JP4154686B2 - Multi-needle embroidery machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, and more particularly to a machine that switches a predetermined needle bar to a sewing position before an area check for checking whether an embroidery sewing area is within a cloth holding frame.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine having a plurality of needle bars for attaching sewing needles has a cloth holding frame for holding a work cloth and a cloth holding frame driving motor that can be independently driven in two directions intersecting the cloth holding frame. A needle bar selection mechanism capable of switching a plurality of needle bars to a sewing position, a needle bar vertical drive mechanism for driving the needle bar at the sewing position up and down, and the like. The needle bar selection mechanism includes a needle bar case that houses a plurality of needle bars, and an arbitrary needle bar among a plurality of needle bars arranged in a row in the needle bar case by moving and driving the needle bar case. It has a needle bar changing motor that moves to the sewing position.
[0003]
In addition, a single presser foot is provided at the position corresponding to the sewing position on the bed portion of the embroidery sewing machine to hold the work cloth from above. After the needle bar corresponding to the thread is switched to the sewing position, the needle bar is driven up and down by the needle bar vertical drive mechanism, and the sewing needle attached to the needle bar penetrates the presser foot and the embroidery pattern is formed on the work cloth. Applied.
[0004]
Here, in order to check whether the embroidery sewing area of the embroidery pattern selected before embroidery sewing is within the cloth holding frame, the cloth holding frame is placed on the needle bar at the sewing position according to the embroidery data of the embroidery pattern. An embroidery sewing machine that can execute an area check for relative movement is also in practical use. By this area check, the operator checks whether or not the needle bar and the cloth holding frame at the sewing position do not interfere during the sewing operation. Here, in the case of the multi-needle embroidery sewing machine as described above, the needle bar serving as a reference for the relative movement of the cloth holding frame is a needle bar at the position of a single presser foot. The operator can easily identify the reference needle bar.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, presser feet may be provided on all the needle bars from various viewpoints such as protection of sewing needles attached to a plurality of needle bars. In such a case, the operator cannot identify the needle bar at the sewing position by the presser foot as described above during the area check. In such a case, there is a risk of erroneous identification. In such a case, it is determined whether the embroidery sewing area is within the cloth holding frame, and the risk that the sewing needle may interfere with the cloth holding frame during embroidery sewing. There is also sex.
An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine that allows an operator to easily identify a needle bar that serves as a reference for area check.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The multi-needle embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1 includes a plurality of needle bars for attaching sewing needles, a cloth holding frame for holding a work cloth, and driving means capable of being driven independently in two directions intersecting the cloth holding frame. In the multi-needle embroidery machine having the needle bar selection means capable of switching the plurality of needle bars to the sewing position, respectively, and whether or not the embroidery sewing area of the selected embroidery pattern is within the cloth holding frame And an area check means for causing the drive means to execute an area check for moving the cloth holding frame relative to the needle bar at the sewing position, and the plurality of needle bars are arranged in a line in the needle bar case. And the area check means is one of the two needle bars located at both ends of the plurality of needle bars via the needle bar selection means immediately before the area check. The needle bar is switched to the sewing position It is intended to.
[0007]
At the time of embroidery sewing work, the needle bar selection means switches the needle bar corresponding to the upper thread of a predetermined color to the sewing position, and the drive means moves and drives the cloth holding frame in two directions intersecting the predetermined cloth. Then, the needle bar at the sewing position is driven up and down by the needle bar up-and-down drive mechanism, and an embroidery pattern is applied to the work cloth. At this time, in order to prevent the sewing needle from interfering with the cloth holding frame, an area check is performed before starting the embroidery sewing to determine whether the embroidery sewing area of the selected embroidery pattern is within the cloth holding frame. Can be confirmed.
[0008]
In order to execute this area check, when an operator inputs an area check execution command from an input means such as an operation panel, the area check means first sews a predetermined needle bar via the needle bar selection means. After switching to the position, the cloth holding frame is moved relative to the needle bar to perform an area check. That is, a predetermined needle bar set in advance is always switched to the sewing position immediately before the area check.
[0009]
Also, the predetermined needle bar may be set to be distinguishable from other needle bar (claim 2). Specifically, it is possible to respond by attaching a predetermined color or mark to a predetermined position of a needle bar or a needle bar case corresponding to the needle bar set in advance so as to switch to the sewing position immediately before the area check. is there.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a multi-head sewing machine that includes three multi-needle embroidery machines and can simultaneously embroidly sew three identical embroidery patterns on a work cloth.
[0011]
First, the multi-head sewing machine M will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a sewing machine support plate 2 having a predetermined length in the horizontal direction is disposed on the rear side of the upper surface of the base frame 1 extending in the horizontal direction. The support frame 3 extending in the left-right direction is erected. In the multi-head sewing machine M, three multi-needle embroidery sewing machines M1 to M3 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction at predetermined intervals.
[0012]
The three embroidery sewing machines M1 to M3 are a cylindrical bed portion 7 in which head portions 4 to 6 arranged in parallel in the left and right direction at predetermined intervals on the support frame 3, a thread trimming mechanism (not shown), and the like are incorporated. ~ 9, respectively. The rear end portions of the bed portions 7 to 9 are respectively supported by the base frame 1 at the position of the front end portion of the sewing machine support plate 2. A work table 10 is horizontally disposed in front of the sewing machine support plate 2, and a pair of auxiliary tables 11 and 12 are also provided on the left and right sides of the work table 10. On the rear side of the auxiliary table 12, an operation panel 13 is provided for inputting various commands relating to the embroidery sewing work and inputting an area check execution command described later. The operation panel 13 is provided with a display 14 for displaying various keys for the above-described various inputs and messages regarding embroidery sewing work.
[0013]
Further, each embroidery sewing machine M1 to M3 is attached to the embroidery frame 22 with twelve needle bars 21 (see FIG. 2) for attaching the sewing needle 20, an embroidery frame 22 movably arranged in the front-rear and left-right directions. Sewing the cloth holding frame 23 for holding the processed cloth, the embroidery frame driving mechanism 24 for moving the embroidery frame 22 in the X-axis direction (left-right direction) and the Y-axis direction (front-back direction), and twelve needle bars 21 A needle bar selection mechanism 25 that can be switched to each position, a needle bar vertical drive mechanism (not shown) that drives the needle bar 21 up and down by the driving force of the sewing machine motor 53 (see FIG. 4), and the needle bar 21 is forced. A needle bar jump mechanism (not shown) for jumping to the upper limit position is provided.
[0014]
Next, the embroidery frame 22, the cloth holding frame 23, and the embroidery frame drive mechanism 24 will be described.
The embroidery frame 22 is formed in a rectangular frame shape extending in the left-right direction in plan view, and the embroidery frame 22 is placed on the upper surface of the work table 10 and the auxiliary tables 11 and 12. The embroidery frame 22 is detachably attached with cloth holding frames 23 corresponding to the embroidery sewing machines M1 to M3.
[0015]
The embroidery frame drive mechanism 24 includes an X-axis drive motor 60 (see FIG. 4) for moving and driving the embroidery frame 22 in the X-axis direction, and a Y-axis drive motor 62 (see FIG. 4) for moving and driving the embroidery frame 22 in the Y-axis direction. ). The X-axis drive motor 60 and the Y-axis drive motor 62 are each composed of a stepping motor. A drive frame portion 22a is provided at the right end portion of the embroidery frame 22, and the embroidery frame 22 is driven to move in the left-right direction by the X-axis drive motor 60 via the drive frame portion 22a. Drive frame portion 22b is also provided on the left end portion of the embroidery frame 22, the embroidery frame 22 is moved driven more front-rear direction to the Y-axis drive motor 62 via a drive frame portion 2 2a, 22b.
[0016]
Here, in the multi-head sewing machine M, when the embroidery frame 22 (cloth holding frame 23) is moved forward and backward and left and right by the embroidery frame driving mechanism 24 during the embroidery sewing operation, the cloth holding frame 23 and the sewing needle 20 are moved. In order to confirm whether or not there is interference, that is, whether or not the embroidery sewing area of the selected embroidery pattern is within the cloth holding frame 23, the cloth holding frame 23 is placed on the needle bar 21 at the sewing position before starting sewing. An area check for relative movement can be executed. When the operator inputs an area check execution command from the operation panel 13, an area check control program is executed by the control device 40 described later, and the embroidery frame driving mechanism 24 performs the embroidery frame according to the embroidery data of the selected embroidery pattern. 22 (cloth holding frame 23) moves relative to the needle bar 21 at the sewing position.
[0017]
Next, the needle bar 21 and the needle bar selection mechanism 25 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a needle bar case 30 is supported at the front ends of the head portions 4 to 6 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Twelve needle bars 21 are vertically moved on the needle bar case 30. It is arranged in a row in the left-right direction so as to be movable.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a sewing needle 20 is attached to the lower end of the needle bar 21, and a presser foot 31 for pressing the work cloth from above is also provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the presser foot 31 has a substantially S-shaped cross section, and a needle through hole (not shown) through which the sewing needle 20 passes when the needle bar 21 is raised and lowered is formed at the lower end of the presser foot 31. In addition, an engaging portion 31 a that engages with the needle mounting portion 21 a of the needle bar 21 is provided in the middle of the presser foot 31 in the vertical direction. The upper end of the presser foot 31 is elastically biased downward by a spring 32.
[0018]
The needle bar selection mechanism 25 includes a needle bar case 30 and a needle bar changing motor 58 (see FIG. 4) that moves the needle bar case 30 left and right to switch the needle bar 21 at the sewing position.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, twelve balances 33 corresponding to twelve needle bars 21 are swingably supported on the needle bar case 30. The needle bar changing motor 58 is a stepping motor. At the time of color change, the needle bar cases 30 are simultaneously moved in the left-right direction by the needle bar changing motor 58, and the needle bar 21 corresponding to the upper thread of a predetermined color is switched to the sewing position. The needle bar 21 in the sewing position is detected by a needle bar detection encoder 57 (see FIG. 4).
[0019]
Next, the outline of the control system of the multi-head sewing machine M will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The control device 40 that controls the control system of the multi-head sewing machine M includes a microcomputer including a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, and a communication interface 44 (communication I / F), and an input / output connected to the microcomputer via a bus. Interface (not shown). An external embroidery data processing device 45 is connected to the communication I / F 44, and the control device 40 is configured to receive embroidery data from the embroidery data processing device 45.
[0020]
The control device 40 is connected to a drive circuit 51 for a needle bar jump solenoid 50 of a needle bar jump mechanism provided in each of the head portions 4 to 6 and a thread break sensor 52.
Further, the control device 40 includes a drive circuit 54 for driving the sewing machine motor 53 and a pulse generator for outputting an encoder signal composed of 1000 pulse signals by one rotation of a disk encoder provided on the sewing machine main shaft (not shown). 55, a spindle origin sensor 56 that outputs one spindle synchronization signal by one rotation of the disk encoder, a needle bar detection encoder 57, a needle bar change motor 58, an X axis drive motor 60, and a Y axis drive motor 62. The drive circuits 59, 61, 63, 65 for the thread trimming motor 64 and the operation panel 13 are connected to each other.
[0021]
The ROM 42 has a drive control control program for driving the motors 58, 60, 62, and 64 based on an encoder signal from the pulse generator 55 and a spindle synchronization signal from the spindle origin sensor 56, an area check control program to be described later, and the like. Is stored. The RAM 43 stores various data such as embroidery data received from the embroidery data processing device.
[0022]
Next, the area check control program will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Si (i = 10, 11,...) Indicates a step number, and the needle bar number N (N = 1 to 12) is the rightmost needle bar in FIG. It shall be attached | subjected in order from 21.
When an area check execution command is input from the operation panel 13, the embroidery data is read from the embroidery data processing device 45 into the RAM 43 (S10). Next, before executing the area check (S12 to S15), a needle bar selection process for switching the predetermined needle bar 21 to the sewing position is executed (S11).
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 6, in the needle bar selection process, the needle bar 21 located at the right end where the needle bar number N is 1 is switched to the sewing position. That is, if the needle bar number N of the needle bar 21 at the sewing position is not 1 (S20: No), the first needle bar 21 at the right end is moved to the sewing position by the needle bar selection mechanism 25 (S21). Return.
[0024]
After the right end needle bar 21 is switched to the sewing position, an area check is executed, and the embroidery frame 22 is moved by the embroidery frame drive mechanism 24 to move the cloth holding frame 23 to the upper left position of the embroidery sewing area ( Next, the cloth holding frame 23 is moved to the lower left position (S13), then the cloth holding frame 23 is moved to the lower right position (S14), and finally the cloth holding frame 23 is moved to the upper right position. The embroidery frame 22 is moved to the original position before the area check (S16) , and the area check is completed.
[0025]
In the above description, the embroidery frame drive mechanism 24 corresponds to the drive means, the needle bar selection mechanism 25 corresponds to the needle bar selection means, and the microcomputer and the area check control program in FIG. 5 correspond to the area check means. .
[0026]
According to the multi-head sewing machine M described above, the first needle bar 21 at the right end set in advance is always switched to the sewing position immediately before the area check. Since the needle bar 21 serving as a reference for the movement of the holding frame 23 can be identified, the operator does not make a mistake in determining whether the embroidery sewing area is within the cloth holding frame 23, and the sewing needle 20 can be used during sewing. Does not interfere with the cloth holding frame 23.
[0027]
Next, modified embodiments in which various modifications are made to the embodiment will be described.
1] In the needle bar selection process (S11) of FIG.
Of these two needle bars 21, the needle bar 21 closer to the needle bar 21 at the sewing position may be switched before switching. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, if the needle bar number N of the needle bar 21 at the sewing position is less than 6 (S30: Yes) and N is not 1 (S31: No), the first needle at the right end The bar 21 is moved to the sewing position (S32), and the process returns. On the other hand, if the needle bar number of the needle bar 21 at the sewing position is larger than 6 (S30: No) and N is not 12 (S33: No), the twelfth needle bar 21 at the left end is moved to the sewing position. (S34), return. Even in this case, the needle bar 21 at the left end or the right end is switched to the sewing position, and the operator can easily identify the reference needle bar 21 when performing the area check.
Further, the needle bar 21 near the center, for example, the needle bar 21 with the needle bar number 6, may be switched to the sewing position.
[0028]
2] A predetermined needle bar 21 and a predetermined position of the needle bar case 30 corresponding to the needle bar 21 are set at a predetermined position so that the predetermined needle bar 21 switched to the sewing position immediately before the area check can be easily identified. Colors and marks can also be added.
3] The needle bar number of the predetermined needle bar 21 switched to the sewing position immediately before the area check may be displayed on the display 14 so that the operator can easily identify the needle bar 21.
[0029]
4] In the above embodiment, the predetermined needle bar 21 (first needle bar) is switched to the sewing position at the area check, but before the area check is performed at the end of the sewing work or when selecting the sewing data. In addition, the predetermined needle bar 21 may be switched to the sewing position in advance.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the area check means first has a predetermined needle bar which is one of two needle bars located at both ends of the plurality of needle bars via the needle bar selection means. After switching to the sewing position, the cloth holding frame is moved relative to the needle bar to check the area. Accordingly, since a predetermined needle bar set in advance is always switched to the sewing position immediately before the area check, the operator can easily identify the needle bar serving as a reference for the movement of the cloth holding frame during the area check. Therefore, the operator does not mistakenly determine whether the embroidery sewing area is within the cloth holding frame, and the sewing needle does not interfere with the cloth holding frame during sewing.
[0031]
According to the invention of claim 2, the predetermined needle bar is distinguishable from other needle bars.
During the area check, the operator can easily identify the needle bar that is the reference for the movement of the cloth holding frame. In addition, the same effects as those of the first aspect can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-head sewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a needle bar case.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a lower end portion of a needle bar.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-head sewing machine.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an area check control program.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of needle bar selection processing.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a modified needle bar selection process;
[Explanation of symbols]
M multi-head sewing machine M1 multi-needle embroidery sewing machine 20 sewing needle 21 needle bar 23 cloth holding frame 24 embroidery frame drive mechanism 25 needle bar selection mechanism 30 needle bar case 41 CPU
42 ROM
43 RAM

Claims (2)

In a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine having a plurality of needle bars for attaching sewing needles, a cloth holding frame for holding a work cloth, and driving means capable of being independently driven in two directions intersecting the cloth holding frame,
Needle bar selection means capable of switching each of the plurality of needle bars to a sewing position;
Area for causing the driving means to execute an area check for moving the cloth holding frame relative to the needle bar at the sewing position in order to confirm whether or not the embroidery sewing area of the selected embroidery pattern is within the cloth holding frame. Check means,
The plurality of needle bars are arranged in a line on the needle bar case and each has a presser foot,
The area check means switches a predetermined needle bar, which is one of the two needle bars located at both ends of the plurality of needle bars, to the sewing position via the needle bar selection means immediately before the area check. A multi-needle embroidery machine characterized by that. The multi-needle embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined needle bar is distinguishable from other needle bars.

Images