JP5121379B2 - Lower thread transfer device of sewing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lower thread conveyance device for a sewing machine suitably used for conveying and replacing a lower thread such as an embroidery sewing machine together with a bobbin case.

  Generally, a lower thread used for an embroidery sewing machine or the like is detachably stored in a bobbin case through the bobbin while being wound around a bobbin called a bobbin. The sewing machine base is provided with a rotary hook located below the sewing machine head. A bobbin case is mounted with the lower thread in the rotary hook so that the rotary hook is rotated. The lower thread is fed out.

  In this case, the sewing head feeds the embroidery thread (upper thread) according to the needle movement of the sewing needle, and at this time, the upper thread and the lower thread are entangled to form a “seam” such as an embroidery pattern. However, since the bobbin on the lower thread side is generally a small bobbin compared to the bobbin on the upper thread side, the replacement frequency of the lower thread is much higher than that of the upper thread.

  When manually replacing the bobbin thread, the operator will dive under the base of the sewing machine and remove the used bobbin case (bobbin thread) from the rotary hook. Thread), which is very laborious for the operator.

  On the other hand, in order to automate such lower thread replacement work, a lower thread replacement device is provided under the sewing machine base, and the lower thread replacement device is driven by an air cylinder, an electric motor, etc. A configuration in which the bobbin case is removed from the rotary hook and replaced with a new bobbin case is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP-A-8-191974 JP 2000-157774 A

  By the way, in the above-described prior art, a bobbin case in which a bobbin (lower thread) is detachably accommodated has a lower thread replacement position located below the sewing head and a lower thread preparation position spaced from the replacement position. It is set as the structure conveyed between. However, the preparation position in this case is not necessarily located sufficiently away from the lower thread replacement position, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the burden on the operator.

  That is, in the case of the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to prepare the lower thread at a position below the rotary hook, so that the operator can sink the lower thread while sinking in a posture bent down below the base. There is a problem that preparatory work must be performed and the burden on the operator cannot be reduced.

  Moreover, in the case of the prior art by patent document 2, it is set as the structure which provides the bobbin changer which can each move to the front and back direction of each rotary hook with respect to the base of a multi-head type sewing machine. These bobbin changers are moved back and forth between the preparation position on the front side of the base and the replacement position on the back side (near the rotary hook), thereby removing the bobbin case for each rotary hook, Exchange work is performed.

  However, in this case, the bobbin changer extending in the front and rear directions of the base is limited to the position where the lower thread preparation position is in front of the rotary hook. For this reason, an operator who performs a bobbin case (lower thread) replacement operation needs to perform a bobbin case replacement operation for each head while moving the distance between the heads of the multi-head sewing machine. In other words, at this time, the operator is obliged to prepare the lower thread while sequentially moving the distance between the heads while keeping the posture bent down to the lower side of the base. There is a problem that can not be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to arrange the lower thread preparation position at a position sufficiently away from the replacement position, and the bobbin case (lower thread) An object of the present invention is to provide a bobbin thread conveying device for a sewing machine that can easily perform preparation work for bobbin thread for replacement with a large degree of freedom and can reduce the burden on an operator.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a bobbin case in which a bobbin around which a lower thread of a sewing machine is wound is detachably mounted, and a lower thread replacement position located on a lower side of a sewing head and the bobbin case. The present invention is applied to a lower thread conveying device of a sewing machine configured to convey between a lower thread preparation position separated from an exchange position.

A feature of the configuration adopted by the invention of claim 1 is that a conveyance path for conveying the bobbin case between the preparation position and the exchange position of the lower thread, and a drive path driven by the drive source along the conveyance path. A driving carriage that moves in one direction and the other direction, and a driven carriage that is connected to the driving carriage using a connecting means and is moved in one direction and the other direction along the conveyance path by the driving carriage. , and a positioning means for positioning the driven-carriage to the replacement position when the driven carriage is moved in one direction to the exchange position of the lower thread by the drive carriage, before Ki従 dynamic carriage, the bobbin case have a case holder which is detachably mounted, the drive carriage, the above-configured to have a another case holder another bobbin case is mounted detachably to the driven carriage, said positioning means, said drive Dolly is exchange position It lies in that the said driven carriage when driven in the other direction towards the ready position of the lower thread has been configured to allow the movement toward the standby position along with the drive carriage from.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the sewing heads are provided on a base of the sewing machine, the transport path is disposed below the base, and the driven carriage is along the transport path. A plurality of movable carriages are provided, and each driven carriage is provided with a connecting means for connecting the front and rear carriages, and the positioning means is arranged at the lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head. The cart is positioned individually.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the connecting means includes a first connector for detachably connecting the driven carts in front and back, and a front-most driven cart among the driven carts. And a second connecting tool for connecting the drive carriage, wherein the positioning means includes a connection releasing tool provided at a lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head, and the connection releasing tool When the driving carriage passes through the corresponding lower thread replacement position in one direction, the connection between the driven carriages by the first connector is sequentially released from the rear side in the moving direction, and finally the second It is set as the structure which cancels | releases the connection of the said driven trolley | bogie and a drive trolley | bogie by the connecting tool.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the connecting means connects the driven carts and the driving carts individually before and after, and has elastic force when the carts approach and separate from each other. The positioning means includes a string-like expansion / contraction member that expands and contracts, and the positioning means moves the carriage against the elastic force of the expansion / contraction member when the carriage moves to a lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head. It is configured to position.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the slave moving truck, a case holder of the bobbin case is mounted detachably provided on the drive carriage, another bobbin case and the driven carriage is removably other case holder to be mounted on provided, positioning means for positioning said replacement position to the driven carriage when the driven carriage is moved in one direction to the exchange position of the lower thread by the drive carriage, the driving truck When the driven carriage is driven in the other direction from the replacement position toward the lower thread preparation position, the driven carriage is allowed to move toward the lower thread preparation position together with the driving carriage. The bobbin case mounted on the case holder can be transported by the movement of each carriage along the transport path between the lower thread preparation position and the replacement position, and the length of the transport path can be sufficiently secured. it can.

  Thereby, the preparation position of the lower thread can be arranged at a position with less burden on the operator away from the replacement position. Therefore, for an operator who changes the lower thread of the sewing machine, for example, the bobbin case (lower thread) can be easily replaced with the case holder of the driven carriage at a preparation position sufficiently away from the lower thread replacement position. Thus, it is possible to greatly reduce the burden of preparation work associated with the replacement of the lower thread.

Further, since the configuration in which the case holder ball bottle case is detachably mounted to both the drive carriage and a driven carriage may carry bobbin case respectively both drive carriage and a driven carriage, for example 2 The bobbin case can be individually conveyed by the driving carriage and the follower carriage for each rotary hook of the head type sewing machine.

The invention according to claim 2 is a multi-head type sewing machine having a plurality of sewing heads provided on a base of the sewing machine, wherein a plurality of driven carriages can be moved along a conveyance path disposed below the base. In addition, each follower carriage is provided with connecting means for connecting the front and rear carriages, and the positioning means individually positions each follower carriage at the lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head. Therefore, the bobbin case can be transported for each sewing head (rotary shuttle) by a plurality of driven carriages in a replaceable manner.

  At the lower thread preparation position, a plurality of driven carts can be arranged together with the drive carriage at one location, and the operator can continuously replace the bobbin case (lower thread) for each cart at one location. Can be done. Further, the positioning means can individually position each driven carriage at the lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head. At this time, the lower thread replacement operation is automatically performed for each sewing head. Can do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first connector for removably connecting the driven carts in front and rear, and a driving cart connected to the front-most driven cart among these driven carts. 2 and the positioning means includes a connection release tool provided at the lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head, so that the drive carriage can be used by using the connection release tool. When passing the lower thread replacement position in one direction, the connection between each driven carriage by the first connector can be sequentially released from the rear side in the moving direction, and finally the second connector The connection between the driven carriage and the driving carriage can be released.

Further, in the invention of claim 4, since the connecting means is constituted by a string-like elastic member, when the driving carriage is returned to the lower thread preparation position, the driving carriage and each driven carriage are brought closest to each other. In this state, the operator can continuously perform bobbin case (lower thread) replacement work for each carriage at one location. In addition, when each driven carriage is moved to the lower thread replacement position by the drive carriage, each carriage moves to the lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head by the elastic expansion of the string-like elastic member. While allowing the positioning means, the positioning means can position each carriage against the elastic force of the telescopic member at each exchange position.

  Hereinafter, a case where the lower thread conveying device of the sewing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a lower thread conveying device of a multi-head type sewing machine will be described as an example, and will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 33 of the accompanying drawings.

  Here, FIG. 1 to FIG. 26 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a multi-head embroidery machine as a sewing machine. The multi-head embroidery machine 1 includes a base 2, left and right side frames 3 and 4, a head support 5, a plurality of head portions 6, and a sewing machine which will be described later. The main shaft (not shown) is rotationally driven by a main shaft motor (not shown).

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a base constituting the main body of the multi-head embroidery machine 1. The base 2 extends horizontally (front, rear and left, right) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is a rectangular flat plate. And a plurality of leg portions 2B, 2B,... That support the top plate portion 2A from the lower side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, side frames 3 and 4 are erected on the base 2 so as to be separated from each other to the left and right, and a head support 5 extending in the left and right directions between these side frames 3 and 4. Is provided. On the front side of the head support 5, each head section 6 described later is provided so as to be movable left and right (in the directions of arrows a and b in FIG. 1) with respect to the head support section 5. ing.

  6, 6,... Are a plurality of head portions provided on the front side of the head support 5, and these head portions 6 constitute, for example, a four-head sewing head, and the top plate portion 2 A of the base 2. A total of four are provided above. Note that the four head units 6 shown in FIG. 1 are merely an example, and there are four or more head units 6 on the top plate 2A of the base 2, for example, a model in which 15 head units 6 or the like are provided. There is also.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a thread stand as an upper thread storage portion located on the base 2 and disposed on the rear side of the head support 5. The thread stand 7 includes a plurality of upper stands as shown in FIG. Threaded bobbins 7A, 7B, 7C, etc. are provided, and these upper thread bobbins 7A, 7B, 7C,... Include, for example, embroidery threads of a plurality of colors such as red, blue, yellow, white, black, etc. Thread). The yarn stand 7 is provided on the rear side of each head portion 6 and supplies the upper thread to each head portion 6.

  During the embroidery operation, the upper thread selected by the color changing mechanism (not shown) is pulled out from the upper thread bobbins 7A, 7B, 7C,... A plurality of colors of embroidery on an embroidery object (not shown) such as an embroidery cloth is performed by the hand movement operation of the sewing needle 12.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, each head portion 6 of the embroidery machine 1 is provided with a plurality of thread hooks 8, 8,... A plurality of thread tensions 9, 9,... The upper thread drawn from the upper thread bobbins 7A, 7B, 7C,..., Etc. of the thread stand 7 is guided to each thread tension 9 via the thread hook 8, and the upper thread is A low friction yarn is fed toward the balance 10 side.

  10, 10,... Indicate a plurality of balances arranged on the front side of the head unit 6, and each of the balances 10 is rotated by a spindle driving unit (not shown) provided in the head unit 6. Is driven up and down.

  11, 11,... Are a plurality of needle bars provided on the lower end side of the head portion 6, and a sewing needle 12 is detachably attached to the lower end side of each needle bar 11. The needle bar 11 and the sewing needle 12 are driven upward and downward in accordance with the rotation of the main shaft by a needle driving unit (not shown) provided in the head unit 6 to perform a so-called needle movement operation.

  .. Are a plurality of rotary hooks provided on the lower side of the top plate portion 2A corresponding to the respective heads 6. In each rotary hook 13, a bobbin case 16 (to be described later) together with a lower thread is provided. Removably mounted. The rotary hook 13 is rotated with the rotation of the main shaft, whereby the lower thread is fed out from the bobbin case 16.

  14, 14,... Are a plurality of lower thread changing devices provided on the base 2 corresponding to each head 6, and each lower thread changing device 14 is connected to each head portion 6 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A plurality of (for example, four) support bodies 14A provided on the base 2 so as to be opposed to each other at the top and bottom, and a rotation provided on the upper side of the support body 14A via a support shaft 14B. The arm 14 </ b> C and case gripping portions 14 </ b> D and 14 </ b> D provided on both ends in the length direction of the respective rotating arms 14 </ b> C are configured.

  2, the bobbin case 16 to be replaced is transported to a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position) by gondolas 19 and 24 of the lower thread transport device 15, which will be described later, as shown in FIG. Each case gripping portion 14D is advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow c in FIG. 2, and a new bobbin on the gondola 19, 24 side by one case gripping portion 14D (case gripping portion 14D located on the lower side in FIG. 2). The case 16 is gripped.

  At this time, the other case gripping portion 14D (the case gripping portion 14D located on the upper side in FIG. 2) is used at a position facing the rotary hook 13 from the rotary hook 13 to the bobbin case 16 (the remaining amount of lower thread is small). In order to remove the finished bobbin case), the bobbin case 16 on the rotary hook 13 side is gripped.

  Next, the lower thread exchanging device 14 retracts each case gripping portion 14D in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow c, takes out the new bobbin case 16 on the gondola 19 and 24 side by one case gripping portion 14D, and The used bobbin case 16 is removed from the rotary hook 13 by the case gripping portion 14D. Then, in this state, the rotating arm 14C is rotated 180 degrees around the support shaft 14B, and the two case gripping portions 14D are turned upside down.

  Then, each case gripping portion 14D is advanced again in the direction of the arrow c in FIG. 2 to attach (supply) a new bobbin case 16 to the rotary hook 13 and use it on the gondola 19 and 24 side. The finished bobbin case 16 is delivered. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower thread changing device 14 separates each case gripping portion 14D from the rotary hook 13 and the gondolas 19 and 24 in the front and rear directions to prepare for the next lower thread changing operation.

  The bobbin thread exchanging device 14 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the bobbin exchanging device (bobbin thread exchanging device) described in Patent Document 1 described above may be used as appropriate. As a device, various proposals have already been made.

  Next, reference numeral 15 denotes a lower thread conveying device employed in the present embodiment. The lower thread conveying device 15 is a bobbin case 16 in which a bobbin (not shown) around which a lower thread is wound is detachably stored. (See FIGS. 12 to 17) is conveyed between a lower thread replacement position located below each head section 6 and a lower thread preparation position spaced from the replacement position. The lower thread conveying device 15 includes a guide rail 17, a driving gondola 19, each driven gondola 24, first and second coupling members 26 and 29, a positioning device 30, and the like which will be described later.

  In this case, FIGS. 1 to 3 show a case where one drive gondola 19 and a total of three driven gondolas 24 are provided on the guide rail 17 corresponding to a total of four head portions 6. . However, in FIGS. 4 to 14, in order to simplify the explanation, a case where one driving gondola 19 and a total of two driven gondolas 24 are provided on the guide rail 17 is illustrated. Suppose that one driven gondola 24 is connected to and released from the driving gondola 19.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a guide rail that constitutes a conveying path of the lower thread conveying device 15, and the guide rail 17 is suspended by using brackets 18 and 18 on the lower surface side of the top plate portion 2A as shown in FIGS. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a long conveying path having an L shape as a whole is configured. In this case, the guide rail 17 is formed long in a range that does not protrude outward from the top plate portion 2A.

  Here, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the guide rail 17 has an L-shaped bent portion 17C between the short guide portion 17A on one side and the long guide portion 17B on the other side. 17 A of guide parts comprise the site | part applicable to the preparation position of a bobbin thread. And the other long guide part 17B comprises the site | part applicable to the replacement position of a bobbin thread, and is extended so that the downward position of each head part 6 shown in FIG. 1 may be crossed to the left and right direction.

  Further, the guide rail 17 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 13 to 15, a roller guide portion 17 </ b> D bent so that the cross-section has a substantially crank shape, and a cross section from the front side of the roller guide portion 17 </ b> D. It has a guard portion 17E that is raised in an L shape and suppresses bending deformation of the roller guide portion 17D. The roller guide portion 17D and the guard portion 17E of the guide rail 17 are arranged in the horizontal direction (in front of the base 2) from the short guide portion 17A on one side to the position extending to the long guide portion 17B on the other side via the bent portion 17C. , Rearward and left-right directions).

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a drive gondola as a drive carriage that moves along the guide rail 17, and the drive gondola 19 is connected to a driven gondola 24, which will be described later, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12. The plurality of driven gondola 24 are moved along the guide rail 17 in one direction (arrow A direction) and the other direction (arrow B direction).

  Here, the drive gondola 19 is formed using, for example, a strip-shaped metal plate or the like, and the upper side thereof is a roller support portion 19A. Further, the lower end side of the drive gondola 19 is a holder attaching portion 19B, and a case holder 25 described later is detachably attached to the holder attaching portion 19B using screws, screws or the like.

  Further, the drive gondola 19 is provided with a later-described connecting tool 29 located below the roller support part 19A, and a wire attaching part 19C provided at a position lower than the connecting tool 29. A pulling wire 20 (driving force transmitting means) pulled in the directions indicated by arrows A and B by an electric motor 36 described later is attached to the wire attachment portion 19C in a stretched state (a state in which an initial tension is applied). Yes.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a vertical roller as a vertical roller provided on the roller support portion 19A of the drive gondola 19. The vertical roller 21 is a roller via a sleeve 21A or the like extending upward and downward as shown in FIGS. The support portion 19A is rotatably attached. The vertical roller 21 is mounted in the roller guide portion 17D of the guide rail 17 from above, and the length of the guide rail 17 is suppressed while preventing the drive gondola 19 from rattling back and forth with respect to the guide rail 17. This compensates for smooth movement in the direction (left and right directions of the base 2).

  Reference numerals 22 and 22 denote a pair of horizontal rollers as horizontal rollers provided on the roller support portion 19A of the driving gondola 19. Each of the horizontal rollers 22 has a smaller diameter than the vertical roller 21 as shown in FIGS. And is arranged at positions on both the left and right sides of the sleeve 21A of the vertical roller 21 and in a direction perpendicular to the sleeve 21A. Each lateral roller 22 is provided in contact with a roller guide portion 17D of the guide rail 17 so as to be able to roll from above, and the drive gondola 19 is located above and below the guide rail 17 between the slider 23 described later. It has a function to suppress backlash in the direction.

  23 is a slider provided on the roller support portion 19A of the drive gondola 19 located below each lateral roller 22, and the slider 23 is a substantially rectangular block body made of, for example, a low friction material having excellent sliding characteristics. And is in sliding contact with the roller guide portion 17D of the guide rail 17 from the outside. As shown in FIG. 13, the slider 23 sandwiches the roller guide portion 17 </ b> D of the guide rail 17 with the horizontal roller 22 from above and below, and between the vertical roller 21 and the roller guide portion 17 </ b> D of the guide rail 17. Has the function of sandwiching from the front and rear.

  As a result, the vertical roller 21, the horizontal rollers 22, and the slider 23 prevent the drive gondola 19 from tilting or rattling with respect to the guide rail 17 in the upward, downward, forward, and backward directions, and the guide. This compensates for smooth driving of the drive gondola 19 along the rail 17. The drive gondola 19 is driven in the directions indicated by arrows A and B while being suspended downward from the guide rail 17 by the vertical rollers 21, the respective horizontal rollers 22 and the slider 23.

  24, 24,... Are driven gondola as driven carts that are moved along the guide rail 17 by the drive gondola 19, and each driven gondola 24 is configured in substantially the same manner as the drive gondola 19, and the roller support portion 24A includes A vertical roller 21, horizontal rollers 22 and a slider 23 are provided. Each driven gondola 19 is also moved (conveyed) in the directions indicated by arrows A and B while being suspended downward from the guide rail 17 by the vertical rollers 21, the respective horizontal rollers 22 and the slider 23.

  The lower end side of the driven gondola 24 is a holder attaching portion 24B, and a case holder 25 described later is detachably attached to the holder attaching portion 24B using screws, screws or the like. However, the driven gondola 24 is different from the drive gondola 19 in that a member corresponding to the wire attachment portion 19C of the drive gondola 19 is not provided at a position below a connector 26 described later. That is, the follower gondola 24 can move on the guide rail 17 following the drive gondola 19, and when the connection with the drive gondola 19 is released, it continues to stop at the release position.

  25, 25,... Are case holders provided in the holder mounting portions 19B, 24B of the gondola 19, 24. Each case holder 25 is formed as a substantially rectangular box as shown in FIGS. Yes. In the case holder 25, a bobbin (not shown) around which a lower thread is wound is detachably mounted together with the bobbin case 16.

  26, 26,... Are first connecting tools constituting connecting means provided in each driven gondola 24. Each first connecting tool 26 has a length of the guide rail 17 as shown in FIGS. It is formed as a substantially rectangular plate-like body extending in the direction, and has a thickness equal to or larger than that of the slider 23, for example. The first connector 26 is positioned below the slider 23 and fastened and fixed to the driven gondola 24 with screws, screws or the like.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 24 to 26, a connecting piece 26 </ b> A having a piece shape is slidable on the first connecting member 26 at a position on the upstream side in the direction of arrow A (the guide rail 17. It can be moved in the plate thickness direction). The connecting piece 26A is urged so as to project outward by a spring 26B as an urging member as shown in FIGS. 21 and 24. In this state, the other latching pin 26C is locked as described later. (Hang).

  In addition, the first connector 26 is provided with a latch pin 26C at a position on the downstream side in the direction of arrow A, and the latch pin 26C can be engaged with and disengaged from the mating connecting piece 26A. It is latched. And the 1st connection tool 26 connects each follower gondola 24 front and back by latching the connection piece 26A to the latch pin 26C of the front side (the other party). The driven gondola 24 located at the forefront among the plurality of driven gondolas 24 can be attached to and detached from the drive gondola 19 located on the front side by a first connecting tool 26 (connecting piece 26A) and a connecting tool 29 described later. (See FIG. 21).

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a stopper groove as an engaged portion provided in the first coupling tool 26. The stopper groove 27 is an arc-shaped concave groove formed at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the coupling tool 26, and will be described later. The driven gondola 24 is positioned at a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position) by engaging with the positioning roller 35. Further, such a stopper groove 27 is similarly provided in a connecting tool 29 described later.

  A cover plate 28 is detachably attached to the first connector 26. The cover plate 28 is provided so as to overlap the first connector 26 as shown in FIG. It is something to cover. The lid plate 28 is provided with an elongated arm portion 28A as a baffle plate portion protruding in the direction of arrow A, and the distal end side of the elongated arm portion 28A is in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIGS. The stopper grooves 27 of the couplers 26 and 29 located on the front side of the cover are covered so as to be covered from the outside.

  As a result, the elongated arm portion 28A of the cover plate 28 is positioned by the positioning rollers 35 described later on the gondolas 19 and 24 (connectors 26 and 29) located on the front side (front side in the direction of arrow A) of the corresponding driven gondola 24. To prevent the connection between the gondolas 19 and 24 from being sequentially performed from the rear side, which is the downstream side of the moving direction (arrow A direction), as shown in FIGS. Is.

  Further, the lid plate 28 is formed with an inclined surface portion 28B on the corner side located on the opposite side to the elongated arm portion 28A (downstream side in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 19). When the driven gondola 24 is moved in the other direction (for example, the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 22) by the driving gondola 19, the inclined surface portion 28B allows a positioning roller 35 of the positioning device 30 to be described later to be disconnected. 34 is pushed against the spring 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow D, thereby releasing the positioning at a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position) with respect to the driven gondola 24.

  Reference numeral 29 denotes a second connector constituting the connecting means provided in the drive gondola 19, and the second connector 29 is configured in substantially the same manner as the first connector 26 described above, as shown in FIG. It is located below the slider 23 and is fastened and fixed to the upper side of the drive gondola 19 with screws, screws or the like.

  The second connector 29 is provided with a latch pin 29A at a position downstream of the moving direction (arrow A direction), and the latch pin 29A is positioned at the rear side (downstream side). It is detachably connected to the connecting tool 26 of the driven gondola 24 via a connecting piece 26A (see FIG. 21). The second connector 29 also has a stopper groove 27 formed as an arc-shaped concave groove at the middle portion in the length direction, like the first connector 26.

  However, since the second connector 29 is provided on the drive gondola 19, the connection piece 26A, the spring 26B, the cover plate 28, and the like are not provided unlike the first connector 26. However, the second connecting tool 29 is formed with an inclined surface portion 29B on the upstream end side which is the front side thereof, and the inclined surface portion 29B uses a connection release bar 34 and a positioning roller 35 of the positioning device 30 described later as a spring 33. In contrast, it has a function of smoothly pushing in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIGS.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 23, another inclined surface portion 29 </ b> C is formed in the second connector 29 adjacent to the stopper groove 27. The inclined surface portion 29C has the same function as the inclined surface portion 28B of the lid plate 28 described above. That is, when the drive gondola 19 moves in the other direction (for example, the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 8), the inclined surface portion 29C opposes the positioning roller 35 of the positioning device 30 together with the connection release bar 34 against the spring 33. Pushing in the direction of arrow D, thereby releasing the positioning of the lower thread relative to the drive gondola 19 at the replacement position.

  30, 30,... Are positioning devices (positioning means) for positioning the driving gondola 19 and the driven gondola 24 at the lower thread replacement position. The positioning devices 30 are guide rails as shown in FIGS. 4 to 8. Along the 17 long guide portions 17B, a predetermined interval (interval between the head portions 6 shown in FIG. 1) is provided.

  The positioning device 30 includes, for example, a stopper case 31 fixed to the base 2 or the like at a position corresponding to each head portion 6 below the top plate portion 2A, and a rectangular parallelepiped shape provided in the stopper case 31. A spring holder 32, a connection release bar 34 as a connection release tool comprising a block body supported so as to be able to advance and retreat via a pair of springs 33, 33 (biasing members) and the like, and the connection A positioning roller 35 is provided on the release bar 34 so as to be rotatable through a support shaft (not shown) and the like, and moves forward and backward in the directions indicated by arrows D and E together with the connection release bar 34.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the stopper case 31 of the positioning device 30 extends in the direction of arrow E to the position of the connection release bar 34 along the lower surface of the spring holder 32, and the direction of arrow E of the connection release bar 34. A restricting plate portion 31 </ b> A for restricting the maximum advancing position along is provided. 20 and 21, when the driving gondola 19 (second connecting tool 29) moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A with the driven gondola 24, the connecting release bar 34 It is pushed by the inclined surface portion 29B or the like so as to retreat in the arrow D direction against the spring 33.

  At this time, the positioning roller 35 retreats in the direction indicated by the arrow D together with the connection release bar 34 and rolls while sliding along the elongated arm portion 28A (and the outer surface of the lid plate 28) of the lid plate 28, for example. (Rotate. Thereafter, the positioning roller 35 is engaged with the positioning roller 35 so as to advance (insert) into the stopper groove 27 of the first connector 26 in the direction of arrow E. It is positioned at the lower thread replacement position.

  Further, in this state, the connection release bar 34 advances together with the positioning roller 35 in the direction indicated by arrow E, so that the connection piece 26A of the first connection tool 26 resists the spring 26B in the same direction as shown in FIG. To push. As a result, the connection release bar 34 is connected to the connection piece 26A of the first connection tool 26 and the latch pin 29A (26C) of the other connection tool 29 (26) as shown in FIGS. It is a thing to cancel.

  Next, reference numeral 36 denotes an electric motor serving as a drive source for the drive gondola 19. The electric motor 36 is provided on the base 2 below the top plate portion 2A as shown in FIG. By rotating and driving 37, the driving gondola 19 is pulled (driven) in the directions indicated by arrows A and B via the pulling wire 20 and the like.

  In this case, a plurality of idle pulleys 38, 38,... Are provided on the lower surface side of the top plate portion 2A as shown in FIGS. Are spaced apart from each other. Then, the electric motor 36 drives the drive gondola 19 together with the pulling wire 20 in the directions indicated by arrows A and B by pulling the pulling wire 20 via the driving pulley 37, each idle pulley 38, and the like. .

  The multi-head embroidery machine 1 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration. Next, the operation of the lower thread conveying device 15 will be described.

  First, a bobbin case 16 (see FIG. 10) in which a bobbin (not shown) around which a new bobbin is wound is detachably accommodated is placed in each case holder 25 of the driving gondola 19 and each driven gondola 24, respectively. When mounting, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the gondolas 19 and 24 are collected together on the short guide portion 17 </ b> A side of the guide rail 17.

  For this reason, the operator of the multi-head embroidery machine 1 replaces the bobbin case 16 with respect to the gondolas 19 and 24 (case holder 25) on the short guide portion 17A side of the guide rail 17 (that is, preparation operation for the lower thread). This can be carried out continuously at one place, and the time required for the preparation operation of the lower thread can be greatly reduced as compared with the prior art.

  Next, when the gondolas 19 and 24 that have completed such preparation work are transported from the short guide portion 17A (the lower thread preparation position) of the guide rail 17 to the long guide portion 17B, the electric motor illustrated in FIG. The drive gondola 19 is driven in the direction of arrow A by the motor 36 via the pulling wire 20 and the like. Then, each driven gondola 24 connected to the drive gondola 19 via the first and second couplers 26, 29, etc. is made to follow the drive gondola 19 in the direction of arrow A along the long guide portion 17B. Move.

  Then, when the drive gondola 19 passes the front side of the first positioning device 30 as shown in FIG. 5, the second connector 29 provided on the drive gondola 19 is, for example, as shown in FIG. The inclined surface portion 29B located on the side) pushes the connection release bar 34 and the positioning roller 35 of the positioning device 30 against the spring 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow D, and the lid plate 28 provided on the next driven gondola 24 The elongated arm portion 28A keeps the connection release bar 34 and the positioning roller 35 pushed in the same direction.

  As a result, the driving gondola 19 and each driven gondola 24 move in the direction indicated by the arrow A along the guide rail 17 without being restrained by the first positioning device 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. . However, when the driven gondola 24 located at the tail end in the direction of arrow A among the driven gondolas 24 reaches the position of the positioning device 30 as illustrated in FIG. 6, only the driven gondola 24 is restrained by the positioning device 30. Then, it is positioned at the lower thread replacement position corresponding to the head portion 6.

  That is, the trailing follower gondola 24 is moved in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, and the positioning roller 35 of the positioning device 30 is moved into the stopper groove 27 of the connector 26 by the arrow E. When engaged so as to advance (insert) in the direction, the connection piece 26A of the connection tool 26 is pushed in the same direction against the spring 26B by the connection release bar 34.

  As a result, the last driven gondola 24 is released from the connection state between the connection piece 26A of the connection tool 26 and the other retaining pin 26C as shown in FIG. As a result, even if the front driven gondola 24 moves in the direction of arrow A, the rearmost driven gondola 24 is positioned at the corresponding lower thread replacement position as shown in FIG. Is done.

  Thus, each driven gondola 24 connected in a line in the front and rear directions using the first connector 26 is separated from the front driven gondola 24 one after another. (The connection is released), and the positioning is sequentially performed at the position of the corresponding positioning device 30 (replacement position of each lower thread).

  After the driven gondola 24 located at the foremost side among the driven gondola 24 is positioned at the position of the corresponding positioning device 30 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the drive gondola 19 is finally the last positioning device 30. In this position, the drive gondola 19 is also held in a stopped state.

  Thus, after the respective gondolas 19 and 24 are positioned at the predetermined replacement position, the lower thread (bobbin case 16) is replaced with the rotary hook 13 by operating the respective lower thread replacement device 14. . In this state, a new bobbin case 16 can be attached (supplied) to each rotary hook 13 positioned below each head portion 6, and each gondola 19, 24 (each case holder 25) of the lower thread conveying device 15. The used bobbin case 16 can be delivered to the side.

  Next, after the lower thread replacement operation is completed at the position of each rotary hook 13, the drive gondola 19 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow B from the position shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting tool 29 of the drive gondola 19 has the inclined surface portion 29C to push the positioning roller 35 of the positioning device 30 together with the connection release bar 34 against the spring 33 in the arrow D direction. Thus, the positioning with respect to the drive gondola 19 can be released.

  When the driving gondola 19 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow B to the position shown in FIG. 23 and further driven to the position shown in FIG. 22, the driven gondola 24 is pushed by the driving gondola 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow B. For this reason, in the connecting tool 26 of the driven gondola 24, the inclined surface portion 28B of the cover plate 28 pushes the positioning roller 35 of the positioning device 30 together with the connection release bar 34 against the spring 33 in the arrow D direction. The positioning with respect to the driven gondola 24 can be released.

  At this time, the latch pin 29 </ b> A on the drive gondola 19 side is latched on the connecting tool 26 (connecting piece 26 </ b> A) on the driven gondola 24, and both gondolas 19 and 24 are connected via the connecting tools 26 and 29. In this state, the driven gondola 24 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B by the drive gondola 19 as shown in FIGS.

  Further, by driving the driving gondola 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow B in this way, each driven gondola 24 is detached from the corresponding positioning device 30 (positioning is released), and each driven gondola 24 is again connected by the respective connecting tool 26. In the connected state, each driven gondola 24 can be collectively returned to the lower thread preparation position (short guide portion 17A side) illustrated in FIG.

  Then, at the position of the short guide portion 17A shown in FIG. 4, the above-described used bobbin case 16 (lower thread) is taken out from each gondola 19, 24, and then a new bobbin case 16 is mounted on each gondola 19, 24. In this state, the bobbin thread preparation work is completed to prepare for the next bobbin thread replacement period.

  Thus, the bobbin thread conveying device 15 according to the present embodiment is driven by the electric motor 36 via the pulling wire 20 and the like, and moves along the guide rail 17 in the directions indicated by arrows A and B, and the driving gondola Are provided with a plurality of driven gondola 24 moved in the same direction by 19 and a plurality of positioning devices 30, 30,... For positioning these gondola 19, 24 at respective lower thread replacement positions. Allows the driven gondola 24 to move together with the drive gondola 19 toward the preparation position when the drive gondola 19 is driven in the direction of arrow B from the replacement position toward the lower thread preparation position. It is configured.

  As a result, each bobbin case 16 mounted on the case holder 25 of the driving gondola 19 and each driven gondola 24 is moved by the gondola 19 and 24 along the guide rail 17 between the lower thread preparation position and the replacement position. For example, a sufficient length of the guide rail 17 can be ensured on the lower surface side of the top plate portion 2A, so that the position where the lower thread preparation position is less burdensome for the operator away from the replacement position. Can be arranged.

  As a result, for the operator who replaces the lower thread of the multi-head embroidery machine 1, the bobbin case 16 (lower thread) with respect to the case holder 25 of the drive gondola 19 and each driven gondola 24 at a preparation position sufficiently away from the lower thread replacement position. Thread) can be easily replaced, and the burden of preparation work associated with the replacement of the lower thread can be greatly reduced.

  Further, at the lower thread preparation position located on the short guide portion 17A side of the guide rail 17, a plurality of driven gondolas 24 can be arranged in one place together with the drive gondola 19 as shown in FIG. Can continuously replace the bobbin case 16 (lower thread) for each of the gondolas 19 and 24 at one place.

  Further, each positioning device 30 arranged on the long guide portion 17B side of the guide rail 17 with an interval positions the driving gondola 19 and each driven gondola 24 individually at the lower thread replacement position corresponding to each head portion 6. At this time, the lower thread replacement operation can be automatically performed for each head section 6.

  Further, each driven gondola 24 is detachably connected by a first connector 26 so as to form a front and rear row, and the second connector is connected to the frontmost driven gondola 24 among the driven gondola 24. 29, the drive gondola 19 is connected, and each positioning device 30 is provided with a connection release tool (connection release bar 34).

  For this reason, by using the connection release bar 34 of each positioning device 30, when the drive gondola 24 passes the corresponding lower thread replacement position in the direction of arrow A, the distance between each driven gondola 24 by the first connector 26 is as follows. Can be sequentially released from the rear side (downstream side) in the moving direction, and finally, the connection between the frontmost driven gondola 24 and the driving gondola 24 by the first and second connecting tools 26 and 29 is released. be able to.

  As a result, the plurality of driven gondolas 24 that are moved in a row by the drive gondola 19 can be stably positioned at the respective exchange positions, and finally the drive gondola 19 is moved to the corresponding lower thread. It can be positioned stably at the exchange position. The lower thread replacement operation can be automatically performed for each head unit 6 at each replacement position.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the short guide portion 17A (lower thread preparation position) of the guide rail 17 can be disposed at a position sufficiently away from the lower thread replacement position on the long guide portion 17B side. The preparatory work for replacing the bobbin case 16 (lower thread) can be easily performed with a large degree of freedom, and the burden on the operator can be reliably reduced.

  Next, FIG. 27 to FIG. 33 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that a drive carriage and a driven carriage are connected to each other by a string-like elastic member. It is in the configuration to do. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a drive gondola as a drive carriage adopted in the present embodiment. The drive gondola 41 is configured in substantially the same manner as the drive gondola 19 described in the first embodiment, and includes a roller support portion 41A, It has a holder mounting portion 41B and a wire mounting portion 41C. The roller support portion 41A of the drive gondola 41 is provided with the vertical rollers 21, the horizontal rollers 22, and the slider 23, and the case holder 25 is detachably attached to the holder attachment portion 41B on the lower end side.

  Further, the pulling wire 20 is mounted on the wire mounting portion 41C of the driving gondola 41 as in the first embodiment, and the driving gondola 41 is driven integrally with the pulling wire 20 in the directions indicated by arrows A and B. It is. However, unlike the drive gondola 19 described in the first embodiment, the drive gondola 41 in this case is provided with a telescopic wire 45 described later in place of the connector 29.

  Further, on the back side of the drive gondola 41, as shown in FIG. 27, there is provided a protrusion 41D as an engaged part that is located between the slider 23 and the wire attachment part 41C and protrudes backward. The portion 41D has a function of positioning the drive gondola 41 at a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position) by contacting a stopper 46 described later.

  42, 42,... Are driven gondola as driven carts adopted in the present embodiment, and each driven gondola 42 is configured in substantially the same manner as the driven gondola 24 described in the first embodiment, and a roller support portion. 42A and a holder mounting portion 42B. However, the driven gondola 42 in this case is different from the driven gondola 24 described in the first embodiment in that a telescopic wire 44 described later is provided instead of the first connector 26.

  Further, the driven gondolas 42 and 42 are provided with projecting portions 42C and 42D as engaged portions protruding rearward from the back side as shown in FIG. 27. These projecting portions 42C and 42D are, for example, driven gondola. 42 are arranged at different positions in the length direction (height direction) 42, and are also arranged at different height positions with respect to the protrusion 41D of the drive gondola 41.

  In this case, each driven gondola 42 individually abuts on stoppers 47 and 48 (described later) illustrated in FIGS. 31 and 32 at different positions. Thereby, each driven gondola 42, 42 is positioned at a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position).

  .. Are spacers provided on each case holder 25. Each spacer 43 is formed as a buffer member made of, for example, an elastic body, and protrudes from the case holder 25 on both the left and right sides. As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the spacers 43 are arranged with the case holders 25 indicated by arrows A and B when the driving gondola 41 and the driven gondola 42 are arranged closest to the lower thread preparation position. Before the direction and after the collision, it is buffered to collide with each other, and a substantially constant gap is secured between the gondolas 41 and 42.

  Reference numeral 44 denotes a first expansion / contraction wire as a connecting means for connecting the driven gondola 42. The expansion / contraction wire 44 is constituted by a flexible string-like expansion / contraction member, and one side thereof includes a rotating metal fitting 44A and the like. And is connected to one of the driven gondola 42 via a pivot. On the other side of the telescopic wire 44, there are provided a spring 44B that elastically expands and contracts and another rotating metal fitting 44C that rotatably connects the spring 44B to the other driven gondola 42.

  When the front and rear driven gondola 42 approach each other, the telescopic wire 44 bends and relaxes in a U-shape as shown in FIGS. 27 to 29, and at this time, the spring 44B is in a fully contracted free length state. is there. However, when the front and rear follower gondola 42 are largely separated as shown in FIGS. 30 to 33, the elastic wire 44 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow A, for example, so that the spring 44B is elastically deformed and extended. .

  Reference numeral 45 denotes a second expansion / contraction wire as a connecting means for connecting the drive gondola 41 and the driven gondola 42, and the expansion / contraction wire 45 is a flexible string-like expansion / contraction similar to the first expansion / contraction wire 44. It is comprised by the member, The one side is connected with the drive gondola 41 via the rotation metal fitting 45A etc. so that rotation is possible. The other side of the telescopic wire 45 is rotatably connected to the driven gondola 42 via a spring 45B and another rotating metal fitting 45C.

  46, 47 and 48 are stoppers constituting positioning means, and these stoppers 46 to 48 are respectively provided at lower thread replacement positions corresponding to the head portions 6 as shown in FIGS. 41 and each driven gondola 42 are positioned at respective replacement positions. In this case, the stopper 46 arranged at the highest position among the stoppers 46 to 48 shown in FIGS. 31 to 33 abuts the protrusion 41D of the drive gondola 41 as shown in FIG. Position at a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 32, the stopper 47 located in the middle in the height direction contacts the projection 42C of the driven gondola 42, thereby positioning the driven gondola 42 at the corresponding lower thread replacement position. Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the stopper 48 arranged at the lowest position contacts the projection 42D of the last driven gondola 42, thereby positioning the driven gondola 42 at the corresponding lower thread replacement position. Is.

  Next, the bobbin thread conveying operation by the driving gondola 41 and the driven gondola 42 employed in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, when the driving gondola 41 and each driven gondola 42 are arranged at the lower thread preparation position, the elastic wires 44 and 45 are bent and relaxed in a U shape as shown in FIGS. 27 to 29, and the springs 44B and 45B. Furthermore, the free gondola 41 and the driven gondola 42 can be brought into contact with each other via the spacers 43 and kept in the closest state.

  Next, when the driving gondola 41 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow A through the pulling wire 20 in this state, the telescopic wire 45 is pulled by the driving gondola 41 and extends as shown in FIG. 30, and the rear side (downstream side) is extended. The driving force from the driving gondola 41 is transmitted to the driven gondola 42. Therefore, each driven gondola 42 located on the rear side is sequentially moved in the direction of arrow A, and the telescopic wire 44 between each driven gondola 42 is pulled and extended as shown in FIG.

  The driven gondola 42 located at the rear end of each driven gondola 42 is positioned at a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position) when the projection 42D comes into contact with the stopper 48 as shown in FIG. Continue to stop in position. However, when the driving gondola 41 is further driven in the direction indicated by arrow A in this state, even after the rearmost driven gondola 42 is positioned by the stopper 48, the telescopic wires 44 and 45 are respectively spring 44B as tension is applied. 45B are elastically extended, and in this state, the front driven gondola 42 follows the drive gondola 41 and moves in the direction of arrow A.

  Then, the next driven gondola 42 is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 32 by the stopper 47 when the stopper 47 comes into contact with the protrusion 42C. In this way, each driven gondola 42 moves in the direction of arrow A when the driving force from the driving gondola 41 is transmitted through the telescopic wires 44 and 45, and the protrusions 42C and 42D by the respective stoppers 47 and 48. Is positioned at a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position) determined in advance.

  In addition, in this state, each driven gondola 42 is given tension due to elastic deformation of the telescopic wires 44 and 45 (springs 44B and 45B), so that the projections 42C and 42D are pressed against the stoppers 47 and 48, respectively. The driven gondola 42 can be prevented from being displaced from its original position (lower thread replacement position).

  Further, the driving gondola 41 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow A against the elastic force (biasing force) of the telescopic wire 45, and when the projection 41D comes into contact with the stopper 46 as shown in FIG. The lower thread replacement position). Since the driving gondola 41 is driven and stopped integrally with the pulling wire 20 by the electric motor 36 (see FIG. 1), it automatically moves to a predetermined position (lower thread replacement position) as the electric motor 36 stops rotating. ) Can be positioned.

  Accordingly, the drive gondola 41 can be automatically positioned at a predetermined position as the electric motor 36 stops rotating, and the stopper 46 as a positioning means is not necessarily used. In particular, by using, for example, a stepping motor or the like as the electric motor 36, the positioning performance at the stop position can be enhanced.

  On the other hand, when the drive gondola 41 is driven in the direction returning from the position shown in FIG. 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow B in order to perform the next lower thread replacement operation, the protrusion 41D of the drive gondola 41 is as shown in FIG. The springs 44B and 45B of the telescopic wires 44 and 45 are gradually reduced in a state of being separated from the stopper 46, and accordingly, each driven gondola 42 is also moved in the arrow B direction.

  The drive gondola 41 and each driven gondola 42 are, for example, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the telescopic wires 44 and 45 bend and relax in a U shape, and the drive gondola 41 and each driven gondola 42 are each spacers. They are brought into contact with each other via 43 and are collectively returned to the aforementioned lower thread preparation position according to the pulling force (driving force) in the direction indicated by the arrow B by the driving gondola 41 in the closest state.

  Thus, also in this embodiment configured as described above, the front and rear driven gondolas 42 and 42 are connected by the first telescopic wire 44, and the frontmost driven gondola 42 and the drive gondola 41 are connected to each other. By connecting with the two stretchable wires 45, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as in the first embodiment, and the bobbin case 16 (lower thread) is driven by the driving gondola 41 and each driven gondola 42 to lower the thread. Can be smoothly transported along the guide rail 17 between the preparation position and the replacement position.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the driving gondola 19 is positioned at a predetermined position by the positioning device 30 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even in this case, the positioning performance of the electric motor 36 at the stop position can be utilized, and the positioning device 30 for the drive gondola 19 can be made unnecessary.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, the case where the drive gondola 19 and 41 was provided with the holder attaching parts 19B and 41B for the case holder 25 was mentioned as an example, and was demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the bobbin case 25 is mounted only on each of the driven gondolas 24 and 42, and the drive gondola 19 and 41 are simply driven carriages without the bobbin case 25 or the like. It may be configured to function. In this case, the driven gondola 24 and 42 are driven along the guide rails 17 in the directions indicated by arrows A and B. Therefore, a drive cart dedicated to driving may be employed.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, the case where the guide rail 17 was comprised as an elongate conveyance path which makes L shape as a whole as shown in FIGS. 4-7 was mentioned as an example, and was demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the conveyance path may be configured so that the lower thread preparation position can be secured at a position away from the lower thread replacement position on the lower surface side of the top plate portion 2A. For example, it is possible to employ a guide rail 17 (conveyance path) having various shapes such as an I shape, a J shape, or a substantially U shape.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the case where the vertical roller 21, the pair of horizontal rollers 22 and the slider 23 are provided on the roller support portion 19 </ b> A of the drive gondola 19 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, any configuration can be used as long as the drive gondola 19 can be stably driven (moved) along the guide rail 17, and various changes can be made. This also applies to the driven gondola 24, the driving gondola 41, and the driven gondola 42 described in the second embodiment.

  The driving carriage and the driven carriage are not limited to the so-called gondola-shaped suspension suspended downward from the guide rail 17, and are, for example, a carriage having the same form as a model train traveling on a track (conveyance path). May be adopted as a driving carriage or a driven carriage.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the multi-head embroidery machine 1 configured to provide a total of four head portions 6 on the top plate portion 2A of the base 2 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a single-head sewing machine (embroidery machine) having a single head portion 6 (sewing head). The present invention may be applied to one or five or more multi-head sewing machines and embroidery machines.

1 is a front view showing a multi-head embroidery machine to which a lower thread conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the embroidery machine of FIG. It is a right view in the same position as Drawing 2 showing the state where a plurality of gondola was collected collectively in the lower thread preparation position. It is the top view which looked at the guide rail for conveyance in which each gondola in FIG. 3 is provided so that a movement is possible from the upper side. FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a state in which each gondola is moved from the lower thread preparation position toward the replacement position. FIG. 5 is a plan view equivalent to FIG. 4 showing a state in which the last gondola of each gondola is positioned on the front side of the head portion. FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 showing a state in which each gondola is positioned at a position corresponding to each head unit. It is a top view which expands and shows each gondola in FIG. 7 with a guide rail and a positioning device. It is the arrow line view which expanded each gondola in the preparation position of a bobbin thread from arrow IX-IX in FIG. 4 with a guide rail. It is a perspective view which shows each gondola in FIG. 9 with a guide rail. It is a top view which expands and shows each gondola in FIG. 5 with a guide rail. It is a front view which shows each gondola in FIG. 11 with a guide rail. It is sectional drawing which expanded each gondola and a guide rail from the arrow XIII-XIII direction in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows each gondola and guide rail in FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the state which isolate | separated the driven gondola from the drive gondola, and was positioned in the replacement position of the lower thread. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the drive gondola in FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a driven gondola. It is a perspective view which shows the positioning device in FIG. 15 alone. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a 1st coupling tool with a cover plate. It is a top view which expands and shows the state in the middle of moving a driven gondola along a guide rail with a drive gondola. It is a top view which expands and shows each connection tool and positioning device in FIG. It is a top view similar to FIG. 21 which shows the state just before canceling | releasing the connection state by the front and back connection tools. It is a top view similar to FIG. 21 which shows the state immediately after cancel | released the connection state by the front and back connection tools. It is a top view shown in the state where a part of connection tool was fractured in order to explain release operation of connection by the front and back connection tools. FIG. 25 is a partially broken plan view showing a connection releasing operation following FIG. 24. FIG. 26 is a partially broken plan view showing the connection releasing operation following FIG. 25. It is a front view which shows each gondola etc. of the bobbin thread conveying apparatus by 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of each gondola shown in FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the bobbin thread | yarn conveyance which shows the state which gathered each gondola in the preparation position of the bobbin thread | yarn. FIG. 30 is an operation explanatory diagram of lower thread conveyance showing a state where the drive gondola is moved in one direction from the position of FIG. 29. FIG. 31 is an operation explanatory view of lower thread conveyance showing a state where the driving gondola and each driven gondola are moved in one direction from the position of FIG. 30 and the last driven gondola is positioned at a predetermined position. FIG. 32 is an operation explanatory view of lower thread conveyance following FIG. 31 showing a state in which the next driven gondola is positioned at a predetermined position. FIG. 33 is an operation explanatory view of lower thread conveyance subsequent to FIG. 32 showing a state where the driving gondola is finally positioned at a predetermined position.

Explanation of symbols

1 Multi-head embroidery machine (sewing machine)
2 base 2A top plate part 3, 4 side frame 5 head support 6 head part (sewing machine head)
7 Thread stand (upper thread storage)
8 Thread hook 9 Thread tension 10 Balance 12 Sewing needle 13 Rotating hook 14 Lower thread changer 15 Lower thread transporter 16 Bobbin case 17 Guide rail (transport path)
19,41 Drive Gondola (Drive Cart)
20 Pulling wire (driving force transmission means)
21 Vertical roller 22 Horizontal roller 23 Slider 24, 42 Driven gondola (driven carriage)
25 Case holder 26 1st connection tool (connection means)
27 Stopper groove (engaged part)
28 Lid plate 29 Second connector (connecting means)
30 Positioning device (positioning means)
34 Connection release bar (connection release tool)
35 Positioning roller 36 Electric motor (drive source)
44 First telescopic wire (expandable member, connecting means)
45 Second stretchable wire (stretchable member, connecting means)
46, 47, 48 Stopper (positioning means)

Claims (4)

A bobbin case in which a bobbin around which a lower thread of the sewing machine is wound is detachably stored is disposed between a lower thread replacement position located below the sewing head and a lower thread preparation position spaced from the replacement position. In the lower thread conveying device of the sewing machine that is configured to convey with
A transport path for transporting the bobbin case between the lower thread preparation position and the replacement position;
A driving carriage driven by a driving source and moving in one direction and the other direction along the conveyance path;
A driven carriage connected to the drive carriage using a connecting means and moved in one direction and the other direction along the conveyance path by the drive carriage;
Positioning means for positioning the driven carriage at the replacement position when the driven carriage is moved in one direction to the lower thread replacement position by the drive carriage;
Before Ki従 dynamic carriage, have a case holder of the bobbin case is detachably mounted on the drive carriage, chromatic another case holder another bobbin case is mounted detachably from said driven carriage With a configuration to
The positioning means allows the driven carriage to move toward the preparation position together with the driving carriage when the driving carriage is driven in the other direction from the replacement position toward the lower thread preparation position. A lower thread conveying device for a sewing machine, characterized in that A plurality of the sewing heads are provided on a base of the sewing machine, the transport path is provided below the base, and a plurality of the driven carriages are provided so as to be movable along the transport path. The driven carriage is provided with connecting means for connecting the front and rear carriages, and the positioning means individually positions each driven carriage at a lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head. The lower thread conveying device of the sewing machine according to Item 1 . The connecting means includes a first connector for removably connecting the driven carts in the front and rear directions, and a second coupling for connecting the drive cart to the front-most driven cart among the driven carts. It consists of a connector and
The positioning means includes a connection release tool provided at a lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head,
The connection release tool sequentially releases the connection between the driven carriages by the first connection tool from the rear side in the movement direction when the drive carriage passes through the corresponding lower thread replacement position in one direction. The bobbin thread conveying device of the sewing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the sewing machine is configured to release the connection between the driven carriage and the driving carriage by the second connector. The connecting means is constituted by a string-like expansion / contraction member that is connected individually between the driven carriages and the driving carriage before and after, and elastically expands and contracts when the carriages approach and separate from each other. ,
3. The configuration according to claim 2 , wherein the positioning unit is configured to position each carriage against the elastic force of the expansion and contraction member when each carriage moves to a lower thread replacement position corresponding to each sewing head. Lower thread conveying device for sewing machine.

Images