WO2008135264A1

WO2008135264A1 - Sewing machine with a switching device

Info

Publication number: WO2008135264A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/003592
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark-Arno Weimann; Horst Ullmert
Original assignee: Pfaff Industrie Maschinen Ag
Priority date: 2007-05-08
Filing date: 2008-05-05
Publication date: 2008-11-13
Also published as: EP2212458B1; DE102007022049A1; EP2212458A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sewing machine with a switching device which has multiple function keys which can be activated, by means of which machine functions of the sewing machine can be activated and/or deactivated, wherein an actuation element is provided which is variable with regard to the activation and/or deactivation function thereof and on which at least one function of the function keys can be placed and removed. The invention makes possible a simpler operation in the use of the switching device. In addition, a greater variability in the optimal operating arrangement of the functionally variable actuation element should result. For this purpose, the invention proposes that a device for the recording of program logic be arranged between the function keys and the at least one actuation element, and said device communicates not only with the actuation element but also with the function keys and assigns to at least one actuation element one or more machine functions, by means of program logic, in accordance with actuation events of the function keys.

Description

Sewing machine with a switch device

The invention relates to a sewing machine with a switch device having a plurality of near-range arranged operable function keys, by means of which functions of the sewing machine can be activated and / or deactivated, with respect to its activatable and / or deactivatable function variable actuator is provided, the at least one machine function of the function keys is assignable.

On sewing machines, it may be necessary or advantageous to turn certain functions of the sewing machine on or off as quickly as possible. Such functions may be, for example, "needle up", "edge cutter on / off" or "single stitch", as well as other functions that the operator of the sewing machine should be able to access as quickly as possible The control panel of a sewing machine, with which, as a rule, a very large number of operating and setting processes can be carried out via the machine control system, appears less suitable for this purpose: Such a control panel is usually at a distance from the sewing area, ie not in that area in which the sewing material In addition, the control panel is often cluttered due to a variety of possible settings and less suitable for quick operation during the sewing process.

Therefore, solutions are already known in which a group of actuatable functional elements are arranged on the sewing machines, with which predetermined functions of the sewing machine can be activated and deactivated. Such a solution is already known from DE 10 2004 057 332 A1. Here functions of the machine can be placed on a remote from the functional elements, variable in its function, single actuator in the sewing area. The callable as a special key actuator on which the functions of the functional elements are laid, is arranged on a common mechanical support with the functional elements. The mechanical support is in turn attached to the housing arm of the sewing machine. In order to activate or deactivate this To put functions on a special key in addition to the said mechanical elements and the variable actuator to be actuated, which is designed as a pivotable about an axis of rotation mechanical lever. In addition, grub screws, socket pins or other plug-in or rotatable mechanical elements must be brought into a specific position. In its actuated position, the lever then makes an electrical contact due to its pivotal movement, thereby closing a circuit, which can be perceived by the machine control as operating the variable actuator.

However, in the solution of DE 10 2004 057 332 A1, the non-existent flexibility in the arrangement of the variable actuating element in an operating-optimum position can be regarded as disadvantageous. In addition, the handling of the prior art switch device during use of the sewing machine, each requiring a plug-in or rotary actuation of screws, from an ergonomic point of view also not optimal. Finally, the assembly of the switch device requires a relatively high effort, since a lever switch and a large number of leading to the machine control lines are to be mounted.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a possibility in a sewing machine with a switch device of the type mentioned, through which a simpler handling when using the switch device is possible. Preferably, a faster operation of the sewing machine is to be possible by an improved switch means. According to a further aspect, a greater variability for the optimal operation arrangement of the functionally variable with respect to its actuator should result.

This object is achieved in a sewing machine of the type mentioned in the present invention that between the function keys and the at least one actuator a means for receiving program logic is arranged, which is provided both for communication with the actuator and with the function keys and the program logic and assigns one or more machine functions to the at least one actuator in response to actuations of the function keys. By the Program logic can be avoided in an advantageous manner hand-operated elements such as socket and grub screws to be closed by the electrical contacts.

It is therefore preferred if the at least one actuating element free of mechanical contact switches or other plug-in or rotary actuation elements is assignable exclusively via means for electronic data communication with functions of the function keys. By means of data communication can be understood both a wired and a wireless data communication, for example a variety of wireless technologies or a data transmission using optical means. A particularly advantageous flexibility in the optimal operation arrangement of the at least one functionally variable actuating element is obtained in particular if at least a majority of the function keys on a carrier, in particular on a first board, are summarized as a function keypad and the at least one actuating element on another carrier, in particular a second board - is arranged as the support of the keypad. This aspect of the physical layout of the at least one operating element and the function keys can also have independent significance.

Unlike in DE 10 2004 057 332 A1, according to the invention, no mechanical closing of a circuit by means of a lever or by means of a manual rotation of set screws is required on the communication path of function keys to the at least one actuating element or in the reverse direction. According to the invention, the assignment of machine functions to at least one variable actuator by means of function keys with the aid of hardware and / or software in the switch device on the communication path between the function keys and the actuator implemented program logic implemented.

Such a program logic, ie a predetermined or predeterminable function assignment and preferably visualization of electrical signals can be contained, for example, in an integrated circuit, in particular in a microcontroller, with respect to the communication path between the function keys and the at least one actuating element is arranged. It is particularly advantageous if the integrated circuit is programmable, as is easily achievable with microcontrollers. Due to a new or reprogramming, this makes it possible at any time to make a change from the machine functions assigned to the function keys, execution sequences of machine sequences, switch-on instructions of visual display means and / or other reactions.

It is preferred if at least one or more of the functions associated with the function keys, preferably all of their functions, despite a (temporary) assignment of at least one of these functions on the at least one actuator, or the at least one special key, continue by pressing the function keys are triggerable. This means that in such preferred embodiments by pressing the corresponding function key, either the corresponding machine function is switched on and / or off. In particular, for those cases in which functions of several function keys are placed on the actuating element, these functions can also be separately activated or deactivated.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, both the function keys and the functionally variable actuating element are thus connected to a microcontroller which interprets signals of the function keys and of the actuating element and triggers operations based thereon, for example the assignment or removal of machine functions to or from the functional elements and / or the actuator, which may also be referred to as programming. In addition, it can be provided that the microcontroller based on display elements, such as light emitting diodes (LED) on or off, for example, to signal a specific programming and / or activation or deactivation of machine functions. A particularly low installation effort results here when the microcontroller and the function keys are arranged on a common carrier, in particular a circuit board. Both the speed with which generated data can be processed, as well as the mounting situation can be further improved if the microcontroller is designed as separate from a main controller of the sewing machine electronic component and / or communicates over a multi-wire bus with the machine control. In particular, this reduces the wiring effort and relieves the load on the main controller of the sewing machine. In addition, the integration of intelligent and self-sufficient functional components is more easily possible.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the description and the drawings.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown purely schematically in the figures, in which:

1 shows a sewing machine with a switch device according to the invention for activating or deactivating machine functions;

2 shows a possible circuit arrangement for the switch device from FIG. 1.

In Fig. 1, an example of a sewing machine is shown in a highly schematic manner, the housing 1 has a lower housing-shaped so-called base plate 2, from which a stator 3 extends substantially vertically upwards. At an upper end of the stator, an arm 4 connects, which runs approximately parallel to the base plate 2.

The sewing machine has an arm shaft mounted in the arm 4, which, like the other fundamental components of the sewing machine mentioned below, are only partially shown in FIG. The arm shaft drives an oscillating up and down movable needle bar 5, the needle holder can receive a sewing needle for receiving an upper thread. In the base plate 2, a thread gripper 6 is arranged, the rotational movement of which is synchronized with the oscillating movement of the needle holder 5. A bobbin thread is on a spool, which is in a capsule is arranged. The gripper 6 in this case leads the upper thread around the capsule. Usually, the needle holder 5 and the gripper 6 are driven by a common drive, namely a non-illustrated servo electric motor. The sewing machine may preferably have a non-illustrated, detached from the housing, control panel, which is provided as an interface to the machine control.

At the front of the machine housing, a first board 8 is arranged in the region of the arm and the needle bar, are arranged on the total of seven buttons S2 to S8 in a row next to each other. In addition, there is a yellow LED 9a-9f in each key S2 to S7 and, above each key S2 to S7, another green LED 10a-IOf on the board. Each key S2 to S8 is connected to an input of a microcontroller 12 shown only in FIG. The microcontroller 12 is in turn connected in the embodiment via a 4-core bus system 13 with a machine control (not shown in detail) of the sewing machine (for example of the type P 74 ED). The yellow LEDs s 9a-f of the buttons are also applied to an output of the microcontroller, as are the green LEDs s 10a-f and a red LED 10g. The latter is assigned to the function key S8.

The keys S1 to S8 are designed as commercially available pushbuttons, for example of the type 3006 xxx as offered by Marquardt, D-78604 Rietheim-Weilheim, and can activate the following machine functions when actuated:

S2: Transport change of mass transport by hand

S3: 1 needle high without cutting

2 needle position change

3 single stitches

4 single stitch backward 5 step by step Approaching a needle position forwards

S4: stroke adjustment

S5: 1 Bolt Inversion (invert the following bar once)

2 Bolt suppression 3 Gradually approaching a needle position backwards

4 edge cutters on / off S6: Second stitch length lower or main transport

S7: thread tension on / off (with high stroke output is also on)

S8: Presser foot and needle high, drive locked

Two of the seven function keys S3, S5 of the keypad can be optionally assigned with several functions. The default assignment can be indicated by an icon shown on the button. Further or other functions are programmable via parameters for these keys and can be stored in the microcontroller 12.

A hereinafter referred to as a special key S1 and variable in its function actuator is disposed on a second board 15 which is fixed in the embodiment on the arm 4 of the housing of the sewing machine, in close proximity to the sewing rod. The special key S1 is thus located in the immediate vicinity of the sewing area and is therefore arranged particularly user-friendly. However, it could advantageously also be in another location to which the machine user has easy access during the execution of sewing. In order to allow an operator to attach the special key S1 to the position that he considers to be particularly user-friendly, in a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second circuit board may be provided with a magnet on its rear side. As a result, the special key S1 at any point of the metallic housing can be solved releasably but still positionally secure. Instead of a magnet, any other releasable attachment can be provided. It is also conceivable that the special key S1 is designed as a foot or Kniebetätigbare button.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the special key S1 is connected via a data line 16 to one of the inputs of the microcontroller. In addition, further data lines lead 17, 18 from the microcontroller 12 to a yellow LED 19 and a red LED 20 of the second board 15. The yellow LED 19 can here above the special button S1 and the red LED 20 again above the yellow LED 19 on the second Board be arranged. Via the bus line, the microcontroller 12 of the entire keypad (function keys S2 to S8 and special key S1) is connected to a controller, not shown, of the machine control. Over the bus line 13 commands are sent from the machine control to the keypad S1 to S8, which are answered by the keypad accordingly. The machine control takes over the role of a master for the communication, the keyboard the role of a slave. This means that the keypad may only respond to machine control requests, but not build its own communication.

The machine controller cyclically polls the keypad for the state of the keys S1 to S8. The keypad microcontroller registers each keystroke and stores it until the controller retrieves the information. Depending on the key function, the controller decides whether the corresponding LED in or above the key must be switched on / off and transmits this information to the keypad. The keypad confirms receipt of such information.

Six of the seven functions of the function keys S2 to S8 can be programmed to the special key S1. By switching or pressing this special key S1, the respectively programmed function is selected and triggered. Programming is carried out by simultaneously pressing the special key S1 and the corresponding function key S2 to S7 for more than three seconds. So it is also possible to program several functions simultaneously on the special key S1. Only the function of the function key S8 can not be set to the special key S1 in the embodiment. Of course, in other embodiments, the programming mode may be activated in other ways than by pressing the keys during a particular time interval.

The identification of whether a function has been programmed on the special key S1 is signaled by the respective yellow LED 9a-f of the corresponding function key lighting up. If this LED lights up, the function key is activated by pressing the special key S1. The state of the function itself, ie whether the function is currently being executed or not, is indicated by the green LED above the function key S2 to S7 belonging to this function. The key S8 has a locking function for the drive, therefore it is provided with a red LED for function identification. This key S8 is not programmable on the special key S1 and also has no internal LED.

The yellow LED 19 above the special button S1 has a warning function for a lower thread monitoring of the sewing machine, the red LED 20 signals a low liquid level in the oil reservoir, is provided in the lubricating oil for lubricating mechanical components of a drive device of the sewing machine. Commands to turn on or off one or both of these LED s receives the microcontroller 12 from the machine control.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Housing 17 data line

Base plate 18 data line

Stand 19 yellow LED

Arm 20 red LED

needle bar

grab

Board a-f yellow LED 0a-f green LED 0g red LED 2 microcontroller 3 bus 5 board 6 data line

Claims

claims

1. Sewing machine with a switch device, the more actuated

Function keys, by means of which machine functions of the sewing machine can be activated and / or deactivated, wherein a variable with respect to its activatable and / or deactivatable function variable actuator is provided, is placed on the at least one function of the function keys and removable, characterized in that between the function keys and the at least one actuating element is arranged a means for receiving program logic, which is provided both for communication with the actuating element and with the function keys and by means of program logic and in dependence on

Actuating the function keys the at least one actuator assigns one or more machine functions.

2. Sewing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one actuating element - except for key operations of the function keys and / or the actuating element - free of electrical

Contact closure elements and exclusively via means for data communication with functions of the function keys is assignable.

3. Sewing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by an integrated circuit of the switch means, which is arranged in the circuit arrangement of the switch means between the function keys and the at least one variable actuator and contains program logic or at least provided for receiving program logic.

4. Sewing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the integrated circuit is programmable.

5. Sewing machine according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that by means of a microcontroller operating states of the variable actuating element and the function keys can be detected and these operating states corresponding machine functions are assigned to at least one variable actuator, so that at a subsequent

Actuation of the actuating element at least one of the previous operating states of the function keys corresponding machine function can be activated by means of the actuating element.

6. Sewing machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for activating the at least one functionally variable actuator associated with at least one machine function, a signal flow from the actuator to the program logic means and from this to a control of the sewing machine takes place.

7. Sewing machine according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that at least a majority of the function keys on a carrier, in particular a first board, are summarized as a keypad and the at least one actuating element on another carrier, in particular a second board, as the Carrier of the keypad is arranged.

8. Sewing machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by optical display elements, which are switched on and off in particular by the program logic means corresponding to the switching states of the function keys.

9. Sewing machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the program logic means via a multi-wire bus line with a control of the sewing machine is in communication.