JP2848870B2 - Embroidery machine with embroidery frame area display mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement in an embroidery machine. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in an embroidery machine in which a plurality of types of embroidery frames for holding an embroidered cloth in an expanded state are prepared, and one of the frame types is selected and used.

An embroidery machine capable of selecting an embroidery frame having an optimum shape and size from a plurality of types of embroidery frames according to the shape and size of the embroidered cloth or the shape and size of the pattern to be embroidered and using the selected embroidery frame. Have been.

An embroidery machine of this type includes a movable frame movable in a plane intersecting the reciprocating movement of the embroidery needle, and the movable frame is provided with mounting means capable of fixing all types of embroidery frames.

[Prior Art] With this conventional embroidery machine, an operator must select an embroidery frame prior to embroidery sewing. In this case, if an embroidery frame larger than necessary is selected as compared with the embroidery pattern, the embroidered cloth may not be properly spread. Conversely, if the embroidery frame is too small, the stimulating needle and the embroidery frame will interfere during the embroidery sewing operation, resulting in malfunction and the like.

Therefore, prior to actually performing embroidery sewing, the present applicant has proposed a technique for confirming whether or not embroidery sewing is possible in a selected embroidery frame. In this technology, the shape of the embroidery frame
The data on the size is recorded in association with the type of the frame. Then, data relating to the pattern to be embroidered is input.
The data relating to the pattern is data relating to the movement amount and movement direction for each stitch, and the movement locus of the embroidery frame with respect to the needle position is calculated based on this data. This locus is displayed on the screen on the display. At this time, when data indicating the type of the embroidery frame selected by the operator is input, data relating to the shape and size of the specified frame type is read out, and the shape and size of the specified frame type are displayed identically based on this data. It is displayed over the container. The operator can determine whether the selected embroidery frame is preferable based on the display screen,
This prevents the occurrence of an accident due to a frame selection error.

This is described in detail in the specification and drawings attached to Japanese Patent Application No. 63-32825 filed by the present applicant.

In the above-mentioned technology, a method is used in which an operator inputs data relating to the embroidery frame type. However, a resistor having a different value for each embroidery frame type is prepared on the embroidery frame side, and the same resistance is provided on the movable frame side. There is also known a technique in which an electrode is provided in contact with a frame, and which frame type is used based on the detected resistance value. This is disclosed in JP-A-63-25290.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional technique, it is determined whether or not embroidery can be completed within the frame area using information on the shape and size of the embroidery frame. However, this determination cannot be performed only with data on the shape and size of the embroidery frame.

10 (a) and 10 (b) show a state in which an embroidery frame 40 having the same shape and size is attached to a movable frame 42.
In this case, unless the length of the arm 44 for attaching the embroidery frame 40 to the movable frame 42 is input, the embroidery machine cannot correctly recognize the frame area for the movable frame 42. Therefore, even if the movable frame 42 is moved to a predetermined position with respect to the needle position 46 by moving the movable frame 42 as shown in FIG. 4C, it cannot be determined whether the embroidery pattern P is within the frame area. In the case of FIG. (C), the length of the arm 44 is
If L1, embroidery is possible, while if L2, embroidery is not possible, but the arm length has not yet been input to the device side.

Therefore, in the conventional method, a state is set in which a specific point (point A in the example shown in FIG. 3D) promised in advance for each embroidery frame matches a specific position on the embroidery machine side, for example, the needle position 46. In this state, the position of the movable frame 42 at that time is detected, and the frame position with respect to the movable frame 42 is calculated.

That is, in the conventional method, it is necessary to position a specific point of the embroidery frame to a specific position, and this operation is not only troublesome but also causes an erroneous determination resulting from the positioning accuracy.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5E, when the operator mistakenly identifies a specific point, for example, misaligns F, which is not the specific point in the example of the figure, as a specific point and aligns the actual frame area with a solid line. Despite this, it is calculated on the device side that the frame area is at the position Z shown by the two-dot chain line.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7F, at the stage where the movable frame 42 is moved to specify the embroidery start position with respect to the embroidery frame,
When it is determined whether or not the pattern pattern P is within the frame area, the apparatus calculates Z1 as the frame area even though the embroidery pattern P actually fits within the frame area as shown by the solid line in the figure. As a result, erroneous determination that embroidery cannot be performed may occur.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the need for an input operation regarding the frame position,
It is another object of the present invention to prevent erroneous determination.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The embroidery machine according to the present invention includes means for storing information on the embroidery frame area with respect to the movable frame for each embroidery frame type. Here, the information on the frame area includes not only the shape and size of the frame but also information on the position of the frame with respect to the movable frame. In the embroidery frame used in the present invention, a medium on which a signal unique to each frame type is recorded, for example, a barcode having a different pattern for each frame type is fixed, and the movable frame faces the medium. Means are provided for reading the signal stored on the medium at the location, for example a bar code reader.

The embroidery machine has means for searching information stored in advance based on the signal for information on a frame area of a frame type attached to the movable frame, and further based on the searched information. Calculate the frame area for the needle position,
Means for displaying this on a screen is provided.

[Operation] According to this embroidery machine, by mounting the embroidery frame on the movable frame, it is possible to determine which type of frame has been used,
Thus, data on the shape and size of the frame and the position of the frame with respect to the movable frame are retrieved. Since the position of the movable frame with respect to the needle position is counted toward the embroidery machine, a frame area with respect to the needle position is calculated based on the information, and is displayed on the screen.

As a result, in comparing the frame area and the pattern, the trouble of positioning the embroidery frame at a predetermined position in advance is eliminated,
Further, this makes it possible to prevent erroneous operation and erroneous determination accompanying the erroneous operation.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an embroidery machine embodying the present invention.

This embroidery machine is provided with four needle bars 30, and a head 31 having a drive unit for vertically moving the needle bar is slid by the color changing motor 25, and any one of the needle bars 30 is selected and vertically moved. You. The needle is moved up and down by transmitting the rotation of the spindle motor 22 to the drive unit in the head 31 via the spindle 23.

A shuttle (not shown) is located on the lower surface of the embroidery table 26, and is also rotated by the spindle motor 22. Embroidery table 26
A movable frame 20 is mounted on the upper surface of the embroidery table 26. The movable frame 20 is two-dimensionally moved on an embroidery table 26 in a horizontal plane by an X-axis motor 18 and a Y-axis motor 19. Various keys 29 are provided on the operation panel 15 of the embroidery machine, and the data of the paper tape 17 is transmitted by a predetermined key operation.
And the same data is recorded in the data RAM 14.

One type of data input from the paper tape is data relating to the movement of the embroidery frame, and the moving amounts of the movable frame 20 in the X direction and the Y direction for each stitch are sequentially stored. Another type of data is data relating to the frame area of the embroidery frame. Embroidery frames 32, 33, 34, 35 on the movable frame 20
Are removable. The embroidery frame has a different shape and size for each type and a frame position with respect to the movable frame 20, and a paper tape 17 recording data on the shape, size and frame position for each type of frame is prepared.

When this data is read via the paper tape reader 16, this data is recorded in the data RAM 14 in association with data indicating the type of frame. This is input in advance for each embroidery frame used in the embroidery machine. Further, the RAM 14 has a backup power supply, and once input data is stored, it is not necessary to re-input the data at every operation. The information on the frame area may be stored in the ROM 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, data relating to the machine frame is such that the main points of the frame are coordinated using the movable frame 20 as a coordinate axis.
Thus, the shape, size, and position of the frame when the frame is mounted on the movable frame are specified.

The operation panel 15 has a liquid crystal display (LCD) 28. Data related to pattern data is stored in pattern figure pattern memory GP
When sent to M1, it reproduces the pattern pattern and LC
Displayed on D28. This is displayed as a pattern P in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example.

On the other hand, when the operator attaches the embroidery frame 35 having the frame type number 004 to the movable frame 20, for example, it is determined that the 004 embroidery frame 35 has been selected from the barcode 35a recorded in the attachment portion. Read by 27. As a result, among the frame area data stored in the data RAM 14 or the ROM 12, the frame area data No. 004 is searched and sent to the frame graphic pattern memory GPM2, whereby the shape and size of the frame are superimposed on the LCD 28. Is displayed. This is indicated by F in FIGS. 3 and 4. At this time, the needle position 42 of the movable frame 20
Are counted by the CPU 11, and since the frame area data of the embroidery frame 35 with respect to the movable frame 20 has been searched, the frame area with respect to the needle position 42 can be calculated, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Is displayed on the screen.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the embroidery is displayed in a state where the embroidery can be started in a state where the frame is positioned below the frame area with respect to the needle position 42. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a case where the display is superimposed with the center of the frame corresponding to the needle position 42, and when embroidery is started as it is, it jumps out of the frame and causes a malfunction. The operator can thereby know that the selected frame is inappropriate and another frame should be selected. Alternatively, it can be known whether the embroidery start position is appropriate.

FIG. 5 shows embroidery frames 32, 33,
34, 35 etc. are shown. As shown, the movable frame 20 is long, and a plurality of embroidery frames can be attached at the same time. FIG. 5 shows a state in which frames of different frame types are attached to exemplify the types of the frames, but in practice, the same type of frame is usually attached and used. The sewing machine head 31 is positioned above each frame position, and embroidery can be performed on a plurality of embroidered cloths at the same time.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of one end X of the embroidery frame mounting portion, and the bar code 3 is attached to the mounting arm 35b of the embroidery frame 35.
5a is fixed. The width and thickness of the mounting arm 35b are common to all frame types, and the barcodes 32a, 33a, 34a, 35
“a” has a unique pattern for each frame type.

Attachment arm 35b to embroidery frame attachment position on movable frame 20
Is provided with a groove 20a into which a bar code reader 27 can be inserted. Thus, the mounting arm 35b is fixed at a predetermined position.

The bar code reader 27 exists only in the X portion on the right end in FIG. 5, and the other portions are fixed to plates that cover the upper portion of the groove 20a instead of the bar code reader. This is because the same type of frame is usually attached to the movable frame 20 and used, so that only one frame type needs to be distinguished.

7 and 8 show a mounting portion on the other end side of the embroidery frame 35.
Screw through V groove 35d provided on the other mounting arm 35c
The other end of the embroidery frame is fixed to the movable frame 20 by screwing the 37 into the screw hole of the movable frame 20.

FIG. 9 shows a processing procedure for confirming whether or not the frame selection is correct based on the pattern data and the frame data.

By operating the keys 29 of the operation panel 15 according to a predetermined procedure, the processing after step S1 is executed. In step S2, a read signal of the barcode reader 27 is taken into the CPU 11, and based on this signal, frame area data of the embroidery frame attached to the movable frame at that time is searched (S3). At this stage, the operator inputs pattern data (S4). In this operation, if the pattern data has already been stored in the RAM 14, the user designates the pattern data.
Enter from. After inputting the pattern data, the operator moves the movable frame 20 by operating a button on the operation panel 15 so that the embroidery start point in the embroidery frame corresponds to the needle position (S5). In this state, the position of the movable frame with respect to the needle position is calculated (S6). Further, the frame area with respect to the needle position is calculated using the frame area data for the movable frame retrieved in step S3 (S7), and based on this result, The needle position and the frame area corresponding to the needle position are displayed on the screen (S8).

After this processing is completed, step S9 is executed, and the pattern is displayed with the needle position on the screen as a starting point. At this time, it is displayed for each stitch, and in step S10, it is determined whether or not the frame and the pattern overlap for each stitch. When all stitches are displayed on the screen without overlapping at all, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined that embroidery is possible with the needle position in that state and the embroidery frame.

If the frame and the pattern overlap, the start point can be changed in step S12, and in this case, step S13
After the frame area and the previous pattern are erased from the screen, the steps S5, S6, S7, S8 and subsequent steps are repeated, and the needle position and the frame area are displayed again.

This is because, for example, when the frame area F is displayed with respect to the needle position 42 in FIG.
This corresponds to redisplaying in the positional relationship in the figure.

Then, in this state, the pattern pattern P is displayed on the screen for each stitch, and interference with the frame is checked.

Note that an operation that does not change the start point in step S12 is also possible. In this case, the entire pattern P is displayed on the screen regardless of interference with the frame. This is used when the pattern is completely unknown and you have no idea which frame to use. FIG. 4 corresponds to the screen obtained by this operation. As a result, the operator can give an examination of the correct frame type.

According to the present invention, when the embroidery frame is attached to the movable frame as described above, which embroidery frame is attached is identified. This eliminates the need for the operator to input data relating to each frame type, and no input error occurs.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to specify the positional relationship between the embroidery frame and the movable frame. Simply by specifying the embroidery start point for the embroidery frame, it is possible to determine whether or not the embroidery frame is appropriate and to determine the embroidery start point. It can be correctly determined whether or not is appropriate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram schematically showing a control system of one embodiment of the present embroidery machine, FIG. 2 is a diagram in which data relating to a frame area is coordinated, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are displayed on a display. FIG. 5 is a front view of various embroidery frames, FIG. 6 is a detailed view of an embroidery frame mounting portion and an embroidery frame mounting arm, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are embroidery frames. 9 is a diagram showing a procedure for an embroidery frame type confirmation process, and FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a conventional problem. 20… Movable frame 27… Barcode reader 30… Embroidery needle 32,33,34,35 …… Embroidery frame 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a …… Barcode

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) D05C 9/00-9/22 D05C 5/00-5/06 D05B 21/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An embroidery needle reciprocating, a movable frame movable in a plane intersecting the reciprocating movement of the embroidery needle, and an embroidery frame detachably attached to the movable frame while holding an embroidered cloth in an expanded state. In an embroidery machine that moves an embroidered cloth in an unfolded state together with the movable frame in synchronization with reciprocation of an embroidery needle and sews the embroidery, information on a frame area of the embroidery frame with respect to the movable frame (embroidery). Storage means for storing the shape and size of the frame and the frame position with respect to the movable frame for each frame type of the embroidery frame; a medium fixed to the embroidery frame and recording the frame type of the embroidery frame; Reading means for reading a frame type of the embroidery frame stored in the medium when the embroidery frame is attached to the movable frame; and a reading means for reading the embroidery frame type read by the reading means. A search means for searching information stored in the storage means for a frame area of the embroidery frame attached to the movable frame with respect to the movable frame, and information obtained by the search means. A display means for calculating and displaying a frame area of the embroidery frame with respect to the needle position.