Patent Application
20120222594
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sewing apparatus and methods therefor.
2. Description of Related Art
An alternative to conventional lockstitch embroidery employs a replaceable cartridge containing a needle and embroidery thread, supplied pre-threaded by means of a hollow needle of the type commonly used for intravenous injection. A stitching mechanism creates underside loops retained in the workpiece by friction. A subsequent operation permanently secures the underside loops with adhesive.
Extant machines of this type have the capacity to install only a single cartridge at one time, such that an embroidery pattern of several colors requires several cartridge changes performed by the user, interrupting an otherwise automated process. Embroidery patterns commonly comprise eight or more colors, resulting in a tedious operation to produce a single finished workpiece.
A machine containing multiple cartridges installed concurrently promises greatly enhanced utility and convenience by reducing the number of user interventions per finished workpiece. For example, a machine with capability to hold and sequentially operate four cartridges can reduce the number of user interventions required to produce an eight-color pattern from seven to just one. Exemplary advantages include reducing the quantity and mass of moving parts per needle and selectively engaging the operation of a desired cartridge through cooperative employment of existing machine mechanisms.
Disclosed is a sewing apparatus comprising: a drive mechanism; a thread feed mechanism comprising a removable cartridge; and a needle engagement mechanism for engaging the thread feed mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a drive motor configured to transmit power from the drive motor to the needle engagement mechanism such that it drives a needle within the cartridge without moving the entire cartridge.
Also disclosed is sewing apparatus comprising: a plurality of thread feed mechanisms and a needle engagement mechanism for selecting and engaging each of the thread feed mechanisms.
Also disclosed is method comprising: positioning a needle engagement mechanism to engage at least one thread feed mechanism, the thread feed mechanism comprising a removable cartridge.
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.
The use of the terms “a”, “an”, “at least one”, “one or more”, and similar terms indicate one of a feature or element as well as more than one of a feature. The use of the term “the” to refer to the feature does not imply only one of the feature and element.
When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third”, and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unless expressly or clearly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term.
When a single device, article or other product is described herein, more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device/article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate). Similarly, where more than one device, article or other product is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described as being possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device/article.
The functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality/features.
The present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments.
The sewing apparatus body 2 includes a casing 10, an embroidery frame driving mechanism 9 that moves the embroidery frame 11 having the work cloth 18 in a horizontal plane with respect to the hollow needle 102 while the embroidery frame 11 is held by a carriage 9. The body 2 also comprises and a selective engagement mechanism (See
The casing 10 is a relatively small rectangular solid. For example, in one embodiment the casing 10 may be 14 inches (356 mm) long, 9½ (241 mm) inches wide and 5½ inches (139 mm) high. The casing 10 contains main parts of the embroidery frame driving mechanism 9 and the cartridge driving mechanism 109, and the selective engagement mechanism 200.
A slot 5, allows access of the embroidery frame 11 into the apparatus 1 for sewing during operation of the apparatus 1. In one embodiment, the slot 5 extends in a lateral direction along a front wall 10c of the apparatus 1, and is formed in a front wall 10c between a base portion 2b and a top portion 2a of the apparatus 1. In another embodiment, the casing 10 is formed as a unitary body (as shown in
In the embodiment, the mating alignment feature further comprises a frame alignment feature 12 on the embroidery frame 11 and a body mating alignment feature 6 corresponding to the frame alignment feature. With respect to the front side 10a of the upper body 2a of the cover, a raised alignment feature 12 is added to the leading edge of the embroidery hoop 11 where the leading edge is to be inserted into the engagement mechanism 20 within the embroidery apparatus 1. To enable correct insertion of the embroidery hoop 11 into the sewing apparatus 1, a cutout 6 of a shape corresponding to the raised feature 12 on the embroidery frame 11 allows clearance through the top portion 10a of the embroidery machine 1. The cutout 6 is positioned on the front face 10c of the top portion 2a to facilitate direct access to the frame and drive engagement mechanism 50 (See
It will be noted that although the present embodiment has the raised alignment feature 12 on the frame 11 and the cutout alignment feature 6 on the body 2, the frame could be made in an embodiment (not shown) such that the cutout feature 6 is on the frame and the raised feature 12 is on the body 2a (e.g., via a groove cutout feature 6 and raised feature 12 comprising guide element 7 formed as a notched rail 12 on the underside of the upper body 2a).
The apparatus further comprises a guide element 7, shown as a guide channel 7 configured such that the embroidery frame 11 can be moved through the body to a point of engagement with the frame and drive engagement mechanism 50 (
The raised alignment feature 12 of the embroidery hoop 11 is larger than the slot 5, through which the frame 11 otherwise passes into the machine 1 during both frame 11 insertion and machine 1 operation. Accordingly, this raised feature 12 effectively prevents insertion of the embroidery frame 11 into the machine 1 to the degree that the frame 11 may be lost accidentally from the reach of the operator's finger grip.
The mating alignment features 6, 12 of the upper body 2b and the frame 11 of the machine cover are chosen to be of a distinct and easily recognizable shape, thereby facilitating intuitive recognition of the insertion direction. Thus while the raised feature 12 and the cutout 6 both take a similar polygonal form as shown in
A latching mechanism 14 for the engagement frame 11 is further operated by intuitive, tactile push/pull engagement and disengagement of the engagement frame 11 once aligned, using the intuitive mating alignment features 6, 12 as shown in
The X-axis direction driving mechanism 20 includes a moving frame 24, an X-axis slider 22 attached to a X-axis drive belt 21, and an X-axis guide shaft 23. The driving mechanism 20 is operatively connected to a drive motor 29. The moving frame 21 is rectangular moves with a Y-axis slider 28. The guide shaft 23 is supported at its ends by side walls of the moving frame 21.
The Y-axis direction driving mechanism 25 includes the Y-axis slider 28 attached to a Y-axis belt drive belt 27 and a Y-axis guide shaft 26. The Y-axis direction driving mechanism 25 is also operatively connected to a drive motor 29.
The Y-axis slider 28 is disposed under and attached to the X-axis direction driving mechanism 20, such that the moving frame 21 moves with the Y-axis slider 28.
An embodiment of the frame and drive engagement mechanism 50 is shown at
As shown in
The controller 70 includes a drive 72 capable of reading and writing instructions from memory 73, including internal memory or memory from a stored memory device 73. The drive 72 can be any device configured to read memory such as flash drives, CDs or DVDs, cartridges, memory cards, and other like devices, and includes hardware for interfacing therewith. The stored memory device can be an external storage medium, such as a memory cartridge, memory card, flash drive, CD or DVD, or other like device. The stored memory device can even comprise remote storage 73b transmitted over WAN or LAN networks, including those such as in cloud computing and storage systems. The memory 73 stores various sewing data and programs, so that the sewing data and the programs are readable by the computer 71 Similarly, the control programs, the control signals, and the data may be distributed worldwide via the Internet.
In the sewing apparatus 1, an embroidery pattern can be formed on the workpiece 18 by controlling the embroidery frame driving mechanism 29 (the X-axis direction driving mechanism 20 and the Y-axis direction driving mechanism 25) and the thread feed driving mechanism 100 by the controller 70 based on the sewing data. A control program for sewing is stored in the ROM 71b.
The memory storage 73 stores various kinds of embroidery patterns, pattern data of various kinds for prestored embroidery patterns, and a pattern selection control program for selecting a desired embroidery pattern from the various kinds of embroidery patterns. The memory storage 73 also can include a pattern edit control program for editing (e.g., enlargement, reduction, unification, reversal) a selected embroidery pattern, and a display control program for displaying an embroidery pattern for selecting and setting on a display (not shown). For example a flash card 73, connectable to the flash card connector, can store pattern data of a selected/edited embroidery pattern.
As shown in
The catch member 16 on the frame engages the latch mechanism 14 at the engagement position 19. The one guide member 15b is shorter than the other guide member 15a. This allows the latch mechanism 14 to move into a stationary engagement/disengagement position by abutting the shorter guide member 15b, and sliding underneath the longer guide member such that the latch protrusion 14a has a spring tension against the upper guide member 15a.
The catch member 16 of the drive engagement mechanism includes an opening 16a, and is positioned into an engagement position 19 from the frame engagement side 28 of the fixed guide member. As shown at 210, the hoop or frame catch member 16 is separately guided into the channel 17 from the frame entry end 28, moving the catch member opening 16a along the channel 17 formed by the fixed guide members 15a, 15b to the engagement position such that the spring loaded latch mechanism 14 is displaced under the catch member 16 until the catch member opening 16a reaches the engagement position 19. At 220, the protrusion 14a of the stationary latch mechanism 14 meets the frame catch member 16 and engages a slot or opening 16a of the catch. The latch protrusion 14a includes at least one beveled edge 14b, which is adapted to allow the fixed guide member 15a and catch member 16 to displace the latch mechanism 14 when the latch mechanism 14 is moved against the fixed guide member 15a or the catch member 16. The fixed guide member 15a and the catch member 16, respectively, have reciprocally sloped bevels 16b, 15c, which facilitate the displacement of the latch mechanism 14 when moved against the fixed guide member 15 or the catch member 16.
At 220 the frame catch member 16 is placed at a position where a user can no longer move the frame catch member 16 further into the sewing apparatus, as for example, against a stop (not shown). At this point the protrusion 14a of the latch mechanism 14 partially engages the catch slot 16a, up to the point where the latch protrusion 15a abuts the upper fixed guide member 15a. This creates highly tactile engagement that is felt by a user as the latch mechanism 14 snaps into position. Accordingly, a user intuitively knows by this sensation that the frame 11 is engaged without needing to rely on a visual cue. At 230 the frame catch member 16 and latch mechanism 14, thus engaged, are moved into the machine workspace by the machine software (not shown). It will be noted that as the latch mechanism 14 moves the frame into the sewing apparatus, the latch fully engages the catch member as it passes out of the guide member 15.
Disengagement and removal of the embroidery frame 11 is accomplished by reversing steps 200-230. As with the engagement, the latch protrusion 14 includes the at least one beveled edge 14b, which allows the fixed guide member 15a to again displace the latch mechanism 14 when the latch mechanism 14 is moved against the fixed guide member 15a (as in going from step 230 to step 220). During disengagement, the fixed guide member's sloped bevel 15c facilitates the displacement of the latch mechanism 14 when moved against the fixed guide member 15.
The sewing apparatus 1 can be configured to have a plurality of thread feed mechanisms, shown as removable cartridges 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d. As shown in
The thread feed selection and engagement mechanism 30 in the embodiment includes a spur gear transmission 30, comprising a movable output drive gear 33 capable of selective engagement with one of several installed cartridges 100a, 100b, . . . 100n, such that a single drive motor 24 can be employed to select and drive each cartridge in the apparatus 1 when a plurality of cartridges 100a, 100b, . . . 100n are installed.
In one embodiment, the selective engagement mechanism 30 is actuated by a complimentary function of the X-Y embroidery frame driving mechanism 9 and the controller 70 therefor, as described herein. The drive mechanism 9 and controller 70 are of a design otherwise commonly employed in embroidery machines as known to those of ordinary skill in the art (such as that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,253 and 6,729,254, the entirety of each of which is incorporated by reference herein). Thus one exemplary advantage of the selective engagement mechanism 30 is that it can be configured to work in conjunction with an existing mechanism to add functionality thereto.
The controller 71, and machine operating software 71b, 71c therefore, control the selective engagement mechanism 30 so as to arrange the selective engagement mechanism 30 to position a selector lever 31 at a predetermined location facilitating engagement from the Y-direction. This is followed by a sequence of coordinated movements of the selective engagement mechanism 30 in the X-Y directions, a first sweep of the selective engagement mechanism 30 intended to intercept and move a keyed drive gear mechanism 33 from any position on the drive shaft 32 to a predetermined position at the end of the sweep, and a second sweep of the selective engagement mechanism 30 in the opposite direction terminating so as to position the keyed drive gear mechanism 33 in the location of engagement with the drive mechanism 104 of the desired cartridge 100.
In one exemplary embodiment, the drive shaft 32 is operatively connected to the drive motor 24 and at least one drive gear 33 positioned on the shaft. The drive motor can comprise a variable speed motor (e.g., a stepper motor). The drive gear 33 is configured such that it can slide from position to position on the shaft 32.
Within a physically limited length interval, a drive shaft 32 comprises a physical configuration including, for example, a shaped cross section such that a keyed drive gear 33 of suitably matched cross section mounted thereon is constrained from rotating about and relative to the axis the shaft 32, and remains free to slide parallel to the axis. Such configurations can be of a non round shape, but could also include a round cross-section with elements adapted to allow for driving the gear, such as a tab along the shaft 32 and a corresponding slot in a drive gear 33. Many specific configurations of shafts and gears accomplishing this purpose are well known in the art, such as the cross-sectional shapes including shapes a D shape, a round shape, a non-round shape, a clover shape, a notched shape, a triangular shape, a square shape, a polygonal shape, and a rectilinear shape.
In one embodiment, a D-shaft and keyed drive gear is utilized. The drive shaft 32 is a D-shaft, and the keyed drive gear 33 is positioned thereon to facilitate secure placement and rotation of the drive gear 33 when the shaft 32 is rotated by the drive motor 24.
The range of X-direction movement of the keyed drive gear 33 on the keyed drive shaft 32 is limited to maintain positional control at all times and without risk of jamming, by ensuring that the selector can be safely positioned to begin each sweep outside the allowed range of drive gear movement on the shaft. The controller 70 is further configured to position the frame driving mechanism 9 (including the selector 31 in an area 45 outside of a work area 47 for the workpiece) to position the selector 31 to engage the drive gear 104.
As shown in
The needle drive mechanism includes an idler gear 104 in a housing positioned to engage the drive gear and the thread feed mechanism 100. A selector 31 is attached to the frame driving mechanism 9. The selector 31 is configured to engage the drive gear 104 with the thread feed mechanism, and move the drive gear to any position (for example, 4 positions corresponding to the 4 cartridges 100a-100d). As shown in
The needle engagement mechanism can be configured to engage at least one thread feed mechanism, the thread feed mechanism comprising a removable cartridge. This can be accomplished by selecting at least one drive gear, and moving the drive gear to engage the at least one thread feed mechanism. The controller 70 moves the frame driving mechanism to position the drive gear such that the drive gear engages the thread feed mechanism 100. The engagement mechanism 30 slides the at least one drive gear 33 to a needle engagement position, the drive gear being mounted on a shaft operatively connected to a drive motor 24 for driving the thread feed mechanism 100. The frame 11 is positioned outside of a work area for a workpiece 18 when selecting and moving the drive gear 33. For example, when selecting and moving the drive gear, the X-Y frame driving mechanism 9 moves the frame 11 in the Y-direction. The selector 31 is then positioned to engage a sequence of coordinated movements in the X-Y directions, so as to position the drive gear 33 such that the drive gear 33 engages a drive mechanism 104 of the thread feed mechanism.
The positioning of the selector 11 includes moving the selector 11 in an X direction to a first drive gear 33 position (any of p-1 to p-4), moving the selector 11 in a Y direction to select the drive gear 33, and then sliding the drive gear 33 in an X direction from the first drive gear position on the drive shaft to a second position on the drive shaft (any of p-1 to p-4 other than the first position), the second position being the location of engagement with the drive mechanism 104 of the thread feed mechanism 100. As the
In one embodiment, as described herein, the mechanism can drive the needle 102 without moving the entire cartridge 100. The sewing apparatus 1 comprises a device configured to actively feed embroidery thread out of a cartridge 100 through a hollow needle 102. One advantage is that a thread break at or near the needle tip is automatically overcome through normal operation of the sewing apparatus 1. Other exemplary advantages include: (a) enabling automatic recovery of the stitching function in the case of thread breakage during embroidery; (b) eliminating any requirement for user adjustment or trimming of thread from the cartridge, prior to use or storage; and (c) enabling a complimentary function for thread cutting on the underside of the workpiece using a cutter assay (See
In another aspect, disclosed is a mechanism to enforce thread advancement on each downward plunge of the needle, and further inhibit reverse thread motion on the return stroke, and methods therefor.
A replaceable cartridge 100 contains a thread spool 103 and a pre-threaded hollow needle 102, which are configured to be mounted within the sewing apparatus 1. The replaceable cartridge 100 also includes mechanisms for independent needle and thread motion control.
A rack slider 106 is mounted in the cartridge body 100a, the rack slider 106 being constrained to allow only translation in the vertical axis. The rack slider 106 is operatively connected to the needle drive gear 104. This drive gear 104 delivers intermittent rotary motion to the rack slider 106, which receives and follows that motion. As described above with respect to
The rack slider 106 is configured to engage a thread control lever 108, such that the thread control lever 108 is at first rotated against a stop 106a, 106b (shown in the embodiment as unitary with the rack slider 106) according to the direction of rack slider 106 motion, then further constrained to translation following the rack slider 106 over a remaining stroke length.
A fulcrum 107 of the thread control lever 108 is fixed to a thread feed body 110, such that the thread control lever 108 in a first stage movement first rotates about a pivot to engage at least one thread lock 114 (discussed below), and then causes translation of the thread feed body 110 in a second stage movement. Intermittent rotary motion of the drive gear 104 is received and followed by the rack slider 106 mounted in the cartridge body 100a, the rack slider 106 being constrained to allow only translation in the vertical axis.
The thread feed body 110 includes a constraining channel 111 for thread passage, and a lateral slot 112 through which the thread control lever 108 can engage thread lock 114B, thereby preventing motion of the thread 101 through the channel 111 during downward motion only. It will be understood the thread control lever may also engage the thread lock by a hinged connection 114B or such connection as to allow the thread control lever to engage the thread lock 114B
The thread feed body 110 receives both the needle 102 and an extension guide element (embodied as extension guide spring 115) fixed to the thread feed body 110 at opposite ends.
The thread 101 is passed through the extension guide spring 115, which is fixed on the upper end of a receiving feature 116 on the cartridge body 100. The extension guide spring acts to constrain the thread 101 at all times against significant bending, kinking, or looping within the passages formed through the cartridge body 100a, extension guide spring 115, and the constraining channel 111B of the thread feed body 110.
The cartridge body further contains a lateral slot 112A through which the thread control lever 108 may engage thread lock 114A, thereby preventing motion the thread in a fixed channel 111A (here shown in the fixed cartridge 100a) during upward motion only. It will be understood the thread control lever may also engage the thread lock 114A by a hinged connection, or by such connection as to allow the thread control lever to engage the thread lock 114A.
A cylindrical presser foot 118 surrounds and is coaxial with the needle 102. The presser foot 118 is mounted on or otherwise operatively connected to the rack slider 106, such that the presser foot 118 is configured to move with the rack slider 106. The presser foot 118 is further controlled by a return spring 122, which is positioned to maintain a position of full extension as against the presser foot 118 unless bearing against the workpiecc 18. As shown in
A second return spring 120 is positioned to maintain the rack slider 106 at the upper limit of travel, until overcome by force exerted on the rack slider 106 by the drive gear 104. As shown in
The return springs are shown as a compression return springs, but each could be any spring chosen as appropriate, including extension springs, torsion springs, or other such springs as known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
A thread lock arm 124 of the cartridge body 100a is positioned to engage the thread control lever 108 and thread lock 114B in the feed body 110, such that the thread 101 cannot be freely withdrawn from the cartridge 100 when the needle is positioned at the upper limit of travel.
The result of the above-described functions is that thread 101 is positively advanced with the needle on each downward stroke of the needle 102, and thread thus advanced is further constrained against return with the needle 102 on each upward (return) stroke. In this way, thread 101 is actively advanced from the open tip 102A of the needle 102 by an amount nearly equal to the downward stroke length of each cycle. It will be noted that while the described embodiment shows two thread locks 112A, 112B, the cartridge 100 could be configured to allow a single thread lock 112 to both constrain the movement of the thread to follow the needle on the downstroke and constrain the thread to stay stationary as the needle moves on an upstroke (not shown).
It follows that a mechanism arranged to adjustably control the stroke length, also positively controls the advance of thread from the cartridge 100 through the needle tip 102A. Such control, in coordination with separate control of the lateral movement of an embroidery workpiece (not shown), enables the following exemplary functions and features:
One embodiment of controlling the above described thread feeding mechanism will now be explained.
As shown in
To this affect, referring now to
A
T1
=L
S
+L
L
−C
1;
where LS is the desired stitch length (i.e., the distance from one stitch anchoring XY position to the next stitch anchoring XY position in the current needle cycle); LL is the desired length of the loop formed on the underside of the workpiece 18 as measured from the top surface of the workpiece 18 (i.e., the amount of thread 101 needed for appropriate anchoring of the stitch in the backing material); and C1 is a small constant which is subtracted to ensure that the appropriate thread tension is provided between stitches.
L
S=[(X2X1)2+(Y2−Y1)2]1/2;
where X1 is the position of the first stitch in the X direction of the horizontal plane of the workpiece 18; Y1 is the position of the first stitch in the Y direction of the horizontal plane of the workpiece 18; X2 is the position of the next stitch in the X direction; and Y2 is the position of the next stitch in the Y direction.
In addition, as shown in
To account for such a situation, the controller 70 is configured to calculate a second amount of thread AT2 needed for a particular stitch by using the following formula:
A
T2
=[L
S
2
+H
S
2]1/2
The controller is configured to compare the first amount of thread AT1 with the second amount of thread AT2, and use the greater of the two amounts as the actual amount of thread AT which is to be played out from the spool 103.
To account for the case where the controller 70 determines that the second amount of thread AT2 should be used, the controller is configured to increase the length LL of next loop made (when the controller uses AT2 as the actual amount of thread AT needed to make the next stitch) by the following formula:
L
Lnew=(AT2−LS)+C2;
where LLnew is the newly determined desired length LL of next loop; and C2 is a small constant which is added to ensure that the appropriate thread tension is provided between stitches (the constant C2 may be the same value as that of the constant C1, or it may be a different value from that of the constant C1).
Referring to
Before the needle 102 can come to rest at the slack position PS so that the workpiece 18 can be moved, a minimum amount of thread 101 for making the next stitch must first be played out from the spool 103. Thus, after forming a stitch as shown in
The controller 70 is configured to determine the rest position PR based, in part, on a signal received from a sensor 65 (described below in relation to
However, there is a physical limitation to how high the needle 102 can move. As such, the situation may occur when the maximum rest position PRmax of the needle 102 is not at a sufficiently great enough distance from the vertical position PW1 of the top of the workpiece 18 to provide all of the amount of thread AT needed to form the next stitch (i.e., the determined rest position PR is greater than the maximum rest position PRmax). In this situation, the needle 102 is moved up to the maximum rest position PRmax and then down to the slack position PS. The controller 70 is configured to calculate a second rest position PR2, in such a situation, by the following formula:
P
R2
=P
S1
+[A
T−(PRmax−PW1)];
where PS1 is a slack position of the needle 102 above the current position PW1 of the top of the workpiece.
Since the needle movement positions are typical calculated in terms of the current position PW of the top of the work piece, another version of the above formula is:
P
R2
=P
W1
+H
S
+[A
T−(PRmax−PW1)].
Since the slack height HS is equal to the difference between the slack position PS and the position PW of the top of the work piece, yet another version of the above formula is:
P
R2
=P
W1
+[A
T−(PRmax−PS1)].
In case the situation arises where the second determined rest position PR2 also exceeds the maximum allowed rest position PRmax, the controller is configured to repeat the above process as many times as is needed to play out the entire amount of thread needed for the next stitch.
As shown in
A preferable desired length of each loop formed on the underside of the workpiece 18 had been found to range from 0.5 mm to 4 mm. Accordingly, the controller 70 may be configured to take into account a desired loop length constant LLC when forming stitches.
More specifically, if the controller determined that the second amount of thread AT2 should be used as the actual amount of thread AT used in the prior stitch, then the actual loop length LL created will be the new loop length LLnew, which will be greater than desired loop length constant LLC. To adjust this longer loop length to be closer to the desired loop length constant LLC, the controller may be configured to calculate the next first amount of thread AT1next needed for the next stitch by using the following formula:
A
T1next
=L
S
+L
LC
−C
1−(2·LLnew−2·LLC).
Similarly, next second amount of thread AT2next needed for the next stitch by using the following formula:
A
T2next
=[L
S
2
+H
S
2]1/2−(2·LLnew−2·LLC).
The controller is configured to compare the first amount of thread AT1next with the second amount of thread AT2next, and use the greater of the two amounts as the actual next amount of thread AT which is to be played out from the spool 103.
To account for the case where the controller 70 determines (1) that the second amount of thread AT2next should be used, the controller is configured to repeat the process for increasing the length LL of next loop made as described above (when the controller uses AT2next as the actual next amount of thread AT needed to make the next stitch).
In this way, when making the next stitch, thread from the prior loop will be pulled out of the prior stitch, so as to shorten the original loop length LLnew of the prior loop so that the final loop length is roughly equal to the desired loop length constant LLC.
Accordingly, amount of thread used to make the loop of the prior stitch (originally at twice the loop length LLnew) will be reduced to be roughly equal to the amount of thread (2·LLC) needed to make a loop of the desired length LLC (i.e., an amount of thread to extend through the top surface of the workpiece 18 to the bottom of the loop of length LLC, and then to extend from the bottom of the loop of length LLC back up through the top surface of the workpiece 18).
Thus, the up and down movements of the needle 102 are determined by controller 70 on a stitch-by-stitch basis, rather than being fixed as constant up and down movements to fixed top and bottom needle positions. This allows for greater control of the tensioning of each stitch, as well as greater control of the lengths of the thread loops created on the underside of the workpiece. Accordingly, a unique optimization of sewing stitch quality is able to be obtained
As seen in the above described drawings, the various positions of the needle 102 are determined based on the tip of the needle. This is because this position of the needle also corresponds to the position at which the thread is attached to the needle in the shown embodiment (i.e., where the thread passes through a hollow needle). However, the up and down movements of a solid needle with a horizontal hole (e.g., an “eye”) through which the thread passes can clearly also be determined on a stitch-by-stitch basis as above described above. In such a situation, the various positions of the needle 102 would be determined based on the horizontal hole of the needle (e.g., the position of the “eye” of the needle).
As shown in
The needle drive mechanism 301 accelerates during the stitch cycle (i.e., the downward stroke of the needle 102), consequently pulling the thread 101 with an abruptly increased force. The spool 103 and cartridge interface are designed to at least partially resist spinning of the spool. The sudden acceleration applied to the thread 101 by the needle drive mechanism, combined with the inertial force applied to the thread 101 by the spool 103 and the resistance to spinning of spool 103 be design, abruptly increases the tension on the thread 101, which can lead to uneven thread tension during the stitching process.
It is desirable to try and maintain a relatively smooth and gradual, increase and decrease in thread tension. Accordingly, the force deflection device 300 is designed to deflect or deform when the needle drive mechanism 301 accelerates during the stitch cycle. In this way, some of the initial force applied by the needle drive mechanism 301 to the thread 101 during the stitch cycle is transferred to the force deflection device 300, rather than having all of that initial force transferred directly to the spool 103.
Thus, the force deflection device 300 is able to reduce the sudden increase in tension typically experienced by the thread 101. In this way, the deformation of the force deflection device 300 acts to absorb the peak energy applied by the needle drive mechanism 301 to the thread 101. This creates a more uniform tension in the thread to reduce the likelihood of thread slippage in the thread feeding device (e.g., the needle drive mechanism 301), as well as to reduce the likelihood of spool over-spinning and over-pulling the thread 101.
In the particular embodiment of
In this embodiment, the spring 300 is designed as a cantilever beam with a stiffness that is optimized to operate within the range of needle drive acceleration and amount of thread on spool (the diameter of thread on the spool affects spool inertia, from engineering theory). However, the force deflection device 300 could take the form of a coiled spring which deforms by compressing when the needle drive mechanism 301 accelerates downward. In other words, the exact form of the force deflection device 300 is not important, so long as it is designed to deform to absorb some of the initial force applied by the needle drive mechanism 301 to the thread 101.
The force deflection device 300 should be optimized to operate within the range of needle drive acceleration, amount of thread on the spool, and friction in the spool/cartridge interface. It has been determined that the initial force applied by the needled drive mechanism 301 to the thread 101 is in the range of 10 to 100 g-force, with around 50 g-force being a commonly applied initial force. Thus, the force deflection device 300 best serves its purpose when designed to deform under such an applied force range. As such, the material used to make the force deflection device 300 can be a metal, a rubber, a plastic, or any other material with an elastic property such that it will deform when 10 to 100 g-force is applied, and then return to its initial shape when the needled drive mechanism 301 no longer applies a feeding force to the thread 101. To address the commonly applied initial force of 50 g-force, the material used to make the force deflection device 300 might be chosen such that the deflection device 300 only deforms when at least 50 g-force is applied thereto.
Furthermore, while the usefulness of the force deflection device 300 has been explained in the context of feeding thread for a sewing or embroidery machine, the force deflection device 300 has applicability beyond this context. More specifically, the force deflection device 300 can be applied to any device or process which serves to feed, pull, draw, or otherwise remove a material from a spool. For example, the force deflection device 300 could be applied to a situation where rope or chain material is to be fed from a spool. All that would be required is to adjust the force range in which the force deflection device 300 deforms to absorb the initial feed force.
A workpiece embroidered by the single-thread sewing device described above will further require a separate means for permanent retention of the stitches in the workpiece. This may be accomplished by separate application of an adhesive to secure the thread loops to each other or to the underside of the workpiece.
Employment of the described mechanism can be further extended, in principle, to sewing by the lockstitch method, with addition of a second thread and accompanying stitch interlocking mechanism (i.e., rotary hook) on the underside of the workpiece (not shown).
As shown in
In one embodiment lever 63, is added underneath the embroidery deck 61. The lever 63 is able to pivot. When the needle drive mechanism 301 moves downward during the downward stroke and contacts the lever 63, the resulting downward movement of the lever 63 actuates a sensor 65 such as a mechanical switch or photo interrupter. From this actuation, the position of the needle 102 is known. Depending on the configuration of the lever 63 and sensor 65, the needle position can be detected with high precision.
A drive mechanism 24 can be, for example, a steady drive motor such as a DC drive motor 24. However, in an embroidery machine 1 using a variable or intermittent drive mechanism 24 (such as a stepper motor 24 for driving the needle drive mechanism 301), the stepper motor 24 can lose position if subjected to too high of a load. If this occurs, the position of the needle 102 may no longer be known if operating in open loop control. This can result in significant degradation of stitch quality.
A lever is mounted underneath the embroidery deck 61 in the configuration of a cantilever beam as shown in the embodiment of
The up position is shown in
In another embodiment, instead of the lever 66 contacting a mechanical switch 65, a flag could be attached to the lever 63 such that the lever 66 actuates a photo interrupter (not shown). The sensor 65 can comprise an emitter such as a light source and a detector such as photodiode. A flag can be positioned on the lever 63 such that it interrupts a signal between the emitter and the detector, for example, a light signal to the photodiode.
In each of the embodiments, the distances from the pivot or hinge 64 to the switch 65, needle plate 62, and stop 66 can be optimized for range of motion and force.
As explained above, depending on the configuration of the lever 63 and sensor 65, the needle position can be detected with high precision. At least one of the pivot point 64 for the lever 63, the sensor 65, and the stop 66 can be positioned to optimize at least one of a range of motion of deflection as well as a force. The device 60 can further be configured such that at least one of the pivot point 64, the sensor 65, and the stop 66 is positioned to optimize at least one of the desired qualities of the sewing apparatus. Such desired qualities may include reduced wear on the device 60 from repeated operation, as well as stitch delivery from the needle mechanism to the workpiece 18. For example, the force on the needle plate 62 required to actuate the switch 65 can be adjusted by shifting the position of the needle plate 62 relative to the pivot 64. The factors for the optimizing the configuration are expressed as follows in conjunction with
Force:
Deflection:
where:
As incorporated into the sewing apparatus 1 the sensor 65 included in the detecting mechanism 60 is configured to detect the physical movement of the needle mechanism. The sensor 65 sends a signal to the controller 70, such that the sensor 65 and the drive mechanism 24 form a closed feedback loop operable to allow the CPU 71A to track the position of the needle drive mechanism 301 of the thread feed mechanism 100 with respect to a workpiece 18 for the needlework during operation.
As shown in
Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and modifications, and that other modifications and variations may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
