JPH0880390A - Automatic embroidery machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To constitute embroidery data with single pattern data, to simplify the constitution of data for embroidery and to easily produce an embroidery pattern due to alternate sewing, by providing a frame movement control means which automatically moves an embroidery frame from the completion point of a first embroidery pattern to the start point of a second mebroidery pattern. CONSTITUTION: A pair of right and left embroidery frames 15 mounted on a holder 13 at a frame interval L are arranged on a movable frame 12 at every head part, respectively, and a holding frame 17 provided on the embroidery frame 15 removably holds embroidery cloth with the embroidery frame 15 in a stretched state. The embroidery cloth is moved by an actuator 14 for frame movement with the embroidery frame 14 and the movable frame 12, and forms the embroidery pattern on the embroidery cloth based on the data for embroidery corresponding to the needle operation of an embroidery needle. The frame interval L between right and left embroidery frames 15 is inputted to a controller in advance as numerical data, and the embroidery frame 15 is automatically frame-moved, for example, from the completion point of the embroidery pattern on the left side to the start point of the embroidery pattern on the right side when embroidery is completed in the embroidery frame 14 on the left side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to so-called "alternate stitches" of embroidery patterns that are the same or reversed on the left and right sides of an object to be embroidered (hereinafter referred to as embroidery cloth) such as socks or left and right body parts of infant clothing. The present invention relates to an automatic embroidery machine that is preferably used to realize the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an embroidery machine body having a drive source for rotationally driving a main shaft, a head portion provided on the main body of the embroidery machine for reciprocating a drive portion by the rotation of the main shaft, and an upper portion of the head portion. An embroidery needle that is provided so as to be movable downward (reciprocating) and is moved toward the embroidery cloth via a needle shaft by a drive unit of the head unit, and the embroidery machine main body located below the head unit. A pair of left and right embroidery frames that are movably provided on a base and hold the embroidery cloth in a stretched state; and a frame moving mechanism that relatively moves both the left and right embroidery frames with respect to the head portion. There is known an automatic embroidery machine including a control device that controls the drive source of the frame moving mechanism based on embroidery data to realize an embroidery pattern on the embroidery cloth.

In this kind of prior art automatic embroidery machine,
For example, when one set of embroidery on the left and right is realized by so-called "alternate stitching" with respect to an embroidery cloth that is an object to be embroidered such as socks, these embroidery cloths are respectively set on a pair of left and right embroidery frames. Hold it in the expanded state. Then, in this state, while rotating the main shaft by the drive source, the drive unit of the head unit is reciprocated, and the drive unit drives the embroidery needle in the vertical direction.
By moving the left and right embroidery frames together in the X-axis and Y-axis directions by the frame moving mechanism, the embroidery needles are moved to the embroidery cloth, and the embroidery thread is applied to each embroidery cloth by "alternate stitching". Embroidery pattern is realized by sewing.

In this case, in order to efficiently perform the "alternate stitching" on the embroidery cloth held in the stretched state on the pair of left and right embroidery frames, for example, when the embroidery is finished in the left embroidery frame. Manually operate the jog key etc. to
The frame is moved in the axial direction so that the next embroidery frame on the right side is embroidered. At this time, the left side embroidery frame that has already been embroidered is removed from the frame moving mechanism side and replaced with a new embroidery cloth again. This embroidery frame is attached to the frame moving mechanism side.

When the embroidery is completed in the right embroidery frame, the jog key or the like is manually operated again to move the entire embroidery frame in the opposite direction in the X-axis direction, and the next embroidery frame is embroidered in the left embroidery frame. At this time, while removing the right embroidery frame from the frame moving mechanism side, replacing it with a new embroidery cloth, attaching this embroidery frame again to the frame moving mechanism side, and repeating these operations in order, The "alternate stitch" is efficiently performed on the embroidery cloth.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, when embroidery patterns are realized by so-called "alternate stitching" for each embroidery cloth held in a stretched state on a pair of left and right embroidery frames. , For example, when the embroidery is completed in the left embroidery frame, the jog key or the like is manually operated to move the entire embroidery frame in the X-axis direction, and when the next embroidery is completed in the right embroidery frame, the jockey or the like is restarted. Is manually operated to move the entire embroidery frame in the opposite direction in the X-axis direction so that embroidery is performed in the next left embroidery frame. Therefore, every time embroidery is performed in the left and right embroidery frames. Since it is necessary to manually operate the jog keys and the like, there is a problem that the "alternate stitching" work becomes very troublesome work.

As another conventional technique, for example, pattern data for embroidery in the left embroidery frame and pattern data for embroidery in the right embroidery frame are stored in advance as a unit in the embroidery data. It is also known that embroidery is continuously performed in the left embroidery frame and the right embroidery frame. However, in this case, since the pattern data on the left side and the pattern data on the right side are stored as separate pattern data, the storage amount as the entire embroidery data is substantially doubled,
There is a problem in that it is necessary to increase the memory capacity of the control device and the like, and the data structure becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the present invention allows the embroidery data to be composed of a single pattern data, which can surely simplify the structure of the embroidery data and also to the left. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic embroidery machine that can easily realize an embroidery pattern by "alternate stitching" in the right embroidery frame and greatly improve the workability during "alternate stitching".

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an embroidery needle which is provided on a head portion of a main body of an embroidery machine so as to be movable up and down and is moved by a drive source toward an embroidery cloth. And a pair of left and right embroidery frames that are movably provided on the base of the main body of the embroidery machine and that hold the embroidery cloth in a stretched state, and a pair of left and right embroidery frames. A frame moving mechanism for moving the embroidery frame together with respect to the head portion, and a control device for operating and controlling the frame moving mechanism and the drive source based on embroidery data to realize an embroidery pattern on the embroidery cloth. It is applied to the automatic embroidery machine.

The feature of the configuration adopted by the invention according to claim 1 is that the control device is arranged such that the embroidery cloth held in one of the left and right embroidery frames is held by the control device. 1
And a second embroidery pattern that is the same as or reverse to the first embroidery pattern for the embroidery cloth held in the other embroidery frame. The second embroidery control means is provided, and the frame movement control means is provided for automatically moving the embroidery frames from the end point of the first embroidery pattern toward the start point of the second embroidery pattern. is there.

In this case, as in the second aspect of the present invention, when the frame movement control means realizes the second embroidery pattern by the second embroidery control means, the second embroidery pattern It is preferable that each embroidery frame is automatically moved from the end point to the start point of the first embroidery pattern.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, the frame movement control means, based on the numerical data input in advance, the end point of one of the first and second embroidery patterns. It is preferable that the respective embroidery frames are automatically moved from the other to the start point of the other embroidery pattern.

[0013]

With the above construction, in the invention described in claim 1,
Of the left and right embroidery frames, when the first embroidery control means realizes the first embroidery pattern for the embroidery cloth held in one embroidery frame, each embroidery frame is controlled by the frame movement control means. The frame is automatically moved from the end point of the first embroidery pattern to the start point of the second embroidery pattern, and thereafter, by the second embroidery control means.
A second embroidery pattern, which is the same as or reversed from the first embroidery pattern, is continuously realized with respect to the embroidery cloth held in the other embroidery frame, and so-called "alternate stitching" is substantially performed. Can be done non-stop.

In this case, when the second embroidery pattern is realized by the second embroidery control means, the first embroidery pattern starts from the end point of the second embroidery pattern. By adopting a configuration in which each of the embroidery frames is automatically moved toward the starting point of the pattern, for example, when performing embroidery in the other embroidery frame, the operator can select one embroidery frame that has already completed embroidery. By removing the embroidery cloth from the frame moving mechanism side and replacing it with a new embroidery cloth, the embroidery frame can be attached again to the frame moving mechanism side. The first embroidery pattern can be continuously realized by one embroidery control means, and the embroidery by the "alternate stitch" can be repeated a plurality of times.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 3, by preliminarily inputting the interval between the left and right embroidery frames as numerical data, each embroidery frame can be automatically moved, and Each embroidery frame can be continuously (automatically) moved from the end point of one embroidery pattern to the start point of the other embroidery pattern with a movement amount based on the numerical data.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An automatic embroidery machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an embroidery machine main body which constitutes a main body of a multi-head embroidery machine. The embroidery machine main body 1 is provided with a support base 2 as a base, and extends horizontally on the support base 2. And a head holder 3 to which each head portion 7 described later is attached, and an illuminator 4 is provided above the head holder 3. Further, on the upper side of the support base 2, a plurality of bobbin bobbins wound with bobbin threads are located below the respective embroidery frames 15 which will be described later, and below the needle plate (neither is shown). It is located in.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a main shaft motor as a drive source provided on the support base 2. The main shaft motor 5 rotationally drives a main shaft 6 extending in the left-right direction on the support base 2 through the main shaft 6. The embroidery needles 10, which will be described later, are reciprocated up and down by operating the drive parts of the head parts 7.

Reference numerals 7, 7, ... Show a plurality of head portions which are located on the support base 2 and are arranged in a row on the head holder 3 at predetermined intervals. The head portions 7 are attached to the head holder 3, respectively. A drive unit (not shown) for driving each embroidery needle 10 up and down by rotation of the main shaft 6 and a selection of an embroidery thread (upper thread) are provided in each head body 8. An actuator 9 for changing colors (see FIG. 3) and the like are provided.

Denoted by 10 are a plurality of embroidery needles projecting downward from the head body 8 of the head portion 7. Each of the embroidery needles 10 has a different color of embroidery thread (upper needle). Thread) is attached. Each of the embroidery needles 10 is selectively driven by the driving unit through the color changing actuator 9 and is moved toward the embroidery cloth to execute embroidery using the embroidery thread of a desired color.

Reference numerals 11, 11, ... Depict upper thread guide portions for embroidery threads provided on the upper side of each head portion 7. On the back side of each upper thread guide portion 11, embroidery threads of a plurality of colors are respectively provided. A bobbin table (none of which is shown) for mounting a plurality of wound upper thread bobbins is provided.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a moving frame which is positioned below each head portion 7 and is movably provided on the support base 2. The moving frame 12 has a pair of left and right sides as shown in FIG. Holder 13,
A plurality of sets 13 are provided corresponding to each head portion 7, and each of the holders 13 is detachably attached with each embroidery frame 15 described later. The moving frame 12 constitutes a frame moving mechanism together with the frame moving actuator 14 shown in FIG. 3, and each embroidery frame 15 is mounted on the support base 2 by the frame moving actuator 14.
With it, it is moved in the X and Y directions. The frame moving actuators 14 are composed of X-axis and Y-axis motors, which are electric motors such as stepping motors.

Reference numerals 15 and 15 denote a pair of left and right embroidery frames attached to each holder 13 with a frame interval L. The embroidery frames 15 are paired with the moving frame 12 for each head portion 7. It is provided and is detachably attached to each holder 13 by an attracting portion 16 made of a permanent magnet or the like. Also,
A holding frame 17 having a substantially oval shape is detachably provided on each embroidery frame 15, and each holding frame 17 holds an embroidery cloth (not shown), which is an embroidery object such as socks, on each embroidery frame 15. Hold it in the expanded state. Then, these embroidery cloths are moved in the X and Y directions together with the embroidery frames 15 and the moving frames 12 by the frame moving actuator 14, and at this time, each embroidery cloth is used for embroidery according to the movement of each embroidery needle 10. A predetermined embroidery pattern is formed (realized) based on the data.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation section provided on the support base 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation section 18 has a display 19 which is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and a lower side of the display 19. Is provided with, for example, six soft keys 20 arranged in a row to form a so-called interactive key, a numeric keypad 21 and a jog key 22 arranged below the soft key 20 for inputting numerical values, and the jog key 22 is When manually operated by the operator, the frame moving actuator 14 is operated to move the moving frame 12 (each embroidery frame 1
5) is moved in the X and Y directions by a movement amount according to the operation time.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a control device provided in the main body 1 of the embroidery machine, the control device including a microcomputer.
3, the input side is connected to a start / stop switch 24, a numeric keypad 21, a soft key 20, a jog key 22, a floppy disk device 25, etc., as shown in FIG.
On the output side, the spindle motor 5, the frame moving actuator 14,
Color changing actuator 9, jump solenoid 26,
The display 19 and the floppy disk device 25 are connected.

Here, the floppy disk device 25 is for reading or writing embroidery data or the like stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk. The jump solenoid 26 is composed of a rotary solenoid or the like, and when the color changing actuator 9 changes the color of the embroidery thread or when the embroidery needle 10 jumps over a predetermined movement amount (for example, 12.7 mm), The engagement between the drive portion of the head portion 7 and each embroidery needle 10 side is temporarily released, and at this time, the embroidery needle 10 is held above the support base 2 in the hand movement stopped state.

The control device 23 stores the programs shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in its storage circuit, and in addition to the external data reading process from the floppy disk device 25, for example, an embroidery pattern by "alternate stitching". In order to realize the above, the spindle motor 5, the frame moving actuator 14, the color changing actuator 9 and the jump solenoid 26
The sewing machine drive control processing for controlling the operation of the sewing machine is performed. Further, in the storage circuit of the control device 23, in its storage area 22A, various menu contents appropriately selected by the soft keys 20 and standard values L0 of frame intervals are set.
Etc. are stored so that they can be updated.

The multi-head automatic embroidery machine according to this embodiment has the above-mentioned structure. Next, for example, a control device 23 for performing "alternate sewing" on an embroidery object (embroidery cloth) such as socks. The sewing machine drive control process by the method will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, when the processing operation is started, the soft key 20 is operated in step 1 to select "alternate stitching" from the menu, and the process proceeds to step 2 where the number of repetitions C for actually performing "alternate stitching" is set to the ten key 21. Due to

[0030]

## EQU1 ## When C = CA, a predetermined number of times CA (CA = 1, 2, 3, ... N) is numerically input.

Next, in step 3, of the pair of left and right embroidery frames 15, 15, the left embroidery frame 15 and the right embroidery frame 1
5, it is determined whether or not to reverse the embroidery pattern. If not, the process proceeds to step 4, and the soft key 20 corresponding to the “NO key” is pressed. Press the soft key 20 corresponding to the "YES key".

Then, in step 6, it is judged whether or not the interval between the left and right embroidery frames 15 matches the standard value L0 stored in advance in the storage area 23A. Go to step 7 and press the soft key 20 corresponding to the “YES key”. If they do not match, move to step 8 and enter the numerical value corresponding to the actual frame interval L (see FIG. 2) using the ten keys 21. Then change the frame interval.

Next, in step 9 shown in FIG. 5, the jog key 22 is operated to move the moving frame 12 (each embroidery frame 1) to a start point when an embroidery pattern is created in the left embroidery frame 15, for example.
5) Move the frame in the X and Y directions. And step 1
When the soft key 20 corresponding to the start key is pressed at 0, the process proceeds to step 11 to execute the embroidery in the left embroidery frame 15, and the operation control of the spindle motor 5, the frame moving actuator 14, etc. is performed based on the embroidery data. While moving the embroidery cloth together with each embroidery frame 15, the embroidery needle 1 is moved toward each head portion 7 side.
By moving 0, the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data is realized on the embroidery cloth held in the stretched state in the left embroidery frame 15.

Then, in step 12, the left embroidery frame 1
It is determined whether or not the creation of the embroidery pattern is completed within 5, and "N
When it is determined to be "O", the process of step 11 is continued, and when it is determined to be "YES", the process proceeds to step 13 and, for example, the jump solenoid 26 or the like is operated to temporarily stop the movement of each embroidery needle 10. Then, the automatic frame movement for the frame interval L is performed. By this automatic frame movement, the moving frame 12 (each embroidery frame 1) is moved from the end point of the embroidery pattern in the left embroidery frame 15 toward the start point of the right embroidery pattern.
5) Move the frame in the X and Y directions.

Next, in step 14, the right embroidery frame 15
It is determined whether or not the embroidery pattern created inside is a pattern that is the reverse of the embroidery pattern inside the left embroidery frame 15. If the pattern is a reverse pattern, the process proceeds to step 15 and the embroidery data is inverted. I do. When the determination is “YES” in step 14, since the patterns are the same, the process proceeds to step 16 without performing the inversion calculation, and the embroidery is executed in the embroidery frame 15 on the right side.
The embroidery pattern having the same pattern or a reverse pattern based on the embroidery data is realized on the embroidery cloth held in the expanded state in the right embroidery frame 15 until it is determined as “YES” (end) in step 17.

Then, if "YES" is determined in the step 17, the process moves to a step 18 and the automatic frame movement for the frame interval L is performed in the opposite direction, and from the end point of the embroidery pattern in the right embroidery frame 15. The moving frame 12 (each embroidery frame 15) is moved in the X and Y directions toward the start point of the next left embroidery pattern.

Next, at step 19, the number of repetitions "C" of the "alternate sewing" is changed to

[0038]

[Formula 2] C ← C−1, the number of repetitions C is subtracted by one, and step 20
Then, it is determined whether the number of repetitions C has become zero (C = 0). Then, by repeating the processing from step 11 onward until it is judged "YES" in step 20,
The "alternate sewing" is repeated for the predetermined number of times CA set in step 2 above.

At this time, the operator is made to perform the detaching work of each embroidery frame 15 in order. For example, when the right embroidery frame 15 is being embroidered, the left embroidery frame 15 which has already been embroidered is moved. While detaching from the holder 13 of the frame 12 via the suction portion 16, the embroidery frame 15 is replaced with a new embroidery cloth and the embroidery frame 15 is attached to the holder 13 of the moving frame 12 via the suction portion 16 again. When the embroidery is being performed in the left embroidery frame 15, the right embroidery frame 15, which has already been embroidered, is removed from the holder 13 of the moving frame 12 via the suction portion 16 and replaced with a new embroidery cloth. The embroidery frame 15 is again attached to the holder 13 of the moving frame 12 via the suction portion 16, and these operations are repeated in order to efficiently perform "alternate stitching" on a large number of embroidery cloths. There is.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the embroidery is completed in the left embroidery frame 15, for example, by previously inputting the frame interval L between the left and right embroidery frames 15 as numerical data. At this time, each embroidery frame 15 (the entire moving frame 12) can be automatically moved from the end point of the left embroidery pattern to the start point of the right embroidery pattern, and manually using the jog key 22 as in the prior art. It is not necessary to move the frame by operation, and an embroidery pattern by "alternate stitch" can be easily realized in each of the left and right embroidery frames 15, and workability at the time of "alternate stitch" can be greatly improved.

By inputting the number of repetitions C of "alternate stitching" as the predetermined number of times CA, the "alternate stitching" can be automatically repeated by the predetermined number of times CA. It is possible to effectively improve workability when performing "alternate stitching".

Further, of the pair of left and right embroidery frames 15, whether or not to reverse the embroidery pattern between the left embroidery frame 15 and the right embroidery frame 15 is set in advance.
In the right embroidery frames 15 and 15, the same pattern or a reverse pattern can be continuously created (realized) on each embroidery cloth, and the left and right embroidery patterns can be created by a single pattern data as embroidery data. As a result, the structure of the embroidery data can be surely simplified, and various effects are achieved, such as eliminating the need to increase the capacity of the memory provided in the control device 23.

In the embodiment, step 11 and step 12 of the program shown in FIG. 5 are specific examples of the first embroidery control means which is a constituent feature of the present invention.
Steps 13 and 18 are specific examples of the frame movement control means, and steps 14 to 17 are specific examples of the second embroidery control means.

Further, in the above embodiment, the left and right embroidery frames 1
The frame interval L between 5 and 15 is stored in advance as the standard value L0, and the frame interval L is numerically input and changed by the numeric keypad 21 as necessary, but instead of this, for example, the jog key 22 is used. The frame interval L may be set in advance, and based on this, the frame may be automatically moved from the end point of one embroidery pattern toward the start point of the other embroidery pattern.

[0045]

As described in detail above, according to the invention described in claim 1, the first embroidery control is performed on the embroidery cloth held in one of the left and right embroidery frames. First by means
When the embroidery pattern is realized, the frame movement control means automatically moves the frame from the end point of the first embroidery pattern to the start point of the second embroidery pattern, and at the same time, the first embroidery pattern. Since the second embroidery pattern, which is the same as or opposite to the pattern, is continuously realized by the second embroidery control means with respect to the embroidery cloth held in the other embroidery frame, the so-called “alternate pattern” is used. The embroidery by "sew" can be continuously performed non-stop, and the frame movement by the manual operation using the jog key etc. is not required as in the prior art, and the "alternate stitch" is performed in the left and right embroidery frames. The embroidery pattern can be easily realized, and the workability at the time of "alternate stitching" can be greatly improved.

In the left and right embroidery frames, the same pattern or reverse pattern can be continuously created (realized) on each embroidery cloth.
The left and right embroidery patterns can be created by a single pattern data as the embroidery data, and the structure of the embroidery data can be surely simplified by this, and the capacity of the memory provided in the control device can be made as small as possible. can do.

In this case, when the second embroidery pattern is realized by the second embroidery control means, the first embroidery pattern starts from the end point of the second embroidery pattern. With the structure in which each of the embroidery frames is automatically moved toward the starting point of the pattern, the first embroidery control means sets the first embroidery control means for the embroidery cloth exchanged and held in one of the embroidery frames again. One embroidery pattern can be continuously realized, and embroidery by "alternate stitching" can be repeated a plurality of times.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 3, by preliminarily inputting the interval between the left and right embroidery frames as numerical data, each embroidery frame can be automatically moved, and Various effects can be obtained such that each embroidery frame can be continuously (automatically) moved from the end point of one embroidery pattern to the start point of the other embroidery pattern with the amount of movement based on the numerical data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a multi-head automatic embroidery machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing left and right embroidery frames provided on the moving frame in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing a control device and the like of the multi-head automatic embroidery machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a sewing machine drive control process by “alternate stitch”.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart following FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Embroidery machine main body 2 Support base (base) 5 Spindle motor (drive source) 7 Head part 10 Embroidery needle 12 Moving frame 14 Frame moving actuator (frame moving mechanism) 15 Embroidery frame 16 Adsorption part 18 Operation part 21 Numeric keypad 22 Jog key 23 Control device L frame interval

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An embroidery needle which is provided on a head portion of an embroidery machine body so as to be movable up and down and is moved by a drive source toward an embroidery cloth, and the embroidery machine body located below the head portion. And a pair of left and right embroidery frames for movably holding the embroidery cloth in a stretched state, and a frame moving mechanism for moving the left and right embroidery frames together with respect to the head portion. When,
An automatic embroidery machine comprising: a control device that controls the frame moving mechanism and the drive source based on embroidery data to realize an embroidery pattern on the embroidery cloth.
Of the left and right embroidery frames, first embroidery control means for realizing a first embroidery pattern on the embroidery cloth held in one embroidery frame, and embroidery held in the other embroidery frame. Second embroidery control means for realizing a second embroidery pattern that is the same as or reverse to the first embroidery pattern on the cloth; and a second embroidery pattern from the end point of the first embroidery pattern. And a frame movement control means for automatically moving each of the embroidery frames toward the starting point of the automatic embroidery machine. 2. The frame movement control means changes from an end point of the second embroidery pattern to a start point of the first embroidery pattern when the second embroidery pattern is realized by the second embroidery control means. The automatic embroidery machine according to claim 1, wherein the embroidery frames are automatically moved toward each other. 3. The frame movement control means moves from the end point of one embroidery pattern to the start point of the other embroidery pattern of the first and second embroidery patterns based on previously input numerical data. The automatic embroidery machine according to claim 1, wherein the embroidery frames are automatically moved.