JPH0138908B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multi-head automatic embroidery machine equipped with a plurality of sets of sewing needle heads, and more particularly to a missing stitch repair device for repairing missing stitches in any of the needle heads.

Conventionally, in this type of multi-head embroidery machine, if thread breakage occurs in at least one head during operation, the thread breakage is detected by a thread breakage detection circuit provided in each head. The machine was temporarily stopped, the operator refilled the thread at the thread breakage point, and restarted the machine, but it was inevitable that some of the sewing thread would be missing at the thread breakage point. Furthermore, depending on the nature and condition of the thread, a missing stitch may occur that cannot be detected by the thread breakage detection circuit. There was no other option but to fill in the missing parts by sewing repeatedly. Later, in the latter case, the embroidery stitches on the head that had no missing parts were distorted, inducing overlapping stitches. Therefore, when a missing part occurs in a seam, it is extremely difficult to make it into a normal series of stitches, and it also affects the work of the head who performs other normal stitches. There was a drawback of giving.

The present invention completely eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and even if a seam is missing on any of the heads, it can be repaired accurately and reliably by performing work on each head individually. This makes it possible to accurately obtain a normal series of seams regardless of the missing repair work.

That is, the present invention includes a thread breakage detection circuit, and a thread breakage detection circuit.
As a multi-head automatic embroidery machine that has multiple sets of heads equipped with a blank stitching mechanism that interrupts sewing work, it is equipped with a simultaneous blank stitching system that allows all blank stitching mechanisms in the heads to perform blank stitching at the same time at a preset timing. A circuit that generates a sewing signal and a manual push button means that generates an instruction signal corresponding to each of the above-mentioned heads are connected to each other while the above-mentioned idle-stitch signal generation circuit is in operation. A circuit is provided that generates a prohibition signal to prohibit the operation of the idle stitching mechanism of the corresponding head, and the idle stitching prohibition signal of the prohibition circuit is replaced with a detection signal of the thread trimming detection circuit or an instruction signal of the instruction button means. This is a new device for repairing missing stitches that uses the blank stitching mechanism provided in each head of a multi-head embroidery machine to prohibit blank stitching on the head where a stitch is missing. The defect is repaired by sewing it, and the intended purpose can be easily achieved with a simple structure.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of a multi-head embroidery machine, for example, a three-head sewing machine H ₁ on a base B,
H ₂ and H ₃ are connected via a sewing machine main shaft S so that they are mechanically synchronously driven by a sewing machine driving motor M. Sewing needles N ₁ , N _{2 of} each head H ₁ , H 2 , H ₃ ,
Embroidery frames F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ are arranged corresponding to N ₃ , and the frames F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ are moved by movement levers L by motors Mx and Yx corresponding to the X direction and Y direction, respectively. ₁ and _L2 . The control computer CPU that controls the drive of the embroidery machine reads paper tape data using a tape reader PTR, for example, and drives the sewing needles N ₁ , N ₂ , N ₃ of each head and the frames F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ mentioned above. Controls drive in the X and Y directions.

As shown in Fig. 2, each head H ₁ , H ₂ , H ₃ has a needle bar and sewing needles N ₁ , N ₂ , N ³ that move up and down with a link take-up, a crank arm, etc., and a thread clamping mechanism (these are ) and a thread breakage detector that detects thread breaks in the thread path and stops the machine.
K ₁ , K ₂ , K ₃ , and empty stitching mechanisms T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ for interrupting the sewing mechanism to form empty stitches. The empty stitching mechanisms T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ are single
It consists of a fixed position coupling clutch called a position clutch, and solenoids SOL 1 and SOL ₂ are interposed between the main shaft S of the sewing machine and the crankshafts W ₁ , W ₂ , and W ₃ of each head to operate the respective _clutches . , SOL ₃
When an idle stitching signal is input to the sewing machine, the sewing operation of the sewing mechanism is temporarily interrupted.

The above idle stitching signals are output from solenoids SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ ,
The single position clutches T ₁ , T ₂ and T ₃ are turned on and off by driving SOL ₃ .

Pulse generator PG1 connected to sewing machine main shaft S
generates a synchronization signal every rotation of the corresponding axis S. The operation button PB4 provided on the control panel (not shown) is
When ON, the drive motor M is driven and the computer CPU
Turn on. Further, the stop button PB5 similarly manually stops the driving motor M. retrograde button
When PB0 is turned on manually, it reads the data tape in the tape reader PTR backwards without rotating the main shaft S, drives the frame drive motors Mx and My in the X and Y directions, and moves the frames L ₁ and L ₂ backwards. In addition, optional repair instruction buttons PB1, PB2, and PB3 are thread cut detectors.
This is for manually correcting missing stitches such as embroidery that could not be detected by K ₁ , K ₂ , and K ₃ .

FIG. 3 is a control circuit diagram of a missing stitch repair device incorporated into an embroidery machine, and shows an example of an embroidery machine having three heads H ₁ , H ₂ , and H ₃ .

In Fig. 3, K ₁ , K ₂ , and K ₃ are thread breakage detectors provided in each head, and flip-flops FF ₁ , K 3 are turned on when each thread breaks, and connected correspondingly.
Set FF ₂ and FF ₃ (MC14013, manufactured by Motorola). When any one of flip-flops FF ₁ , FF ₂ , and FF ₃ is set, the output of flip-flop FF ₄ operates the computer CPU to automatically stop the drive motor M. PB4 is the operation button, and when turned on manually, flip-flop FF
4 operates the computer CPU and starts the drive motor M. Similarly, stop button PB
5 resets flip-flop FF ₄ with manual ON, operates the computer CPU, and turns on the drive motor M.
stop. Reverse button PB0 is the drive motor M
Only when turned on manually when the machine is stopped, the reverse pulse generator PG ₂ (NE555) is
Make the CPU issue a tape reverse reading signal to cause the frame drive motors Mx and My to move backwards. Reverse button PB0
If you turn OFF, this reversal will stop. The pulse generator PG ₁ is synchronously connected to the main shaft S of the sewing machine, generates a synchronization signal every rotation, and generates a synchronous signal from the flip-flops FF ₁ ,
Update FF ₂ and FF ₃ .

The above-mentioned backward pulse generator _PG2 simultaneously increments the backward stitch number counter COUNT1 and sets a flag (Flag).
(J ₂ ) is changed from 1 to 0. A flag of 1 indicates that there is no reverse operation, and a flag of 0 indicates that a reverse operation of at least one stitch has been performed. At the same time, the backward stitch number counter COUNT1 counts down by the pulse of the pulse generator _PG1 , and when it returns to the old position, the flag is changed from 0 to 1.

MM ₁ transforms the states of flip-flops FF ₁ , FF ₂ , FF ₃ into a set of flip-flops FF′ ₁ , FF′ ₂ ,
It is a mono multi-vibration radar that transfers to _FF'3 .
(MC14538, manufactured by Motorola) MM ₂ is a mono multivibrator (MC14538, manufactured by Motorola)
By turning on the operation button PB4, flip-flops FF' ₁ , FF' ₂ , and FF' ₃ are reset.

The driving motor M drives the sewing machine sewing mechanism. The tape reader PTR transfers embroidery data to the computer in response to the rotation of the main shaft S of the sewing machine.
Give data to CPU. The computer CPU controls the frame drive motors Mx and My based on the tape data.
to drive the embroidery frames F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ in the X and Y directions, or drive the blank stitching mechanisms T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ in response to the blank stitching signal, and calculate the numerical values that make up the embroidery pattern. It is composed of a normal arithmetic processing unit for control.

Solenoid group SOL ₁ of idle stitching mechanism T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ ,
SOL ₂ and SOL ₃ temporarily suspend the sewing mechanism of each head H ₁ , H ₂ , and H ₃ and drive the idle stitching mechanism to perform idle stitching. In addition, the computer CPU is instructed to skip tape data from the tape reader PTR.
outputs a simultaneous blank stitching signal _J1 , and this signal causes the solenoid groups _SOL1 , _SOL2 , and _SOL3 to be suction driven all at once to perform blank stitching all at once. Relays R ₁ , R ₂ , and R ₃ have closing contacts for each of the solenoid groups SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ , and SOL ₃ , and at least one of the relays R ₁ , R ₂ , and R ₃ is connected to the thread breakage detector K. The flip-flops FF′ ₁ , FF′ ₂ , and FF′ ₃ are driven ON by the thread breakage signal, and when ON, the solenoid
It acts to prohibit simultaneous suction of SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ , and SOL ₃ . For example, when the thread trimming detector K ₁ is turned on, even if there is a simultaneous blank stitching instruction, the corresponding solenoid relay R ₁ is activated and SOL ₁ is not attracted. Note that the other solenoids SOL ₂ and SOL ₃ are relays.
The suctioned state is maintained by the operation of R ₂ and R ₃ and the blank stitching continues at the same time. That is, flip-flops FF ₁ ′, FF ₂ ′, and FF ₃ are individually connected to relays R ₁ , R ₂ ,
Drive _R3 to prohibit empty stitching. Similarly, optional repair instruction buttons PB1, PB2, and PB3 can be used to manually drive relays _R1 , _R2 , and _R3 for each head individually to prohibit idle stitching.

When a thread breaks during embroidery work in an embroidery machine configured as shown in Figures 1 to 3 (if the contacts _K1 to _K3 are ON at the thread breakage detection timing), the thread breakage signal is sent to the flip-flop. It is held in FF ₁ to _{FF 3} . At the same time, FF ₄ is reset by the OR signal of OR ₁ , the operation signal is turned OFF, the sewing machine stops, and the indicator lamps PL ₁ , PL ₂ , and PL ₃ indicate the thread breakage head. Also, this state of thread breakage is an or gate.
Mono multivibrator by OR ₁ output signal
_MM1 is activated and held in flip-flops _FF'1 to _FF'3 . At this time, if the worker recognizes that it is necessary to repair the missing pattern due to thread breakage, press the reverse instruction button PB0 and the reverse pulse generator will be activated.
A backward pulse is generated from _PG2 , and this pulse advances the backward stitch number counter COUNT1. The frame drive circuit drives the tape reader according to this backward pulse.
The frame drive data input is read backwards from the PTR and the embroidery machine L is returned in reverse. The worker checks the movement of the frame L and finds that the pattern is missing due to thread breakage, and when the frame has returned to a point where it can be repaired, press the reverse instruction button PB.
0, then press operation button PB4 to start embroidering in the forward direction again.

During this time, the backward stitch number counter COUNT1 is incremented, and as a result, the signal of count value 0 of COUNT1, that is, the zero signal, disappears, and jump solenoids SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ , and SOL ₃ are driven by the output of OR gate OR ₃ , but thread breakage occurs. Flip-flop head only
The outputs of FF' ₁ to FF' ₃ drive solenoid drive prohibition relays R ₁ to _{R 3} , so that the jump solenoid is prohibited from being driven and embroidery is enabled. When operation button PB4 is pressed, flip-flops FF ₁ to _{FF 3} are reset by the start signal and the thread breakage indicator lamp is displayed.
PL ₁ to PL ₃ are turned OFF and flip-flop FF ₄ is set to restart operation, but the flip-flop
Only the heads to be repaired held in FF' ₁ to FF' ₃ are embroidered, and the repair is thus carried out. At this time, the number of backward stitches is countered by the thread breakage detection timing pulse that is output once per revolution of the main shaft S of the sewing machine.
COUNT1 counts down and when the repair is executed for the number of backward stitches, a zero signal is generated at count value 0, and the jump solenoids SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ ,
The drive of SOL ₃ is released and all the heads H ₁ , H ₂ , H ₃ resume embroidery and return to normal embroidery work. Also, the rise of this zero signal is mono multivibrator MM ₂
, the output of the MM ₂ is a flip-flop
_FF'1 to _FF'3 are reset to release all relays _R1 to _R3 . If a thread breakage is detected and the machine stops, the reverse stitch count counter will continue to output a zero signal and the jump solenoids SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ ,
When SOL ₃ is not driven and restarted by the operation button, the mono multivibrator MM ₂ is triggered and the transferred and held flip-flops FF' ₁ to FF' ₃ are reset and the normal Resumes embroidery.

Next, the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 3 will be explained using flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, FIG. 4A shows the operating state in which only the thread trimming detection mechanism operates in FIG. 4, and FIG. 4B shows the operating state in which the empty stitching mechanism operates. FIG. 5 shows the operating state when the repair mechanism operates.

In FIG. 4A, when the operation button PB ₄ is pressed to start operation, the sewing machine drive motor M is started by the output of the flip-flop FF ₄ , and the tape reel PTR reads data for one stitch.
This tape data includes the amount of XY movement, etc. Based on this tape data, the computer CPU drives frames L ₁ and L ₂ in the XY direction using frame drive motors Mx and My.
is driven in the XY direction, and at the same time the sewing machine sews one stitch.
Next, at least one of the thread breakage detectors K ₁ , K ₂ , K ₃
Depending on whether it is turned on or the stop button PB5 is pressed, if the computer CPU says YES, it will stop the drive motor M, and if it says NO, it will determine whether the next tape data will instruct the end or not. .

If the end instruction is NO, the computer CPU
returns to reading the next tape data. If the end instruction is YES, sewing of that pattern is completed.

In Fig. 4B, to start operation, press the operation button to drive the drive motor M, the computer CPU reads data for one stitch from the tape reader PTR, and based on this tape data, the frame drive motors Mx, My The frames L ₁ and L ₂ are moved in the X and Y directions. Next, the computer CPU determines whether or not there is a blank stitch instruction mark on the tape reader PTR tape reader. If NO, the sewing machine sews one stitch, and then presses the thread breakage detector or stop button. It determines that it is ON and performs the operation as shown in Figure 4 A. In addition, if the tape data has a mark indicating the empty stitching instruction (YES), the empty stitching solenoid groups SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ , and SOL ₃ are suction driven to perform empty stitching, and after the empty stitching is completed, the solenoid group
After the suction of SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ and SOL ₃ is released, the yarn breakage is detected or the stop button is turned ON or OFF, and the operation as shown in FIG. 4A is performed in the same manner as described above.

In the flowchart shown in Figure 5, the operation of the thread trimming detection mechanism is exactly the same as a in Figure 4 A, and the operation of the empty stitching mechanism is exactly the same as b in Figure 4 B, so their explanation will be omitted. .

In FIG. 5, regardless of the simultaneous drive of the idle stitching mechanisms T,
After the sewing machine has rotated for one stitch, it is determined whether the flag _J2 of the reverse stitch counter COUNT1 is 0 or not, and if it is NO, the flip-flops FF' ₁ ', FF ₂ ' , FF ₃ ′ is reset, YES
At this time, the reverse stitch number counter COUNT1 counts down every rotation of the main shaft S of the sewing machine.

Next, when any of the thread breakage detectors detects a thread breakage, or when the stop button PB5 is turned on, at least one of the thread breakage detectors K1 is activated, unlike the case shown in Fig. ₄ above. When turned on,
The corresponding flip-flops FF ₁ , FF ₂ , FF ₃
Turn on the corresponding thread breakage indicator lamp PL ₁ , PL ₂ ,
While turning on PL ₃ , the output of OR gate OR1 drives mono multivibrator MM1, transfers the state of flip-flop FF ₁ to flip-flop FF' ₁ for inhibiting individual dry stitching, and the sewing machine main shaft S, that is, the machine, operates flip-flop FF ₄ . Stop by. As a result of this transfer, the relay _R1 of the head concerned is driven by suction, and the corresponding solenoid
Drop stitching with SOL ₁ is prohibited. Therefore,
At the moment when a thread breakage occurs, empty stitching for that head is individually prohibited.

The above is a case where the thread breakage detector K ₁ detects a thread breakage, but when the operator discovers a missing stitch that cannot be detected, the operator presses the stop button PB ₅ to stop the machine and remove the head where the stitch is missing. When the repair button PB ₁ of the head is pressed and the ON status is YES, the flip-flop FF′ ₁ for prohibiting individual free stitching is set, and the relay R ₁ individually prohibits free stitching of the head. With this, preparations for repair are complete.

Next, when the operator presses the reverse button PB ₀ , when the reverse button is ON (YES), the reverse pulse generator PG ₂
As a result, the backward stitch number counter COUNT1 counts up in steps, and at the same time, the computer CPU reads the tape data in the backward direction by one stitch, drives the idle stitch solenoids SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ , and SOL ₃ all at once, and starts frame drive. The motors Mx and My are the frames L ₁ and L ₂ in the XY direction.
Move backwards in the XY direction. After this time, the flag _J2 of the backward stitch number counter changes from 1 to 0. If you continue to press the reverse button PB ₅ , the same cycle as above will be repeated and the reverse will continue. If you turn off the reverse button PB ₅ , that is, when it is NO,
The operator presses the operation button PB ₄ and turns on the computer.
The CPU starts normal forward operation.
Whether the operation button PB ₄ is ON or not, that is, whether it is ON or not.
When YES, the sewing machine main shaft S rotates, so the reverse stitch number counter COUNT1 starts counting down.
〓〓Depending on whether the flag _J2 as its output is 0 or not, if it is NO〓〓Mono multivibrator
MM ₂ is flip-flop FF′ ₁ for individual blank stitching,
Reset FF′ ₂ and FF′ ₃ . When it is 0 (YES), it returns to normal operation again.

When the operation button PB ₄ is pressed, the thread has already been detected by the thread cutter detector K or the optional repair instruction buttons PB ₁ , PB ₂ , PB ₃
Flip-flops cannot be repaired individually by
Since relays R _{1 ,} R ₂ , and R ₃ prohibit empty stitching for the relevant head via FF' 1 , FF' ₂ , and FF' ₃ , flag J ₂ of reverse stitch number counter COUNT1 is 0. as long as
In other words, as long as the reverse motion is given, the head _K1 performs the sewing operation even though the idle stitching solenoid groups SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ , and SOL ₃ are simultaneously performing idle stitching. That is, the parts other than the head K ₂ and K ₃ are idle stitched, and only the head K ₁ performs the sewing operation for repair work. As the repair operation progresses in this way, the reverse stitch number counter COUNT1 counts down, and eventually when the flag _J2 reaches 1, the output of the mono multivibrator _MM2 causes the flip-flops FF' ₁ , FF for inhibiting individual free stitching to be activated. ′ ₂ and FF′ ₃ are reset, and at the same time, the blank stitching ends all at once. In this way, the repair work is completed, that is, the vehicle automatically enters normal operation after passing the previous reverse start point. Therefore,
As shown in Figure 6, the heads H ₁ , H ₂ , and H ₃ normally perform normal parallel sewing from t ₀ to t ₁ , and at t ₁ a thread breakage occurs in the head H ₁ and the sewing continues as it is. If the sewing machine stops at the time t ₂ , a seam will be missing in the head H ₁ between t ₁ and t ₂ . After stopping all at once at time _t2 , the embroidery frame L is simultaneously moved backwards by pressing the reverse button _PB0 to the position _t3 , that is, the beginning of the above-mentioned omission. After that, when the operation button PB ₄ is pressed, the simultaneous blank stitching continues until the point t ₄ , that is, the previous stop point, but only the head H ₁ is excluded from the simultaneous blank stitching, and sewing is executed until the point t ₄ is reached. , the point is recognized by the flag J ₂ of the backward stitch number counter COUNT1, the idle stitching state is released all at once, and thereafter each head H ₁ ,
H ₂ and H ₃ continue normal parallel sewing work.

In this case, the operator needs to thread the broken head _H1 through the needle between _t2 and _t3 .

Therefore, the missing portion of the head H ₁ is repaired, and the repair does not affect the sewing patterns of the other heads H ₂ and H ₃ at all.

In other words, each of the heads H ₁ , H ₂ , and H ₃ can repair the defects and continue to perform normal sewing.

As shown in FIG. 7, the optional head repair instruction buttons PB ₁ , PB ₂ , PB ₃ are flip-flops FF ₁ , PB 2 , PB 3 .
The same effect can be achieved by connecting to FF ₂ and FF ₃ .

As described in detail in the above embodiment, the missing stitch repair device of the multi-head automatic embroidery machine according to the present invention performs simultaneous blank stitching in which all blank stitching mechanisms of each head perform blank stitching at the same time at a preset timing. A circuit that generates a signal, a manual pushbutton means that generates an instruction signal corresponding to each of the above-mentioned heads, and an individual control for prohibiting free-stitching corresponding to each of the above-mentioned heads while the above-mentioned free stitching signal generation circuit is in operation. A circuit for inhibiting the operation of the idle stitching mechanism of the corresponding head that generated the signal, and a detection signal of the thread cutting detection circuit or an instruction signal of the instruction button means being inputted to the prohibition circuit as the idle stitching prohibition signal. It has a simple configuration equipped with a connection circuit, and can easily repair missing seams using a blank stitching mechanism.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a multi-head embroidery machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the sewing machine head of the embroidery machine shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an embroidery machine shown in Fig. 1. A control circuit diagram for automatic repair incorporated into the machine, Figures 4A and 5B are flowcharts explaining the operation of the circuit diagram in Figure 3, and Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation in Figure 5. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a modification of FIG. 3. H ₁ , H ₂ , H ₃ ... Sewing machine head, F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ ...
Embroidery frame, N ₁ , N ₂ , N ₃ ... Sewing needle, Mx, My ... Frame drive motor, K ₁ , K ₂ , K ₃ ... Thread breakage detector,
PB ₁ , PB ₂ , PB ₃ ...Repair instruction button, PB ₀ ...
Reverse button, CPU...computer, FF ₁ ,
FF ₂ , FF ₃ , FF' ₁ , FF' ₂ , FF' ₃ ... flip-flop, T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ ... blank stitching mechanism, SOL ₁ , SOL ₂ ,
SOL ₃ ...Dry sewing solenoid, _R1 , _R2 , _R3 ...Relay.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a multi-head automatic embroidery machine having multiple sets of heads, each of which is equipped with a thread breakage detection circuit and a blank stitching mechanism that interrupts sewing work, all blank stitching mechanisms of the heads are set in advance. A circuit that generates a simultaneous blank stitching signal that causes blank stitching to be performed at the same time, a manual push button means that generates an instruction signal corresponding to each of the heads, and It is equipped with a circuit that generates an individual idle stitching prohibition signal corresponding to each head and prohibits the operation of the idle stitching mechanism of the corresponding head, and the above-mentioned thread trimming detection circuit detects the idle stitching prohibition signal of the prohibition circuit. A missing stitch repair device for a multi-head automatic embroidery machine, characterized in that a signal or an instruction signal from the instruction button means is used.