JP2734720B2 - Sewing machine that can switch colors of various shapes and project - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of projecting various shapes, such as characters and patterns, onto a work cloth placed on a bed in a state of being sewn, to a color unique to the work cloth. The present invention relates to a sewing machine in which the color of an image to be projected can be switched in response to the image to ensure good visibility of the image on a work cloth.

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called zigzag sewing machine, during a sewing operation, a needle bar provided with a sewing needle is swung at a required angle, and a required feed is sent to a work cloth on a bed by a feed dog that is freely movable up and down and forward and backward on a needle plate. Various shapes such as various characters and patterns are sewn on the work cloth by applying exercise. In recent zigzag sewing machines, a microcomputer is provided in the control unit, thereby electrically controlling each movement of the needle bar and the feed dog,
Many shapes can be easily sewn. For example, when sewing characters such as alphabets and patterns such as borders on a work cloth, data on these various shapes are stored in a memory such as a ROM in a control circuit in advance, and a microprocessor (CPU) is used. By applying controlled movements to the needle bar and the feed dog in accordance with the data selectively read out from the memory via the memory, sewing of various shapes on the work cloth is facilitated.

In a sewing machine controlled by this type of computer, the type of shape stored in the memory and the type of shape selected are displayed on a liquid crystal display or the like provided on the sewing machine main body. Can be directly confirmed visually.

By the way, when a desired shape is selected from the memory as described above and pattern sewing or the like is performed on the work cloth, the operator must determine beforehand which position of the work cloth placed on the bed surface to start sewing. Must. However, the determination of the sewing start position is particularly difficult for beginners, and has often been a bottleneck in operation, such as the necessity of redoing during sewing.

Therefore, as a result of repeated investigations to overcome the operational difficulties, the present applicant has arranged a projector capable of projecting various shapes such as characters and patterns on the above-described zigzag sewing machine, thereby processing on the bed. We have come up with a sewing machine that can project various shapes on cloths as they are sewn to the actual size of the sewing machine. This was proposed as an invention "a sewing machine capable of projecting various shapes such as patterns" on February 10, 1990. Filed a patent application.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention According to the sewing machine provided with the projector as described above,
Since various shapes are projected from the projector onto the bed surface or the work cloth placed on the bed in a sewn state, when the worker sets the work cloth on the bed surface or the like, the sewing start position and the sewing position are set. There is a great advantage that the ascending position can be easily confirmed. However, with this sewing machine with a projector, if the color of the image projected on the work cloth is the same as the ground color of the work cloth or a color of a system similar to this, the worker projects the projected image on the work cloth. It will be difficult to see visually, and you will not be able to fully demonstrate the function of the corner
Another difficulty arises. For example, when an image is projected in black from a projector, if the work cloth to be projected is black or a black system, it is difficult for an operator to visually recognize the image on the work cloth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been proposed in order to appropriately solve the problem. A work cloth in which various shapes such as selected characters and patterns are placed on a bed is provided. With respect to the sewing machine provided with a projector that can be projected on, even for a work cloth with various colors, an object is to provide a function that allows an operator to easily see the image projected on the work cloth. I do.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the problems and achieve the intended object, the present invention stores a needle bar with a sewing needle attached to the lower end and which can move up and down, and data on various shapes such as characters and patterns. And a needle bar and a work cloth are relatively moved in a direction intersecting the vertical movement axis of the sewing needle based on data read from the memory to sew various shapes on the work cloth. In the sewing machine, means for visualizing data relating to various shapes selectively read from the memory, and the shape visualized by the means is converted into a size, orientation, and position at the time of sewing, and the surface of the bed. Alternatively, it is characterized by comprising means for projecting onto the work cloth on the bed, and means for selectively switching the color of the image projected by the projecting means.

By providing the above-mentioned means for solving the problems, the color of the image projected by the projector is the same as the color of the work cloth to be projected or the same system color, The color of the projected image can be selectively switched to a color that is easy for the operator to see.

Next, a preferred embodiment of a sewing machine according to the present invention capable of projecting by switching colors of various shapes will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(About Basic Structure of Sewing Machine) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a zigzag sewing machine 10 according to an embodiment with a cover 14 removed from a head 12 thereof. A needle bar base 18 is pivoted on a fixing protrusion 16 provided on the upper part of the head 12.
It is pivoted through 20 and can swing within a required angle with respect to a vertical plane. The lower part of the needle bar base 18 is
The connecting rod 24 is drivingly connected to a needle swing control motor 26 shown in FIG.
18 is given a swing within a required angle.

A needle bar 28 is attached to the needle bar base 18 so that it can slide up and down.
A sewing needle 30 is fixed to a lower end of the needle bar 28. This needle bar 28
Is connected to a sewing machine motor 34 shown in FIG. 3 via a needle bar clamp 32 provided on the shaft and a main shaft (not shown).
The needle bar 28 and the sewing needle are driven by the drive of the sewing machine motor 34.
30 is provided with a vertical reciprocating motion.

The bed 36 of the sewing machine 10 is provided with a needle plate 38,
The feed dog 42 faces the slots of a plurality of rows opened at 38 so as to protrude upward. The feed dog 42 is connected to a cloth feed control motor 44 shown in FIG. 3 via a cloth feed mechanism (not shown), and is driven in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions (with reference to the operator of the sewing machine). Feeding motion is given.
A presser foot (not shown) is provided directly above the feed dog 42 so as to be able to move up and down. The work cloth 46 placed on the bed 36 is provided under the cooperation of the feed dog 42 and the presser foot. In the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

The main body of the sewing machine 10 includes a shape display unit 48 for displaying a shape stored in the ROM 76 shown in FIG. 3, a selection operation unit 50 including a known operation switch for selecting these shapes, and a selected shape. And a display unit 52 for confirming and displaying the image and the figure number. A sewing machine motor 34 is provided on the sewing machine head 12.
A main switch 54 for controlling the start / stop of the power supply is provided.

(Regarding Projector) A projector 56 capable of projecting various shapes and selectively switching the color of the projected light is provided at an appropriate position below the sewing machine head 12, preferably on the operator side from the needle bar 28. Are arranged. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the projector 56 corresponds to a light source 58 composed of a metal halide discharge lamp, a three primary color filter 59 composed of a red filter FR, a green filter FG and a blue filter FB, and a red filter FR. LCD panel PR, green filter F
A liquid crystal panel 60 comprising a liquid crystal panel PG corresponding to G, a liquid crystal panel PB corresponding to the red filter FB, and imaging data relating to various shapes selectively read from the ROM 76; and an imaging lens corresponding to the liquid crystal panel PR. LR, LCD panel P
An image forming lens LG corresponding to G, an image forming lens LB corresponding to the liquid crystal panel PB, and is basically constituted by an image forming lens 62 for optically forming the image by light transmitted through each liquid crystal panel. ing.

A large number of minute shutters are arranged on the liquid crystal panel 60, and these liquid crystal shutters are driven to open and close by a drive circuit shown in FIG. 3 so as to image various shapes. That is, the light from the light source 58 is transmitted to the liquid crystal panel 60 and the imaging lens.
The image visualized by passing through the surface 62 is the surface of the bed 36 at the focal position or the work cloth 46 on the bed 36.
Is projected with the size, orientation and position at the time of sewing. Further, by selectively driving the shutters of the liquid crystal panel PR, the liquid crystal panel PG, and the liquid crystal panel PB in accordance with the projection color data 81 stored in a ROM 76 described later with reference to FIG. -It can be switched to each color of green and blue. By controlling and driving the shutters of all the liquid crystal panels 60, the three primary colors can be combined to form a color projection.

On the sewing machine head 12, adjacent to the main switch 54, an image projection switch 5 for controlling ON / OFF of a projector 56 is provided.
7, and a color switch 83 for switching the color of light projected from the projector 56.

(Regarding Electric Control System) FIG. 3 shows an outline of an electric control system for controlling each operation member of the sewing machine according to the embodiment, and includes a microprocessor (CP).
A control device 66 based on U) is provided. By operating the main switch 54 connected to the control device 66, a start / stop operation signal of the sewing machine is generated, and the start / stop of the sewing machine motor 34 is controlled via the drive circuit 68. A drive circuit 70 for driving the needle swing control motor 26 and a cloth feed control motor
Driving circuits 72 for driving 44 are connected to the control device 66, respectively.

The ROM 76 as a memory element stores the stitch data 78 of the image selectable by the image selection operation section 50, the projection data 80 of the image, the projection color data 81 corresponding to the color type of the work cloth 46, and the like. I have. The readable / writable RAM 82 temporarily stores the result calculated by the control device 66 and the like. By operating the shape selection operation unit 50, a code signal corresponding to the selected shape is supplied to the control device 66. Further, the control device 66 is connected to a figurative projection switch 57, which generates a projection signal for turning on / off the projector 56 by operating the switch. Further, a color changeover switch 83 is connected to the controller 66, and by operating this switch, the color of light projected from the projector 56 can be changed over.

Liquid crystal panel PR and liquid crystal panel P in projector 56
G and the liquid crystal panel PB are connected to the control device 66 via corresponding drive circuits 64, 65, and 67, respectively. Also turn on the light source 58
OFF is performed by a signal from the control device 66. The timing signal generator 74 is provided with the needle swing control motor 26,
A signal relating to each operation timing of the sewing machine motor 34 and the cloth feed control motor 44 is generated.

(Regarding Flow of Control System) Next, FIG. 4 shows an operation flow when each signal is supplied to the control device 66 in the sewing machine according to the embodiment. Basically, in this embodiment, the projector 56 is turned on when the figurative projection switch 57 is activated while the sewing machine 10 is stopped, and the projector 56 is turned off when the figurative projection switch 57 is turned off. Is re-energized, or the main switch 54 is turned on and the sewing machine motor 34 has started driving. The color switch 83 is operated only while the projector 56 is ON.

After the sewing preparation is completed, the sewing machine 10 is started in step 101 (hereinafter, “step” is referred to as “S”), and the
From the various shapes stored in 6, a desired shape is selected by the selection operation unit 50.
To select (S102). Next, in S103, the projection switch 57 is
Check if it is ON. If this is not the case (NO), it is checked in S113 whether the main switch 54 is ON. If this main switch 54 is not turned on (NO), the result in S103 is affirmative (YES). Is turned ON.
Thus, the imaged image is projected onto the surface of the bed 36 or the work cloth 46 on the bed with the size, orientation and position at the time of sewing.

In this case, if an optical system including a combination of the red filter FR, the liquid crystal panel PR, and the imaging lens LR is used, a red image is projected on the work cloth 46 on the bed. However, if the ground color of the work cloth 46 is also red or a red-based color, as described above,
It becomes difficult for the operator to visually recognize the shape projected on the work cloth 46.
Therefore, if color switching is necessary, turn on the color switching switch 83
By doing so, S105 is affirmed (YES), and the color of the image projected in S114 is switched.

For example, if the image is projected on the work cloth 46 in blue, and the image is easily recognized, the driving of the liquid crystal panel PR by the driving circuit 64 is stopped in FIG. The shutter of the liquid crystal panel PB is driven through the switch. As a result, the use of the optical system including the combination of the blue filter FB, the liquid crystal panel PB, and the imaging lens LB is switched, and a blue image is projected on the work cloth 46 on the bed. Each time the color switch 83 is pressed, the red (first
It is preferable that the colors are sequentially switched such as color), green (second color), and blue (third color), and return to the first color after one cycle. Once the color has been selected, the color switch
It is assumed that the color is memorized until 83 is pressed.
When 7 is turned on again, the image is projected in the stored color, which is convenient. If the color switching is not necessary, S105 is negative (NO), and the process proceeds to the next S106.

After the operator sets the initial position of the work cloth 46 based on the image projected on the bed surface or the like, the projector 56 is no longer used, and is turned off in the following procedure. That is, when the projection switch 57 is not turned on,
S106 is denied (NO) and the process proceeds to S115, where the main switch 54 is turned on.
Then, the projector 56 is turned off in S116. Also S11
If the main switch 54 is turned off in step 5, the process returns to step S106, where the ON of the projection switch 57 is confirmed again. If the operator turns on the projection switch 57 again and affirms (YES) in S106, the projector 56 is turned off in S107.

After the projector 56 is turned off in S107, the main switch 54 is turned on in S108, and the sewing machine motor 34 is started in the next S109 to perform required sewing. In S115, the main switch 54
When the projector 56 is turned off and the projector 56 is turned off,
Then, the sewing machine motor 34 is started.

Next, in S110, it is confirmed whether or not the main switch 54 is turned on again. If not (NO), in S117, it is confirmed whether or not the image projection data 80 in the ROM 76 is completed. If not completed (NO), the sewing machine motor 34 is continuously driven to perform sewing, and it is affirmed that the image projection data 80 has been completed (YES).
In step S111, the drive of the sewing machine motor 34 is stopped
Return at 12.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, a specific operation of the embodiment will be described. When the operator presses the pattern projection switch 13 in the stop state of the sewing machine, the operation is started according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG. 4, and the projector 56 is turned on. In this case, FIG. 5 shows the work cloth 46 placed on the bed 36.
Shows a state in which the selected alpha bed character "A" is projected by the projector 56 on the surface of. Since the character "A" is projected with the size, orientation and position at the time of sewing, the operator can easily set the work cloth 46 to a desired position while watching the projected image of the image. Can be. Reference numeral 84 denotes a projection range in which the projector 56 can project.

Now, assuming that a red image is projected from the projector 56 on the work cloth 46 on the bed, and that the work cloth 46 is a red-based color, the worker visually recognizes the image projected on this. It becomes difficult. Then, the color change switch 83 is pressed to change the color of the light projected from the projector 56 sequentially. Then, when the color is switched to a color in which the image is easily recognized, for example, blue, a color switch
Stop the operation of 83.

In this embodiment, the color of the projected image is switched by using the three primary color filters of red, green, and blue. However, the color of the light source 58 may be changed. Further, the example in which the color changeover switch 83 is pressed and the color changeover is sequentially performed has been described. Instead, for example, the number of the switchable color is displayed on the sewing machine main body, and the desired number is selected by the selection operation section 50. The color can be switched by inputting. Furthermore, during the sewing operation, when it is desired to give a warning to the operator regarding the state of the sewing machine, the operation procedure, and the like, the operator may be made to perform the substitution by changing the color of the image projected from the projector 56. Further, although an example in which the liquid crystal panel 60 is used as the projector 56 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and a laser beam or a slide film may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the zigzag sewing machine 10 has been described.
The present invention can also be applied by disposing the projector 56 on an embroidery sewing machine that moves in a horizontal plane to sew various shapes. That is, the present invention is applicable to all sewing machines in which the needle bar 28 and the work cloth 46 relatively move in a direction intersecting the vertical movement axis of the sewing needle 30 to sew various shapes on the work cloth 46.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the sewing machine according to the present invention, which is capable of projecting by switching colors of various images, various images selected by an operator are projected on a work cloth surface on a bed in a sewing state. Is done. At this time, according to the color unique to the work cloth,
Since the color of the projected image can be selectively switched, there is an excellent advantage that good visibility of the image projected on the work cloth can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sewing machine in which the present invention is preferably implemented, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a projector used in the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electric control system for controlling each operation member of the sewing machine according to the first embodiment, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of each operation in the sewing machine according to the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a selected character is projected. 28 Needle bar, 30 Needle 36 Needle 36 Bed 42 Feed dog 46 Work cloth 56 Projector 66 Control circuit 83 Color switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A needle bar (28) having a sewing needle (30) attached to a lower end thereof and capable of moving up and down, and memories (76, 82) storing data relating to various shapes such as characters and patterns. Based on the data read from (76,82), the needle bar (2
8) and the work cloth (46) perform relative movement in a direction intersecting the vertical movement axis of the sewing needle (30) to sew various shapes on the work cloth (46). ) Means for visualizing data relating to various shapes selectively read out of the bed, and the shape imaged by the means (60) is converted into the bed by the size, orientation and position at the time of sewing. (36) Means (58, 62) for projecting onto the work cloth (46) above, and means (59, 83) for selectively switching the color of the image projected by the projecting means (58, 62). A sewing machine that can switch colors of various shapes and project it.