JPH04166189A - Detecting device for remaining bobbin thread of sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the equipment of high wide-usability without limiting the use of a sewing machine by arranging a remainder detecting means for detecting the remaining quantity of the bobbin thread of the sewing machine, and a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the bobbin thread remainder detected with a remaining quantity detecting means becomes a specified quantity or lower. CONSTITUTION:When a needle 22 is set at a specified needle position, then the peripheral walls of an internal shuttle 25 and a bobbin case 26 are provided with openings 28, 29 confronted with the notched section 24b of an external shuttle 24, and then, at the specified needle position, a passage for enabling the interior and exterior of a shuttle section 23 to be communicated with each other through the notched section 24b and the openings 28, 29 is previously formed, and a bobbin thread C wound up on a bobbin 27 through the passage is irradiated with light, and through its reflection light, a bobbin thread remainder is contrived to be detected by a bobbin thread remaining quantity sensor 3. Besides, the bobbin thread remaining quantity sensor 3 is composed of a light-emitting element 31 for irradiating the bobbin thread C with the light, and two photodetectors 32, 33 for receiving reflection light from the bobbin thread C, and is fixed at a position confronted with the openings 28, 29 on the periphery of the shuttle section 23 via a bearing body 34.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention detects the remaining amount of bobbin thread in a sewing machine, and when the remaining bobbin thread amount becomes less than a predetermined amount, it notifies the outside. The present invention relates to a bobbin thread remaining amount detection device for a sewing machine.

[Prior Art] The following two types of devices have been proposed as devices for detecting the amount of bobbin thread remaining in sewing machines.

(1) A device configured to detect the remaining amount of bobbin thread in a sewing machine, and to issue an alarm with a buzzer, blinking lamp, etc. when the detected amount of bobbin thread remaining falls below a predetermined amount.

(2) A device configured to detect the amount of bobbin thread remaining in the sewing machine and forcibly stop the sewing machine when the detected amount of bobbin thread remaining falls below a predetermined amount.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional bobbin thread remaining amount detection device that notifies the user of a decrease in the remaining bobbin thread amount either by giving a warning or by stopping the sewing machine, the device automatically detects the amount of bobbin thread remaining according to a preset procedure. When installed in a so-called automatic sewing machine that performs sewing, there are the following problems.

In other words, if a sewing machine equipped with the bobbin thread remaining detecting device (1) above is used in a sewing factory or the like where a single worker only changes sewing setups and operates many sewing machines simultaneously, If an alarm occurs on another sewing machine while a worker is changing the setup of a sewing machine, he or she must stop the work and stop the sewing machine that is generating the alarm, which reduces work efficiency. There is a problem with becoming.

On the other hand, in a sewing machine equipped with the bobbin thread remaining l detection device described in (2) above, the sewing machine is forcibly stopped when the bobbin thread remaining amount decreases. After replacing the bobbin with the bobbin and adding thread, it is necessary to return the sewing machine to sewing operation. For example, if you are performing sewing work such as stitching, where the quality deteriorates when thread is repeated, There is a problem in that the thread cannot be spliced and cannot be used for such sewing work.

In other words, the conventional bobbin thread remaining amount detection device limits the applications of the sewing machine on which it is mounted, and lacks versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bobbin thread remaining amount detection device for a sewing machine that does not limit the uses of the sewing machine as described above, in other words, is highly versatile.

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the bobbin thread remaining amount detecting device of the present invention, which has been made to achieve this object, detects the remaining bobbin thread amount of the sewing machine, as illustrated in FIG. A remaining amount detecting means, a determining means for determining whether the remaining amount of bobbin thread detected by the remaining amount detecting means has become less than a predetermined amount, and an external device that determines whether the remaining amount of the bobbin thread has become less than a predetermined amount. a warning means for issuing a warning to the effect; a stop means for stopping the sewing operation of the sewing machine; a designation means for specifying from the outside whether or not to operate the warning means and the stop means, respectively; The present invention is characterized by comprising a warning/stop control means that operates the warning means and the stop means, respectively, in accordance with the designated state of the designated means when it is determined that the remaining amount of yarn is below a predetermined amount. .

[Function] In the bobbin thread remaining amount detection device of the present invention configured as described above, the remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of bobbin thread in the sewing machine, and the determining means detects the detected bobbin thread amount. Remaining amount is set.”
Determine whether the following has occurred. When this determination means determines that the remaining amount of bobbin thread is below a predetermined amount,
When the warning/stop control means is activated and it is specified that the warning means is to be activated from the outside via the designated means,
If the warning means generates a warning that the remaining amount of bobbin thread is less than a predetermined amount, and the stop means is specified to be operated from the outside via the designated means, the stop means stops the sewing machine. Stop sewing operation.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the bobbin thread remaining amount detection device of the sewing machine according to the embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the bobbin thread remaining l detection device of the present embodiment is a remaining amount detecting means that is installed near each part of the sewing machine and detects the remaining amount of bobbin thread wound around the bobbin stored in each part. a bobbin thread remaining amount sensor 3, a warning device 5 serving as a warning means for notifying the outside by generating a warning sound that the bobbin thread remaining amount is below a predetermined amount; The changeover switch 7 serves as a means for externally specifying the notification mode when the amount of bobbin thread remaining is below a predetermined amount and the notification to that effect is notified externally. A return switch 9 for inputting a return command is connected to each of the above parts, and a warning control processing package is executed for detecting that the remaining amount of bobbin thread has become less than a predetermined amount and notifying the outside. Warning control device]

Note that the warning control device 11 has CPtJ12. ROM13,
RAM14. Input/output port]5. It is constituted by a well-known microcomputer including a data bus 16 etc. that connect these parts. Further, a sewing machine motor control device M is connected to the warning control device]1 via an input/output port]5, and the warning control device 11 inputs a sewing machine stop command signal to the sewing machine motor control device M. , stop the sewing machine.

- In the used book embodiment, as a notification form for notifying the outside that the remaining amount of bobbin thread has become less than a predetermined amount, a first notification form is performed by only outputting a stop command signal to the sewing machine motor control device M, that is, stopping the sewing machine. A second notification form in which only the warning sound from the warning device 5 is used, and a third notification form in which the sewing machine stops and the warning sound is generated are preset. A switch having three switching positions 7A, 7B, and 7C is used so that the notification format can be selected from among the first to third notification formats.

Next, the structure of the bobbin thread remaining amount sensor 3 and its assembly to the sewing machine will be explained with reference to FIG.

As is well known, in the bed 2 of the sewing machine there is a hook section 23 that passes through the side plate 2]a and works with a peg 22 that can move up and down to catch the upper thread A and form a lock stitch on the workpiece cloth B. It is arranged. The hook portion 23 includes an outer hook 24 that can rotate in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle 22, and the outer hook 24 has a tip 24a and a notch 2.
4b is formed. An inner hook 25 is held in a stationary state within the outer hook 24. A bobbin case 26 is removably positioned and mounted in the housing portion 25a of the inner hook 25. Inside the bobbin case 26, there is a hollow shaft portion 27a around which the bobbin thread C is wound, and a pair of flanges 27 provided at both ends of the hollow shaft portion 27a.
A bobbin 27 consisting of b is detachably and rotatably mounted.

Therefore, the bobbin thread remaining amount sensor 3 of this embodiment has an opening in the peripheral wall of the inner hook 25 and the bobbin case 26 that faces the notch 24b of the outer hook 24 when the needle 22 is at a predetermined needle position (for example, the counting position). By providing 28 and 29, a passage is formed in advance at a predetermined needle position through the notch 24b and the openings 28 and 29 to allow communication between the inside and outside of the hook part 23, and the needle is wound around the bobbin 27 through this passage. The lower thread C is irradiated with light, and the remaining amount of the lower thread is detected from the reflected light.

That is, the bobbin thread remaining amount sensor 3 of this embodiment includes one light emitting element 3 for irradiating light to the bobbin thread C, and two light receiving elements 32 and 33 for receiving reflected light from the bobbin thread C. The above-mentioned opening 2 around the trough 23 is connected to the opening 2 through the support 34.
It is fixed at a position opposite to 8.29. Note that the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving elements 32 and 33 are each covered by a case 35 and 36 having a light transmitting part at the tip. Further, a lens is integrally provided at the tip of each of the elements 31 to 33.

In the bobbin thread remaining amount sensor 3 of this embodiment configured as described above, when the light emitting element 31 is driven, sporamil light is emitted toward the bobbin 27 within the striped portion 23. The notch 2 of the outer pot 24 corresponds to
4b is each opening 28.2 of the inner pot 25 and bobbin case 26.
9, the spot light from the light emitting element 3 passes through the notch 24b and the openings 28 and 29 and is irradiated onto the bobbin thread C wound around the bobbin 27. .29 and the light receiving element 32. through the notch 24b.
33. Then, each of the light receiving elements 32 and 33 inputs a detection signal corresponding to the amount of input light to the warning control device through an amplifier circuit (not shown).

Therefore, the warning control device] is the notch 24b.

By driving the light emitting element 3] at a predetermined needle position where the inside and outside of the hook portion 23 are communicated through the openings 28 and 29, a spot light is generated from the light emitting element 31, and at this time, spot light is generated from each of the light receiving elements 32 and 33. The remaining amount of the bobbin thread C is detected from the ratio of the output detection signals.

The reason why the remaining amount of the bobbin thread C can be detected from the ratio of the detection signals of the two light receiving elements 32 and 33 is as follows.

That is, first, as shown in FIG.
], and when the detected part P is located at the two-dot chain line position which is further away from the solid line position with respect to the light emitting element 31, the detected part P of the spot light emitted by the light emitting element 31 is The reflection angle due to part P changes. Due to this change in the reflection angle, the incident position of the reflected light on each light receiving element 32, 33 changes, and this change in the incident position causes each light receiving element 32.
The ratio of the input light amount changes by 33 degrees, and each light receiving element 32
．． This appears as a change in the ratio of the detection signal output from 33. Therefore, by determining the ratio of the detection signals output from each light receiving element 32, 33, the remaining amount of the bobbin thread can be accurately detected. For details of this detection principle, etc., please refer to
Since it is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-134]9], further explanation will be omitted here.

Next, the warning control process executed by the warning control device 1 which detects the remaining amount of bobbin thread using the remaining amount of bobbin thread sensor 3 as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in the figure, when this warning control process is started, first
], the bobbin thread remaining amount sensor 3 is driven as described above to detect the bobbin thread remaining amount X, and in continuation <82, the detected bobbin thread remaining amount X is less than or equal to a preset predetermined amount XO. Determine whether or not. If the bobbin thread remaining amount X exceeds the predetermined amount x 0, the process returns to S] and repeatedly detects the bobbin thread remaining amount X. If there is, move on to continuation <33.

In S3, it is determined whether the changeover switch 7 is in the 7A position, that is, whether the notification mode [1], which indicates that the remaining amount of bobbin thread has become less than a predetermined amount by only stopping the sewing machine, is specified. It is determined that the changeover switch 7 is in the 7A position.
If so, the process proceeds to S4, where a stop command signal for instructing the sewing machine motor control device M to stop the sewing machine motor is outputted to stop the sewing machine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S3 that the changeover position of the changeover switch 7 is not set to 7A, the process moves to S5 and checks whether the changeover position of the changeover switch 7 is set to 7B, that is, the remaining bobbin thread amount. It is determined whether or not a second notification form is specified, in which only a warning sound from the warning device 5 is used to notify that the amount has fallen below a predetermined amount.

If the changeover position of the changeover switch 7 is set to 7B, the process moves to S6 to drive the warning device 5 to generate a warning sound, and conversely, if the changeover position of the changeover switch 7 is not set to 7B, that is, When the selector switch 7 is in the 7C position and the third notification mode is specified, which indicates that the remaining amount of bobbin thread is below a predetermined amount by both stopping the sewing machine and generating a warning sound. , in S7, a stop command signal is output in color to instruct the sewing machine motor control device M to stop the sewing machine motor, and the sewing machine is stopped.
The warning device 5 is driven to generate a warning sound.

And like this S4. When the process of S6 or S7 is executed, the process moves to S8, where it is determined whether the return switch 9 is in the ON state, waits for the user to operate the return switch 9, and then the return switch is turned on. 9 is turned on, the process moves to the subsequent S9, where the output of the stop command signal and the driving of the warning device 5 are stopped, a return process is executed to return the sewing machine to the normal state, and the process moves again to S].

In this embodiment, the processing in S2 corresponds to the above-mentioned determination means, the processing in 83 to S7 corresponds to the warning/stop control means, respectively, and the processing in S4 or S7 corresponds to the stop command signal for the sewing machine motor. The sewing machine motor control device M, which stops the sewing machine motor in response to this, corresponds to the above-mentioned stopping means.

As explained above, in the bobbin thread remaining amount detecting device of the present embodiment, when the bobbin thread remaining amount is below a predetermined amount, if the changeover switch 7 is at the switching position 7A, the sewing machine motor is stopped; If the change-over switch 7 is in the 7B position, the warning device 5 generates a warning sound, and if the change-over switch 7 is in the 70 position, the sewing machine motor is stopped and the warning sound is generated at the same time.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to determine whether to notify the outside that the remaining amount of bobbin thread has fallen below a predetermined amount by a warning sound, by stopping the operation of the sewing machine, or by both. , it becomes possible to arbitrarily set the setting according to the usage status of the sewing machine, resulting in a highly versatile bobbin thread remaining amount detection device.

In the above embodiment, the warning device 5 is one that emits a warning sound, but the present invention can also be applied to a device that issues a warning by flashing a lamp or the like to obtain the same effect as described above. can.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, when the remaining amount of bobbin thread becomes less than a predetermined amount, an alarm is issued to the outside via the specifying means, or the sewing machine is stopped. Do it by
Since it is possible to specify from the outside whether the sewing machine should use both methods, it is possible to notify that the amount of bobbin thread remaining has fallen below a predetermined amount in a form that suits the purpose of the sewing machine.
It becomes possible to provide a highly versatile bobbin thread remaining amount detection device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the bobbin thread remaining amount detection device of the sewing machine according to the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the bobbin thread remaining amount sensor and the connection to the sewing machine. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the remaining bobbin thread amount by the bobbin thread remaining amount sensor. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the warning control process executed by the warning control device. It is.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of bobbin thread in the sewing machine, and determining means for determining whether the remaining amount of bobbin thread detected by the remaining amount detecting means is below a predetermined amount. a warning means for issuing an external warning that the remaining amount of bobbin thread is below a predetermined amount; a stopping means for stopping the sewing operation of the sewing machine; and whether or not the warning means and the stopping means are operated from the outside. When the determining means determines that the remaining amount of bobbin thread is below a predetermined amount, the warning means and the stopping means are operated respectively according to the specified state of the specifying means. A bobbin thread remaining amount detection device for a sewing machine, characterized in that it is equipped with a warning/stop control means for causing a warning and a stop.