JP2775960B2 - Sewing machine that can project while sending continuous images - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention relates to a method of projecting various shapes, such as characters and patterns, onto a bed surface of a sewing machine or a work cloth in a state of being sewn, wherein the shapes are formed by combining a plurality of characters. When it is not possible to completely fit within the projection range as long as possible, the continuous shape of the portion exceeding the projection range is projected while being changed in synchronization with the feeding of the work cloth to project the shape. The present invention relates to a sewing machine in which the last part can be easily visually recognized at which position 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 a plurality of characters such as alphabets and green decorations on a work cloth, data on these various shapes are stored in advance in a memory such as a ROM in a control circuit, 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 sewing machines with this type of computer control,
With regard to what kind of image is stored in the memory and which image is selected, this is displayed on a liquid crystal display or the like provided in the sewing machine main body, so that the operator can directly confirm it visually. Often.

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,
Various shapes are projected from the projector onto a bed surface or a work cloth placed on the bed in a sewn state. Therefore, when the operator sets the work cloth on the bed surface or the like, there is a great advantage that it is not easy to confirm the sewing start position and the sewing finish position. By the way, among the images projected by the projector, there are also images formed of long continuous images such as combination characters and continuous patterns. Moreover, since the range in which the projector can project the image is limited, such a long continuous image will not fall within the projection range. In this case, there is an inconvenience that the operator cannot determine which part of the work cloth is the last part in the continuous shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems, and has been proposed in order to appropriately solve the problem. The present invention provides a projector provided with a sewing machine with a long continuous combination of characters and patterns. When projecting on a work cloth, even if the continuous figure cannot be included in the projection range, the continuous figure of the part beyond the projection range is changed and projected according to the feed of the work cloth. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for easily confirming the position of the work cloth at the end of the work cloth.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the problems and achieve the intended object, the present invention provides a needle bar having a sewing needle attached to the lower end and capable of moving up and down, and mesh data relating to various shapes such as characters and patterns. A needle bar and a work cloth are moved relative to each other in a direction intersecting the vertical movement axis of the sewing needle based on the stitch data read from the memory. Means for projecting projection data on various shapes calculated from stitch data read from the memory or projection data on various shapes stored in the memory and selectively read therefrom. Means for projecting the image imaged by this means on the surface of the bed or on a work cloth on the bed, with the size, orientation and position at the time of sewing up; Means for feeding only the work cloth when the shape projected on the work surface of the bed or the work cloth on the bed continues beyond the projection range; and in synchronization with the feed given to the work cloth. And video changing means for changing the video of the continuous image.

Effect of the Invention By providing the means for solving the above problems, as in the case of a combination of a plurality of characters, when the shape is long and continuous and exceeds the projection range of the projector, while sending only the work cloth in the feed direction, A projection is made to change the image of the continuous image in synchronization with the feed.

Embodiment Next, a sewing machine according to the present invention capable of projecting a continuous image while sending it will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of a preferred embodiment.

(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 by a required angle in a vertical plane. The lower part of the needle bar base 18 is connected to a connecting rod 24 by a shaft 22. The connecting rod 24 is drivingly connected to a needle swing control motor 26 shown in FIG.
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. A needle bar release mechanism (not shown) is provided in the power transmission path between the needle bar 28 and the sewing machine motor 34.
This mechanism is driven by a solenoid indicated by reference numeral 31 in FIG. 3 so that the needle bar 28 can be selectively released and returned to the power transmission path.

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 disposed 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 operated by 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. The sewing machine head 12 has a sewing machine motor
A main switch 54 for controlling the start / stop of the switch 34 is provided.

(Regarding the projector) Projecting onto a bed surface or a work cloth on the bed on which various shapes such as characters and patterns can be projected, at an appropriate position below the sewing machine head 12, preferably on the operator side from the needle bar 28. A projector 56 is provided as a means for performing the operation. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the projector 56 includes a light source 58 composed of a metal halide discharge lamp and the RO
A liquid crystal panel 60 as a means for visualizing projection data on various shapes selectively read from the M76, and an imaging lens 62 for optically forming the shape from light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 60. Is configured. That is, a large number of minute shutters are arranged on the liquid crystal panel 60,
The liquid crystal shutter is driven to open and close by a drive circuit 64 shown in FIG. 3 so as to visualize various shapes.

Therefore, when the light from the light source 58 passes through the liquid crystal panel 60 and the imaging lens 62, the imaged image is projected and formed on the surface of the bed 36 at the focal position and the work cloth 46 on the bed 36. Is done. In this case, the imaged image is projected to have the size, orientation, and position at the time of sewing. The sewing machine head 12 is connected to the main switch 54.
A figure projection switch 58 for controlling ON / OFF of the projector 56 is provided adjacent to. A feed projection switch 61 (to be described later) is also provided on the sewing machine head 12 and serves both as a means for giving a feed only to the work cloth and an image changing means, so that a continuous image projected by the projector 56 can be used as a cloth feed. There is no operation to change the timing.

(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. The main switch 54 is connected to the control device 66, and the operation of the switch 54 generates a start / stop operation signal of the sewing machine, and controls the start / stop of the sewing machine motor 34 via the drive circuit 68.
A drive circuit 70 for driving the needle swing control motor 26 and a drive circuit 72 for driving the cloth feed control motor 44 are connected to the control device 66, respectively.

The ROM 76 as a memory element stores stitch data 78 of a shape selectable by the shape selection operation unit 50 and projection data of the shape.
A RAM 82 that stores 80 and the like and that is readable and writable temporarily stores a 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 58. By operating the switch 58, a projection signal for turning on / off the projector 56 is generated. The liquid crystal panel 60 in the projector 56 is connected to a control device 66 via a drive circuit 64, and ON / OFF of the light source 58 is performed by a signal from the control device 66.

Further, to the control device 66, the feed projection switch 61 is connected, and by operating this switch first, the solenoid 31 is energized via the drive circuit 63, and releases the needle bar 28 from the power transmission path, As shown in the flow described later, the continuous image projected by the projector 56 is sequentially changed. Next, by operating the feed projection switch 61, the solenoid 31 is deenergized, and the needle bar 28 is connected to the power transmission path again. Timing signal generator
74 generates a signal relating to each operation timing of the needle swing control motor 26, the sewing machine motor 34, and the cloth feed control motor 44.

Next, the operation flow when each signal is supplied to the control device 66 in the sewing machine according to the embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). When the figurative projection switch 58 is activated while the sewing machine 10 is stopped, the projector 56
The basic point at which the projector 56 is turned off when the sewing machine motor 34 is driven by the main switch 54 being turned on and the main switch 54 being turned on or the figure projection switch 58 being turned on again, This has been described in detail in the patent application filed on February 10, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 4 of the application. Moreover, this flowchart is basically the same as the flowchart shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and (b) of the present application. Therefore, here, only the steps necessary to project while changing the continuous shape,
The explanation will be focused on.

After the sewing preparation is completed, the sewing machine 10 is started in step 101 (hereinafter, “step” is referred to as “S”), and
Is operated to select a desired image from the image stitch data 78 in the ROM 76. Next, in S103, it is confirmed whether or not the projection switch 58 is turned on. If affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S104, and the projector 56 is turned on. Thus, the shape selected from the shape projection data 80 in the ROM 76 is projected onto the surface of the bed 36 or the work cloth 46 on the bed with the size, direction, and position at the time of sewing. The image projection data may have its own data, or may be calculated from the image stitch data.

In this case, the image projected by the projector 56 is
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of a continuous image composed of a combination of a plurality of lowercase letters “abc...”, These continuous images correspond to the projection range 84 of the projector 56.
Is a problem. Therefore, in this case, it is checked in S105 whether the feed projection switch 61 is ON, and if affirmative (YES), the flow shifts to S106 to check whether the area overmark 86 in FIG. 5 is displayed. The area overmark 86 indicates that the shape is present outside the projection range 84, and the operator can easily recognize that the continuous character "abc" will continue further. be able to.

If this S106 is affirmative (YES), the process moves to S107, where the feed data of the image stitch data 78 in the ROM 76 of FIG. 3 is calculated, and the sewing machine motor 34 is started in S108. Also
In step S109, the needle bar release solenoid 31 is urged through the drive circuit 63 shown in FIG. 46 sewing is disabled. Further, in S110, the cloth feed control motor 44 shown in FIG. 3 is driven to feed the work cloth 46 in the cloth feed direction without sewing. Then, in S111, the
The figure projection data 80 stored in the ROM 76 is corrected by the cloth feed of the work cloth 46. As a result, the continuous characters projected from the projector 56 to the work cloth 46 are sequentially sent while changing the projection contents in synchronization with the feed of the work cloth 46.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not the feed projection data corrected in S112 has been completed, and if not (NO), the flow returns to S110 to continue cloth feeding. Also, the last character of the alphabet
As shown in FIG. 6, if "... xyz" and the end of the transmission projection data is affirmed (YES), the sewing machine motor 34 is stopped in S113. In S114, an end mark 81 is provided at the corner of the projection range 84 of the projector 56 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, and the operator is notified that there is no continuous shape thereafter. At this time, since the last of the continuous characters "... xyz" of the alphabet is projected on the work cloth 46 in the same state as when the sewing was actually performed, the operator can process the continuous characters to be sewn. The position on the cloth 46 can be easily confirmed visually.

After this confirmation is completed, in S115,
Check if 61 is turned on again, and if yes (YES),
In step S116 in the flow of FIG. 4 (b), the sewing machine motor 34 is started, and in step S117, the solenoid 31 is deactivated and the needle bar releasing mechanism is operated again. Connect to In step S118, the cloth feed control motor 44 is driven to move the work cloth 46 back to the initial position. And S1
In step 19, the figure projection data 80 in the ROM 76 is corrected again by the amount of the cloth feed in the previous period and returned to the initial state. Then S120
Then, it is confirmed whether the position of the work cloth 46 and the contents of the image projection data 80 have returned to the initial state, and if affirmative (YES), S12
In step 1, the sewing machine motor 34 is stopped.

By the above steps, the operation of projecting while changing the image of the continuous image is completed, and then the first of the consecutive characters is projected on the work cloth 46 by the projector 56, and the process proceeds to the stage of confirming the sewing start position. become. The flow from S122 onward is the same as the content described in connection with FIG. 4 in the above-mentioned patent application filed on February 10, 1990, and therefore the description is omitted.

As described above, in the present embodiment, basically, the projector 56
If the continuous shape projected on the screen does not fit within the projection range,
When the operator operates the feed projection switch 61, the needle bar 28 is released, and the sewing of the work cloth 46 becomes impossible,
In this state, only the work cloth 46 is fed in the cloth feed direction.
Also, the continuous image projected by the projector 56,
It is changed in time with the feeding of the work cloth. Then, at the end of the continuous image, the feed of the work cloth 46 and the change of the image of the image adjusted to the work cloth 46 are also stopped, and the end of the continuous image is projected on the work cloth 46 in the same state as when the sewing was actually performed. . After this confirmation is completed, by operating the feed projection switch 61 again, the needle bar 28 is reconnected to the power system, and the work cloth 46 is fed by the reverse feed,
The projection data is re-corrected by the amount of the cloth feed and returns to the initial state.

In the present embodiment, the zigzag sewing machine 10 has been described. The present invention can also be applied to the above. That is, the present invention is applicable to all sewing machines in which the needle bar 28 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. .

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the sewing machine capable of projecting a continuous image according to the present invention while sending it, various images such as characters and patterns are projected on the bed surface or the work cloth of the sewing machine in a sewing state. However, if the shape is long and does not completely fit within the projection range, the image of the shape outside the projection range is projected while being changed in synchronization with the feeding of the work cloth. Therefore, there is an excellent advantage that an operator can easily visually recognize the last position of the external shape on the work cloth.

[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. FIG. 4 (a) and FIG. 4 (b) are flowcharts of each operation in the sewing machine according to the embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the first part of the continuous character is projected on the surface of the work cloth placed on the bed. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the last part of the continuous character on the surface of the work cloth placed on the bed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which projected. 28 Needle bar, 30 Needle 36 Bed, 42 Feed dog 44 Fabric feed control motor 46 Work cloth 56 Projector 58 Light source 60 LCD panel 61 Feed Projection switch 62 …… Imaging lens, 76,82 …… Memory

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A stylus is attached to a lower end of the needle bar, and the needle bar is vertically movable. A memory stores stitch data relating to various shapes such as characters and patterns, based on stitch data read from the memory. In a sewing machine in which the needle bar and the work cloth relatively move in a direction intersecting the vertical movement axis of the sewing needle to sew various shapes on the work cloth, various types of sewing calculated from the stitch data read from the memory are performed. Means for projecting projection data relating to shapes or projection data relating to various shapes which are independently stored in the memory and selectively read therefrom; and Means for projecting on the surface of the bed or on the work cloth on the bed in an orientation and position, and the shape projected on the surface of the bed or on the work cloth on the bed is projected. A means for feeding only the work cloth when continuous beyond the surroundings; and a picture changing means for changing the picture of the continuous shape in synchronization with the feed given to the work cloth. A sewing machine that can project while sending a continuous image characterized by the following.