JP2005218871A - Sewing machine with functional switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a sewing machine for a decrease in an operator's burden and more uniform operational sequence. <P>SOLUTION: The sewing machine 1 has a functional switch 12 having keys for calling various functions. The functional switch 12 comprises an actuator 57 extending into an operator's working range A, and is used to operate an electrically connectable switch through a switching system. A switching function assigned to one of the keys can be switched by the actuator 57. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sewing machine with a function switch according to a superordinate conceptual part (so-called part) of claim 1.

Print publication “Dulkop Pamplet 767”, Imprint 0002 0091222290 D / GB / F 092003 DE3318973A1 DE29907407U1

  A general type of sewing machine is described in Non-Patent Document 1. Below the arm, in the vicinity of the operator's working range, the sewing machine is provided with a function switch having a number of keys for activating various switching functions.

  This work on the sewing machine has shown that some functions are called very frequently, while other functions are called infrequently, for example to activate a seam basting job by means of feed adjustment or dense stitching. Such jobs require additional attention from the sewing machine operator who must press the correct key at each point in time. This becomes even more complex when the keys that must be hit frequently are not far enough to reach the operator's direct reach. Such a working condition forces the operator to interrupt the sewing job because the hands necessary to strike a key are no longer available for guiding the workpiece. These permanent manual operations put unnecessary stress on the operator, and the break required to reach the key will lengthen the entire job. In addition, operation in such a mode negatively affects the harmonious sequence of operations.

  Patent Document 1 teaches a sewing machine in which a key for operating a switch is provided in front of the head. This switch is electrically connected to the control system of the sewing machine and serves to activate certain functions that are not altered by the configuration of the electrical circuit.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 specifically describes some proposals on how to structurally implement and arrange the switch within the reach of the operator, that is, within the work range of the operator.

  It is an object of the present invention to improve a sewing machine of the type described at the beginning for reducing the burden on the operator and a more uniform operating sequence.

  According to the invention, this object is achieved by a sewing machine having the described construction as described in the characterizing part of claim 1.

  An advantage of the present invention is that the operating convenience of the sewing machine is increased by an improved ergonomic workplace design. This greatly reduces the operator's life. The sewing machine according to the invention allows the operator to activate selected functions of the sewing machine during the sewing job without having to interrupt the sewing job anymore to operate the keys. At the same time, the operator will generally be able to use both hands to guide and handle the workpiece without interruption. This results in a more uniform mode of operation as a whole and increases workplace output.

  In an embodiment according to claim 2, a circuit structure is achieved that can be manufactured more simply and at low cost.

  The simplicity of operation of the sewing machine is achieved by the development according to claim 3. For this reason, the sewing machine operator immediately knows which function is currently assigned to the actuator located in the work range. Instead of a replaceable socket pin that can be assigned to each switching function, each switching function activated by an operating lever switch is also assigned to a second switch, respectively, and can be selectively moved to a contact position and an isolation position. It can be implemented with a contact element. These contact elements are provided, for example, in the form of set screws. The set screw tightens the two conductor segments of the second switch respectively in the contact position. The conductor segments are otherwise preloaded and spaced apart. The rotation of the set screw will cause a transition between the contact position and the isolation position. Particularly preferably, the contact elements are marked so that it can be easily recognized from the outside whether they are in the contact position or in the isolation position. As another possibility to select the respective switching function, the socket pin can also be replaced by a slide switch. Thereby, each switching function activated by the operating lever switch is implemented by the manufacture of the corresponding electrical circuit.

  An advantageous modular construction of the sewing machine is obtained by placing the operating element and the switch in the casing according to claim 4. Depending on the type of machine type and the resulting arrangement of the working range, the casing can be placed on the head or arm of the sewing machine.

  Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the drawings.

  The sewing machine 1 has a floor plate 2 and includes an upward support column 3 and a curved arm 4 substantially parallel to the floor plate 2. The arm 4 terminates at the head 5. An arm shaft 6 is rotatably mounted on the arm 4 on the side of the support column, and includes a handwheel handle 7.

  Within the range of the head 5, the free end of the arm shaft 6 is conventionally equipped with a crank drive (not shown) for operating the needle bar 8. The needle bar has a sewing needle 9 at its end facing the floor plate 2. During the sewing operation, the needle 9 is inserted into the hole of the abutment 10. The abutment 10 may be a needle plate fixed to the floor plate 2, or may be a fabric feed that performs a transfer operation as known from a sewing machine that performs needle transfer.

  A thread clamp 11 is attached to the front of the sewing machine 1, that is, to the side of the sewing machine 1 facing the operator, referred to as operator side B (see FIG. 3). According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the function switch 12 is positioned directly below the thread clamp and is fixed to the arm 4 by screws 15 and 16 that pass through the bearing eyes 13 and 14. The bearing eyes 13 and 14 are components of the saucer-type casing 17 having a rectangular recess 18. The recess 18 has a printed circuit board 23 consisting of a printed circuit 24 fixed by screws 19, 20, 21 and provided with strip conductors. Details are shown in FIGS.

  The side of the printed circuit board 23 having the strip conductor has a frame 25 by adhesive bonding, and forms the outer shape of the printed circuit board 23. The frame 25 has recesses 26 and 27. The front side recess 26 shown in FIG. 7 accommodates the convex plate 28 so as not to rotate with some gap. The convex plate 28 is made of spring steel having a thickness of 0.4 mm, for example, and has four outer support points. Of these, the support point 9 is exemplarily shown in FIG. Furthermore, the convex plate 28 has a center contact 28 '. The four support points are supported by the electrically connected strip conductor 30. The printed circuit board 23 comprises a strip conductor 31 having a circular contact surface 32. Contact surface 32 is approximately the center of recess 26. In the state shown in FIG. 7 in the insulated position, the contact 28 ′ is at a distance of about 1 mm from the contact surface 32.

  The bottom recess 27 shown in FIG. 7 accommodates the convex plate 33 having the same structure as the plate 28 except that the outer diameter is small. It is conductively connected to the strip conductor 34 by its four support points. Like the plate 28, the convex plate 33 also has a contact 33 '. The printed circuit board 23 further comprises a strip conductor 35 having a circular contact surface 35 '. This contact surface 35 ′ is located approximately at the center of the convex plate 33. In the isolated position shown in FIG. 7, the contact 28 'is about 1 mm from the contact surface 35'.

  A flexible film 36 made of a plastic material having a thickness of 0.3 mm, for example, bonded to the frame 25 prevents the convex plates 28 and 33 housed in the concave portions 26 and 27 from falling. The aforementioned structure and arrangement of the convex plate 28 constitute the switch 37a, and the convex plate 33 constitutes the switch 38a (FIG. 7). According to FIG. 9, adjacent switches 37b, 37c, 37d, 37e, 37f are assigned to the switch 37a. Further adjacent switches 38b, 38c, 38d, 38e, 38f are assigned to the switch 38a. As will be described in detail below, there is a functional relationship between switches positioned one above the other, for example, between switch 37a and switch 38a.

  A switch 39 having strip conductors 40 and 41 is located on the printed circuit board 23 on the side facing the arm 4 of the sewing machine 1 (FIG. 6). The switch 39 is provided in the form of a reed switch with two contact tongues in a hollow glass structure that can be moved into contact by the action of a magnetic field.

  The key 42 a constituting the operation element is connected to the casing 17 by a flexible rib 43. The rib 43 constitutes a kind of hinge, and the key 42 a can be pushed into the casing 17. The key 42a has a tappet 44 extending toward the center of the switch 37a. The same key 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f is provided in the casing 17 in the vicinity of the key 42a. The casing 17 has a receiving portion 45a in the center of the switch 38a below the key 42a. Correspondingly, the casing 17 includes the same accommodating portions 45b, 45c, 45d, 45e, and 45f in the vicinity of the accommodating portion 45a.

  The socket pin 46 can be inserted into the accommodating portions 45a to 45f. For example, the socket pin 46 inserted into the accommodating portion 45a is shown in FIGS. Two segment-shaped ribs protrude from the outside and from above and below into the other rounded receptacles 45a-45f, and FIG. 4 exemplarily shows the rib 22 in the receptacle 45b.

  The socket pin 46 has a flat convex end 47 and a free end 50 of rectangular cross-section with unequal side lengths. Near the free end 50, the cylindrical substructure of the socket pin 46 has two flat surfaces 48 and 49. The resulting symmetric and flattened shape of the free end 50 serves to indicate the rotational position of the socket pin 46. The described configuration of the socket pin 46 and the receiving portion 45a is such that the socket pin 46 with correspondingly positioned surfaces 48, 49 can be easily inserted into the receiving portion 45a, and the socket pin 46 rotates 90 degrees. Thereafter, the rib 22 that engages with the notch 51 of the socket pin 46 is stabilized without slipping off. For insertion, the socket pin 46 is positioned so that the long side wall of the contact end 47 is directed toward the rib 22 and can slide therethrough. After 90 ° rotation, the narrow wall of the rectangular contact end 47 is back-to-back with the rib 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the casing 17 has a support arm 53 that extends toward the bottom edge 52 of the head 5. A two-armed operation lever 54 is movably attached to the arm around a pivot 55. 2 and 4, the operation lever 54 has a bottom arm 56. The rounded end is adapted to the shape of the head 5 and the bottom edge 52 as an actuator 57.

  The other arm 58 of the operation lever 54 protrudes toward the switch 39, and the permanent magnet 59 is fixed in the end thereof. The arm 58 is preloaded by a leaf spring 60 that attempts to rotate the operation lever 54 counterclockwise in accordance with FIG. The operation lever 54 assumes the stationary position shown in FIG. 5 due to the structure of the support arm 53 and the operation lever 54. From the stationary position, the operation lever 54 can turn clockwise with a corresponding load acting on the actuator 57 against the load of the leaf spring 60.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the function switch 12 is connected to a control system 62 via a cable 61. A cable 63 branches off from the control system 62 and activates a function control device (not shown) of the sewing machine 1.

  FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the function switch. Components that functionally correspond to those described above in connection with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 9 have reference numerals with a prime code ('). Components identical to those described above in connection with FIGS. 1-9 have the same reference numerals. They are not described in detail again.

  In FIG. 10, the function switch 12 'includes a support arm 53' having an actuator 57 'shaped like a key of the switch 39'. The switch is connected to the control system 62 via a cable 64 and takes the place of the switch 39 in terms of circuitry.

  In the job on the sewing machine 1, the operator works in a work range A extending in front of the sewing needle 9 and on the side as viewed from the operator side B and extending from the floor 12 to the thread clamp 11. Mainly involved in product information. The function switch 12 allows the operator to assign a function that is required more frequently in a certain job to the actuators 57, 57 'located in the work range A. The press-up, rotation speed reduction or thread clamp change value with the needle 9 stopped at its lowest position is given as one example of the functions fa, fb, fc, fd, fe, ff that can be switched. . For this purpose, it is necessary to insert the socket pin 46 into one of the receiving portions 45a-f of the associated keys 42a-f. In doing so, the associated switch of the switches 38a-f is operated by the axial pressure of the contact end 47 at the convex plate 33, and the socket pin 46 is stabilized in place by rotation by 90 degrees. Due to the axial pressure action, the convex plate 33 is bent and the contact 33 'touches the contact surface 32'. This state, i.e. the contact position or the operating position, is shown in FIG.

  2, 3, 4, and 9 show that the function fa of the key 42 a may also be called by the actuator 57. Socket pin 46 is inserted and switch 38a is in a current conducting state and is therefore connected in series with switch 39. Regardless of this, the key 42a maintains an operation mode for operating the function fa. Actuation of the actuator 57 causes the permanent magnet 59 to move in proximity to the switch 39, causing the switch 39 to switch to a current conducting state and thus causing signal emission to the control system 62. Then, the control system 62 turns on the function fa and turns off the function fa again by a new operation of the actuator.

  The same operation mode applies to other functions fb to fc that can be operated periodically by keys 42b to f and can be turned on and off by actuator 57 as required. The described mode of operation also applies to an actuator 57 'comprising a switch 39'.

  In a function switch modification (not shown), the socket pin 46 is replaced by a group of set screws held in the receptacles 45a-45f for selection of the function to be actuated by the actuators 57, 57 '. Each set screw is configured as a grab screw and has a head for a standard screwdriver for engaging from the top like receptacles 45a-45f or like socket pin 46 shown in FIG. The male screw portion of the set screw engages with the supplemental female screw portion of the accommodating portions 45a to 45f having a large screw pitch. With a horizontally extending elongated groove (see position “45b” in FIG. 4), the associated set screw is sufficient from the associated receptacle 45a-45f to the contact end of the set screw so as not to touch the convex plate 33. Unscrewed to leave. The associated switches 38a-38f are in the insulated position as previously described in connection with FIGS. If the set screw is turned 90 degrees clockwise and the elongated groove assumes a vertical position (see position “46” in FIG. 4), the contact end is pushed by the associated convex plate 33 and the associated switch 38a- 38f is also moved to the contact position. In this way, one of the functions fa-ff can be preselected by each set screw. This function is actuated by actuators 57 and 57 '. It is also possible to select several of the functions fa-ff simultaneously by moving the associated set screw to the contact position. The position of the elongated groove at the free end of the set screw makes it possible to monitor the function of the actuators 57, 57 '. The elongate groove serves as a position mark.

  In another embodiment of the function switch (not shown), a slide switch can be used in place of the socket pin 46 for selection of the function activated by the actuators 57, 57 '. The slide switch slides over the switches 38a to 38f, and the selected switch 38a to 38f is moved from the insulating position to the contact position by positioning the slide switch. In this way, one of the functions fa to ff can be preselected by the slide switch. This function is actuated by actuators 57 and 57 '.

It is a front view of a sewing machine having a function switch. FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the sewing machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the function switch of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the printed circuit board shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the printed circuit board of FIG. 6 taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6. It is a perspective view of a socket pin. It is an electric circuit diagram of a function switch. FIG. 6 is a reduced partial view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a modified example of the function switch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sewing machine 2 Floor board 3 Support | pillar 4 Arm 5 Sewing machine head 6 Arm shaft 7 Hand handle 8 Needle bar 12 Function switch 37a-37f Switch 38a-38f Switching system, 2nd switch 39 Operation lever switch 42a-42f Operation element 54 Operation lever 62 Control system

Claims (4)

A sewing machine (1) comprising a function switch (12) having a plurality of operating elements (42a-42f) for the operation of the switches (37a-37f) connected to the sewing machine control system (62) by electric wires;
Switches (37a-37f) assigned to the operating elements (42a-42f) are arranged to call certain switching functions (fa-ff) of the control system (62);
In a sewing machine in which the operating elements (42a to 42f) are arranged in the transition range of the sewing machine head (5) to the sewing machine arm,
The function switch (12) comprises an operating lever (54) extending within the operator's working range (A) and mechanically coupled to the operating lever switch (39; 39 ');
Of the switches (37a to 37f) assigned to the selected operation element of the operation elements (42a to 42f), the switch is switched to the operation lever switch (39; 39 ′) via the switching system (38a to 38f). It is electrically connectable, and the switching function among the switching functions (fa to ff) assigned to the selected operating element of the operating elements (42a to 42f) can be switched by the operating lever (54). A sewing machine characterized by The switch (37a-37f, 38a-38f, 39; 39 ') is unipolar and has a switching state that is not conductive in the rest position;
Each of the operating elements (42a-42f) is mechanically connected to an operating element switch (37a-37f);
A second switch (38a-38f) is assigned to each of the operating element switches (37a-37f), and the second switch (38a-38f) is a component part of the changeover switch (38a-38f, 46);
The second switch (38a to 38f) is connected to the operation lever switch (39; 39 ′) by an electric wire;
The operation lever switch (39; 39 ′) is directly connected to the switch of the second switch (38a to 38f) which is moved to the switching operation state by the switching system (switches 38a to 38f, socket pin 46). The sewing machine according to claim 1.   The switching system (38a to 38f, 46) has a socket pin (46) that can be inserted into the receiving portion (45a to 45f) and can be recognized from the outside, and the socket pin allows the second switch (38a to 38f) The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the associated switch can be changed to a switching operating state.   The operating elements (42a to 42f) are arranged in a casing (17) placed on the head (5) of the sewing machine (1), and switches (37a to 37f, 38a to 38f, 39; 39 ′) are placed in the casing. Sewing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a printed circuit board (23) arranged on the surface.

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