement groove 16c. Thereby, the balance 15 is held at the top dead center position, and the vertical swing is locked.
[0017]
Here, an example of an arrangement relationship between the claw 18b provided on the lock lever 18 and the engagement groove 16c provided on the boss portion 16 will be described. In FIG. 5B, a dashed line L indicates an arc centered on the support shaft 17 of the lock lever 18 and passing through the center of the balance support shaft 12. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the claw 18b and the engagement groove 16c are respectively positioned on an arc indicated by a dashed line L when the balance 15 is at the top dead center position. It is arranged. Since the arc L coincides with the swinging operation line of the claw 18b, the claw 18b and the engagement groove 16c are located on the arc L at the top dead center position of the balance 15, so that the top dead center of the balance 15 is obtained. The fitting operation of the claw 18b into the engagement groove 16c at the position and the removal operation of the claw 18b from the engagement groove 16c can be performed smoothly. The lock operation and the unlock operation of the balance 15 by the balance holding mechanism according to this embodiment are performed in a state where the balance 15 is at the top dead center position. The positioning of the mating groove 16c on the arc L is preferable in that an unexpected rocking force can be prevented from acting on the balance 15 during the locking operation and the unlocking operation by the balance holding mechanism. .
[0018]
As described above, at the time of unlocking by the balance holding mechanism, when the support 3a is slid by the driving of the color change mechanism 40 and a certain balance 15 is selected, the operation of the roller 30 corresponds to the balance 15. The claw 18b of the lock lever 18 escapes from the engagement groove 16c, and the lock is released. That is, the lock of the balance 15 is released when the color changing mechanism 40 performs the color changing operation. According to this embodiment, at the time of the color change operation, the selected balance 15 is in a state before the claw 18b of the corresponding lock lever 18 is completely removed from the engagement groove 16c of the boss portion 16, that is, the balance 15 Before the lock is released, the fitting groove 16b of the boss portion 16 moves onto the roller 21a of the drive lever 21 to be in a state capable of swinging drive. Therefore, according to the balance holding mechanism according to this embodiment, the lock of the balance holding mechanism is not completely released during the color changing operation (while the support 3a is slid by the color changing mechanism 40). The balance 15 is held in a reliable posture at the top dead center position. This can effectively prevent a serious situation in which the balance and other members are destroyed during the color changing operation.
[0019]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a single-head type embroidery machine is described. can do.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the balance holding mechanism that holds the balance that is not selected in the predetermined posture is provided with the engagement concave portions provided in the plurality of balances and the parallel arrangement direction of the plurality of balances. A lock lever that is swingably supported by a corresponding support shaft along each balance, and that holds the balance in a predetermined posture by fitting an engagement protrusion formed at a swing end into the engagement recess; A spring member that urges each of the lock levers in a direction in which the engaging projections fit into the engagement recesses of the balance, and a lock lever that is engaged with a lock lever corresponding to the selected balance causes the lock levers to be connected to the spring members. And a holding release mechanism that swings out against the urging force and causes the engaging convex portion to escape from the engaging concave portion, thereby securely holding the unused balance in a predetermined posture with a simple configuration. Excellent effect that can be Unlikely to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a single-head embroidery machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a support portion of the sewing machine head in the embroidery machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the support shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the support shown in FIG. 2;
5A is a side view showing a state in which the balance holding mechanism is released from the balance holding mechanism, and FIG. 5B is a side view showing the balance holding state by the balance holding mechanism.
[Brief description of reference numerals]
Reference Signs List 1 sewing machine table, 2 sewing machine arm, 3 sewing machine head, 3a support, 4 needle bar, 12 balance support shaft, 15 balance, 16 boss, 16a center hole, 16b fitting groove, 16c engaging groove (engaging recess) , 17 support shaft, 18 lock lever, 18a support hole, 18b claw (engagement protrusion), 18c engagement protrusion (holding release mechanism) 20 torsion spring (spring member), 21 engagement bar, 22 drive lever, 26 sewing machine Upper shaft (main shaft), 30 rollers (holding release mechanism), 40 color changing mechanism

Claims (2)

A support supporting a plurality of balances and a plurality of needle bars, a color change mechanism for selectively driving any one of the plurality of balances and the plurality of needle bars and the needle bar, An embroidery machine comprising: a balance selected by the color changing mechanism among the plurality of balances, which is driven by rotation of the main shaft, and a balance holding mechanism that holds a balance not selected in a predetermined posture.
The balance holding mechanism,
Engagement recesses respectively provided in the plurality of balances,
A lock lever that is provided to be swingable corresponding to each of the balances, and that holds the corresponding balance in a predetermined posture by fitting an engagement protrusion formed at one end into the engagement recess;
A spring member that urges each of the lock levers in a direction in which the engagement protrusions fit into the engagement recesses;
The engagement of the lock lever with the lock lever corresponding to the balance selected by the color changing mechanism causes the lock lever to swing against the urging force of the spring member, and the engagement convex portion escapes from the engagement concave portion. An embroidery machine comprising: a holding release mechanism for causing the embroidery machine to hold the embroidery. The engagement convex portion and the engagement concave portion are arranged so as to be located on an arc centered on an axis of the support shaft that supports the lock lever when the balance takes the predetermined posture. The embroidery machine according to claim 1, wherein:

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