JP2013085919A - Sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sewing machine capable of stably detecting a seam allowance.SOLUTION: A sewing machine 100 includes: a main feed mechanism 20 and a lateral feed mechanism that feed each workpiece in crossing directions; and end detectors 40 and 60 that each detect a seam allowance of the workpiece. The sewing machine 100 controls the lateral feed mechanism so that the seam allowance becomes a target value. The end detectors include: their respective light sources; and their respective detection elements 45 and 65 that each have a plurality of light-receiving sections arranged in the workpiece width direction and each detect the position of the side end of the workpiece in the workpiece width direction from irradiation light blocked by the side end of the workpiece. The sewing machine 100 further includes: actuators 47 and 67 that move the respective end detectors in the workpiece width direction; and a control section 13 that performs the movement control of the actuators in accordance with a change in the target value of the seam allowance.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sewing machine that detects a position of a side end portion of a workpiece and controls a sewing margin of the workpiece to a target value.

As shown in FIG. 16, the conventional sewing machine 100 feeds the upper cloth and the lower cloth along the formation direction of the seam in order to perform the stitching so that the respective sewing allowances of the upper cloth and the lower cloth coincide with each other. Teeth (not shown), upper and lower lateral feed mechanisms 130 (see FIG. 19) for individually feeding the upper cloth and the lower cloth in the direction orthogonal to the cloth feed direction on the upstream side of the sewing needle 101, and each lateral feed mechanism A cloth edge detecting device 110, 120 for detecting the position of the side edge portion of the upper margin and the lower cloth between the upper cloth and the lower cloth is provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
FIG. 17 is an enlarged front view of the cloth edge detecting device 110 for the upper cloth CU of the sewing machine 100. As shown in the figure, the cloth edge detection device 110 includes a light source 111 that emits slit-shaped irradiation light along a direction (left and right direction on the paper surface) orthogonal to the conveyance direction by the feed dog, and a line sensor that receives the irradiation light. 112, and the upper cloth CU passes between the light source 111 and the line sensor 112, and the position where the light intensity is reduced by the irradiation light being blocked by the upper cloth CU is specified from the output of the line sensor 112. Based on this, the position of the side end of the upper cloth CU is detected. The cloth edge detecting device 120 for the lower cloth has the same configuration.
And by adjusting the upper cloth and the lower cloth to an appropriate position by the lateral feed mechanism based on the positions of the respective side end portions of the upper cloth and the lower cloth detected by the cloth edge detecting devices 110 and 120, Sewing is performed so that the seam allowance becomes the target value.

JP-A-9-248390

By the way, in the cloth edge detecting device 110, it is desirable that the side edge of the upper cloth CU is located just in the middle of the detection range of the line sensor 112 as shown in FIG. In this state, when the detection range of the line sensor 112 is 2d0, the side edge of the upper cloth CU is away from both ends by a distance d0, and there is no bias. This is because it is easy to prevent the side end portion of the upper cloth CU from moving outside the detection area even when the CU is shifted to the left or right.
However, since the cloth edge detecting device 110 is fixedly mounted on the sewing machine frame, when the set value of the sewing allowance of the upper cloth CU is small or large, as shown in FIGS. 18B and 18C. Sewing is performed in a state where the upper cloth CU is biased to the left or right.
As a result, in the left or right direction where the distance from the current side edge of the upper cloth CU to the edge of the detection area of the line sensor 112 is small, the side edge is only within the range of the distance d1 (<d0). When the side end of the upper cloth CU fluctuates more than d1, the position of the side end is lost and the sewing cannot be continued, causing an error stop or the like. .

Furthermore, in the cloth edge detection device 110, when the upper and lower cloths are linear, as described above, it is desirable to set the middle of the detection range of the line sensor 112 as the target position, but as shown in FIG. In the case where the shape of the side end portion has not only the straight section S but also a curved section K that is bent to one side, it is desirable to set the position offset from the middle of the detection range as the target position.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the needle drop position of the sewing needle 101 of the sewing machine 100 with respect to the upper and lower cloths (only the upper cloth CU is shown) and the lateral feed mechanism 130 and the cloth edge detection device 110 in a plan view. is there. The symbol F in the figure indicates the traveling direction of the upper and lower cloths conveyed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 19, when one side of the transverse feed direction is the forward direction and the other direction is the reverse direction, in FIG. 20 (A), the cloth edge detection in the straight section S of the side edges of the upper and lower cloths. The detection output by the apparatus 110 is shown, and FIG. 20B shows the detection output by the cloth edge detection apparatus 110 in the curved section K of the upper and lower cloths.

In the straight section S of the upper and lower fabrics, there is a deviation in either the forward or reverse direction, but it is not biased in either direction, and there is an average shift in both directions, but in the curved section K, the side edge of the fabric It can be seen that there is a tendency to cause a large deviation in the direction in which the part curves.
In this way, when it is known from before sewing that a large deviation occurs in either the forward or reverse direction depending on the shape of the side end portions of the upper and lower cloths, a wide detection range is secured in the direction in which the deviation is likely to occur. However, the conventional sewing machine 100 could not meet such a demand.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce a deviation of a side end portion of a sewing product within a detection range of an end detection device that detects a seam allowance of the sewing product.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main feed mechanism that feeds the sewing product along a horizontal plane in a predetermined feeding direction, and a sewing product width direction that is parallel to the horizontal plane and orthogonal to the feeding direction. A lateral feed mechanism for moving the workpiece, an end detection device for detecting a seam allowance that is a length from a side end portion in the width direction of the sewing product to a needle drop position, and the end detection device. In the sewing machine that controls the lateral feed mechanism so that the seam allowance of the sewing product becomes a target value based on the detection of the sewing machine, the end detection device irradiates the side end of the sewing product being conveyed. The light source and a plurality of light receiving portions are provided side by side along the width direction of the sewing product, and the difference in the amount of light of a part of the irradiation light shielded by the side end portion of the sewing product Inspection for detecting the position of the side edge in the width direction of the sewing product And an actuator that moves the end detection device along the sewing product width direction, and a control unit that performs movement control of the actuator in accordance with a change in the sewing allowance target value. It is characterized by.

  The invention described in claim 2 has the same configuration as that of the invention described in claim 1, and the control unit detects that the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the target value of the seam allowance is detected. The movement control of the actuator is performed so as to be a predetermined specified position within a range.

The invention described in claim 3 has the same configuration as that of the invention described in claim 2, and the predetermined specified position in the detection range is a center position of the detection range.
The invention described in claim 4 has the same configuration as that of the invention described in claim 2, and the predetermined specified position in the detection range is an arbitrary position in the detection range determined by the setting means. It is characterized by being.

  The invention according to claim 5 has the same configuration as that of the invention according to claim 2, and the control unit is a case where the target value of the seam allowance changes during sewing, and a new target value of the seam allowance If the distance from the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the predetermined position of the detection range to the predetermined position of the detection range is less than a predetermined amount, the end corresponding to the new sewing allowance target value The target position within the detection range of the part detection device is determined as a new target position, and from the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the target value of the new seam allowance to the specified position of the detection range. When the distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the actuator movement control is performed so that the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new sewing allowance target value becomes the specified position of the detection range. To do And features.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes an actuator that moves the end detection device along the width direction of the sewing product, and performs movement control that moves the end detection device by the actuator in accordance with a change in the sewing allowance target value. Therefore, for example, when the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the target value of the sewing margin is away from the predetermined position of the detection range, the detection of the end detection device corresponding to the target value of the sewing margin is performed. The end detection device can be moved so as to return the target position within the range to the predetermined position of the detection range, whereby the side end of the sewing product deviates from the detection range of the end detection device, Alternatively, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the position detection range is insufficient on only one side in the width direction of the sewing product with respect to the side end portion of the sewing product, and it is possible to cope with the position variation of the sewing product in a wide range. Side edge of the sewing product Position detection becomes impossible to prevent the a stopped state, it is possible to perform a stable sewing operation.

In the invention according to claim 2, the control unit causes the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the target value of the seam margin to deviate from the specified position of the detection range in accordance with a change in the target value of the seam allowance. In this case, the actuator performs control to return the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the target value of the seam allowance to the specified position of the detection range. In this case, the specified position is the center position of the detection range or an arbitrary position of the detection range determined by the setting means, as in the third or fourth aspect of the invention.
In the case of the former, for example, it is suitable when the side end portion of the sewing product is linear. In the latter case, for example, the side end portion of the sewing product is bent in any direction, and in consideration of this, the side end portion of the sewing product is preliminarily set according to the bending direction. This is suitable when a specified position offset to one side of the center position is determined so that a wide detection range can be secured in a direction in which misalignment is likely to occur.
As a result, it is possible to more effectively avoid deviations from the detection range of the side end portion of the sewing product and a situation where the position detection range is insufficient on only one side in the width direction of the sewing product with respect to the side end portion of the sewing product. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the change in the position of the sewing product in a wide range.

In the invention according to claim 5, when the control unit has a certain distance or more from the target position in the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new target value of the seam to the center position of the detection range. The movement control of the actuator is performed so that the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new sewing allowance target value becomes the center position of the detection range. The side end portion of the sewing product can be detected at the center position, and the situation where the detection becomes impossible due to the deviation of the sewing product from the detection range is suppressed, and stable detection is possible.
Further, when the distance from the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new sewing allowance target value to the center position of the detection range is less than a predetermined amount, the control unit Since the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the target value of the sewing margin is determined as a new target position, for example, even when the amount of change in the target value of the sewing margin is smaller than the resolution of the actuator Even if it is possible to set a new target position within the detection range of the edge detection device without being restricted by the resolution, and the movement control of the edge detection device cannot be performed, It is possible to detect the side edge.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the up-down feed sewing machine which is 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed simply the structure seen from the front direction of the principal part of a vertical feed sewing machine. It is sectional drawing of an upper side lateral feed mechanism. It is a perspective view of an upper cloth detection device and a lower cloth detection device. It is the front view which looked at the upper cloth detection apparatus and the lower cloth detection apparatus from the visual line of the Y-axis (positive) direction. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of a vertical feed sewing machine. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the needle entry position, the set value of the seam allowance, and the target position within the detection range of the sensor, and FIG. 7B is a case where the seam allowance becomes a new set value. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where a new target position is set with a sensor position maintained. FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the needle entry position, the set value of the seam allowance, and the target position within the detection range of the sensor, and FIG. 8B shows the case where the seam allowance becomes a new set value. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where the new target position which moves a sensor position is positioned in the center position of the detection range. It is a figure which shows the example of sewing performed with respect to an upper cloth and a lower cloth. 10 is a chart showing a list of sewing conditions for performing the sewing shown in FIG. 9. 10 is a chart showing the setting contents of sewing data for performing first and second seam allowance adjustment control in the sewing of FIG. 9. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between a main shaft angle and the position (height) of a needle bar. FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a change in state at each stitch number when sewing is performed in FIG. 9, and FIG. 13A shows the amount of movement in the X-axis direction of each detection device by the upper and lower detection range adjustment mechanisms; 13B shows the amount of change in the target position within the image sensor detection range corresponding to the set value of the seam allowance, and FIG. 13C shows the amount of change in the set value of the seam allowance. It is a process flowchart of the 1st and 2nd seam allowance adjustment control. FIG. 15A is a diagram showing a change in state at each stitch number when considering the movement time of the upper cloth and lower cloth detectors, and FIG. 15A is the X axis of each detector by the upper and lower detection range adjustment mechanisms. 15B shows the amount of change in the target position within the image sensor detection range corresponding to the set value of the seam allowance, and FIG. 15C shows the amount of change in the set value of the seam allowance. Yes. It is a front view of the conventional sewing machine. It is an enlarged front view of the cloth edge detection apparatus with respect to the upper cloth of the conventional sewing machine. FIG. 18A shows a state where detection is performed with the reference position being the center position in the cloth edge detection device, and FIGS. 18B and 18C show the reference position being biased in the cloth edge detection device. The state where the detection is performed in the state is shown. It is explanatory drawing which showed the positional relationship of the needle drop position of the sewing needle of the sewing machine with respect to the upper and lower cloths at the time of sewing, the lateral feed mechanism, and the cloth end detection device in a plan view. 20A shows the detection output by the cloth edge detection device in the straight section of the side edges of the upper and lower cloths, and FIG. 20B shows the detection output by the cloth edge detection device in the curved section of the upper and lower cloths.

[Embodiment of the Invention]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a vertical feed sewing machine 100 as a sewing machine according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view simply showing a configuration viewed from the front direction of the main part.
In the following description, a horizontal direction is referred to as a Y-axis direction, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the Y-axis direction is referred to as an X-axis direction, and a vertical vertical direction is referred to as a Z-axis direction.
Further, the feeding direction of the upper cloth CU (upper sewing product) and the lower cloth CD (lower sewing product), which will be described later, by the main feed mechanism 20 is parallel to the Y-axis direction, and the feed traveling direction is set to the Y-axis (normal ) Direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as the Y-axis (reverse) direction.
Further, the lateral feed mechanisms 30 and 40, which will be described later, are capable of moving the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD in both directions in the X-axis direction, with the right side of FIG. The (reverse) direction. The X-axis direction corresponds to the “sewing product width direction”.

The vertical feed sewing machine 100 feeds the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD placed on the needle plate 14 in the Y-axis (positive) direction, while the upper cloth CU is in the X-axis direction (positive) side. Sewing control is performed so that the side end portion of the lower cloth CD and the side end portion of the lower cloth CD on the X-axis direction (positive side) coincide with each other so that no deviation occurs, and the sewing margin is set to the target value defined in the sewing data. Is to do.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vertical feed sewing machine 100 includes a needle bar vertical movement mechanism (not shown) that moves a needle bar that holds a sewing needle up and down, and an upper cloth CU and a lower cloth CD at the Y-axis ( A main feed mechanism 20 that feeds in the forward) direction, an upper lateral feed mechanism 30 that is positioned on the Y-axis (reverse) direction side with respect to the needle drop position and moves the upper cloth CU forward and backward in the X-axis direction, and a needle drop A lower lateral feed mechanism 50 which is located on the Y-axis (reverse) direction side with respect to the position and moves the lower cloth CD forward and backward in the X-axis direction, and the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD during these lateral feed operations. Partition plate 11 that partitions them so that they do not interfere with each other, an upper cloth detection device 40 as a cloth edge detection device provided between the needle drop position and the upper lateral feed mechanism 30, a needle drop position and a lower side A lower cloth detection device 60 as a cloth edge detection device provided between the lateral feed mechanism 50 and an upper cloth detection device An upper detection range adjustment mechanism 46 that can move 40 along the X-axis direction, a lower detection range adjustment mechanism 66 that can move the lower cloth detection device 60 along the X-axis direction, and a lower side of the needle plate 14. A hook mechanism (not shown) that captures the upper thread from the sewing needle and entangles it with the lower thread, the control device 13 that controls the configuration around the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60, and the entire sewing machine 100 are controlled. And a sewing machine controller 19.
The needle bar up-and-down moving mechanism and the shuttle mechanism are the same as those conventionally known, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[Main feed mechanism]
As shown in FIG. 2, the main feed mechanism 20 is provided on the lower side of the needle plate 14 and a cloth presser 23 that continuously moves up and down on the needle plate 14 to hold the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD. A feed dog 21 that moves in and out of the opening of the needle plate 14 by performing an ellipse motion along the Y-axis direction, and a feed foot 22 that is provided on the upper side of the needle plate 14 and performs an ellipse motion along the Y-axis direction; And a motion transmission mechanism (not shown) that applies a vertical movement or an elliptical motion to the cloth presser 23, the feed dog 21 and the feed leg 22.
The feed dog 21 orbits so that the upper section in the ellipse motion is in the Y-axis (positive) direction, and the feed leg 22 orbits so that the lower section in the ellipse motion is in the Y-axis (positive) direction. I do. As a result, the feed dog 21 and the feed foot 22 sandwich the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD on the needle plate 14 and perform a feed operation intermittently at a constant feed pitch.

Further, the cloth presser 23 moves up and down in synchronization with the revolving motion of the feed dog 21 and the feed leg 22, and descends at the timing when the feed dog 21 is retracted downward and the feed leg 22 is retracted upward, and the upper cloth CU and The lower cloth CD is pressed, and the feed dog 21 and the feed leg 22 mesh with each other and the cloth is raised at the timing of feeding the cloth.
The feed dog 21, the feed foot 22 and the cloth presser 23 are all powered by a sewing machine motor 15 (see FIG. 6) which is a drive source for the needle bar vertical movement mechanism and the shuttle mechanism.
That is, the feed dog 21 is long by synchronously applying up and down and front and back reciprocating motions by means of a transmission mechanism that converts the rotational operation of the sewing machine motor 15 to up and down reciprocating motions and a transmission mechanism that converts back and forth back and forth motions. It is possible to make a circular movement.
The same applies to the feed leg 22, and the rotation operation of the sewing machine motor 15 is moved back and forth by converting the rotation operation of the sewing machine motor 15 into the forward and backward movement and applied to the rod that supports the feed leg 22. Is moved up and down by applying to the rod that supports the feed leg 22. Thereby, it is possible to cause the feed leg 22 to perform an elliptical movement.
In addition, the rotary motion of the sewing machine motor is converted into a vertical motion and transmitted to the rod that supports the cloth presser 23 to realize the vertical motion.

The sewing machine motor 15 applies power to the needle up-and-down moving mechanism and the main feed mechanism 20 through a main shaft (not shown), and the needle up-and-down movement mechanism moves the needle by one rotation of the main shaft. 20 performs a feed operation for one pitch.
At this time, if the main shaft angle when the needle bar is at the top dead center is 0 °, the sewing needle is not stuck in the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD in the main shaft angle range of 270 to 90 °. And the cloth feeding operation | movement by the feed dog 21 and the feed leg 22 mentioned above performs a feeding operation in the angle range of main shaft angle 270-90 degrees.

[Partition plate]
The partition plate 11 is a long flat plate along the X-axis direction, and is supported in a cantilevered state by a sewing machine frame at an end portion on the X-axis (positive) direction side.
A gap is formed on the lower side of the partition plate 11 so as to be spaced somewhat upward from the upper surface of the sewing machine bed portion, and the lower cloth CD is conveyed through the gap. Further, the upper cloth CU is conveyed on the upper side of the partition plate 11, whereby the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD can be separated and individually fed laterally.

[Upper lateral feed mechanism and lower lateral feed mechanism]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper lateral feed mechanism 30.
The upper lateral feed mechanism 30 includes a rotating body 31 that transports the upper cloth CU in the Y-axis (positive) direction together with the main feeding mechanism 20 with respect to the upper cloth CU conveyed to the main feeding mechanism 20, and an outer periphery of the rotating body 31. A plurality of pinions 32 that are arranged at uniform intervals along the upper surface of the upper cloth CU and move the upper cloth CU in the X-axis direction (transverse feed direction) in contact with the upper surface of the upper cloth CU. A transport drive mechanism 33 that applies torque for transporting in the (positive) direction, a lateral feed drive mechanism 34 that imparts rotational power for lateral feed to the plurality of pinions 32, and a frame that supports these parts. 35.

The rotating body 31 is an internal hollow structure in which two scissors are integrated so as to face each other. The rotating body 31 is supported by one end of a hollow shaft 332 of a transport drive mechanism 33 described later so as to be concentric with the center of rotation. Yes. These are supported by the frame 35 so as to be rotatable around the X axis.
Further, the rotary body 31 supports eight pinions 32 so as to be rotatable at intervals of 45 ° radially from the X-axis direction. Each of these pinions 32 is supported so that a part of the outer periphery is exposed from a slit-shaped opening along the X-axis direction formed on the outer periphery of the rotating body 31. The rotating body 31 is supported by the upper cloth CU. It can come into contact with each other via these pinions 32.

  Each pinion 32 is pivotally supported by a rotating body 31 with a rotating shaft along the tangential direction of its concentric circles, and teeth formed on the outer periphery of all the pinions 32 are arranged at the center of the rotating body 31. It meshes with a worm gear 341 of a lateral feed drive mechanism 34 that rotates about an axis. That is, when the worm gear 343 that is concentric with the rotating body 31 rotates relative to the rotating body 31 inside the rotating body 31, each pinion 32 rotates.

  The rotation drive mechanism 33 includes a conveyance motor 331 that is a rotation drive source of the rotator 31, a hollow support shaft 332 that supports the rotator 31 at one end, a main sprocket 333 that is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the conveyance motor 331, And a driven sprocket 334 fixedly mounted on the hollow spindle 332 and a timing belt 335 stretched over the sprockets 333 and 334.

The hollow support shaft 332 is supported by the frame body 35 so as to be rotatable along the X-axis direction. The rotating body 31 is fixedly supported at one end thereof. The hollow support shaft 332 is hollow over its entire length, and the transmission shaft 342 of the lateral feed drive mechanism 34 is inserted concentrically into the hollow support shaft 332.
The transport motor 331 is a stepping motor, and its output shaft is held by the frame 35 in a state along the X-axis direction. Then, torque is applied to the hollow support shaft 332 from the main sprocket 333 provided on the output shaft of the transport motor 331 via the timing belt 335 and the driven sprocket 334, and the rotating body 31 rotates about the X axis.
The main feed mechanism 20 described above inevitably performs periodic intermittent feed because of the structure in which the upper cloth CU is fed by the feed dog 21 and the feed leg 22, but the transport motor 331 has its operation timing and rotation. Since the stepping motor is capable of arbitrarily controlling the speed, the upper cloth CU can be conveyed in synchronization with the main feed mechanism 20.

The transverse feed drive mechanism 34 includes a transverse feed motor 341 that is a rotational drive source of each pinion 32, a transmission shaft 342 along the X-axis direction that penetrates the hollow shaft 332, and a transmission shaft 342 inside the rotating body 31. A worm gear 343 fixed to one end of the worm gear.
The worm gear 343 is located at the center of each pinion 32 inside the rotating body 31 and meshes with all the pinions 32.
The transverse feed motor 341 is a stepping motor, and its output shaft is directly connected to the transmission shaft 342. Moreover, since it is a stepping motor, its operation timing and rotational speed can be controlled arbitrarily.

  The frame 35 is fixedly supported by the sewing machine frame so as to contact the upper cloth CU to which the rotating body 31 is conveyed. However, in order to allow the rotating body 31 to abut on the upper cloth CU to be conveyed, The body 35 can be moved up and down with respect to the sewing machine frame, or the frame body 35 can be swung around the Y-axis so that the rotating body 31 can be brought into contact with the upper cloth CU conveyed by its own weight, or can be rotated using an actuator. The body 31 may be brought into contact with the upper cloth CU being conveyed.

With the above configuration, the upper lateral feed mechanism 30 rotates the rotating body 31 by driving the conveyance motor 331, and sends the upper cloth CU that contacts the rotating body 31 via the pinions 32 in the Y-axis (positive) direction. be able to.
Further, the worm gear 343 is rotated by the driving of the lateral feed motor 341, and each pinion 32 is rotated, so that the upper cloth CU can be moved in the X-axis direction without disturbing the conveyance in the Y-axis direction. Thereby, the seam allowance of the upper cloth CU can be adjusted.
In order to rotate each pinion 32 while the rotating body 31 is rotating, the transmission shaft 342 needs to be relatively rotated with respect to the hollow support shaft 332. For this reason, when executing the lateral feed of the upper cloth CU, the lateral feed motor 341 is generated so that a predetermined speed difference is generated with respect to the rotational speed of the transport motor 331 so that the necessary rotation of each pinion 32 is obtained. To control the rotation speed.

Since the lower lateral feed mechanism 50 has substantially the same configuration as that of the upper lateral feed mechanism 30, the description of each of these configurations is omitted.
The lower lateral feed mechanism 50 is provided inside the sewing machine bed portion, and is provided so that the upper portion of the rotating body protrudes somewhat higher than the upper surface of the needle plate 14. It is possible to perform a feed in the Y-axis direction and a movement in the X-axis direction by contacting the lower cloth CD being conveyed from below.
Further, the transport motor 531 and the lateral feed motor 541 (see FIG. 6) included in the lower lateral feed mechanism 50 are controlled by the control device 13 together with the transport motor 331 and the lateral feed motor 341 of the upper lateral feed mechanism 30.

[Upper cloth and lower cloth detector]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60. As illustrated, the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 are slidable along the X-axis direction by the upper and lower portions of the base 18 that supports the reflection plate 12 made of a thin metal plate having gloss on both sides. It is supported by.
The base 18 is a long structure along the X-axis direction, is cantilevered by the sewing machine frame at the end in the X-axis (forward) direction, and is a reflector from the end in the X-axis (reverse) direction. 12 is extended.
Further, the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 are respectively extended in the X-axis (reverse) direction from the upper surface and the lower surface of the end portion in the X-axis (reverse) direction of the base portion 18. The extended end portions of each of the detection devices 40 and 60 are formed in a U-shaped opening toward the X-axis (reverse) direction. And inside the U-shaped opening part by the upper cloth detection apparatus 40 and the lower cloth detection apparatus 60, the reflecting plate 12 is pinched | interposed in the state which made the reflective surface of the front and back correspond to XY plane.
That is, the lower surface of the extended end portion of the upper cloth detection device 40 faces the upper reflective surface of the reflecting plate 12, and the upper surface of the extended end portion of the lower cloth detection device 60 faces the lower reflective surface of the reflective plate 12. Yes.
At the time of sewing, the presence or absence of the side end portion and the position in the X-axis direction are detected in a state where the side end portion on the X-axis direction (positive) side of the lower cloth CD is inserted below the reflecting plate 12 of the opening. When the side end of the upper cloth CU on the X-axis direction (positive) side is inserted above the reflector 12 in the opening, the presence / absence of the side end and the position in the X-axis direction are determined. Detection is performed.

  The lower cloth detection device 60 includes a housing 61 that supports the internal configuration, a light source unit 62 as a light source that performs light irradiation for detecting the position of the side end portion of the lower cloth CD in the X-axis direction, and a light source unit 62. A CMOS image sensor 65 as a detection element that receives the reflected light on the reflecting plate 12 based on the irradiation light from the light source, and a light emitting LED 64 as a light source that performs light irradiation for detecting the presence or absence of the side edge portion of the lower cloth CD, A light receiving LED 63 is provided as a detection element that receives the reflected light on the reflecting plate 12 based on the light emitted from the light emitting LED 64.

The light source unit 62 has a function of emitting slit-shaped parallel light along the X-axis direction. For example, a point light source such as an LED, a lens that converts the diffused light from the point light source into parallel light, It consists of a diaphragm that makes parallel light into a slit shape. By irradiating the light source unit 62 with parallel light, for example, it is possible to prevent a decrease in position detection accuracy due to a difference in height of the irradiation surface of the lower cloth CD.
The image sensor 65 is formed by arranging fine light receiving elements having an X-axis direction width of about 10 to 20 [μm] along the X-axis direction, and the slit-shaped irradiation light of the light source unit 62 by the reflection plate 12. The light intensity at each position in the longitudinal direction of the reflected light is detected at the reflection position.

  In the above configuration, the light source unit 62 irradiates the reflective plate 12 with slit-shaped parallel light along the X-axis direction. At this time, the side end portion of the lower cloth CD is a part of the lower reflective surface of the reflective plate 12. Shield. Therefore, the reflected light of the slit-like parallel light causes a decrease in light intensity in a part of the longitudinal direction according to the position of the side end portion of the lower cloth CD. On the other hand, since the light receiving elements along the X-axis direction are arranged in the image sensor 65, it is possible to specify the position where the light intensity is reduced in the reflected light of the slit-like parallel light from the detection output. And the position in the X-axis direction of the side end portion of the lower cloth CD, that is, the seam allowance at the time of detection can be obtained by specifying the position where the light intensity is reduced.

The light emitting LED 64 and the light receiving LED 63 are arranged on the X-axis (reverse) direction side with respect to the light source unit 62 and the image sensor 65, and detect the deviation of the cloth CD from the opening at the time of sewing or at the end of conveyance. This is used when it is detected that the end of the lower cloth CD has passed between the reflector 12 and the lower cloth detector 60.
The light emitting LED 64 is a point light source and emits diffused light. However, the light emitting LED 64 need not be parallel light as long as it can detect the presence of the undercloth CD at the irradiation position.
The light receiving LED 63 is provided at a reflection position of the light emitted from the light emitting LED 64 by the reflecting plate 12.

  The upper cloth detection device 40 includes a housing 41 that supports the internal configuration, a light source unit 42 that serves as a light source for irradiating light for position detection in the X-axis direction of the side end portion of the upper cloth CU, and a light source unit 42. An image sensor 45 serving as a detection element that receives reflected light from the reflecting plate 12 based on irradiation light from the light source, a light emitting LED 44 serving as a light source that performs light irradiation for detecting the presence or absence of the side edge of the upper cloth CU, and a light emitting LED 44 And a light receiving LED 43 as a detecting element for receiving the reflected light on the reflecting plate 12 based on the irradiation light from the light. Since these configurations are the same as the respective configurations of the lower cloth detection device 60, description thereof will be omitted.

[Detection range adjustment mechanism]
FIG. 5 is a front view of the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 as viewed from the line of sight in the Y-axis (positive) direction.
As shown in the figure, each of the above-described upper cloth detection device 40 and lower cloth detection device 60 allows the upper cloth detection device 40 or the lower cloth detection device 60 to move along the X-axis direction with respect to the base 18. An upper detection range adjustment mechanism 46 and a lower detection range adjustment mechanism 66 are provided.
The upper detection range adjustment mechanism 46 includes a position adjustment motor 47 as an actuator that moves the upper cloth detection device 40 along the X-axis direction, and an X-axis (positive) direction side of the casing 41 of the upper cloth detection device 40. A rack tooth 48 provided on the upper surface of the end portion and a pinion gear 49 provided on the output shaft of the position adjusting motor 47 and meshing with the rack tooth 48 are provided.
The position adjustment motor 47 is a stepping motor and is driven under the control of the control device 13, and the upper cloth detection device 40 can be arbitrarily moved along the X-axis direction by driving the position adjustment motor 47. It has become.

  The lower detection range adjustment mechanism 66 includes a position adjustment motor 67, rack teeth 68, and a pinion gear 69 that are substantially the same as the upper detection range adjustment mechanism 46. The lower cloth detection range adjustment mechanism 66 also includes the lower detection range adjustment mechanism 66. The position adjustment motor 67 is controlled by the control device 13 so that the lower cloth detection device 60 can be arbitrarily moved along the X-axis direction.

[Control device]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vertical feed sewing machine 100.
The vertical feed sewing machine 100 includes a sewing machine controller 19 that controls the entire sewing machine during sewing, and a control device 13 that controls the configuration around the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60.
A sewing machine motor 15 for moving the sewing needle up and down is connected to the sewing machine controller 19 via a drive circuit 15a. An unillustrated sewing machine main shaft (not shown) that is rotationally driven by the sewing machine motor 15 is provided with an encoder 16 that detects the shaft angle, and outputs the detected shaft angle to the sewing machine controller 19 via the interface 16a. . The encoder 16 outputs 1440 pulses per spindle revolution, with a resolution of the spindle angle of 0.25 [deg].
Further, the vertical feed sewing machine 100 includes an operation panel 17 for inputting various settings and displaying various information. The operation panel 17 is also connected to the sewing machine controller 19 via an interface 17a. .

On the other hand, the control device 13 includes transport motors 331 and 531, lateral feed motors 341 and 541, and position adjustment motors 47 and 67 of the lateral feed devices 30 and 50 for the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD, respectively, and a drive circuit 331 a. , 531a, 341a, 541a, 47a, 67a.
In addition, the lower cloth detection device 60 and the upper cloth detection device 40 are connected to the control device 13 via interfaces 60a and 40a, respectively. Since each of the image sensors 65 and 45 outputs a detection signal in an analog manner, the control device 13 includes A / D converters 135 and 136 of the image sensors 65 and 45, and digitized detection data. It is possible to obtain.

  The control device 13 includes a CPU 131 that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM 132 that stores programs related to operation control of the above-described components, a RAM 133 that stores various data related to the processing of the CPU 131 in a work area, and various settings. An EEPROM 134 as a storage unit for recording data, sewing data, and the like, and the A / D converters 135 and 136 described above are provided.

[Outline of sewing control]
The vertical feed sewing machine 100 is sewn in accordance with sewing data (described later) in which the value of the sewing allowance for the number of stitches per stitch is set. First, an outline of basic sewing operations by the sewing machine controller 19 and the control device 13 will be described.

  The sewing machine motor with the side end of the upper cloth CU inserted between the upper cloth detector 40 and the reflector 12 and the side end of the lower cloth CD inserted between the lower cloth detector 60 and the reflector 12. When sewing is started by driving 15, the control device 13 monitors the spindle angle based on the pulse signal input from the encoder 16 through the sewing machine controller 19 and synchronizes with the intermittent feed operation in the main feed mechanism 20. The upper side feed mechanism 30 and the lower side feed mechanism 50 are each driven by driving the transport motors 331, 531 and the side feed motors 341, 541 to feed the upper cloth CU by the upper side feed mechanism 30 and the lower side feed. The lower cloth CD is fed by the mechanism 50.

  That is, in the main feed mechanism 20, the feed dog 21 and the feed leg 22 circulate in an elliptical track, and the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD are brought into contact with each other on the track so as to be conveyed. The range is always constant, and the feed pitch is also determined by the setting. Therefore, from the output of the encoder 16, the arrival of the angle range of the main spindle angle at which the conveyance is performed is monitored, and the conveyance motors 331, 531 and the transverse feed motors 341, 341, 531, 331, 531, 341, The drive control of 541 is executed. When the upper cloth CU or the lower cloth CD is not laterally fed, the transport motors 331 and 531 and the lateral feed motors 341 and 541 are driven at a constant speed so as not to cause a relative speed difference. And control so that each pinion 32 does not rotate.

Further, the control device 13 reads the set value of the sewing allowance for the next number of stitches from the sewing data and monitors the main shaft angle based on the output of the encoder 16, and determines a predetermined main shaft angle (the sewing needle is the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD). Sensor output by the image sensors 45 and 65 of the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 is read, and the current seam allowance of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD is calculated. .
Then, the set value of the seam allowance is compared with the detected seam allowance. For example, when the detected seam allowance on the upper cloth CU is small, the lateral feed motor 341 of the upper lateral feed mechanism 30 is made faster than the transport motor 331. The transmission shaft 342 is rotated relative to the hollow support shaft 332 to rotate each pinion 32 of the rotating body 31, and the upper cloth CU is moved in the X-axis (positive) direction. Thereby, it adjusts in the direction which the seam allowance of upper cloth CU increases. Further, when the detected seam allowance in the upper cloth CU is large, the lateral feed motor 341 of the upper lateral feed mechanism 30 is rotated at a lower speed than the transport motor 331 to apply rotation to each pinion 32, and the upper cloth CU Move in the direction that the seam allowance decreases.
The control for the lower lateral feed mechanism 50 in the lower cloth CD is also performed in the same manner.
When the number of stitches determined in the sewing data is completed, the sewing machine motor stops and the sewing is finished.

[First seam allowance adjustment control]
As described above, the vertical feed sewing machine 100 is set so that the setting value of the sewing allowance changes among a plurality of stitches for performing a series of sewing operations, and at the time of sewing, the setting value of the sewing allowance for each stitch is set to be the same. The upper and lower lateral feed mechanisms 30 and 50 are controlled. In this way, in order to set the sewing allowance of each needle as set, the upper cloth detecting device 40 and the lower cloth detecting device 60 for each stitch are used by the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD (hereinafter referred to as “cloth” for convenience). The seam allowance is detected.
One feature of the vertical feed sewing machine 100 is that one of the first seam allowance adjustment control and the second seam allowance adjustment control is alternatively executed in advance in detecting the seam allowance for each stitch.
First, the first seam allowance adjustment control performed by the control device 13 will be described.

For the detection of the seam allowance, image sensors 45 and 65 are used, and the image sensors 45 and 65 emit slit-like reflected light within a detection range constituted by a plurality of fine detection elements arranged along the X-axis direction. Light is received and shielded by the side edge of the fabric, and the tip position of the side edge of the fabric, that is, the seam allowance can be specified from the position where the difference in light intensity occurs.
As described above, when the set value of the seam allowance is determined in advance, the control device 13 obtains the target position within the detection range of the image sensors 45 and 65 corresponding to the set value (target value) of the seam allowance, The target position is compared with the position of the actually detected side edge of the fabric to determine in which direction the fabric is displaced.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the symbol N is the needle drop position and W0 is the set value of the sewing allowance, the control device 13 causes the sewing allowance W0 from the needle drop position N toward the X-axis (positive) direction. Is set as a target position P0 within the detection range.
In addition, the center position where the target position P0 of the set value of the first sewing margin at the start of sewing is a distance d0 (the X-axis direction width of the detection range is 2d0) from both ends of the detection ranges of the image sensors 45 and 65. Positioning control by the detection range adjusting mechanisms 46 and 66 is performed so as to coincide with the position C. This is to prevent the fabric from deviating outside the detection range even when the position of the side edge of the fabric suddenly changes in the forward or reverse direction in the X-axis direction.
At the time of sewing, the target position P0 is compared with the detection position of the side edge of the fabric, and the fabric is moved by the upper and lower lateral feed mechanisms 30 and 50 depending on which direction the fabric is displaced. Control to move the X axis in either the forward or reverse direction is performed.

Further, when the set value of the seam allowance is changed to a new set value W1 during sewing, the position where the distance W1 from the needle drop position N is a certain distance (for example, 1 [mm] from the center position C of the detection range described above. ]) If it is not further away, the new target position P1 is set without operating the detection range adjusting mechanisms 46 and 66. That is, the previous target position P0 coincided with the center position C of the detection range, but the new target position P1 is set at a position deviating from the center position C.
For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the new setting value W1 of the seam allowance is W1 = W0−d1 and d1 <1 [mm], the upper cloth detecting device 40 and the lower cloth detecting device 60 are A new target position P1 that is a distance W1 from the needle drop position N is set while maintaining the current position.
Then, by comparing the target position P1 and the detection position of the side edge of the fabric, the lateral feed operation control of the fabric by the upper and lower lateral feed mechanisms 30 and 50 is performed.

Thus, in the first seam allowance adjustment control, the distance from the center position C of the detection range of each image sensor 45, 65 to the position within the detection range corresponding to the new set value of the seam allowance is less than a certain amount. In this case, a new target position is set without operating the detection range adjustment mechanisms 46 and 66 of the detection devices 40 and 60.
In this case, software processing such as changing the setting of the target position for determining the position of the side edge portion of the fabric is performed without mechanical operation such as the moving operation of each of the detection devices 40 and 60. Since it is only performed, the processing can be performed at a speed corresponding to the processing capability of the control device 13.

[Second sewing allowance adjustment control]
Next, the second seam allowance adjustment control performed by the control device 13 will be described.
In the second seam allowance adjustment control, when the set value of the seam allowance changes to a new set value W1 during sewing, the position where the distance W1 from the needle drop position N is constant from the center position C of the detection range described above. When the distance is larger than the distance (for example, 1 [mm]), the detection range adjustment mechanisms 46 and 66 are operated to execute the movement control so that the new target position P1 and the center position C of the detection range coincide. . That is, the new target position P1 coincides with the center position C of the detection range.

FIG. 8A shows the same state as FIG. 7A described above, and FIG. 8B shows a case where the set value of the seam allowance is changed to a new set value W1. As shown in FIG. 8, when the new set value W1 of the seam allowance is W1 = W0−d1 and d1 ≧ 1 [mm], the upper cloth detecting device 40 and the lower cloth detecting device 60 are provided with a detection range adjusting mechanism. 46 and 66 move by d1 in the X axis (reverse) direction. As a result, the new target position P1 coincides with the center position C of the detection range.
Then, the movement control of the fabric is performed by the upper and lower lateral feed mechanisms 30 and 50 by comparing the center position C with the detection position of the side edge of the fabric.

  Thus, in the second seam allowance adjustment control, the new target position P1 is in a state of being coincident with the center position C of the detection range, and therefore, even after the set value of the seam allowance is changed, The side edge of the fabric can be detected based on the center of the detection range, and the side edge of the fabric deviates from the detection range even if an unexpected position change occurs in the side edge of the fabric. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which sewing is impossible.

It should be noted that the reference amount compared with d1 for determining whether to execute the first seam allowance adjustment control or the second seam allowance adjustment control is the resolution of the position adjusting motors 47 and 67 of the detection range adjusting mechanisms 46 and 66. The minimum unit movement amount based on That is, the minimum distance that the position adjusting motors 47 and 67, which are stepping motors, can move the detection devices 40 and 60 by the resolution is 1 [mm].
When the setting value of the seam allowance is changed, the second seam allowance adjustment control is always executed so that the position within the detection range corresponding to the new seam allowance setting value coincides with the center position C of the detection range. However, since there is a limit to fine position adjustment due to the resolution of the position adjustment motors 47 and 67, when the movement amount of each of the detection devices 40 and 60 is small, by executing the first seam allowance adjustment control, It is always possible to maintain the position of the side edge of the fabric according to the set value of the seam allowance.

In the vertical feed sewing machine 100, since the sewing allowance is normally set to the same value for the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD, the upper cloth detecting device 40 is used for the first sewing allowance adjustment control and the second sewing allowance adjustment control. Although the case where the same control is performed for the lower cloth detection device 60, the upper lateral feed mechanism 30 and the lower lateral feed mechanism 50 is illustrated, the seam allowance is set to different values for the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD. It is also possible. In this case, the first seam allowance adjustment control and the second seam allowance adjustment control are individually performed on the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD according to the set values of the respective seam allowances.
7 and 8, the detection range adjustment mechanism 66 is not shown.

[Specific setting for performing first and second seam allowance adjustment control]
FIG. 9 shows an example of sewing performed on the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD. In the vertical feed sewing machine 100, the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD (hereinafter referred to as cloth) are conveyed upward in the figure, and the seam is formed from the upper end to the lower end.
Sewing is performed on this fabric by changing the initial setting value of stitching margin to 10 [mm] and changing to 11 [mm] in the process of moving 300 stitches. Specifically, from the start of sewing to 94 stitches, the stitching allowance is set at 10 [mm], and between 95 and 99 stitches, the stitching margin is increased by 0.1 [mm] for each stitch, and 100 to 194 stitches The sewing allowance is maintained at 10.5 [mm] between the stitches, and the stitching allowance is increased by 0.1 [mm] for each stitch between 195 and 199 stitches, and the stitch allowance is 11 [mm] between 200 and 300 stitches. ] And keep moving.

FIG. 10 is a chart showing a list of sewing conditions for performing the sewing shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the total number of stitches for sewing is 300, the maximum speed of the sewing machine motor 15 at the time of sewing is 3000 [sti / min] (rpm), the resolution of the encoder 16 is 0.25 [deg], and the sewing allowance of each needle As described above, the sensing period of the image sensors 45 and 65 is 10 [ms], the width of the detection range in the X-axis direction is 100 [mm], the resolution is 0.1 [mm], and the position adjustment motors 47 and 67 are used. The resolution of sensor movement is 1.0 [mm].
These settings are common to the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD.

  FIG. 11 is a chart showing the setting contents of the sewing data for performing the first and second seam allowance adjustment control in the sewing of FIG. As shown in the figure, the sewing data includes a data number indicating the order of the first and second seam allowance adjustment control, the number of stitches (PINNUM) for which the first and second seam allowance adjustment control is performed, Image sensor corresponding to the main shaft angle (FREQ) where the second seam allowance adjustment control is performed, the change point (POINT) which is the integrated value of the encoder output signal where the first and second seam allowance adjustment control is performed, and the seam allowance set value A deviation amount (OFFSET) between the target position within the detection range of 45 and 65 and the center position C is set. Note that the numerical value of the deviation amount (OFFSET) between the target position and the center position C is expressed in units of 0.1 [mm].

The data number in the sewing data indicates the processing order, and the control device 13 reads the set contents according to this order at the time of sewing.
The number of stitches (PINNUM), spindle angle (FREQ), and change point (POINT) indicate the timing of the first or second sewing allowance adjustment control for each data number from the start of sewing. This is a parameter for conversion to (system). These parameters hold the relationship of the following equation (1).
POINT = (PINNUM−1) × 1440 + (FREQ / 360) × 1440… (1)

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the spindle angle and the position (height) of the needle bar. If the top dead center of the needle bar is 0 °, the range of the main shaft angle at which the sewing needle does not pierce the fabric is 270 to 90 [deg]. Therefore, the first or second sewing allowance adjustment control and the fabric lateral feed operation control need to be executed at 270 [deg] in the number of stitches immediately before the target number of stitches.
Therefore, when this start timing is converted into an encoder unit system, the above equation (1) is obtained. Note that 1440 is the resolution of the encoder 16 (the number of output pulses for one rotation of the main shaft).

FIG. 13 shows the amount of movement in the X-axis direction of each of the detection devices 30 and 50 when performing the sewing of FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the first and second sewing allowance adjustment control performed by the control device 13 when performing the sewing shown in FIG.
Based on these, the processing of the first and second seam allowance adjustment control will be described.

First, the control device 13 performs various setting initialization processes (step S1). That is, the count value i of the data number for reading the sewing data is set to 0, and the set offset for counting the deviation amount between the target position and the center position C within the detection range of the image sensors 45 and 65 corresponding to the set value of the sewing allowance. The value is set to 0 (1 count is set to 0.1 [mm]), and the sensor position offset value for counting the movement amount of the upper and lower detection devices 40 and 60 is set to 0 (1 count is set to 1.0 [mm]).
Further, the initial positions of the upper and lower cloth detection devices 40, 60 coincide with the center position C of the detection range of the upper and lower image sensors 45, 65 at a position 10 [mm] from the needle drop position N that is the initial value of the sewing allowance. Placed in.

  Then, the sewing machine waits for an input of sewing start by the operation panel 17 from the operator of the sewing machine (step S3), and when the start is inputted, the driving of the sewing machine motor 15 is started (step S5). When the driving of the sewing machine motor 15 is started, the control device 13 starts counting the output signal of the encoder 16 (step S7). At this time, the encoder 16 also starts to output a rotation speed signal of one pulse per one rotation of the main shaft, and the control device 13 starts counting as a needle count value.

Then, it is determined whether or not the count value of the encoder 16 has reached the value of the change point at the current data number (step S9).
For example, when the count value i = 0 of the data number, the change point is 135630.

If the count value has not reached the change point at the time of this determination, the process returns to step S7 to continue counting the encoder output. When the count value of the encoder 16 reaches the change point, the target position and the center position C at the current data number are added to the set offset value for counting the amount of deviation between the target position and the center position C within the detection range. The numerical value of the deviation amount (OFFSET) is added (step S11). For example, the state change in which the amount of deviation between the target position and the center position C increases in the section of the 95th to 99th stitches and the 195th to 199th stitches in FIG. 13B corresponds to the processing in step S11.
For example, when the count value i = 0 of the data number, the numerical value of the deviation amount (OFFSET) is “1”. By this addition, a new target position P1 is set at a position 10.1 [mm] from the needle drop position N (see FIG. 7). In this case, the new target position P1 is shifted from the center position C by 0.1 [mm] in the X-axis (positive) direction. The side edge of the fabric is laterally fed to the target position P1 by the upper and lower lateral feed mechanisms 30 and 50, and the sewing margin is corrected to 10.1 [mm].

When the set offset value is added, the count value i of the data number is also incremented by 1 (step S13). Thereby, the control apparatus 13 reads the setting content of the next data number.
Further, the control device 13 determines whether or not the added set offset value has reached 10 (step S15). If the set offset value has not reached 10, the process returns to step S7.
While this set offset value is less than 10, it means that the amount of deviation between the target position in the detection range and the center position C has not reached 1 [mm]. The first seam allowance adjustment control for changing only the target position within the detection range without moving the cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 is executed.

When the set offset value reaches 10, it means that the amount of deviation between the target position in the detection range and the center position C has reached 1 [mm]. Perform adjustment control. That is, the set offset value is reset and returned to 0, and the sensor position offset value is incremented by 1. By this addition, the control device 13 drives the position adjustment motors 47 and 67 to move the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 by 1 [mm] in the X-axis (positive) direction. Further, the target position within the detection range is made to coincide with the center position C. For example, the change in the state of the 200th stitch in FIGS. 13A and 13B corresponds to this.
Strictly speaking, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the accumulated set offset has reached +10 or -10. That is, even when the amount of deviation between the target position in the detection range and the center position C in the X-axis (positive) direction reaches 1 [mm], the target position in the detection range is made to coincide with the center position C. Control is performed. In this case, the control device 13 drives the position adjustment motors 47 and 67 to move the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 by 1 [mm] in the X-axis (reverse) direction.

  Next, the control device 13 refers to the stitch count value and determines whether or not the planned stitch count 300 has been reached (step S19). If it has not yet reached 300 stitches, the process returns to step S7, and if it has reached 300 stitches, the drive of the sewing machine motor 15 is stopped and the process is terminated.

[Technical effects of the embodiment of the invention]
As described above, the vertical feed sewing machine 100 includes the position adjustment motors 47 and 67 that move the upper cloth CU and lower cloth CD detection devices 40 and 60 along the X-axis direction, and sets the sewing allowance (target value). Is changed, the target position within the detection range of the image sensors 45 and 65 of the upper cloth CU and lower cloth CD corresponding to the target value of the seam allowance is a predetermined distance (for example, 1 [mm]) from the center position C. Second seam allowance adjustment control in which the upper and lower detection devices 40 and 60 are moved by the upper and lower detection range adjustment mechanisms 46 and 66 so that the target position and the center position C coincide with each other when they are separated from each other. Therefore, the position detection of the side edges of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD can be performed at the center position C of the detection range of the image sensors 45 and 65, and the side edges of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD are detected. Out of range, side edges become undetectable Condition effectively suppressed, stably and it is possible to perform the regulatory control of seam allowance.

  Further, when the set value (target value) of the seam allowance changes, the control device 13 centers the target position within the detection range of the image sensors 45 and 65 of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD corresponding to the target value of the seam allowance. When the distance is less than a certain distance from the position C, the upper or lower detection devices 40 and 60 are not moved, and the first seam allowance adjustment control for changing only the target position within the detection range is performed. Even if the change in the setting value of the seam allowance is a minute distance that does not satisfy the resolution of the position adjustment motors 47 and 67, the target position within the detection range of the image sensors 45 and 65 is set, and the upper cloth CU and lower cloth CD Thus, it is possible to accurately perform the lateral feed operation control for detecting the position of the side end portion and sewing the sewing margin according to the target value.

[Others]
In the example shown in FIG. 13A, a case where the movement operation of the upper cloth CU and lower cloth CD detection devices 40 and 60 in the second sewing allowance adjustment control described above is instantaneously performed at high speed is illustrated. However, depending on the performance of the actuator, a certain amount of time is required for the moving operation as shown in FIG.
Accordingly, when the moving speed and the required time are known, the target position within the detection range is gradually moved to the center position C as shown in FIG. 15B according to the moving speed of the detection devices 40 and 60. It is desirable to change so that it may approach. For example, when the detection devices 40 and 60 move 1.0 [mm] at 10 [ms], the setting is switched so that the target position within the detection range approaches the center position C by 0.1 [mm] every 1 [ms]. May be. This makes it possible to detect the position of the side edge of the fabric with high accuracy even while the detection devices 40 and 60 are moving.

  The upper detection range adjustment mechanism 46 and the lower detection range adjustment mechanism 66 move the upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 by a rack-pinion mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to this. The upper cloth detection device 40 and the lower cloth detection device 60 may be moved by a mechanism, a ball screw mechanism, a solenoid, a voice coil motor, a linear motor, or the like.

In addition, in the first and second sewing allowance adjustment control, the control device 13 described above sets a position separated from the needle entry position N by the set value W0 of the stitch allowance as the target position P0 within the detection range, and the target position P0 is Positioning control is performed by the detection range adjustment mechanisms 46 and 66 so as to coincide with the center position C as the specified position of the detection range of the image sensors 45 and 65, and when the set value of the sewing margin is changed, When the target position P1 is not separated from the center position C as the specified position by a certain distance (for example, m) or more, the target position P1 is determined as it is without moving the detection range adjusting mechanisms 46 and 66. When the new target position P1 is separated from the center position C as the specified position by a predetermined distance m or more, each detection range adjustment mechanism 46, 6 is adjusted so that the new target position P1 matches the center position C. And positioning control is performed by.
However, as described above, the setting of the target positions P0 and P1 is not limited to the case where the specified position is set as the center position C.
For example, in a section with a predetermined number of stitches, if it is known in advance that the shape of the side edges of the upper and lower fabrics is curved, The fabric is likely to be displaced (for example, if the side end shape is curved to the left, it is likely to be displaced to the left). In this case, the left displacement is less than the center position C. It is desirable to secure a wider detection range on the left side than the right side as a position offset from the center position C to the right side so that it can be handled by occurrence.
Therefore, the specified position can be arbitrarily set in advance by using the operation panel 17 and the set specified position is held in a memory or the like, and in the case of a curve section, the target position is set to the specified position within the set detection range. The detection range adjustment mechanisms 46 and 66 are controlled so as to match P0 and P1, and each detection range adjustment mechanism is determined depending on whether or not it is a predetermined distance m or more away from the specified position within the set detection range. It may be determined whether or not 46, 66 movement control is performed.

12 reflector 13 control device (control part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Sewing machine motor 16 Encoder 19 Sewing machine controller 20 Main feed mechanism 30 Upper side lateral feed mechanism 40 Top cloth detection apparatus (edge part detection apparatus)
42 Light source unit 45 Image sensor 46 Upper detection range adjustment mechanism 47 Position adjustment motor (actuator)
50 Lower lateral feed mechanism 60 Lower cloth detection device (edge detection device)
62 Light source unit 65 Image sensor 66 Lower detection range adjustment mechanism 67 Position adjustment motor (actuator)
100 Vertical feed sewing machine C Center position

Claims (5)

A main feed mechanism for feeding the workpiece in a predetermined feed direction along a horizontal plane;
A lateral feed mechanism that moves the workpiece along a width direction of the workpiece parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the feed direction;
An end detection device for detecting a seam allowance that is a length from a side end of the sewing product in the sewing product width direction to a needle drop position;
In the sewing machine that controls the lateral feed mechanism so that the seam allowance of the sewing product becomes a target value based on the detection of the end detection device,
The end detection device is provided with a light source for irradiating a side end portion of the workpiece to be conveyed and a plurality of light receiving portions arranged side by side along the width direction of the sewing product. A detection element that detects a position of the side end portion of the sewing product in the width direction of the sewing product from a difference in light amount of a part of the irradiation light shielded by the side end portion of the sewing material,
An actuator that moves the end detection device along the width direction of the sewing product;
A sewing machine comprising: a control unit that performs movement control of the actuator according to a change in a target value of the seam allowance.   The control unit performs movement control of the actuator so that a target position within a detection range of the end detection device corresponding to a target value of the seam allowance is a predetermined specified position within the detection range. The sewing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that:   The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined specified position in the detection range is a center position of the detection range.   3. The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined specified position within the detection range is an arbitrary position within the detection range determined by the setting means. The controller is
When the target value of the seam allowance changes during sewing, the distance from the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new seam allowance target value to the specified position of the detection range is set in advance. If the predetermined amount is not reached, the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new sewing allowance target value is determined as a new target position,
When the distance from the target position within the detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new sewing allowance target value to the specified position of the detection range is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount,
5. The movement control of the actuator is performed so that a target position within a detection range of the end detection device corresponding to the new sewing allowance target value becomes a specified position of the detection range. The sewing machine according to any one of the above.

Images