Lower thread winding device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6640734
  • Patent Number
    6,640,734
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, May 30, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 4, 2003
    20 years ago
Abstract
There are provided an upper shaft clutch mechanism 140, a bobbin 22 including a slit 39, a horizontal holder 4 including an inner holder 18 and a blade tip 42, a bobbin driving member 11, bobbin driving member moving means 94 for moving the bobbin driving member 11 to freely advance or retreat between two positions having a separating position and a connecting position, a thread holding and catching member 48 including an upper thread holding portion 59, an upper thread engaging portion 60 and a thread position regulating portion 58 which are always set in a retreat position and are set in an entry position during a thread winding operation, thread holding and catching member moving means 53 for moving the thread holding and catching member 48 to freely advance or retreat between two positions having a retreat position and an entry position, and a thread winding operation control portion 193 for controlling the operation of each portion during the thread winding operation.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a lower thread winding device and a lower thread winding amount control device, and more particularly to a lower thread winding device suitable for supplying a lower thread to a bobbin without removing the bobbin from a horizontal holder.




2. Description of the Related Art




Conventionally, there have been proposed various lower thread winding devices capable of supplying a lower thread to a bobbin without removing the bobbin from a horizontal holder.




These conventional examples have been described in JP-A-11-47480. This publication has described that a needle bar is separated from an upper shaft by means of a needle bar separating mechanism and is held in an upper position during a thread winding operation, and at the same time, an outer holder and a bobbin are rotated through a lower shaft by means of a sewing machine motor and a thread is wound upon the bobbin, thereby carrying out lower thread winding.




[Problems that the Invention is to Solve]




In the conventional lower thread winding device, however, the needle bar separating mechanism is operated to disconnect the upper shaft from the needle bar, thereby stopping the needle bar in the upper position while the thread is wound upon the bobbin.




For this reason, even if the needle bar separating mechanism is operated to stop the needle bar, a thread take-up interlocking with the upper shaft does not stop but continues a vertical motion. For example, consequently, an upper thread is intermittently pulled and loosened by the thread take-up moving vertically while the thread pulled out of the supplied thread is wound by the lower thread winding device. In the case in which a sewing operation is automatically restarted after the lower thread winding operation is ended, therefore, a stitch formed immediately after the start of stitch formation is loosened.




Moreover, in the case in which a thread to be wound as a lower thread by the lower thread winding device is set to be an upper thread subjected to upper thread winding and the upper thread is pulled out and is wound upon the bobbin through a needle, a thread tension is changed by the thread take-up moving vertically. Therefore, there is a problem in that a great load is applied to each member of a thread winding mechanism through which the upper thread passes and thread fastening for the lower thread to be wound upon the bobbin fluctuates.




In some cases in which the upper thread acts violently and is thus entangled with a component on a thread path or slips out of the needle by the vertical motion of the thread take-up during the thread winding operation or the upper thread is to be wound upon the bobbin, moreover, the thread is pulled so that the upper thread cannot be appropriately guided to a winding position. Furthermore, the needle bar separating mechanism is incorporated around the needle bar. Therefore, there is also a problem in that a structure is complicated in the vicinity of the needle bar.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention has been made in consideration of these respects and has an object to stop a needle bar and a thread take-up while a lower thread is supplied to a bobbin without removing the bobbin from a horizontal holder by a lower thread winding device.




In order to achieve the object, a first aspect of the invention is directed to a lower thread winding device comprising:




a bobbin including upper and lower flanges provided on a central shaft upon which a lower thread is to be wound and both ends thereof, the upper flange having a slit opened to an outer peripheral edge;




a horizontal holder having an inner holder capable of accommodating the bobbin and an outer holder provided with a blade tip for catching a thread;




a bobbin driving member provided on an axial center of the outer holder and capable of being rotated integrally with the outer holder;




first moving means for moving the bobbin driving member to a connecting position in which the bobbin driving member and the bobbin are connected to cause the bobbin to be rotatable during an operation for winding the thread upon the bobbin and a separating position in which the bobbin driving member is disconnected from the bobbin during a sewing operation;




a thread holding member including a thread holding portion capable of holding a thread end of the thread supplied to the bobbin during the thread winding operation and a thread position regulating portion for positioning the supplied thread on a supply side by the thread holding portion during the thread winding operation to abut on the upper flange, the thread holding portion being movable to a retreat position in the vicinity of an outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and an entry position in which the supplied thread is caused to enter an inner upper part of the inner holder to be positioned above the upper flange during the thread winding operation;




second moving means for moving the thread holding portion of the thread holding member to the retreat position and the entry position;




an upper shaft clutch mechanism (


410


, a needle oscillation stepping motor


446


) provided between a drive shaft (a lower shaft


414


) to be driven by a sewing machine motor and a reciprocating member (a thread take-up crank


456


) for reciprocating a needle bar and a thread take-up in a vertical direction and capable of carrying out electrical switching into a connecting state in which the drive shaft is connected to the reciprocating member during the sewing operation and a holding state in which the connection is released and the thread take-up and the needle bar can be held in an upper position during a lower thread winding operation; and




thread winding operation control means (


193


,


193


A) for operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause a supplied thread connected between the thread holding portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation. By employing such a structure, it is possible to easily supply the bobbin with the thread to be used for embroidering without removing the bobbin from the horizontal holder. In addition, since the thread take-up is not moved vertically during the thread winding operation, the thread does not act violently and the upper thread can be prevented from being entangled or cut.




Moreover, a second aspect of the invention is directed to a lower thread winding device comprising:




a bobbin including upper and lower flanges provided on a central shaft upon which a lower thread is to be wound and both ends thereof, the upper flange having a slit opened to an outer peripheral edge;




a horizontal holder having an inner holder capable of accommodating the bobbin and an outer holder provided with a blade tip for catching a thread;




a bobbin driving member provided on an axial center of the outer holder and capable of being rotated integrally with the outer holder;




first moving means for moving the bobbin driving member to a connecting position in which the bobbin driving member and the bobbin are connected to cause the bobbin to be rotatable during an operation for winding the thread upon the bobbin and a separating position in which the bobbin driving member is disconnected from the bobbin during a sewing operation;




a thread holding member including a thread engaging portion capable of holding a thread end of an upper thread supplied to a needle during the thread winding operation and a thread position regulating portion for positioning the upper thread on a supply side by the thread engaging portion during the thread winding operation to abut on the upper flange, the thread engaging portion being movable to a retreat position in the vicinity of an outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and an entry position in which the supplied thread is caused to enter an inner upper part of the inner holder to be positioned above the upper flange during the thread winding operation;




second moving means for moving the thread engaging portion of the thread holding member to the retreat position and the entry position;




an upper shaft clutch mechanism (


410


, the needle oscillation stepping motor


446


) provided between a drive shaft (the lower shaft


414


) to be driven by a sewing machine motor and a reciprocating member (the thread take-up crank


456


) for reciprocating a needle bar and a thread take-up in a vertical direction and capable of carrying out electrical switching into a connecting state in which the drive shaft is connected to the reciprocating member during the sewing operation and a holding state in which the connection is released and the thread take-up and the needle bar can be held in an upper position during a lower thread winding operation; and




thread winding operation control means (


193


,


193


B) for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into the connecting state to drive a sewing machine, thereby catching the upper thread connected to the needle by means of the blade tip of the outer holder and separately rotating the upper thread in upper and lower parts of the inner holder, then causing the thread engaging portion of the thread holding member to catch the upper thread passing over the inner holder, and thereafter operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause the supplied thread connected between the thread engaging portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation. By employing such a structure, it is possible to easily supply the bobbin with the upper thread to be the lower thread without removing the bobbin from the horizontal holder. In addition, since the thread take-up is not moved vertically during the thread winding operation, the thread does not act violently and the upper thread can be prevented from being entangled or cut.




Furthermore, a third aspect of the invention is directed to a lower thread winding device comprising:




a bobbin including upper and lower flanges provided on a central shaft upon which a lower thread is to be wound and both ends thereof, the upper flange having a slit opened to an outer peripheral edge;




a horizontal holder having an inner holder capable of accommodating the bobbin and an outer holder provided with a blade tip for catching a thread;




a bobbin driving member provided on an axial center of the outer holder and capable of being rotated integrally with the outer holder;




first moving means for moving the bobbin driving member to a connecting position in which the bobbin driving member and the bobbin are connected to cause the bobbin to be rotatable during an operation for winding the thread upon the bobbin and a separating position in which the bobbin driving member is disconnected from the bobbin during a sewing operation;




a thread catching and holding member including a thread holding portion provided in a tip portion and serving to hold a thread supplied during the thread winding operation and a thread engaging portion for engaging an upper thread, and a thread position regulating portion provided on a rear end side from the thread holding portion and the thread engaging portion and serving to position a supplied thread on a supply side by the thread holding portion and the thread engaging portion or the upper thread supplied as a lower thread during the thread winding operation to abut on the upper flange of the bobbin, in which a tip portion is always placed in a retreat position in the vicinity of an outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and is placed in an entry position in which the tip portion enters an inner upper part of the inner holder during the thread winding operation;




second moving means for moving the thread holding portion and the thread engaging portion in the thread catching and holding member to freely advance or retreat between two positions including the retreat position and the entry position;




an upper shaft clutch mechanism (


410


, the needle oscillation stepping motor


446


) capable of carrying out electrical switching into a connecting state in which a drive shaft (the lower shaft


414


) to be driven by a sewing machine motor is connected to a reciprocating member (the thread take-up crank


456


) for reciprocating a needle bar and a thread take-up in a vertical direction during the sewing operation and a holding state in which the connection is released and the thread take-up and the needle bar can be held in an upper position during a lower thread winding operation;




a first thread winding operation control portion (


193


A) for operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause the supplied thread connected between the thread holding portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation; and




a second thread winding operation control portion (


193


B) for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into the connecting state to drive a sewing machine during the thread winding operation, thereby catching the upper thread connected to a needle by means of the blade tip of the outer holder and separately rotating the upper thread in upper and lower parts of the inner holder, then causing the thread engaging portion and the thread position regulating portion in the thread catching and holding member to catch the upper thread passing over the inner holder, and thereafter operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause the supplied thread connected between the thread holding portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation.




By employing such a structure, it is possible to easily supply the bobbin with the supplied thread to be used for embroidering or the upper thread to be the lower thread without removing the bobbin from the horizontal holder. In other words, it is possible to easily select the type of the lower thread to be supplied to the bobbin depending on a stitch. In addition, since the thread take-up is not moved vertically during the thread winding operation, the thread does not act violently and the upper thread can be prevented from being entangled or cut.




Moreover, a fourth aspect of the invention is directed to the lower thread winding device according to the first or third aspect of the invention, further comprising:




a thread separating portion (an inclined surface


47


for thread separation) protruded from the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and capable of moving the supplied thread positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder in a separating direction from the outer holder when the outer holder is normally rotated; and




a reholding operation control portion (a lower thread reholding operation control portion


194


) for setting the thread holding member or the thread catching and holding member into a thread catching position which is placed above the retreat position, then rotating the outer holder to move the supplied thread positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder in the separating direction from the outer holder, thereby operating the thread holding member or the thread holding portion (an upper thread holding portion


59


) of the thread catching and holding member to hold the supplied thread after the thread winding operation is completed. By employing such a structure, it is possible to efficiently carry out the thread winding operation when using the supplied thread.




Furthermore, a fifth aspect of the invention is directed to the lower thread winding device according to the second or third aspect of the invention, further comprising an upper thread reeling mechanism (


120


) including thread loosening means (


130


) for releasing the upper thread supplied as the lower thread at time of start of the thread winding operation; and




an upper thread control portion (


195


) for causing an amount of reeling of the upper thread reeled from the upper thread reeling mechanism to be a set amount at time of the start of the thread winding operation and for operating the thread loosening means to release the upper thread when the bobbin winds the upper thread to be the low thread. By employing such a structure, it is possible to easily and reliably supply the bobbin with the upper thread to be the lower thread without removing the bobbin from the horizontal holder.




Moreover, a sixth aspect of the invention is directed to the lower thread winding device according to the first aspect of the invention, further comprising a thread catching hook (


46


) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder, an outer holder reverse rotating mechanism (


205


) for reversely rotating the outer holder, lower thread tension means (


25


) including a thread introducing port fixed to the inner holder and serving to introduce the lower thread to be the supplied thread to move along an upper surface of the inner holder when the outer holder is reversely rotated by means of the outer holder reverse rotating mechanism, and a lower thread tension applying portion (


196


) for setting the lower thread connected to the bobbin into the retreat position to be positioned below an upper surface of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and causing the thread catching hook to catch the lower thread connected to the bobbin, then reversely rotating the outer holder and operating the lower thread connected to the bobbin to enter the thread introducing port after the thread winding operation is completed. By employing such a structure, it is possible to easily apply a proper tension to the lower thread wound upon the bobbin after the thread winding operation is ended.




Furthermore, a seventh aspect of the invention is directed to the lower thread winding device according to the sixth aspect of the invention, further comprising a cutting blade fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder to be opposed to the blade tip in an almost tangential direction; and an opening portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder at this side in a direction of rotation to be adjacent to the cutting blade when the outer holder is reversely rotated. By employing such a structure, it is possible to easily cut the lower thread wound upon the bobbin from the supply side after the thread winding operation is ended.




Moreover, an eighth aspect of the invention is directed to a lower thread winding device, further comprising thread winding amount setting means for setting an amount of winding of the lower thread to be wound upon the bobbin, thread winding diameter detecting means for detecting a maximum thread winding diameter of the lower thread to be wound upon the bobbin, thread winding number measuring means for detecting a thread winding rotation number during the thread winding operation of the bobbin, and a thread winding amount control portion for carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding diameter detecting means detects the maximum thread winding diameter of the lower thread wound upon the bobbin if the thread winding amount of the lower thread is set to have a maximum set value by the thread winding amount setting means, and carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding number measuring means detects the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin which is stored and set depending on the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting means if the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting means is less than the maximum set value. By employing such a structure, it is possible to reliably supply the bobbin with the lower thread in a proper amount.




Furthermore, a ninth aspect of the invention is directed to the lower thread winding device according to the first or third aspect of the invention, further comprising thread hold detecting means for detecting that the thread supplied during the thread winding operation is held in the thread holding member or the thread catching and holding member. By employing such a structure, it is possible to easily detect the suitability of the start of the thread winding operation using the supplied thread.




Moreover, a tenth aspect of the invention is directed to the lower thread winding device according to the first, second or third aspect of the invention, further comprising a sewing data storage portion for storing a plurality of pattern sewing data, pattern selecting means for selecting desirable pattern sewing data from the pattern sewing data, and an automatic setting portion for automatically setting selection of the lower thread to be supplied to the bobbin depending on the pattern sewing data selected by the pattern selecting means and/or a thread winding amount of the lower thread. By employing such a structure, it is possible to automatically set the selection of the lower thread and the thread winding amount of the lower thread depending on the pattern sewing data. Consequently, it is possible to easily carry out the operation.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing the structure of a main part in the vicinity of a horizontal holder according to an embodiment of a lower thread winding device of the invention,





FIG. 2

is a partially sectional view showing the structure of the main part in the vicinity of the horizontal holder,





FIG. 3

is a perspective view showing lower thread tension means,





FIG. 4

is a plan view showing the vicinity of the bottom portion of an inner holder,





FIG. 5

is a longitudinal sectional view showing a bobbin,





FIG. 6

is a plan view showing a state in

FIG. 5

,





FIG. 7

is a plan view showing the main part of a thread catching and holding member,





FIG. 8

is a front view showing a state in

FIG. 7

,





FIG. 9

is a perspective view showing the main part of first moving means,





FIG. 10

is a view illustrating an example of a special lower thread reeling mechanism and a state in which a supplied thread is held in the thread catching and holding member,





FIG. 11

is a view illustrating the structure of a main part according to an example of an upper thread reeling mechanism,





FIG. 12

is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a needle bar and a thread take-up in a sewing machine to which an upper shaft clutch mechanism is applied,





FIG. 13

is a perspective view showing the structure of a main part according to an example of thread winding diameter detecting means,





FIG. 14

is a plan view showing a state in

FIG. 13

,





FIG. 15

is a view showing the structure of a main part according to an example of an operating portion,





FIG. 16

is a front view showing the structure of a main part according to an example of thread hold detecting means,





FIG. 17

is a sectional side view taken along a line Y—Y in

FIG. 16

,





FIG. 18

is a sectional side view taken along a line Z—Z in

FIG. 16

,





FIG. 19

is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a control portion,





FIG. 20

is a view illustrating the thread winding amount of a lower thread,





FIG. 21

is a view illustrating the critical thread winding number of the lower thread,





FIG. 22

is a front view showing a main part in an initial state at time of the thread winding operation of the lower thread winding device according to the invention,





FIG. 23

is a view showing a state obtained before an advance is started succeeding to

FIG. 22

in the same manner as

FIG. 22

,





FIG. 24

is a view showing the state of the advance succeeding to

FIG. 23

in the same manner as

FIG. 22

,





FIG. 25

is a plan view showing the state in

FIG. 24

,





FIG. 26

is a view showing a state in which a thread can be wound succeeding to

FIG. 24

in the same manner as

FIG. 22

,





FIG. 27

is a view showing a state in which a lower thread can be caught succeeding to

FIG. 26

in the same manner as

FIG. 22

,





FIG. 28

is a view illustrating the main part of the positional relationship between a thread catching hook and a supplied thread in an operation for hanging a supplied thread onto the lower thread tension means after the thread winding operation is completed and an operation for cutting the supplied thread in the lower thread winding device according to the invention,





FIG. 29

is a perspective view showing the main part of a progress in the thread guarding operation and the cutting operation,





FIG. 30

is a view showing the progress succeeding to

FIG. 29

in the same manner as

FIG. 29

,





FIG. 31

is a view showing the progress succeeding to

FIG. 30

in the same manner as

FIG. 29

,





FIG. 32

is a view illustrating an upper thread catching state in which the thread catching and holding member catches an upper thread,





FIG. 33

is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part according to an example of an embodiment of the lower thread winding device to which a lower thread winding amount control device is applied according to the invention,





FIG. 34

is a bottom view showing a bobbin in

FIG. 33

,





FIG. 35

is an exploded perspective view showing a main part in

FIG. 33

,





FIG. 36

is a view illustrating a state in a position where a blade tip scoops and catches an upper thread loop in the thread winding operation of the lower thread winding device in

FIG. 33

,





FIG. 37

is a view showing a state in a position where the upper thread loop is caught by the blade tip and is led into the lower thread tension means succeeding to

FIG. 36

in the same manner as

FIG. 36

,





FIG. 38

is a view showing a state in a position where the upper thread loop caught by the blade tip is apt to slip off from the blade tip succeeding to





FIG. 37

in the same manner as

FIG. 36

,





FIG. 39

is a view showing a state in a position where the upper thread loop is entering the slit of a bobbin succeeding to

FIG. 38

in the same manner as

FIG. 36

,





FIG. 40

is a front view showing the inner holder of the lower thread winding device in

FIG. 33

,





FIG. 41

is a perspective view showing a main part in the thread winding operation of the lower thread tension means of the lower thread winding device in

FIG. 33

,





FIG. 42

is a view showing a main part in the sewing operation of the lower thread tension means of the lower thread winding device in

FIG. 33

in the same manner as

FIG. 41

,





FIG. 43

is a sectional view taken along a line A—A in

FIG. 39

,





FIG. 44

is a plan view showing a main part according to another example of the embodiment of the lower thread winding device to which the lower thread winding amount control device is applied according to the invention,





FIG. 45

is a longitudinal sectional view showing the main part in

FIG. 44

,





FIG. 46

is a perspective view showing a main part in the progress of the thread winding operation of the lower thread winding device in

FIG. 44

,





FIG. 47

is a view showing the progress succeeding to

FIG. 46

in the same manner as

FIG. 46

,





FIG. 48

is a view showing the progress succeeding to

FIG. 47

in the same manner as

FIG. 46

,





FIG. 49

is a perspective view showing an upper shaft clutch mechanism according to an example of the embodiment of the invention,





FIG. 50

is a side view showing an upper shaft clutch mechanism and a needle oscillation driving mechanism during the sewing operation,





FIG. 51

is a side view showing a state in which a stepping motor is driven in order to separate an upper shaft clutch, thereby disconnecting a needle bar and a thread take-up, and





FIG. 52

is a side view showing a state in which the upper shaft clutch mechanism is separated to stop an upper shaft in an upper position.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The invention will be described below based on an embodiment with reference to the drawings.





FIGS. 1

to


21


show a first example of an embodiment of a lower thread winding device according to the invention.




The lower thread winding device according to the embodiment is used in a sewing machine for carrying out embroidering, and can select a supplied thread (supplied thread) or an upper thread as a lower thread to be supplied to a bobbin during a thread winding operation.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment has a horizontal holder


4


provided ahead of a needle


3


attached to the tip portion of a needle bar


2


to be reciprocated in a vertical direction interlockingly with an upper shaft


416


during a sewing operation by means of a needle bar mechanism (FIG.


12


). The horizontal holder


4


is provided in a sewing machine frame which is not shown so as to be positioned below a throat plate


5


shown in the upper part of FIG.


2


and serves to form a desirable stitch in cooperation with a needle bar mechanism, a thread take-up mechanism and a cloth feeding mechanism shown in

FIG. 12

during the sewing operation. The reciprocating motion of the needle bar


2


in the vertical direction for reciprocating the needle


3


in the vertical direction interlockingly with the upper shaft during the sewing operation can separate the upper shaft


416


from a lower shaft


414


and an upper shaft pulley


424


which are to be driven by a sewing machine motor


413


during a thread winding operation to stop the reciprocating motions of the needle


3


and a thread take-up


422


in the vertical direction, thereby holding the needle


3


in an upper position by means of an upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


(

FIG. 49

) which will be described below.




The horizontal holder


4


has an outer holder


7


to be normally rotated in a counterclockwise direction seen from above as shown in an arrow A of

FIG. 1

interlockingly with the lower shaft


414


to be driven by the sewing machine motor


413


during the sewing operation. The outer holder


7


is formed almost cylindrically in two steps including an upper part to be a large diameter portion


7




a


having a large diameter and a lower part to be a small diameter portion


7




b


having a small diameter as shown in

FIG. 2. A

screw gear


8


(

FIG. 2

) to be engaged with a screw gear (not shown) fixed to the lower shaft


414


is secured to the small diameter portion


7




b


of the outer holder


7


, and the outer holder


7


is formed to be rotatable interlockingly with the rotating motion of the lower shaft


414


with the screw gear


8


.




A holder shaft


9


formed almost cylindrically is provided in the axial center portion of the outer holder


7


to penetrate through the axial center portion of the screw gear


8


as shown in

FIG. 2

, and the lower end of the holder shaft


9


is fixed to a holder attachment table


10


shown in the lower part of

FIG. 2

with a screw which is not shown. The holder attachment table


10


is attached to a base frame


33


fixed into the sewing machine frame which is not shown. A bobbin driving member


11


having both upper and lower ends protruded from both upper and lower ends of the holder shaft


9


is provided to be rotatable and movable in an axial direction, and the upper end of a bobbin driving member energizing spring


12


provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower part of the bobbin driving member


11


is caused to abut on the holder shaft


9


or the lower end face of the holder attachment table


10


and the lower end of the bobbin driving member energizing spring


12


is caused to abut on the upper surface of a snap ring


13


attached into the vicinity of the lower end of the bobbin driving member


11


so that the bobbin driving member


11


is always energized downward. Moreover, the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


is provided with a bobbin driving gear


14


. The bobbin driving gear


14


is always fitted in the inner part of a step portion


7




c


connecting the large diameter portion


7




a


and the small diameter portion


7




b


in the outer holder


7


, more specifically, a gear hole


17


having the same shape as that of the bobbin driving gear


14


provided to penetrate in a thickness direction in the axial center part of an outer holder bottom plate


16


fixed into the inner bottom part of the large diameter portion


7




a


with a screw


15


so that the bobbin driving member


11


is always rotated integrally with the outer holder


7


.




An inner holder


18


having an opened upper part which is almost cup-shaped is provided in the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


. The inner holder


18


is provided with an axial center thereof shifted leftward as seen from the upstream side in a cloth feeding direction with respect to the axial center of the outer holder


7


, and furthermore, is rotatably supported with a race face


7




d


formed in the upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


. The horizontal holder


4


provided with the axial center of the inner holder


18


shifted from that of the outer holder


7


can easily prevent a hitch stitch during a sewing operation so that quality of sewing can be enhanced and a space for providing a thread cutting device and a lower thread reeling device which are not shown can easily be maintained. The inner holder


18


is normally rotated together with the outer holder


7


by friction with the outer holder


7


when the outer holder


7


is normally rotated. The rotation of the inner holder


18


can be stopped by causing a projection


19


(

FIG. 1

) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner holder


18


positioned above the upper end of the outer holder


7


to abut on an inner holder detent


20


(

FIG. 1

) fixed to the sewing machine frame. Moreover, the reverse rotation of the inner holder


18


which is carried out when the outer holder


7


is reversely rotated can be stopped by an inner holder reverse rotation stopper


21


(

FIG. 1

) having an elasticity which is fixed to the sewing machine frame. Furthermore, a bobbin housing hole


23


for accommodating a bobbin


22


which will be described below is formed almost cylindrically in the axial center portion of the inner part of the inner holder


18


. A concave groove


24


for bobbin attachment and removal which has an upper part to be an opening is formed in a part of the peripheral surface of the bobbin housing hole


23


in order to easily attach and remove the bobbin


22


to and from the bobbin housing hole


23


. Furthermore, a part of the upper part of the bobbin housing hole


23


in a circumferential direction is provided with lower thread tension means


25


(

FIG. 1

) which also serves as a part of the bobbin housing hole


23


.




The lower thread tension means


25


serves to wind a lower thread DS and to supply the lower thread DS to the bobbin


22


and to then apply a proper tension to the lower thread DS during the sewing operation, and has a board


26


formed arcuately as shown in FIG.


3


. The inner peripheral surface of the board


26


is formed to have a curvature which is almost equal to the inside diameter of the bobbin housing hole


23


or is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the bobbin housing hole


23


in order to form a part of the inner surface of the bobbin housing hole


23


. The upper edge of the board


26


is provided with a thread introducing port


27


for introducing the lower thread DS to be moved from right toward left in

FIG. 3

along the upper surface of the inner holder


18


when the outer holder


7


is rotated reversely, and the tip portion of a thread introducing groove


28


penetrating in a thickness direction with such a width that the lower thread DS can pass is connected to the thread introducing port


27


. The rear end of the thread introducing groove


28


is connected to an almost circular thread engagement hole


29


formed in the lower left part of

FIG. 3

from the thread introducing port


27


of the board


26


and penetrating in the thickness direction. Furthermore, a groove-like thread outlet


30


is concaved on the upper edge of the board


26


positioned in the left part of

FIG. 3

from the thread engagement hole


29


. Moreover, a lower thread presser leaf spring


31


shown in an imaginary line of

FIG. 3

is provided in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the board


26


in order to press the lower thread DS reaching the thread outlet


30


from the thread engagement hole


29


, and the lower thread DS wound upon the bobbin


22


is connected to a stitch in such a state that a predetermined tension is applied with the lower thread presser leaf spring


31


between the thread engagement hole


29


and the thread outlet


30


as shown in FIG.


3


. The lower thread presser leaf spring


31


is superposed on the outer peripheral surface of the board


26


, and the lower thread presser leaf spring


31


and the board


26


are thus fixed to the inner holder


18


with a fixing screw


32


.




An inner holder through hole


34


penetrating in the thickness direction is formed to include the axial center of the bobbin


22


coincident with that of the inner holder


18


and the axial center of the outer holder


7


as shown in

FIG. 4

in a bottom portion


23




a


of the bobbin housing hole


23


which is shown in the lower part of

FIG. 2

, and the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


can enter the inner holder through hole


34


when the bobbin driving member


11


is lifted against the energizing force of the bobbin driving member energizing spring


12


. When the bobbin driving gear


14


enters the inner holder through hole


34


, it can be engaged with a bobbin driven gear


35


formed in the bobbin


22


which will be described below.




As shown in

FIG. 5

, the bobbin


22


has a bobbin center shaft


36


through which the lower thread DS is wound upon an outer peripheral surface, and an upper flange


37


and a lower flange


38


are provided on both ends of the bobbin center shaft


36


to be opposed to each other. In other words, the upper flange


37


is provided on the upper end of the bobbin center shaft


36


and the lower flange


38


is provided on the lower end. A lower end face


38




a


of the lower flange


38


shown in the lower part of

FIG. 5

is provided with the bobbin driven gear


35


having an axial center thereof equal to that of the lower flange


38


, that is, the bobbin


22


. The bobbin driven gear


35


can be engaged with the bobbin driven gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


when the bobbin driving member


11


is lifted against the energizing force of the bobbin driving member energizing spring


12


. Moreover, a slit


39


having an opening


39




a


on an outer peripheral edge is formed on the upper flange


37


as shown in FIG.


6


. Furthermore, the upper flange


37


and the lower flange


38


is provided in parallel to be opposed to each other with an interval through the bobbin center shaft


36


. Moreover, an almost annular wall portion


40


protruded toward the outside in a radial direction is formed in the connecting part of the bobbin center shaft


36


and the upper flange


37


as shown in

FIG. 5

, and a concave groove


41


is formed between the upper surface of the wall portion


40


and the lower surface of the upper flange


37


.




Returning to

FIG. 1

, the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


is provided with a blade tip


42


for catching an upper thread loop to form a stitch during the sewing operation, a cutting blade


43


for cutting the lower thread DS after the thread winding operation and an inducing portion


44


. Furthermore, an opening portion


45


is formed on this side in a rotating direction shown in the left part of

FIG. 1

of the cutting blade


43


which is adjacent to the cutting blade


43


when the outer holder


7


is rotated reversely. As shown in

FIGS. 2 and 4

, moreover, a thread catching hook


46


is protruded from the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


. The thread catching hook


46


is provided with a hook portion


46




a


(

FIG. 4

) having an almost L-shaped plane and serving to catch the lower thread DS wound upon the bobbin


22


and supplied after the thread winding operation which is to be normally opposed to the rotating direction when the outer holder


7


is reversely rotated. The back face of the hook portion


46




a


of the thread catching hook


46


is provided with an inclined surface


47


for thread separation which is movable in such a direction as to separate the lower thread DS positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


from the outer holder


7


when the outer holder


7


is normally rotated as shown in FIG.


4


. Moreover, the cutting blade


43


is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


in such a direction as to be opposed to the blade tip


42


in an almost tangential direction, and the thread catching hook


46


and the cutting blade


43


have a positional relationship set to hold the state in which the cutting blade


43


is separated from the portion of the lower thread DS reaching a thread catching and holding member


48


from the thread catching hook


46


which is wound upon the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


until the thread catching hook


46


completes the thread guarding for the lower thread DS over the lower thread tension means


25


and to cause the cutting blade


43


to abut on the portion of the lower thread DS reaching the thread catching and holding member


48


from the thread catching hook


46


which is wound upon the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


after the thread catching hook


46


completes the thread guarding for the lower thread DS over the lower thread tension means


25


.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the thread catching and holding member


48


is provided in the night part of

FIG. 1

from the horizontal holder


4


. In the case in which a supplied thread EDS or an upper thread US is selected as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation, the thread catching and holding member


48


can hold or engage either of them to be the lower thread DS during the thread winding operation. The thread catching and holding member


48


has an almost plate-shaped thread holding and catching portion


49


shown in the left part of FIG.


1


and an attachment portion


50


extended downward on this side of

FIG. 1

from the rear end of the thread holding and catching portion


49


shown in the right part of FIG.


1


. An attachment surface


50




a


extended in parallel in the thickness direction of the thread holding and catching portion


49


is provided on the tip of the attachment portion


50


, and a front attachment pin


51


and a rear attachment pin


52


making a longitudinal pair to be positioned in almost parallel with the thread holding and catching portion


49


are protruded from the attachment surface


50




a


toward this side of

FIG. 1

apart from the thread holding and catching portion


49


at a desirable interval. The pair of longitudinal attachment pins


51


and


52


are supported to be movable by thread catching and holding member moving means


53


which will be described below.




As shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, an almost sawtoothed hooking groove


54


through which the lower thread DS passes in the selection of the upper thread US as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation is formed in an almost central part in a longitudinal direction shown transversely in

FIG. 7

of the front edge of the thread holding and catching portion


49


constituting the thread catching and holding member


48


as shown in the lower part of

FIG. 7. A

rear tongue piece


55


is protruded toward this side shown in the lower part of FIG.


7


and is bent and extended to be inclined downward as shown in

FIG. 8

in an adjacent position to the tip side of the hooking groove


54


shown in the left part of FIG.


7


.




A protruded portion


56


protruded toward this side shown in the lower part of

FIG. 7

is formed at a proper interval on the tip side of the rear tongue piece


55


shown in the left part of

FIG. 7

, and a front tongue piece


57


protruded toward the rear end side shown in the right part of FIG.


7


and bent and extended to be inclined upward as shown in

FIG. 8

is formed on this side of the rear edge of the protruded portion


56


shown in the right part of

FIG. 7

at a proper interval from the front edge of a portion positioned on the rear end side of the protruded portion


56


shown in the right part of

FIG. 7. A

portion provided at the inner side on the lower surface of the base of the front tongue piece


57


shown in the upper part of

FIG. 7

acts as a thread position regulating portion


58


to position the supplied thread EDS positioned on the supply side from a thread holding portion


59


and a thread engaging portion


60


which will be described below or the upper thread US supplied as the lower thread DS to abut on the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation.




The tip side of the protruded portion


56


shown in the left part of

FIG. 7

is formed to have an almost transverse L-shaped front face by an erected portion


61


having the greatest width which is protruded toward this side shown in the lower part of

FIG. 7

from the tip edge of the protruded portion


56


shown in the left part of

FIG. 7 and a

horizontal portion


62


extended in a horizontal direction from the upper end of the erected portion


61


. The horizontal portion


62


is formed by a front horizontal portion


62




a


having a small width and an almost rectangular plane which is positioned in the left part of

FIG. 7

, is provided with a straight inner edge as shown in the upper part of FIG.


7


and is positioned on the tipmost side of the thread holding and catching portion


49


, and a rear horizontal portion


62




b


having a great width and an almost rectangular plane which connects the front horizontal portion


62




a


to the upper end of the erected portion


61


. The corner portion of the rear horizontal portion


62




b


shown in the lower left part of

FIG. 7

is obliquely chamfered. Moreover, the tip of the front horizontal portion


62




a


acts as a thread holding and catching tip


63


, and the upper corner portion of the thread holding and catching tip


63


is provided with a guide inclined surface


64


having a thickness gradually decreased toward the tip as shown in FIG.


8


. Furthermore, the corner portion of the thread holding and catching tip


63


shown in the lower left part of

FIG. 7

is chamfered to be rounded and the thread holding and catching tip


63


is wholly formed to have an almost rounded convex plane toward the tip as shown in FIG.


7


.




An almost transverse L-shaped thread guide tongue piece


65


to act as the guide of the lower thread DS in the selection of the supplied thread EDS to be the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation is formed to have a free end protruded upward toward this side shown in the lower part of

FIG. 7

in an almost central part in the width direction of the upper surface on the rear end side shown in the right part of

FIG. 7

from the rear tongue piece


55


of the thread holding and catching portion


49


.




A thread holding leaf spring


66


is provided in close contact with an upper surface on the tip side of the thread holding and catching portion


49


with a screw


67


(FIG.


7


). The thread holding leaf spring


66


is provided with an upper hooking groove


68


having the same planar shape as that of the hooking groove


54


formed in the thread holding and catching portion


49


, and the tip side of the upper hooking groove


68


shown in the left part of

FIG. 7

is provided with an upper rear tongue piece


69


protruded toward this side shown in the lower part of

FIG. 7

to be positioned on the rear tongue piece


55


and bent and extended to be inclined upward as shown in FIG.


8


. The inside of the base of the abutment portion of the upper rear tongue piece


69


and the rear tongue piece


55


acts as a rear holding portion


70


for an upper thread which holds the lower thread DS on the supply side of the thread position regulating portion


58


when the upper thread US is selected as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation.




A concave hooking groove


71


which is almost the same as the upper hooking groove


68


is formed on the inner edge of the upper hooking groove


68


of the thread holding leaf spring


66


shown in the upper part of

FIG. 7

, and a thread hooking tongue piece


72


protruded toward the inner side shown in the upper part of FIG.


7


and bent and extended to be inclined upward as shown in

FIG. 8

is formed adjacently in the right part of the concave hooking groove


71


. The inside of the base of the abutment portion of the thread hooking tongue piece


72


and the upper surface of the thread holding and catching portion


49


acts as a special rear holding portion


73


for a lower thread which holds the supplied thread EDS on the supply side of the thread position regulating portion


58


when the supplied thread EDS is selected as the lower thread DS which is to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation.




The tip side of the thread holding leaf spring


66


shown in the left part of

FIG. 7

is formed to have an almost transverse L-shaped front face with a straight front edge shown in the lower part of

FIG. 7

, and a corner portion shown in the lower left part of

FIG. 7

acts as a thread holding leaf spring tip


74


. The tip edge of the thread holding leaf spring


66


shown in the left part of

FIG. 7

is obliquely inclined toward the rear edge side shown in the right part of

FIG. 7

from the thread holding leaf spring tip


74


toward an inner edge shown in the upper part of

FIG. 7

as shown in

FIG. 7

, and a convex portion


75


is formed upward in

FIG. 7

in a middle portion superposed on the front horizontal portion


62




a


of the thread holding and catching portion


49


. Moreover, a portion on the tip side from the thread holding leaf spring tip


74


to the convex portion


75


is bent and extended to be inclined upward on the tip side as shown in FIG.


8


. The crossing portion of the tip edge of the thread holding leaf spring


66


and that of the thread holding and catching portion


49


acts as a thread engaging portion


60


which can engage the upper thread US to be the supplied lower thread DS to be positioned above the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


when it is placed in an entry position during the thread winding operation which will be described below, and the abutment portion of the convex portion


75


of the thread holding leaf spring


66


and the upper surface of the thread holding and catching portion


49


acts as a thread holding portion (thread holding portion)


59


capable of holding the supplied thread EDS above the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


when it is placed in the entry position during the thread winding operation which will be described below.




In the embodiment, there is used the thread catching and holding member


48


capable of holding or catching the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US which is selected as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


. In the case in which only the supplied thread EDS is supplied as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, a thread holding member having the thread position regulating portion


58


, the thread holding portion


59


and the special rear holding portion


73


for a lower thread which is not shown may be used in place of the thread catching and holding member


48


. In the case in which only the upper thread US is supplied as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, moreover, a thread catching member having the thread position regulating portion


58


, the thread engaging portion (thread holding portion)


60


and the rear holding portion


70


for an upper thread which is not shown may be used in place of the thread catching and holding member


48


.




Returning to

FIG. 1

, the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


serves to cause the tip portion of the thread catching and holding member


48


to advance or retreat between a retreat position and an entry position, and has a moving groove


76


through which the front attachment pin


51


and the rear attachment pin


52


protruded from the attachment surface


50




a


of the thread catching and holding member


48


are inserted. The moving groove


76


is formed in the vicinity of the upper part of an erected portion


77




a


of a mechanism table


77


having an almost L-shaped section which is fixed to the base frame


33


, and is formed by a slot-shaped horizontal portion


76




a


provided by setting a longitudinal direction to be almost horizontal as shown in the left part of

FIG. 1 and a

vertical portion


76




b


which has an almost central part in the longitudinal direction positioned in a vertical direction connected to the rear end side of the horizontal portion


76




a


shown in the right part of FIG.


1


and is provided like a convex circular arc toward the rear end side. The tips of the front attachment pin


51


and the rear attachment pin


52


are inserted through the moving groove


76


to be protruded toward this side, and furthermore, a snap ring


78


is attached to the tips of the front attachment pin


51


and the rear attachment pin


52


respectively as is well known. Consequently, the thread catching and holding member


48


is attached to the mechanism table


77


.




A plate-shaped lower driving plate


79


is provided in parallel at a proper interval in the lower right part on this side of

FIG. 1

in the erected portion


77




a


of the mechanism table


77


, and the lower driving plate


79


is supported to be movable along a guide groove


81


by inserting the tips of a pair of longitudinal guide pins


80


(one of which is shown) protruded from a back face shown on the inner side of

FIG. 1

in the lower driving plate


79


to be protruded through the guide groove


81


formed to be extended in parallel with the horizontal portion


76




a


of the moving groove


76


below the moving groove


76


of the mechanism table


77


and attaching the snap ring


82


to the tips of the guide pins


80


respectively as is well known.




Moreover, a plate-shaped upper driving plate


83


is provided in parallel at a proper interval in the upper right part on this side of

FIG. 1

in the erected portion


77




a


of the mechanism table


77


, and the lower end of the upper driving plate


83


is inserted through a guide rod


84


provided on the right side of the upper edge of the lower driving plate


79


and is always energized toward the tip side shown in the left part of

FIG. 1

by means of an energizing spring


85


attached to an outer peripheral surface on the rear end side of the guide rod


84


shown in the right part of FIG.


1


. An engagement groove


86


is formed on the lower edge of the upper driving plate


83


and an engagement pin


87


protruded upward in the right part of the guide rod


84


on the upper edge of the lower driving plate


79


is fitted in the engagement groove


86


so that the upper driving plate


83


can be prevented from being rotated around the guide rod


84


. Furthermore, the upper driving plate


83


is provided with a cam groove


89


from the oblique upper left part toward the oblique lower right part which has an opening in the left part of

FIG. 1

in order to form a cam face


88


for vertically moving the rear attachment pin


52


, thereby vertically moving the tip of the thread catching and holding member


48


along the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


, and the tip portion of the rear attachment pin


52


is formed to be fitted in the cam groove


89


. Moreover, a rack


90


to be engaged with a pinion


92


attached to the output shaft of a driving motor


91


is formed on the lower edge of the lower driving plate


79


and the lower driving plate


79


is movable along the guide groove


81


by the rotation of the driving motor


91


so that the thread catching and holding member


48


can freely advance and retreat.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, furthermore, the driving motor


91


of the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


is electrically connected to a control portion


93


which will be described below, and is driven in a predetermined timing based on a control instruction sent from the control portion


93


.




In the embodiment, there has been used the thread catching and holding member


48


capable of holding or catching the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US which is selected as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


. In the case in which only the supplied thread EDS is supplied as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, it is preferable that the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


should be used as second moving means which is not shown and causes the tip portion of the thread holding member which is not shown to advance or retreat between a retreat position and an entry position. In the case in which only the upper thread US is supplied as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, moreover, it is preferable that the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


should be used as thread catching member moving means which is not shown and causes the tip portion of the thread catching member (not shown) to advance or retreat between the retreat position and the entry position.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, first moving means


94


is provided below the bobbin driving member


11


. The first moving means


94


has an operating plate


95


having an almost L-shaped plane which is positioned below the bobbin driving member


11


. A gear connecting link


96


is continuously provided on the rear end of the operating plate


95


shown in the right part of

FIG. 2

as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


2


and


9


. A link support pin


97


erected in the vicinity of the corner portion of the mechanism table


77


in the lower left part of

FIG. 1

is inserted through an almost central part in the longitudinal direction of the gear connecting link


96


to be protruded toward this side in

FIG. 1

, and the gear connecting link


96


is attached to the mechanism table


77


to be supported rotatably around the link support pin


97


with a snap ring


98


attached to the tip side of the link support pin


97


. Furthermore, the operating plate


95


is always energized in a counterclockwise direction around the link support pin


97


by means of a spring


6


having one of ends engaged with the operating plate


95


and the other end engaged with the base frame


33


as shown in

FIG. 9

, and the rotation of the operating plate


95


in the counterclockwise direction around the link support pin


97


is held in a position where the lower end face of the gear connecting link


96


abuts on a positioning pin


99


protruded from the mechanism table


77


. As a result, the operating plate


95


is always provided below the bobbin driving member


11


and can hold such a separating position that the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


is engaged with the gear hole


17


of the outer holder bottom plate


16


and is separated from the bobbin driven gear


35


.




As shown in

FIG. 9

, an arcuate convex groove portion


100


is formed in the lower right part of the gear connecting link


96


and an abutment edge


100


A extended in an almost vertical direction is formed in the lower left part of the arcuate groove portion


100


. A stopper pin


105


can abut on the abutment edge


100


A. The stopper pin


105


is provided to penetrate in a thickness direction on an operating arm


104


of an almost bell crank-shaped stopper


103


rotatably attached through a snap ring


102


to a support pin


101


erected in the lower right part of the link support pin


97


of the mechanism table


77


. A spring


107


having one of ends engaged with a driving arm


106


and the other end engaged with the base frame


33


is provided on a driving arm


106


of the stopper


103


shown in the left part of

FIG. 9

, and the stopper pin


105


is always energized toward the abutment edge


100


A formed in an almost vertical direction in the lower left part of the arcuate groove portion


100


in such a state as to be energized in a counterclockwise direction by the energizing force of the spring


107


. Moreover, an inclined cam face


109


is formed in the right part of

FIG. 9

in the upper edge of the gear connecting link


96


. An operating pin


108


protruded from the back face of the lower driving plate


79


shown in

FIG. 1

can separate from or approach the inclined cam face


109


interlockingly with the advance and retreat motions of the lower driving plate


79


, and the operating pin


108


abuts on the inclined cam face


109


in the middle of the advance of the lower driving plate


79


toward the advance side shown in the left part of FIG.


1


and the gear connecting link


96


energized in the counterclockwise direction around the link support pin


97


is rotated in a clockwise direction against the energizing force of the spring


6


. As a result, the tip of the operating plate


95


is lifted in a predetermined timing to abut on the bobbin driving member


11


and to lift the bobbin driving member


11


and the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


is lifted so that the bobbin driving gear


14


engaged with the gear hole


17


of the outer holder bottom plate


16


is engaged with both of the gear hole


17


of the outer holder bottom plate


16


and the bobbin driven gear


35


and can be thereby set into a connecting position where the bobbin driving member


11


is connected to the bobbin


22


. Moreover, when the operating pin


108


abuts on the inclined cam face


109


in the middle in which the lower driving plate


79


advances toward the advance side shown in the left part of FIG.


1


and the gear connecting link


96


energized in the counterclockwise direction around the link support pin


97


is rotated in the clockwise direction against the energizing force of the spring


6


, the stopper pin


105


energized in the counterclockwise direction by the energizing force of the spring


107


is fitted in and engaged with a groove bottom


100




a


of the arcuate groove portion


100


.




Furthermore, the stopper pin


105


fitted in the groove bottom


100




a


of the arcuate groove portion


100


abuts on an almost inverted L-shaped stopper pin operating arm


159


provided to be protruded from the tip portion of the lower driving plate


79


in the middle in which the lower driving plate


70


is moved from an advance end shown in the left part of

FIG. 1

to a retreat end shown in the right part of

FIG. 1

, and is thereby separated from the groove bottom


100




a


of the arcuate groove portion


100


, and the operating pin


108


is separated from the inclined cam face


109


and is opposed to the abutment edge


100


A formed in the lower left part of the arcuate groove portion


100


by the counterclockwise rotation of the gear connecting link


96


energized in the counterclockwise direction by the energizing force of the spring


6


.




Therefore, the stopper pin


105


according to the embodiment can maintain a separation state from the arcuate groove portion


100


to hold the bobbin driving member


11


and the bobbin


22


in a separating position when the lower driving plate


79


shown in

FIG. 1

is positioned on the retreat end shown in the right part of

FIG. 1

, and can maintain a fitting state in the groove bottom


100




a


of the arcuate groove portion


100


to hold the bobbin driving member


11


and the bobbin


22


in a connecting position when the lower driving plate


79


shown in

FIG. 1

is positioned on the advance end shown in the left part of FIG.


1


.




More specifically, the first moving means


94


is formed to be operated interlockingly with the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


.




It is also possible to employ such a structure that the first moving means


94


is driven by another independent driving motor.




With reference to

FIG. 10

, next, description will be given to an example of a special lower thread reeling mechanism to be used when a supplied thread is supplied as a lower thread to be supplied to a bobbin.




In the case in which the supplied thread EDS is supplied as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


according to the embodiment, a special lower thread reeling mechanism


110


serves to apply a proper tension to the supplied thread EDS to be wounded upon the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation. A lower thread piece


111


having the supplied thread EDS wound is rotatably supported in the desirable position of the sewing machine frame which is not shown before at least the winding operation is started, and the supplied thread EDS reeled from the lower thread piece


111


supported rotatably on a lower thread rod which is not shown during the thread winding operation is hung to hold the thread end side on the thread catching and holding member


48


through the special lower thread reeling mechanism


110


positioned on the supply side as shown in

FIG. 10

at time of the start of the thread winding operation.




As shown in

FIG. 10

, the special lower thread reeling mechanism


110


has a lower thread tension pin


112


supported on an attachment stay which is not shown, and a movable disc


113


is movably provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower thread tension pin


112


along the lower threat tension pin


112


. A fixed disc


114


is provided on the lower end of the lower thread tension pin


112


to be mutually opposed to the movable disc


113


. Furthermore, a lower thread tension spring


115


is externally provided over the outer peripheral surface of the lower thread tension pin


112


and the lower end of the lower thread tension spring


115


is caused to abut on the upper surface of the movable disc


113


and the upper end of the lower thread tension spring


115


is caused to abut on the lower surface of a snap ring


116


attached to the vicinity of the upper end of the lower thread tension pin


112


so that the movable disc


113


can be always energized toward the fixed disc


114


. More specifically, the supplied thread EDS is interposed between the fixed disc


114


and the movable disc


113


by the energizing force of the lower thread tension spring


115


.




With reference to

FIG. 11

, next, description will be given to an example of an upper thread reeling mechanism to be used for supplying an upper thread as a lower thread to be supplied to a bobbin.




During the sewing operation and the thread winding operation in which the upper thread US is supplied as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, an upper thread reeling mechanism


120


according to the embodiment serves to apply a proper upper thread tension to the upper thread US reeled from an upper thread piece


121


, to hold the upper thread US in a proper timing at time of thread take-up thread fastening by a well-known thread take-up mechanism which is not shown after reeling the upper thread US required for forming a stitch during the sewing operation, to hold the upper thread US in a proper timing at time of the thread take-up thread fastening by the well-known thread take-up mechanism which is not shown after reeling the upper thread US required for engaging the upper thread US with the thread catching and holding member


48


during the thread winding operation, and to release the held upper thread US in a proper timing at time of the start of the thread winding operation for winding the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation.




As shown in

FIG. 11

, the upper thread reeling mechanism


120


has a driving roller


124


supported rotatably by a driving roller support shaft


123


erected on the upper surface of an attachment plate


122


. The upper thread US reeled from the upper thread piece


121


supported rotatably on an upper thread rod which is not shown through an upper thread tension applying device


119


abuts to be wound upon a part of the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller


124


. A driven gear


127


is coaxially formed on the lower end of the driving roller


124


. The driven gear


127


is engaged with a driving gear


126


fixed to the tip portion of an output shaft


125




a


which is protruded upward from the attachment plate


122


in a driving motor


125


attached to the lower surface of the attachment plate


122


. As a result, the driving roller


124


can be rotated by the rotation of the driving motor


125


.




A pair of driven rollers


128


are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller


124


in parallel at a certain interval. The driven rollers


128


separate from or approach the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller


124


through the upper thread US wounded in abutment on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller


124


. Each of the driven rollers


128


is rotatably supported on a driven roller support shaft


130


erected on the upper surface of a moving plate


129


provided above the attachment plate


122


. The moving plate


129


is provided with a slot


131


penetrating in a thickness direction in which the driving roller


124


can be fitted, and the slot


131


is externally fitted over the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller


124


so that the lower surface of the moving plate


129


is supported on the upper surface of the driven gear


127


. Moreover, one end shown in the lower part of

FIG. 11

in a moving plate driving link


133


supported rotatably by a link support pin


132


formed like an almost bell crank and having an almost central part in a longitudinal direction erected on the upper surface of the attachment plate


122


is rotatably attached with a connecting pin


134


in the vicinity of the left end of the moving plate


129


shown in the left part of FIG.


11


. By the rotating operation of the moving plate driving link


133


around the link support pin


132


, the moving plate


129


advances or retreats in such a state that a moving locus is regulated by the slot


131


fitted externally over the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller


124


. As a result, each of the driven rollers


128


is caused to separate from or approach the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller


124


through the upper thread US. Furthermore, one of the ends of an energizing spring


135


is engaged in the vicinity of the other end of the moving plate driving link


133


shown in the upper part of

FIG. 11

, and the energizing force of the energizing spring


135


always energizes the moving plate driving link


133


around the link support pin


132


in a counterclockwise direction to cause the moving plate


129


to advance rightward in

FIG. 11

, thereby causing each of the driven rollers


128


to abut on the driving roller


124


by predetermined abutment force. As a result, a predetermined upper thread tension can be applied to the upper thread US. Moreover, the driving motor


125


is electrically connected to the control portion


93


which will be described below as shown in a broken line of

FIG. 11

, and rotates the driving roller


124


in a predetermined timing based on a control instruction sent from the control portion


93


, thereby reeling the upper thread US in a set amount.




More specifically, each of the driven rollers


128


is caused to abut on the driving roller


124


without rotating the driving motor


125


, thereby bringing a holding state in which the upper thread US is held. By rotating the driving motor


125


in the holding state, the upper thread US can be reeled in a set amount with a predetermined upper thread tension applied.




One of the ends of a driving rod


137


is engaged in the vicinity of the other end of the moving plate driving link


133


shown in the upper part of FIG.


11


. The other end of the driving rod


137


is attached to an output shaft


136




a


of a solenoid


136


attached to a support stay (not shown) which can freely advance or retreat. The output shaft


136




a


of the solenoid


136


is placed in such an advance position as to hold a state in which each of the driven rollers


128


always abuts on the driving roller


124


by the energizing force of the energizing spring


135


to apply a predetermined upper thread tension to the upper thread US. As shown in a broken line of

FIG. 11

, the solenoid


136


is electrically connected to the control portion


93


which will be described below. The output shaft


136




a


of the solenoid


136


is moved from the advance position to a retreat position in a predetermined timing based on the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


so that the energizing spring


135


is extended to separate the driven roller


128


from the driving roller


124


. Consequently, the upper thread US set in the holding state can be released.




The solenoid


136


and the driving rod


137


constitute thread loosening means


138


for releasing, in a proper timing, the upper thread US held at time of the start of the thread winding operation according to the embodiment for winding the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation.




Moreover, a proper tension is applied to the lower thread DS by means of the upper thread tension applying device


119


between the upper thread piece


121


and the upper thread reeling mechanism


120


and the violent motion of the thread can be eliminated when the thread is moved from the upper thread piece


121


into the upper thread reeling mechanism


120


. Moreover, a tension required for thread winding is applied.




Next, an example of an upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


will be described with reference to

FIGS. 49

to


52


.





FIG. 49

is a perspective view showing an upper shaft clutch mechanism according to an example of the embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 50

is a side view showing the upper shaft clutch mechanism and a needle oscillation driving mechanism during a sewing operation,

FIG. 51

is a side view showing the upper shaft clutch mechanism in a state in which a stepping motor is driven to separate an upper shaft clutch, thereby removing a needle bar and a thread take-up, and

FIG. 52

is a side view showing the upper shaft clutch mechanism in a state in which the upper shaft clutch mechanism is separated to stop an upper shaft in an upper position.




As shown in

FIG. 49

, a sewing machine frame (not shown) to which the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


according to the invention is applied has such a structure as to drive a cloth feed dog


438


and a lower shaft


414


for operating the holder


4


by the sewing machine motor


413


(see FIG.


12


), to transmit a rotation from the lower shaft


414


to the upper shaft


416


through the belt


418


and to drive the needle bar


2


(see

FIG. 12

) to which the needle


3


is attached and the thread take-up


422


through the rotation of the upper shaft


416


.




The upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


includes an upper shaft pulley


424


which is supported on the upper shaft


416


coaxially and relatively rotatably and rotated by the lower shaft


414


through the belt


418


, an upper shaft separating cam


426


supported on the upper shaft


416


so as not to be relatively rotated and to be slideable in an axial direction to separate from or approach the upper shaft pulley


424


, and a cam side engaging portion


428


and a pulley side engaging portion


430


which are formed on the opposed end faces of the upper shaft separating cam


426


and the upper shaft pulley


424


, and can be engaged in a rotating direction when they approach at a constant relative rotating angle and are not engaged when they separate from each other in the axial direction. When the upper shaft separating cam


426


integral with the upper shaft


416


and the cam side engaging portion


428


to be a part thereof are engaged with or separate from the upper shaft pulley


424


and the pulley side engaging portion


430


to be a part thereof which are always rotated through the belt


418


, the rotation of the lower shaft


414


is transmitted to the upper shaft


416


or blocked.




The upper shaft separating cam


426


has the cam side engaging portion


428


on the upper shaft pulley


424


side as described above and is energized in the direction of the upper shaft pulley


424


through a compression coiled spring


432


.




The upper shaft separating cam


426


can be driven by an actuator


434


over the upper shaft


416


in an axial direction between a position in which the cam side engaging portion


428


is engaged with the pulley side engaging portion


430


and a position in which they are not engaged with each other.




The pulley side engaging portion


430


takes the shape of a straight groove which is almost orthogonal to the upper shaft


416


and the cam side engaging portion


48


is a straight convex portion to be fitted in the pulley side engaging portion


430


taking the shape of a straight groove and can be fitted (engaged) when both of them are coincident with each other in the direction of the rotation of the upper shaft


416


.




The reference numeral


426


A in

FIG. 49

denotes a pin provided on the upper shaft


416


in a radial direction. When the pin


426


A slides in a slot


426


B formed on the upper shaft separating cam


426


in parallel with the upper shaft


416


, the upper shaft separating cam


426


can be reciprocated in the axial direction in engagement with the upper shaft


416


in the radial direction.




A groove


426


C in a circumferential direction in which a contact member


434


A of the actuator


434


is to be inserted is formed in a middle position in the axial direction of the upper shaft separating cam


426


.




The end face of the groove


426


C on the upper shaft pulley


424


side acts as a flat surface


436


A orthogonal to the upper shaft


416


and furthermore, an end face on the compression coiled spring


432


side opposed thereto acts as an inclined cam face


436


in which a protrusion height in the direction of the upper shaft pulley


424


is changed corresponding to the rotating angle of the upper shaft


416


as shown in FIG.


49


.




The actuator


434


shown in

FIG. 49

is caused to selectively drive the contact member


434


A into two positions including an engagement position in which the contact member


434


A is in the groove


426


C in no contact with the inclined cam face


436


and the cam side engaging portion


428


is engaged with the pulley side engaging portion


430


and a non-engagement position in which the contact member


434


A is moved toward the inclined cam face


436


side and the cam side engaging portion


428


is disengaged from the pulley side engaging portion


430


in contact therewith.




The protrusion height of the inclined cam face


436


in the direction of the upper shaft pulley


424


, that is, a cam lift is set such that the inclined cam face


436


comes in contact with the contact member


434


A driven into the non-engagement position with the rotation of the upper shaft


416


and is moved in such a direction as to press the compression coiled spring


432


and the cam side engaging portion


428


is disengaged from the pulley side engaging portion


430


and the upper shaft separating cam


426


is separated from the upper shaft pulley


424


when the contact member


434


A is placed in the maximum lift position of the inclined cam face


436


.




The position of the maximum lift portion of the inclined cam face


436


in the direction of the rotation of the upper shaft


416


is set such that the cam side engaging portion


428


is disengaged from the pulley side engaging portion


430


in an angular position in the rotating direction corresponding to the upper dead point position of the needle bar


2


.




Accordingly, the contact member


434


A is driven to such a position as to come in contact with the inclined cam face


436


, that is, the non-engagement position, the inclined cam face


436


comes in contact with the contact member


434


A in the non-engagement position by the rotation of the upper shaft


416


. Consequently, a movement is carried out in such a direction as to compress the compression coiled spring


432


so that the needle bar


2


is always set in the upper dead point position when the cam side engaging portion


428


is disengaged from the pulley side engaging portion


430


.




Next, a needle oscillation driving mechanism


442


will be described.




The needle oscillation driving mechanism


442


serves to drive a needle oscillating mechanism


440


(see

FIG. 12

) for reciprocating the needle bar


2


in a direction crossing the cloth feeding direction of the cloth feed dog


438


.




The needle oscillation driving mechanism


442


includes an STM attachment plate


444


fixed to the upper part of the sewing machine (not shown), a needle oscillation STM


446


attached to the STM attachment plate


444


and serving to output rocking force to a central toothed wheel


446


A (see FIG.


50


), a needle oscillation cam


448


having a link gear


448


A to be engaged with the toothed wheel


446


A and rocked by the toothed wheel


446


A through the link gear


448


A, and a needle oscillation link


450


having a needle oscillation contact shaft


450


A on one end and rocked by the contact of the needle oscillation contact shaft


450


A with the outer periphery of the needle oscillation cam


448


corresponding to a cam lift amount in the vicinity of the lower side of the upper shaft separating cam


426


, and is constituted such that when the needle oscillation link


450


is rocked around a shaft


435


B by the reciprocation of the toothed wheel


446


A, the rocking motion is transmitted to the needle oscillating mechanism


440


through a rocking rod


452


.




In the example of the embodiment, the actuator


434


is constituted by an operating link


435


A attached to the link gear


448


A of the needle oscillation cam


448


to be rocked integrally therewith, a rocked link


435


C pressed and rocked in a counterclockwise direction around the rocking shaft


435


B in

FIG. 50

when the operating link


435


A is rocked and led beyond a normal needle oscillation rocking angle range S (see

FIG. 50

) together with the link gear


448


A, the contact member


434


A attached to the tip of the rocked link


435


C on the opposite side of the operating link


435


A to be protruded into the groove


426


C of the upper shaft separating cam


426


, and a spring


435


D for energizing the rocked link


435


C in a clockwise direction in the drawing.




In

FIG. 12

, the reference numeral


456


denotes a thread take-up crank for converting the rotation of the upper shaft


416


into the rocking motion of the thread take-up


422


, and the reference numeral


458


denotes a needle bar crank for transmitting the rocking motion to a needle bar holder


460


provided on the upper end of the needle bar


2


interlockingly with the thread take-up crank


456


. The other end of the rocking rod


452


is connected to the upper end of the needle bar


2


.




Next, the function of the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


will be described.




During a normal sewing operation in which the upper shaft


416


is not separated from the sewing machine motor


413


, the rotation of the sewing machine motor


413


is transmitted to the upper shaft


416


through the lower shaft


414


, the belt


418


, the upper shaft pulley


424


and the upper shaft separating cam


426


engaged therewith.




At this time, the needle oscillation STM


446


rocks the link gear


448


A through the toothed gear


446


A within the needle oscillation rocking angle range S in FIG.


50


. Consequently, even if the needle oscillation contact shaft


450


A is rocked in conformity with the rocking motion of the needle oscillation cam


448


, the rocking motion is transmitted to only the needle oscillating mechanism


440


through the rocking rod


452


and the actuator


434


is not driven.




In the case in which the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is to be operated, the needle oscillation STM


446


is operated and the link gear


448


A is rocked by the toothed wheel


446


A in the clockwise direction in

FIG. 50

beyond the needle oscillation rocking angle range S.




Consequently, the operating link


435


A connected to the link gear


448


A is greatly rocked in the clockwise direction so that the rocked link


435


C is rocked in the counterclockwise direction around the rocking shaft


435


B.




Accordingly, the contact member


434


A provided on the tip of the rocked link


435


C is driven in the groove


426


C of the upper shaft separating cam


426


to the non-engagement position leftwards in the drawing.




In the case in which the contact member


434


A is moved to the left in the drawing and does not come in contact with the inclined cam face


436


as shown in

FIG. 51

, the inclined cam face


436


is being rotated together with the upper shaft


416


and the upper shaft separating cam


426


is thereby driven leftwards in the drawing against the energizing force of the compression coiled spring


432


through the contact member


434


A when the lift portion of the inclined cam face


436


comes to the position of the contact member


434


A and the cam side engaging portion


428


is disengaged from the pulley side engaging portion


430


as shown in FIG.


52


.




Accordingly, the upper shaft pulley


424


is raced and the rotation is not transmitted to the upper shaft


416


through the upper shaft separating cam


426


.




When the contact member


434


A is moved leftwards and immediately comes in contact with the lift portion of the inclined cam face


436


, the inclined cam face


436


is exactly pushed leftwards in the drawing against the energizing force of the compression coiled spring


432


to disengage the cam side engaging portion


428


from the pulley side engaging portion


430


.




Since the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


are interlocked with the upper shaft


416


as shown in

FIG. 12

, the upper shaft


416


is stopped so that the motions of the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


are stopped.




At this time, the upper shaft pulley


424


is rotated by the belt


418


in a separation state from the upper shaft


416


. For this reason, the lower shaft


414


is not stopped. More specifically, it is possible to stop the vertical motion of the needle bar


2


and the movement of the thread take-up


422


in the state of rotation of the lower shaft


414


.




In the case in which the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is to be returned to a connecting position, the needle oscillation STM


446


is driven to return the link gear


448


A in the counterclockwise direction in

FIG. 50

within the normal needle oscillation rocking angle range by means of the toothed wheel


446


A. Thus, the operating link


435


A is separated from the rocked link


435


C. Consequently, the rocked link


435


C is returned in the clockwise direction in

FIG. 50

by the tensile force of the spring


435


D and the contact member


434


A provided on the tip of the actuator


434


is moved in the groove


426


C in the direction of the upper shaft pulley


424


.




Accordingly, the contact member


434


A is separated from the inclined cam face


436


so that the upper shaft separating cam


426


is moved rightwards in

FIG. 50

by the restoring force of the compression coiled spring


432


. Then, the sewing machine motor


413


is driven so that the upper shaft pulley


424


is rotated. When the positions in the directions of rotation of the cam side engaging portion


428


and the pulley side engaging portion


430


are coincident with each other, both of them are engaged and the upper shaft


416


is rotated so that a normal sewing state is returned.




Thus, the motions of the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


can be stopped during automatic lower thread winding, the tensions of the upper and lower threads can be stabilized, the upper thread can be prevented from slipping off and the violence sound of the bobbin in the thread winding can be reduced.




Next, an example of thread winding diameter detecting means will be described with reference to

FIGS. 13 and 14

.




Thread winding diameter detecting means


160


according to the embodiment serves to detect the maximum thread winding diameter of the lower thread DS to be wounded upon the bobbin


22


.




As shown in

FIGS. 13 and 14

, the thread winding diameter detecting means


160


according to the embodiment has a light emitting element


161


and a right receiving element


162


which are provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


to be opposed to each other. An optical path


163


reaching the light receiving element


162


from the light emitting element


161


is positioned above the outer holder


7


and can detect a maximum thread winding diameter


164


of the lower thread DS shown in a broken line of

FIG. 14

between the upper flange


37


and the lower flange


38


in the bobbin


22


. Furthermore, the inner holder


18


is provided with an optical path hole coincident with the optical path


163


which is not shown in such a state that the inner holder


18


abuts on the inner holder detent


20


, and the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


is provided with an optical path through hole coincident with the optical path


163


in a specific phase which is not shown.




The specific phase implies that the optical path hole formed on the inner holder


18


which is not shown and the optical path through hole formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


which is not shown are rectilinearly coincident with the optical path


163


. In other words, the optical path


163


is opened only in a specific phase section. The light receiving element


162


is turned ON in the specific phase section until the diameter of the thread wound upon the bobbin


22


blocks the optical path


163


. When the thread is wound and the thread diameter blocks the optical path


163


, the light receiving element is turned OFF. Since the optical path


163


is provided in the maximum position of the thread diameter, the maximum thread winding diameter


164


can be detected with a change in the signal of the light receiving element


162


.




Next, an example of the operating portion will be described with reference to FIG.


15


.




An operating portion


170


according to the embodiment is provided in a desirable position such as a sewing machine frame which is not shown, and a pattern display screen


171


for displaying, in a simple pattern and number, a plurality of sewing data stored in the control portion


93


which will be described below is provided in the lower right part of

FIG. 15

as shown in

FIG. 15

, and a pattern selecting switch


172


to be pattern selecting means for selecting a desirable one of the pattern sewing data by selecting the number of a pattern displayed on the pattern display screen


171


is provided on the pattern display screen


171


. A wound thread setting switch


173


to be winding thread selecting means for selecting the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation is provided on the left of the pattern display screen


171


, and a thread winding amount setting switch


174


to be thread winding amount setting means for setting the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation in three stages of “large”, “middle” and “small” is provided above the wound thread setting switch


173


. Furthermore, a display screen


176


also serving as alarm means


175


for displaying various messages and setting states is provided above the thread winding amount setting switch


174


, and a thread winding start/stop switch


177


for controlling ON/OFF of the thread winding operation is provided on the left thereof. The pattern display screen


171


, the pattern selecting switch


172


, the wound thread setting switch


173


, the thread winding amount setting switch


174


, the display screen


176


also serving as the alarm means


175


, and the thread winding start/stop switch


177


are electrically connected to the control portion


93


which will be described below.




Referring to the structure of the operating portion


170


, only a portion related to the thread winding operation has been described. As a matter of course, the operating portion


170


is also provided with various known switches and display screens (not shown) related to the sewing operation.




Moreover, in the case in which only the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation, it is not necessary to provide the wound thread setting switch


173


.




Next, an example of thread hold detecting means will be described with reference to

FIGS. 10 and 16

to


18


.




As shown in

FIG. 10

, thread hold detecting means


180


according to the embodiment is provided between the thread catching and holding member


48


and the special lower thread reeling mechanism


110


. The thread hold detecting means


180


has a body


181


formed to take an almost oblong shape as shown in

FIGS. 16

to


18


and the body


181


is provided with a thread groove


182


which is concaved along the thread path of the supplied thread EDS. The thread groove


182


is provided with a pair of left and right guide ribs


184


taking the shape of an almost triangular plate at an interval. The guide ribs


184


serve to guide the supplied thread EDS passing in the thread groove


182


to the thread groove bottom portion


183


(FIGS.


17


and


18


). A through hole


185


(

FIGS. 16 and 18

) penetrating in a vertical direction orthogonally to the supplied thread EDS passing the proximity of the thread groove bottom portion


182


is formed in a central part in a longitudinal direction of the body


181


transversely in

FIG. 16 and a

light emitting element


186


is provided above the through hole


185


. Moreover, a light receiving element


187


is provided under the through hole


185


. The light emitting element


186


and the light receiving element


187


are electrically connected to the control portion


93


which will be described below. Thus, detection data indicative of the presence of the supplied thread EDS passing through the proximity of the thread groove bottom portion


182


can be sent to the control portion


93


.




Next, an example of the control portion will be described with reference to FIG.


19


.




As shown in

FIG. 19

, the control portion


93


has at least a CPU


190


, a memory


191


formed by an ROM or RAM having a proper capacity, and a controller


192


for driving each portion of a sewing machine.




The memory


191


has at least a thread winding operation control portion


193


, a lower thread reholding operation control portion


194


, an upper thread control portion


195


, a lower thread tension applying portion


196


, a thread winding amount control portion


197


, a critical thread winding number setting portion


198


, a sewing data storage portion


200


, an automatic setting portion


201


and an erroneous winding operation preventing portion


202


.




The thread winding operation control portion


193


has a first thread winding operation control portion


193


A and a second thread winding operation control portion


193


B.




The first thread winding operation control portion


193


A stores a program for operating the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


, the horizontal holder


4


, the first moving means


94


and the thread catching and holding member moving means


48


to cause the supplied thread EDS connected between the thread holding portion


59


and the thread position regulating portion


58


to enter the slit


39


and to wind the supplied thread EDS upon the bobbin


22


when selecting the supplied thread EDS as the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation. As a specific example of the program, it is preferable to employ a structure in which the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


, the horizontal holder


4


, the first moving means


94


and the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


are operated in such a manner that the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is operated to separate the upper shaft


416


from the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


, thereby stopping the reciprocating motions in a vertical direction of the needle


3


and the thread take-up


422


which are driven by the upper shaft


416


and holding the needle


3


in an upper position, and the thread catching and holding member


48


is then set in an entry position to cause the supplied thread EDS connected between the thread holding portion


59


and the thread position regulating portion


58


to abut on at least the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


and the bobbin driving member


11


is thereafter set in a connecting position and the outer holder


7


is subsequently rotated to cause the supplied thread EDS connected between the thread holding portion


59


and the thread position regulating portion


58


to enter the slit


39


, thereby winding the supplied thread EDS upon the bobbin


22


.




The program of the first thread winding operation control portion


193


A is not restricted to the specific example. Depending on the necessity for a design concept, it is preferable to determine the order of a timing in which the upper shaft


416


for driving the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


is separated from the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


and the needle


3


is thereby held in an upper position in relation to the upper shaft


416


, a timing in which the thread catching and holding member


48


is set in the entry position, a timing in which the bobbin driving member


11


is set in the connecting position and a timing in which the outer holder


7


is rotated.




The second thread winding operation control portion


193


B stores a program for operating the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


, the horizontal holder


4


, the first moving means


94


and the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


in such a manner that the sewing machine is driven to vertically move the needle


3


, to divide the loop of the upper thread US in the upper and lower parts of the inner holder


18


by means of the blade tip


42


of the outer holder


7


and to rotate the same loop when selecting the upper thread US as the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation, the upper thread US passing over the inner holder


18


is caught by the thread engaging portion


60


and the thread position regulating portion


58


in the thread catching and holding member


48


, and the upper thread US connected between the thread engaging portion


60


and the thread position regulating portion


58


is caused to enter the slit


39


so that the upper thread US is wound as the lower thread DS upon the bobbin


22


. As a specific example of the program, it is preferable to employ a structure in which the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


, the horizontal holder


4


, the first moving means


94


and the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


are operated in such a manner that the thread catching and holding member


48


is set in the entry position and the sewing machine is then driven to cause the needle


3


to carry out one reciprocating motion in a vertical direction, to divide the loop of the upper thread US into the upper and lower parts of the inner holder


18


by means of the blade tip


42


of the outer holder


7


and to rotate the same loop when the upper thread US is selected as the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


, the upper thread US passing over the inner holder


18


is caught by the thread engaging portion


60


and the thread position regulating portion


58


in the thread catching and holding member


48


, the upper shaft


416


is thereafter separated from the rotation of the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


, thereby stopping the reciprocating motions in the vertical direction of the needle


3


and the thread take-up


422


which are driven by the upper shaft


416


and holding the needle


3


in an upper position, and the bobbin driving member


11


is subsequently set in the connecting position and the outer holder


7


is then rotated to cause the upper thread US connected between the thread engaging portion


60


and the thread position regulating portion


58


to enter the slit


39


so that the upper thread US is wound as the lower thread DS upon the bobbin


22


.




The program of the second thread winding operation control portion


193


B is not restricted to the specific example. Depending on the necessity for a design concept, it is preferable to determine the order of a timing in which the upper shaft


416


is separated from the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


and the needle


3


to be driven by the upper shaft


416


is thereby held in an upper position, a timing in which the thread catching and holding member


48


is set in the entry position, a timing in which the bobbin driving member


11


is set in the connecting position and a timing in which the outer holder


7


is rotated. Moreover, in the case in which the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US is used as the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


, it is preferable that the first thread winding operation control portion


193


A or the second thread winding operation control portion


193


B should be provided as the thread winding operation control portion


193


.




The lower thread reholding operation control portion


194


stores a program for operating the horizontal holder


4


and the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


in such a manner that the thread catching and holding member


48


is set in a thread catching position after the completion of the thread winding operation carried out when the supplied thread EDS is selected as the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation, the outer holder


7


is then rotated to move the supplied thread EDS positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


in a separating direction from the outer holder


7


, thereby holding the supplied thread EDS in the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


, and the thread catching and holding member


48


is thereafter moved to the retreat position.




The upper thread control portion


195


stores a program for carrying out an operation in such a manner that the amount of the upper thread US reeled from the upper thread reeling device


120


is set to be a predetermined amount and the thread loosening means


138


releases the upper thread US when the bobbin


22


is to wind the upper thread US as the lower thread DS.




In the case in which only the supplied thread EDS is used as the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


, a conventional known device is preferably used for the upper thread reeling device


120


.




The lower thread tension applying portion


196


stores a program for operating the thread catching and holding member


48


and the outer holder


7


in such a manner that the thread connected to the bobbin


22


and positioned in the vicinity of the outer holder


7


is set into an upper thread catching position from the retreat position so as to be positioned below the upper surface of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


after the thread winding operation is ended, the thread connected to the bobbin


22


and positioned in the vicinity of the outer holder


7


can be caught by means of the thread catching hook


46


, and the outer holder


7


is then rotated reversely to cause the thread connected to the bobbin


22


and positioned in the vicinity of the outer holder


7


to enter the thread introducing port


27


. Moreover, the lower thread tension applying portion


196


according to the embodiment stores, as the outer holder reverse rotating mechanism


205


, a program for reversely rotating the outer holder


7


by controlling the direction of the rotation of the sewing machine motor


413


.




The thread winding amount control portion


197


stores a program for carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding diameter detecting means


160


detects a maximum thread winding diameter or thread winding number measuring means


206


which will be described below detects a critical thread winding number set by a critical thread winding number setting portion


198


if the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS is set to be a maximum set value (great) by the thread winding amount setting switch


174


to be thread winding amount setting means, and for carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin


22


is set corresponding to the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting switch


174


and the thread winding number measuring means


206


detects the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin


22


which is set if the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting switch


174


is smaller than the maximum set value.




Moreover, the thread winding amount control portion


197


according to the embodiment stores, as the thread winding number measuring means


206


, a program for detecting the rotation number of the sewing machine motor


413


after the bobbin


22


starts the thread winding operation by means of an optical sensor and for comparing the rotation number of the sewing machine motor


413


with a prestored conversion table at this time, thereby detecting the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin


22


.




In the case in which the thread winding amount control portion


197


does not use the critical thread winding number, it is preferable to store a program for carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding diameter detecting means


160


detects the maximum thread winding diameter


164


of the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


if the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS is set to be a maximum set value (great) by the thread winding amount setting switch


174


to be the thread winding amount setting means, and for carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin


22


is set corresponding to the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting switch


174


and the thread winding number measuring means


206


which will be described below detects the set thread winding rotation number of the bobbin


22


which is set if the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting switch


174


is smaller than the maximum set value.




The thread winding amount of the lower thread DS which is set by the thread winding amount setting switch


174


is set on the basis of a middle thread. In other words, such an amount that the thread wound upon the bobbin


22


does not overflow from the bobbin


22


is set and is managed with the diameter of the thread wound upon the bobbin


22


as shown in FIG.


20


. The amount is set to be the maximum thread winding diameter (large)


164


and the thread winding operation is carried out until the maximum thread winding diameter


164


is detected by the thread winding diameter detecting means


160


. The smaller thread winding amounts (middle) and (small) than the maximum thread winding diameter (large)


164


are managed by the rotation number of the bobbin. In contrast with a thread winding number n for winding a thread having a middle thickness indicated as “middle” in

FIG. 20

up to the maximum thread winding diameter


164


, the thread winding amount (middle) is decreased to a thread winding number (⅔)n and the thread winding amount (small) is decreased to a thread winding number (⅓)n. For this reason, the maximum thread winding diameter


164


in the thread winding amount (large) is equal irrespective of the thickness of the thread, while actual thread winding diameters in the thread winding amount (middle) and the thread winding amount (small) are varied depending on the thickness of the thread. Originally, it is ideal that the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS is managed depending on the length of the thread. For such a reason that the management of the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS depending on the length of the thread is complicated and an expensive device is required, it is hard to carry out the management. By managing the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS depending on the thread winding number, it is easy to almost realize the identity.




In

FIGS. 20 and 21

, na denotes a winding number obtained when a thin thread is wound up to the maximum thread winding diameter


164


and nb denotes a winding number obtained when a thick thread is wound up to the maximum thread winding diameter


164


.




Moreover, it is also possible to set the thread winding amount for each thickness of the threads such as a thin thread, a middle thread and a thick thread without setting the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS on the basis of the middle thread. In this case, it is preferable that the operating portion


170


should be provided with means for selecting the thickness of a thread which is not shown.




The critical thread winding number setting portion


198


stores a critical thread winding number N. The critical thread winding number N will be described. In the case in which the thin thread is used, the amount of the thread wound upon the bobbin


22


is increased, and particularly, the lower thread DS cannot be used completely in a domestic sewing machine if the lower thread DS is wound upon the bobbin


22


up to the maximum thread winding diameter


164


. As shown in

FIG. 21

, therefore, the critical thread winding number N (n<N<na) is set and the thread winding operation is ended with the critical thread winding number N even if the maximum thread winding diameter


164


is not reached.




It is also possible to set the critical thread winding number for each thickness of the threads such as a thin thread, a middle thread and a thick thread.




The sewing data storage portion


200


stores data for an operation such as a plurality of sewing patterns such as an embroidered stitch and a straight stitch and a cloth feed pitch, a needle oscillation pitch and a needle oscillation width for forming the stitches based on the sewing patterns, and various data such as the types of the upper thread US and the lower thread DS which are to be used depending on the sewing pattern, the type of the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation, the thread winding amount and the critical thread winding number.




The automatic setting portion


201


stores a program for automatically setting the selection of the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


depending on pattern data selected by a pattern selecting switch


172


to be the pattern selecting means of the operating portion


170


, that is, the selection of the use of the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, and/or the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


.




More specifically, in the embodiment, the setting can variously be carried out automatically depending on the pattern data selected by the pattern selecting switch


172


to be the pattern selecting means of the operating portion


170


, and furthermore, the setting can variously be carried out manually.




In the case in which the upper thread US or the supplied thread EDS is to be used as the lower thread DS during the thread winding operation, it is preferable that the automatic setting portion


201


should store a program for automatically setting various portions except for a portion related to the selection of the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


.




The erroneous winding operation preventing portion


202


stores a program for deciding whether or not a setting state and the state of the lower thread winding device


1


are coincident with each other, and invalidating the thread winding operation for the upper thread US if the setting state and the state of the lower thread winding device


1


are not coincident with each other, that is, the thread hold detecting means


180


detects the supplied thread EDS and invalidating the thread winding operation for the supplied thread EDS if the thread hold detecting means


180


does not detect the supplied thread EDS. Moreover, the erroneous winding operation preventing portion


202


also stores a program for displaying an alarm as a message on a display screen


176


of the operating portion


170


which also functions as alarm means


175


or for driving a buzzer which is not shown when the thread winding operation is invalidated.




Next, description will be given to the function of the embodiment having the above-mentioned structure.




In the case in which the lower thread DS is gone in the middle of the sewing operation or the lower thread DS is to be wound for a sewing preparation, the lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment is used in such a state that an empty bobbin


22


is set into the inner holder


18


and a power is supplied to a sewing machine.




The thread winding operation of the lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment is started by operating the pattern selecting switch


172


of the operating portion


170


shown in

FIG. 15

, thereby selecting a pattern. By operating the pattern selecting switch


172


to select a pattern, the automatic setting portion


201


automatically sets the thread winding amount of the lower thread DS, the thread to be wound and the thread winding operation depending on the pattern selected by the pattern selecting switch


172


from various data stored in the sewing data storage portion


200


. For example, the thread winding amount is set to “large” and the thread to be wound is set to be the supplied thread EDS for embroidering and the thread winding amount is set to (middle) and the thread to be wound is set to be the upper thread US for straight sewing. At this time, the control portion


93


selects either the first thread winding operation control portion


193


A or the second thread winding operation control portion


193


B as the control operation of the thread winding operation control portion


193


, and also sets various operations related to the thread winding operation and an operation order.




The thread winding amount and the thread to be wound can also be changed manually by operating the wound thread setting switch


173


and the thread winding amount setting switch


174


, that is, can be set by a manual operation.




When the automatic setting is carried out or the setting is carried out by the manual operation, the erroneous winding operation preventing portion


202


decides whether or not the setting state and the state of the lower thread winding device are coincident with each other, invalidates the thread winding operation for the upper thread US if the setting state and the state of the lower thread winding device


1


are not coincident with each other, that is, when the thread hold detecting means


180


detects the supplied thread EDS, invalidates the thread winding operation of the supplied thread EDS when the thread hold detecting means


180


does not detect the supplied thread EDS, and displays an alarm on the display screen


176


of the operating portion


170


which also functions as the alarm means


175


or drives a buzzer which is not shown. As a result, the erroneous winding operation preventing means


202


can prevent a malfunction and the alarm means


175


can cause an operator to easily recognize various alarms.




Moreover, in the case in which various setting operations are completed and the erroneous winding operation preventing portion


202


decided that the setting state and the state of the lower thread winding device


1


are coincident with each other, the thread winding start/stop switch


177


is operated to start the thread winding operation.




In the case in which bobbin thread absence detecting means such as an optical sensor which is not shown is provided, the sewing machine is stopped when the bobbin thread absence detecting means detects that the lower thread DS of the bobbin


22


is gone in the middle of the sewing operation, and the thread winding operation for the lower thread DS is then started on a preset condition.




The lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment can select and use either the upper thread US or the supplied thread EDS which has already been hung as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


during the thread winding operation. In the case in which the upper thread US is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, the thread is not hung on the thread catching and holding member


48


such that the thread catching and holding member


48


does not have the thread. Moreover, in the case in which the supplied thread EDS is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, the supplied thread EDS is previously hung on the thread catching and holding member


48


through the special lower thread reeling device


110


as shown in FIG.


10


.




Next, the thread winding operation for the supplied thread will be described with reference to

FIGS. 22

to


26


.





FIGS. 22

to


26


show the thread winding operation for the supplied thread, and

FIG. 22

is a front view showing a main part in an initial state at time of the thread winding operation of the lower thread winding device according to the invention,

FIG. 23

is a view showing a state obtained before an advance is started in the same manner as

FIG. 22

,

FIG. 24

is a view showing the state of the advance in the same manner as

FIG. 22

,

FIG. 25

is a plan view showing the state in

FIG. 24

, and

FIG. 26

is a view showing a state in which a thread can be wound in the same manner as FIG.


22


.




As shown in

FIG. 22

, during the sewing operation of the lower thread winding device


1


or an initial state at time of the stop of the sewing machine, the tip portion in the longitudinal direction of the thread catching and holding member


48


is placed in the lower retreat position in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


by the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


. More specifically, the lower driving plate


79


and the upper driving plate


83


in the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


are positioned on a retreat end shown in the right part of

FIG. 22

, and the rear attachment pin


52


of the thread catching and holding member


48


is positioned above the vertical portion


76




b


of the moving groove


76


of the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


and has a tip portion abutting from above in the vicinity of the tip of the cam face


88


of the cam groove


89


in this state.




Moreover, the bobbin driving member


11


is placed in the separating position in which it is separated from the bobbin


22


and the bobbin


22


is brought into a non-rotation state by the first moving means


94


. More specifically, the lower driving plate


79


is positioned on the retreat end so that the operating pin


108


of the first moving means


94


is separated from the inclined cam face


109


, the gear connecting link


96


is energized in a counterclockwise direction around the link support pin


97


by the energizing force of the spring


6


and the operating plate


95


is separated below the lower end of the bobbin driving member


11


, and the bobbin driving member


11


is energized downward by the energizing force of the bobbin driving member energizing spring


12


and the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


is separated downward from the bobbin driven gear


35


, is fitted in the gear hole


17


of the outer holder bottom plate


16


and is rotated integrally with the outer holder


7


. Furthermore, the stopper pin


105


abuts on a stopper pin operating arm


159


and is thus opposed to the abutment edge


100


A formed in the lower left part of the arcuate groove portion


100


.




During the sewing operation, the upper thread US turned in the inner holder


18


passes through a clearance formed by the bottom face of the inner holder


18


and the upper surface of the bobbin driving gear


14


.




Subsequently, the thread winding start/stop switch


177


is operated to send a control instruction from the control portion


93


to each portion, thereby starting the thread winding operation. In the case in which the bobbin thread absence detecting means such as an optical sensor which is not shown is provided, the control instruction is automatically sent from the control portion


93


to automatically start the thread winding operation.




When the control instruction is sent from the control portion


93


to each portion, the thread hold detecting means


180


first detects that the supplied thread EDS supplied during the thread winding operation is held in the thread catching and holding member


48


or not. The result of the detection is sent to the control portion


93


and it is decided whether or not the setting state and the state of the lower thread winding device


1


are coincident with each other by the erroneous winding operation preventing portion


202


of the control portion


93


. If the thread hold detecting means


180


does not detect the supplied thread EDS, the thread winding operation is not carried out but an alarm is displayed as a message on the display screen


176


of the operating portion


170


which also functions as the alarm means


175


or a buzzer which is not shown is driven to end the operation. Consequently, it is possible to reliably prevent a malfunction.




Moreover, if the thread hold detecting means


180


detects the supplied thread EDS, the driving motor


91


of the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


is driven based on the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


and the lower driving plate


79


of the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


advances in such a direction as to approach the horizontal holder


4


shown in the left part of

FIG. 22

along the guide groove


81


of the mechanism table


77


. The advance of the lower driving plate


79


is transmitted to the upper driving plate


83


through the energizing spring


85


and the upper driving plate


83


advances integrally with the lower driving plate


79


. Consequently, the cam groove


89


of the upper driving plate


83


advances and the rear attachment pin


52


of the thread catching and holding member


48


is pressed downward by the cam face


88


of the cam groove


89


so that the rear attachment pin


52


is moved downward from the vertical portion


76




b


of the moving groove


76


. A distance between the centers of the rear attachment pin


52


and the front attachment pin


51


is set to be equal to the radius of curvature of the vertical portion


76




b


of the moving groove


76


which is arcuately formed. Therefore, the thread catching and holding member


48


is rotated in a clockwise direction in

FIG. 22

around the rear attachment pin


52


and each portion shown in

FIG. 22

is brought into such a state that the tip portion in the longitudinal direction of the thread catching and holding member


48


is positioned in an upper part along the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


and can advance as shown in FIG.


23


. Moreover, the stopper pin


105


abuts on the abutment edge


100


A in such a state as to abut on the stopper pin operating arm


159


.




Next, when the lower driving plate


79


further advances by the further driving operation of the driving motor


91


, the thread catching and holding member


48


advances along the moving groove


76


. In each portion shown in

FIG. 23

, the front attachment pin


51


abuts on the tip portion of the moving groove


76


shown in the left part of FIG.


24


and the advance of the thread catching and holding member


48


is stopped in the entry position in which the tip portion of the thread catching and holding member


48


enters the inner upper part of the inner holder


18


so that an advance state is brought as shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

. At this time, the operating pin


108


of the first moving means


94


abuts on the inclined cam face


109


. Moreover, the stopper pin


105


abuts on the abutment edge


100


A in such a state as to be separated from the stopper pin operating arm


159


.




Next, when the driving motor


91


is further driven, the lower driving plate


79


further advances. In each portion shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

, as shown in

FIG. 26

, the operating pin


108


of the first moving means


94


pushes down the inclined cam face


109


, the gear connecting link


96


is rotated in the clockwise direction, the operating plate


95


abuts on the lower end of the bobbin driving member


11


to lift the bobbin driving member


11


against the energizing force of the bobbin driving member energizing spring


12


, the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


is engaged with both of the gear hole


17


of the outer holder bottom plate


16


and the bobbin driven gear


35


to connect the bobbin driving member


11


to the bobbin


22


, and the bobbin


22


is set into the connecting position to bring a rotation state so that the lower driving plate


79


is positioned on the advance end to bring a state in which the thread winding operation can be carried out. At the same time, the stopper


103


is rotated in the counterclockwise reaction by the energizing force of the spring


107


(

FIG. 9

) so that the stopper pin


105


is fitted in the groove bottom


100




a


of the arcuate groove portion


100


in the gear connecting link


96


. Moreover, while the lower driving plate


79


advances, the energizing spring


85


contracts in an axial direction so that the movement of the upper driving plate


83


holds a stop state. As a result, the thread catching and holding member


48


holds the entry position in which the tip portion of the thread catching and holding member


48


enters the inner upper part of the inner holder


18


.




Referring to the positional relationship between the bobbin


22


and the thread catching and holding member


48


in the state in which the thread winding operation can be carried out, moreover, the supplied thread EDS connected obliquely between the thread holding portion


59


and the thread position regulating portion


58


in the thread catching and holding member


48


is pushed against the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


as shown in FIG.


8


.




Next, the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is operated in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


so that the upper shaft


416


is removed from the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


and the reciprocating motions in a vertical direction of the needle


3


and the thread take-up


422


which are driven by the upper shaft


416


are stopped to hold the needle


3


in an upper position, and the sewing machine is then driven.




When the sewing machine is driven, the outer holder


7


is normally rotated. The rotation of the outer holder


7


normally rotates the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


through the outer holder bottom plate. As a result, the bobbin driven gear


35


engaged with the bobbin driving gear


14


is reversely rotated in an opposite direction to the direction of the rotation of the outer holder


7


and the bobbin


22


is reversely rotated in an opposite direction to the direction of the rotation of the outer holder


7


.




By the reverse rotation of the bobbin


22


, the supplied thread EDS pushed against the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


and connected obliquely between the thread holding portion


59


and the thread position regulating portion


58


in the thread catching and holding member


48


is caught into the opening


39




a


of the slit


39


in the bobbin


22


and the supplied thread EDS on the supply side, that is, the lower thread piece


111


side is guided into the concave groove


41


formed on the bobbin center shaft


36


. When the supplied thread EDS is wound into the concave groove


41


by the rotation of the bobbin


22


, it is wound upon the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin center shaft


36


beyond the wall portion


40


downward in FIG.


5


and the thread winding operation is further carried out by the continuous rotation of the bobbin


22


. Moreover, the supplied thread EDS on the thread end side held in the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


is slightly pulled by the rotation of the bobbin


22


and becomes shorter, and projects from the slit


39


.




The supplied thread EDS is wound upon the bobbin


22


until the thread winding amount stored in the thread winding amount control portion


197


or the critical thread winding number setting portion


198


is reached. When the winding of the supplied thread EDS upon the bobbin


22


reaches a preset thread winding amount, the sewing machine is stopped based on the control instruction of the first thread winding operation control portion


193


A. At this time, the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is operated to remove the upper shaft


416


from the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


and the reciprocating motions in the vertical direction of the needle


3


and the thread take-up


422


which are driven by the upper shaft


416


are stopped to hold such a state that the needle


3


is maintained in an upper position.




Next, an operation for hanging a supplied thread onto the lower thread tension means and an operation for cutting the supplied thread will be described with reference to

FIGS. 27

to


31


.





FIGS. 27

to


31


show the operation for hanging a supplied thread onto the lower thread tension means and the operation for cutting the supplied thread, and

FIG. 27

is a view showing a state in which a lower thread can be caught in the same manner as

FIG. 22

,

FIG. 28

is a view illustrating a main part of the positional relationship between a thread catching hook and a supplied thread,

FIG. 29

is a perspective view showing the main part of a progress in the thread guarding operation and the cutting operation,

FIG. 30

is a view showing the progress succeeding to

FIG. 29

in the same manner as

FIG. 29

, and

FIG. 31

is a view showing the progress succeeding to

FIG. 30

in the same manner as FIG.


29


.




The supplied thread EDS is hung onto the lower thread tension means


25


in order to give a lower thread tension required for carrying out the sewing operation to the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


.




After the thread winding operation is ended, the driving motor


91


is reversely rotated in response to a control instruction sent from the control portion


93


so that the lower driving plate


79


retreats. In the retreating movement of the lower driving plate


79


, for each portion shown in

FIG. 26

, the tip portion in the longitudinal direction of the thread catching and holding member


48


is stopped in the slightly upper part of a retreat position below the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


, that is, in a thread catching position placed below the rotation locus of the thread catching hook


46


to bring a state in which the lower thread can be caught as shown in FIG.


27


. At this time, the operating pin


108


of the first moving means


94


is separated from the inclined cam face


109


, while the stopper pin


105


holds a state in which it is fitted in the groove bottom


100




a


of the arcuate groove portion


100


in the gear connecting link


96


. Therefore, the bobbin driving member


11


maintains to be lifted and the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


is engaged with both of the gear hole


17


of the outer holder bottom plate


16


and the bobbin driven gear


35


to connect the bobbin driving member


11


to the bobbin


22


, thereby holding a connecting position in which the bobbin


22


is brought into a rotation state. As shown in

FIG. 27

, the supply side of the supplied thread EDS wound upon the bobbin


22


is pulled by the thread catching and holding member


48


with the movement of the thread catching and holding member


48


to a thread catching position and is thus bent downward in the outer peripheral corner of the outer holder


7


, and is not held in the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


but is engaged in the cross portion of the tip edge of the thread holding plate spring


66


of the thread catching and holding member


48


and that of the thread holding and catching portion


49


.




Moreover, the thread end of the supplied thread EDS is held in the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding portion


48


in order to carry out the next thread winding operation using the supplied thread EDS. Consequently, the operation for hanging the supplied thread EDS onto the thread catching and holding member


48


can be omitted so that the thread winding operation can easily be carried out.




In the state in which the lower thread can be caught as shown in

FIG. 27

, the sewing machine is driven corresponding to one rotation of the lower shaft


414


in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


. Consequently, the outer holder


7


is normally rotated, the inclined surface


47


for thread separation of the thread catching hook


46


provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


pushes out the supplied thread EDS in the downward bent portion at the outer peripheral corner of the outer holder


7


in such a direction as to be separated from the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


, and the supply side of the supplied thread EDS wound upon the bobbin


22


is pushed into the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


. As a result, the supplied thread EDS can be held in the thread holding portion


59


.




When the driving motor


91


is further rotated reversely in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


and the lower driving plate


79


reaches the retreat end, each portion set in the state in which the lower thread can be caught shown in

FIG. 27

is returned to the initial state shown in FIG.


22


. At this time, the tip portion of the thread catching and holding member


48


is moved downward along the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


. Therefore, the supplied thread EDS connected between the bobbin


22


and the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


is stretched. At the same time, the stopper pin


105


of the stopper


103


is rotated in the clockwise direction around the support pin


101


by the stopper pin operating arm


159


of the lower driving plate


79


so that the stopper pin


105


is separated from the arcuate groove portion


100


of the gear connecting link


96


. Then, the stopper pin


105


is separated from the groove bottom


100




a


of the arcuate groove portion


100


in the gear connecting link


96


and the gear connecting link


96


is rotated in the counterclockwise direction around the link support pin


97


by the energizing force of the spring


6


so that the operating plate


95


is separated downward from the bobbin driving member


11


. As a result, the bobbin driving member


11


is returned to the separating position in which it is separated from the bobbin


22


and the bobbin


22


is brought into the non-rotation state, and the bobbin


22


is thus brought into a free rotatable state.




Next, when the sewing machine is rotated reversely in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


, the outer holder


7


is rotated reversely so that the hook portion


46




a


of the thread catching hook


46


catches the supplied thread EDS positioned between the bobbin


22


provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the outer holder


7


and the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


. When the hook portion


46




a


of the thread catching hook


46


is reversely rotated with the supplied thread EDS caught and reaches a position shown in the lower part of

FIG. 28

, the supplied thread EDS sent from the bobbin


22


gets over the upper edge of the board


26


of the lower thread tension means


25


to pass through a clearance between the projection


19


of the inner holder


18


and the inner holder detent


20


as shown in FIG.


29


. Moreover, the supplied thread EDS sent from the lower part of the hook portion


46




a


of the thread catching hook


46


is wound upon the outer periphery of the large diameter portion


7




a


of the outer holder


7


and is connected to the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


.




Next, when the supplied thread EDS getting over the upper edge of the board


26


of the lower thread tension means


25


slides over the upper end of the board


26


and reaches a position shown in an oblique lower left part of

FIG. 28

by the further reverse rotation of the outer holder


7


, it is led into the thread introducing port


27


formed on the upper edge of the board


26


of the lower thread tension means


25


so that the supplied thread EDS enters the thread introducing groove


28


as shown in FIG.


30


.




Next, when the supplied thread EDS entering the thread introducing groove


28


reaches the left part of

FIG. 28 and a

position shown in

FIG. 31

by the further reverse rotation of the outer holder


7


, it is disposed in such a state as to be energized by the energizing force of the lower thread presser leaf spring


31


between the thread engagement hole


29


and the thread outlet


30


in the lower thread tension means


25


shown in FIG.


3


. As a result, a proper lower thread tension required for the sewing operation can reliably be given to the supplied thread EDS.




Moreover, when the supplied thread EDS is positioned in the left part of

FIG. 28

, the blade tip of the cutting blade


43


provided in the outer holder


7


is positioned in the vicinity of a contact point in which the supplied thread EDS sent from the thread holding portion


59


indicated as B in

FIG. 28

is started to be wound upon the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


. Therefore, the supplied thread EDS wound upon the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder


7


is pushed against the cutting blade


44


and is thus cut beyond the slant face of the inducing portion


44


shown in FIG.


1


. The supplied thread EDS connected from the bobbin


22


to the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


is cut in this position. Consequently, the length of the lower thread DS sent from the lower thread tension means


25


required for binding a stitch can sufficiently be maintained and the residual thread on the thread end side which is sent from the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


can be reduced.




Subsequently, the reverse rotation of the outer holder


7


is stopped and the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is operated again in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


. Consequently, the reciprocating motions in the vertical direction of the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


which are separated from the rotating motion of the lower shaft


414


is linked to the rotation of the lower shaft


414


so that each portion of the lower thread winding device


1


is returned to the initial state and the operation for winding the supplied thread EDS is completed.




Next, the thread winding operation of the upper thread will be described with reference to

FIGS. 7

,


8


,


22


to


26


and


32


. The description of the same portions as those in the thread winding operation for the supplied thread EDS will be omitted.





FIG. 32

is a view illustrating an upper thread catching state in which the thread catching and holding member catches the upper thread.




The thread winding operation for the upper thread US which is to be carried out by the lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment is started by operating the thread winding start/stop switch


177


to send a control instruction from the control portion


93


to each portion. In the case in which the bobbin thread absence detecting means such as an optical sensor which is not shown is provided, the control instruction is automatically sent from the control portion


93


so that the thread winding operation is started automatically.




When the control instruction is sent from the control portion


93


to each portion, the thread hold detecting means


180


detects that the supplied thread EDS supplied during the thread winding operation is held in the thread catching and holding member


48


or not. The result of the detection is sent to the control portion


93


and it is decided whether or not the setting state and the state of the lower thread winding device


1


are coincident with each other by the erroneous winding operation preventing portion


202


of the control portion


93


. If the thread hold detecting means


180


detects the supplied thread EDS, the thread winding operation is not carried out but an alarm is displayed as a message on the display screen


176


of the operating portion


170


which also functions as the alarm means


175


or a buzzer which is not shown is driven to end the operation. Consequently, it is possible to reliably prevent a malfunction.




Moreover, if the thread hold detecting means


180


does not detect the supplied thread EDS, the driving motor


91


of the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


is driven based on the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


and the lower thread winding device


1


positioned in the initial state shown in

FIG. 22

is positioned in the advance state shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

through a state obtained before an advance start shown in

FIG. 23

in the same manner as in the thread winding operation of the supplied thread EDS. When the lower thread winding device


1


is positioned in the advance state shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

, the driving motor


91


is stopped based on the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


.




Next, when the lower thread winding device


1


is stopped in the advance state shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

, the sewing machine is driven corresponding to one rotation of the lower shaft


414


based on the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


. Consequently, the needle


3


placed in an upper stop position is once reciprocated corresponding to one stitch in a vertical direction by the vertical motion of the needle bar


2


and an upper thread loop sent from the needle eye of the needle


3


is caught by the blade tip


42


of the normally rotated outer holder


7


and is thereby turned in the inner holder


18


. At this time, the upper thread US turned in the inner holder


18


is divided into the upper and lower parts of the inner holder


18


by means of the blade tip


42


and the upper thread US on the cloth side passes over the inner holder


18


and passes through a clearance formed by the bottom face of the inner holder


18


and the upper surface of the bobbin driving gear


14


. In the case in which the upper thread US is to be wound in the middle of the sewing operation, there is no hindrance because one end of the upper thread US is connected to the stitch of a cloth as shown in FIG.


3


. In other cases, it is important that the thread end of the upper thread US is held by a hand to drive the sewing machine.




Since the tip portion of the thread catching and holding member


48


is stopped in such an entry position as to enter the inner upper part of the inner holder


18


as shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

, the upper thread US turned over the upper surface of the inner holder


18


is led into an opening portion formed by the thread engaging portion


60


which is provided by the cross portion of the tip edge of the thread holding leaf spring


66


and that of the thread holding and catching portion


49


which is shown in detail in FIG.


7


. By the further rotation of the blade tip


42


, the upper thread US passes through a clearance between the projection


19


of the inner holder


18


and the inner holder detent


20


and is then led through the thread position regulating portion


58


into an opening portion formed by the rear holding portion


70


for an upper thread which is provided by the upper rear tongue piece


69


of the thread holding leaf spring


66


and the rear tongue piece


55


of the thread holding and catching portion


49


which is shown in detail in

FIG. 7

, and the upper thread US then slips out of the inner holder


18


and is caught by the thread catching and holding member


48


, and is thus brought into an upper thread catching state as shown in FIG.


32


. At this time, as shown in

FIG. 32

, the upper thread US is not held in the thread holding portion


59


but is engaged with the thread engaging portion


60


and a portion connected between the thread engaging portion


60


and the rear holding portion


70


for an upper thread is stretched to be positioned in the thread position regulating portion


58


in almost the same manner as the supplied thread EDS shown in FIG.


8


.




During the sewing operation, the upper thread US is reeled in only an amount required for each stitch by the driving motor


125


driven according to a control instruction sent from the control portion


93


by means of the upper thread reeling mechanism


120


shown in

FIG. 11

, and the driving motor


125


is stopped at time of thread fastening so that the upper thread US is held between the driving roller


124


and the driven roller


128


. Thus, a proper thread tension can be obtained.




During the thread winding operation, moreover, the upper thread US is not required in an amount necessary for a stitch required for the sewing operation at a first stitch with which the horizontal holder


4


is driven immediately after the start of the thread winding operation but in an amount corresponding to a thread path shown in FIG.


32


. Furthermore, a proper tension is also required for the upper thread US in order to reliably catch the upper thread US by means of the thread catching and holding member


48


. Therefore, the upper thread US is reeled in an almost equal amount to the amount required for the thread path shown in

FIG. 32

or a slightly small amount by means of the upper thread reeling mechanism


120


in accordance with the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


and the driving motor


125


is then stopped at time of the thread fastening to be carried out by a thread take-up mechanism which is not shown so that the upper thread US is held between the driving roller


124


and the driven roller


128


and can be thereby caught reliably by the thread catching and holding member


48


.




In the state in which the lower thread winding device


1


is stopped in the advance state shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

, moreover, the bobbin driving gear


14


is separated downward from the bobbin driven gear


35


.




As described above, next, the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is operated in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


so that the upper shaft


416


is removed from the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


and the reciprocating motions in a vertical direction of the needle


3


and the thread take-up


422


which are driven by the upper shaft


416


are stopped to hold the needle


3


in an upper position, and the sewing machine is then driven.




Next, each portion shown in

FIGS. 24 and 25

is brought into a state in which the thread can be wound as shown in

FIG. 26

by the further driving operation of the driving motor


91


after the thread catching and holding member


48


catches the upper thread US as described above.




Referring to the positional relationship between the bobbin


22


and the thread catching and holding member


48


in the state in which the thread winding can be carried out, moreover, the upper thread US connected obliquely between the thread engaging portion


64


and the thread position regulating portion


58


in the thread catching and holding member


48


is pushed against the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


as shown in FIG.


8


.




Next, when the sewing machine is driven in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


, the outer holder


7


is normally rotated. The rotation of the outer holder


7


normally rotates the bobbin driving gear


14


provided on the upper end of the bobbin driving member


11


through the outer holder bottom plate. As a result, the bobbin driven gear


35


engaged with the bobbin driving gear


14


is reversely rotated in an opposite direction to the direction of the rotation of the outer holder


7


and the bobbin


22


is reversely rotated in an opposite direction to the direction of the rotation of the outer holder


7


.




By the reverse rotation of the bobbin


22


, the upper thread US pushed against the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


and connected obliquely between the thread engaging portion


64


and the thread position regulating portion


58


in the thread catching and holding member


48


is caught into the opening


39




a


of the slit


39


in the bobbin


22


and the upper thread US on the needle side to be the supply side, that is, the upper thread piece


121


side is guided into the concave groove


41


formed on the bobbin center shaft


36


. When the upper thread US is wound into the concave groove


41


by the rotation of the bobbin


22


, and furthermore, is caught in the opening


39




a


of the slit


39


in the bobbin


22


, the solenoid


136


constituting a part of the thread loosening means


138


is driven, the driven roller


128


is separated and released from the driving roller


124


and the upper thread US is led out of the upper thread piece


121


by the continuous rotation of the bobbin


22


so that the thread winding is further carried out. The upper thread US sent from the slit


39


of the bobbin


22


and connected to a cloth is repetitively rubbed and cut by the edge portion of the slit


39


every time the bobbin


22


is rotated.




The upper thread US is wound upon the bobbin


22


until the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount control portion


197


or the critical thread winding number setting portion


198


is reached. When the winding of the upper thread US upon the bobbin


22


reaches a preset thread winding amount, the sewing machine is stopped based on the control instruction of the first thread winding operation control portion


193


A. At this time, the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


is operated to remove the upper shaft


416


from the lower shaft


414


and the upper shaft pulley


424


which are driven by the sewing machine motor


413


and the reciprocating motions in the vertical direction of the needle


3


and the thread take-up


422


which are driven by the upper shaft


416


are stopped to hold such a state that the needle


3


is maintained in an upper position.




Next, an operation for hanging an upper thread to be a lower thread supplied to a bobbin onto the lower thread tension means and an operation for cutting the upper thread will be described with reference to

FIGS. 28

to


31


.




The upper thread US to be the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


is hung onto the lower thread tension means


25


in order to give a lower thread tension required for carrying out the sewing operation to the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


.




After the thread winding is completed, the driving motor


91


is reversely rotated in response to a control instruction sent from the control portion


93


to cause the lower driving plate


79


to retreat and each portion shown in

FIG. 26

is returned to an initial state shown in FIG.


22


. Differently from the operation for hanging the supplied thread EDS onto the lower thread tension means


25


, the operation for hanging the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


onto the lower thread tension means


25


does not need to hold a thread end in the thread holding portion


59


of the thread catching and holding member


48


. Therefore, the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS sent from the bobbin


22


is almost the same as a thread path indicated as C in

FIG. 28

in the initial state. In the same manner as in the operation for hanging the supplied thread EDS onto the lower thread tension means


25


, when the sewing machine is rotated reversely in the initial state in response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


, the outer holder


7


is reversely rotated and the hook portion


46




a


of the thread catching hook


46


catches the upper thread US positioned between the bobbin


22


provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the outer holder


7


and the thread engaging portion


60


of the thread catching and holding member


48


, the hook portion


46




a


of the thread catching hook


46


is reversely rotated with the upper thread US caught, the upper thread US sent from the bobbin


22


is induced into the thread introducing port


27


formed on the upper edge of the board


26


of the lower thread tension means


25


to enter the thread introducing groove


28


, and the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS entering the thread introducing groove


28


is provided to be energized by the energizing force of the lower thread presser leaf spring


31


between the thread engagement hole


29


and the thread outlet


30


in the lower thread tension means


25


by the further reverse rotation of the outer holder


7


. As a result, a proper lower thread tension required for the sewing operation can reliably be given to the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS.




Moreover, the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS is cut by the blade tip of the cutting blade


43


provided in the outer holder


7


in the same manner as the supplied thread EDS and a length required for binding a stitch can sufficiently be maintained as a residual thread on the needle side.




In response to the control instruction sent from the control portion


93


, subsequently, the reverse rotation of the outer holder is stopped and the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


links, to the rotation of the lower shaft


414


, the reciprocating motions in the vertical direction of the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


which are separated from the rotating motion of the lower shaft


414


. Consequently, each portion of the lower thread winding device


1


is returned to the initial state and the thread winding operation for the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS is thus completed.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, thus, the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS which is used for embroidering can be easily selected and supplied to the bobbin


22


without removing the upper thread US which is being used and without removing the bobbin


22


from the horizontal holder


4


. More specifically, it is possible to easily select the type of the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


depending on a stitch.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, furthermore, it is possible to easily carry out the operation for hanging the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


onto the lower thread tension means


25


. After the thread winding operation is completed, therefore, a proper tension can easily be given to the lower thread DS wound upon the bobbin


22


.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, moreover, it is possible to automatically carry out the thread winding operation for the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, the operation for hanging the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


onto the lower thread tension means


25


and the operation for cutting the lower thread DS supplied to the bobbin


22


. Therefore, the operability of the sewing machine can be enhanced and a labor and a time which are required for the thread winding operation can be reduced.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, furthermore, the thread is hung onto the lower thread tension means


25


by the operation for reversely rotating the outer holder


7


after the thread winding is completed. Therefore, the thread outlet


30


in the lower thread tension means


25


can be provided on the inner holder


18


and it is possible to reliably eliminate the cause of the tension instability of the lower thread DS that a lower thread path from the bobbin to a cloth after conventional thread winding passes under the holder, resulting in an increase in a thread path bending resistance. Thus, a proper lower thread tension can easily be given to the lower thread DS.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, moreover, in the case in which the supplied thread EDS is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


222


, the thread end of the supplied thread EDS can easily be held in the thread catching and holding member


48


after the thread winding operation is completed. Consequently, the thread winding operation can easily be repeated until the supplied thread EDS sent from the lower thread piece


111


is gone. According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, furthermore, it is possible to select the amount of winding of the lower thread DS to be wound upon the bobbin


22


depending on a sewing condition.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, moreover, it is possible to automatically set the selection of the lower thread DS and the amount of winding of the lower thread DS depending on pattern sewing data, that is, a sewing pattern during the sewing operation. Therefore, it is possible to easily carry out the operation related to the thread winding operation.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, furthermore, the setting state of the thread winding operation and that of the lower thread winding device


1


can be coincident with each other. In the case in which the supplied thread EDS is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the supplied thread EDS from being forgot to be hung onto the thread catching and holding member


48


. In addition, a malfunction can be prevented.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, moreover, in the case in which the upper thread US is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, the thread loosening means


138


releases the holding state of the upper thread US held between the driven roller


128


and the driving roller


124


during the thread winding operation. Therefore, it is possible to easily carry out a smooth thread winding operation without applying excessive force to the upper thread US.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, furthermore, the alarm means


175


is provided. Therefore, it is possible to cause an operator to easily recognize various alarms.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, while the supplied thread EDS and the upper thread US can be selected as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, it is also possible to employ such a structure that only the supplied thread EDS or the upper thread US is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, furthermore, while the thread on the supply side is cut by the cutting blade


43


provided in the outer holder


7


after the thread winding operation is completed, it is also possible to employ such a structure that the thread wound upon the outer periphery of the outer holder


7


is caught and cut.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, moreover, in the case in which the upper thread US is used as the lower thread DS to be supplied to the bobbin


22


, the thread sent from the bobbin


22


and connected to the cloth is cut by the edge of the slit


39


formed in the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


after the thread winding operation is completed. In order to cut the thread, it is also possible to employ such a structure that the center of the upper part of the bobbin


22


is pushed from above by means of a pushing member and the thread repetitively passes between the pushing member and the upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


and is thus cut.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, furthermore, the driving motor


91


of the thread catching and holding member moving means


53


is driven to move the thread catching and holding member


48


. It is also possible to employ such a structure that the thread catching and holding member


48


is moved manually.




According to the lower thread winding device


1


in accordance with the embodiment, moreover, the detection is carried out by the light emitting element


186


and the light receiving element


187


to be the thread hold detecting means


180


for detecting the holding state of the lower thread DS. The thread hold detecting means


180


can have such a structure as to detect the tension of the lower thread DS.




In the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


according to the embodiment, while the actuator


434


is driven by the needle oscillation driving mechanism


442


, the invention is not restricted thereto but the actuator


434


may be driven by another actuator, for example, a solenoid.




Moreover, while the needle oscillation motor and the upper shaft clutch motor are shared and the operation is carried out by one motor, independent motors may be used.




Furthermore, while the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


rotates the lower shaft


414


by means of the sewing machine motor


235


to carry out lower thread winding, racing and thread cutting, and to simultaneously disconnect the upper shaft pulley


424


from the upper shaft


416


in order to separate the thread take-up


422


and the needle bar


2


from the sewing machine motor


235


, the invention is not restricted thereto but the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


are preferably provided between any of the lower shaft


414


, the lower shaft pulley


414


A, the belt


418


, the upper shaft pulley


424


, the upper shaft


416


and the thread take-up crank


456


to be a plurality of connecting members provided from the thread take-up crank (balance weight)


456


to be a reciprocating member for reciprocating the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


in a vertical direction to the lower shaft


414


to be driven by the sewing machine motor


413


, and the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


are connected to each other during sewing, and are disconnected from each other during the lower thread winding and are thus stopped, thereby stopping the needle attached to the tip of the needle bar


2


in an upper position.




For example, the lower shaft


414


and the lower shaft pulley


414


A may be connected to each other by using the upper shaft clutch mechanism to be the lower shaft clutch mechanism. In this case, the needle oscillating mechanism having the needle oscillation motor is provided in the vicinity of the upper shaft and the lower shaft clutch mechanism including a clutch motor or a clutch solenoid is provided in the vicinity of the lower shaft. Moreover, it is also possible to provide a thread take-up crank clutch mechanism for disconnecting the upper shaft


416


from the thread take-up crank


456


. For the disconnecting mechanism, the upper shaft clutch mechanism


410


may be changed properly for use.




Moreover, the thread winding amount setting switch


174


to be the thread winding amount setting means, the thread winding diameter detecting means


160


, the thread winding number measuring means


206


and the thread winding amount control portion


197


in the lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment can properly and easily control the amount of the lower thread DS wound upon the bobbin


22


and provides an example of the embodiment of the lower thread winding amount control device according to the invention. Accordingly, the description of the lower thread winding amount control device according to the invention will be omitted.




The lower thread winding amount control device can be applied to various lower thread winding devices in addition to the lower thread winding device


1


according to the invention.





FIGS. 33

to


43


show an example of the embodiment of the lower thread winding device to which the lower thread winding amount control device according to the invention is applied. The lower thread winding device according to the embodiment has such a structure as to use only an upper thread as a lower thread to be supplied to a bobbin and has been described in JP-B-3-27230, and the detailed description of the structure will be omitted and only main parts will be described. The structures corresponding to those in the above-mentioned embodiment have the same reference numerals in the drawings.





FIGS. 33

to


35


show the bobbin rotating mechanism of a lower thread winding device


1


A according to the embodiment, and a spring


300


is fixed to the shaft center hole portion of a hollow holder shaft


9


A of an outer holder


7


A in a horizontal holder


4


A with a thread leading member


301


. A shaft


303


having a cross groove


302


(

FIG. 35

) provided on an upper surface is frictionally connected to the spring


300


and the outer holder


7


A and the shaft


303


are rotated integrally. Moreover, a shaft


305


provided with a plate-shaped projection


304


in a lower part is energized upward by a spring


306


and is thus incorporated in the shaft center portion of the bobbin


22


A. As shown in

FIGS. 33 and 34

, the projection


304


is always positioned in a bobbin hole


307


(

FIG. 35

) having a lower part stepped to have a large diameter and an upper thread US passes between the bottom of an inner holder


18


A and the outer holder


7


A during the sewing operation. During the thread winding operation, moreover, a holder cover


308


is opened to a thread winding position so that a protruded portion


309


of the holder cover


308


pushes down a bobbin shaft upper portion


310


. As a result, the projection


304


of the shaft


305


is pushed down. Since the bobbin


22


A is provided on the center of the outer holder


7


A, the projection


304


thus pushed down is pushed against the cross groove


302


of the shaft


303


and is fitted in the cross groove


302


when the outer holder


7


A is rotated in a next operation.





FIGS. 40

to


43


show such a structure that the upper thread US scooped by a blade tip


42


in the lower thread winding device


1


A according to the embodiment and turned in an inner holder


18


A is not led into a lower thread presser leaf spring


31


A constituting a part of lower thread tension means


25


A during a sewing operation but only a thread winding operation.





FIG. 42

shows a state obtained during the sewing operation, and the upper thread US scooped by the blade tip


42


of the outer holder


7


A and turned in the inner holder


18


A is not led into the lower thread tension means


25


A attached to the inner holder


18


A but passes therethrough.





FIG. 41

shows a state obtained during the thread winding operation, and an inducing member


311


constituting a part of the lower thread tension means


25


A is rotated by the movement of the holder cover


308


as shown in FIG.


41


and lifts an end


313


of an arm


312


constituting a part of the lower thread tension means


25


A so that the upper thread US turned in the inner holder


18


A is led into the lower thread tension means


25


A.




More specifically, in the lower thread winding device


1


A according to the embodiment, the inducing member


311


constituting a part of the lower thread tension means


25


A is rotated to control the presence of induction of the upper thread US into the lower thread presser leaf spring


31


A.




During the thread winding operation, a needle bar


2


and a thread take-up


422


are disconnected after several needle locations and the holder cover


308


is set into a thread winding position so that a thread winding preparation is completed. When the sewing machine is started, the upper thread US scooped by the blade tip


42


of the outer holder


7


A is turned separately in the upper and lower parts of the inner holder


18


A and the upper thread US turning over the inner holder


18


A is induced into the lower thread tension means


25


A as shown in

FIGS. 36

to


39


. The upper thread US connected from the lower thread tension means


25


A to a needle


3


is pushed against the outer periphery of an upper flange


37


of the bobbin


22


A and is thus bent and is induced into a slit


39


through an opening


39




a


of the rotated bobbin


22


A, and the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS is wound upon the bobbin


22


A by the continuous rotation of the bobbin


22


A. At this time, it is possible to properly and easily control the amount of the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS wound upon the bobbin


22


A by using a lower thread winding amount control device (not shown) comprising the thread winding amount setting switch


174


to be the thread winding amount setting means, the thread winding diameter detecting means


160


, the thread winding number measuring means


206


and the thread winding amount control portion


197


in the lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment.





FIGS. 44

to


48


show another example of the embodiment of the lower thread winding device to which the lower thread winding amount control device according to the invention is applied. The lower thread winding device according to the embodiment has such a structure as to use only an upper thread as a lower thread to be supplied to a bobbin and has been described in JP-B-60-42745, and the detailed description of the structure will be omitted and only main parts will be described. The structures corresponding to those in the above-mentioned embodiment have the same reference numerals in the drawings.





FIGS. 44 and 45

show the bobbin rotating mechanism of a lower thread winding device


1


B according to the embodiment. In the lower thread winding device


1


B according to the embodiment, a shaft


400


shown in

FIG. 45

is pushed up and a projection


402


of a disc


401


to be rotated integrally with an outer holder


7


B is engaged with a concave portion


403


formed on the lower end of a bobbin


22


B so that the rotation of the outer holder


7


B is transmitted to the bobbin


22


B. By carrying out switching to cover a bent portion


404


to be the inlet of a lower thread presser leaf spring


31


B with a control member


405


or releasing the bent portion


404


, the presence of induction of an upper thread US into the lower thread presser leaf spring


31


B is controlled. Furthermore, the rotation of the bobbin


22


B and an operation for inducing the upper thread US into lower thread tension means


25


B are carried out interlockingly with an operation for switching a lever


406


from a standby position to a thread winding position shown in

FIGS. 44 and 45

.




During the thread winding operation, the upper thread US scooped by a blade tip


42


is induced into the lower thread tension means


25


B and is then engaged with a thread engaging portion


407


of the lever


406


, and is induced from an opening


39




a


of the rotated bobbin


22


B into a slit


39


and the rotation of the bobbin


22


B is continuously carried out so that the upper thread US to be a lower thread DS is wound upon the bobbin


22


B as shown in

FIGS. 46

to


48


. At this time, it is possible to properly and easily control the amount of the upper thread US to be the lower thread DS wound upon the bobbin


22


B by using a lower thread winding amount control device (not shown) comprising the thread winding amount setting switch


174


to be the thread winding amount setting means, the thread winding diameter detecting means


160


, the thread winding number measuring means


206


and the thread winding amount control portion


197


in the lower thread winding device


1


according to the embodiment.




The invention is not restricted to each of the embodiments but can be changed if necessary.




As described above, according to the lower thread winding device and the lower thread winding amount control device in accordance with the invention, the motions of the needle bar


2


and the thread take-up


422


can be stopped by the upper shaft clutch mechanism during the automatic lower thread winding operation. Therefore, it is possible to produce a very excellent effect that the tensions of the upper thread and the lower thread can be stabilized, the upper thread can be prevented from slipping off and the violent movement of the bobbin and the slip-off of the thread can be reduced during the thread winding operation.



Claims
  • 1. A lower thread winding device comprising:a bobbin including upper and lower flanges provided on a central shaft upon which a lower thread is to be wound and both ends thereof, the upper flange having a slit opened to an outer peripheral edge; a horizontal holder having an inner holder capable of accommodating the bobbin and an outer holder provided with a blade tip for catching a thread; a bobbin driving member provided on an axial center of the outer holder and capable of being rotated integrally with the outer holder; first moving means for moving the bobbin driving member to a connecting position in which the bobbin driving member and the bobbin are connected to cause the bobbin to be rotatable during an operation for winding the thread upon the bobbin and a separating position in which the bobbin driving member is disconnected from the bobbin during a sewing operation; a thread holding member including a thread holding portion capable of holding a thread end of the thread supplied to the bobbin during the thread winding operation and a thread position regulating portion for positioning the supplied thread on a supply side by the thread holding portion during the thread winding operation to abut on the upper flange, the thread holding portion being movable to a retreat position in the vicinity of an outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and an entry position in which the supplied thread is caused to enter an inner upper part of the inner holder to be positioned above the upper flange during the thread winding operation; second moving means for moving the thread holding portion of the thread holding member to the retreat position and the entry position; an upper shaft clutch mechanism provided between a drive shaft to be driven by a sewing machine motor and a reciprocating member for reciprocating a needle bar and a thread take-up in a vertical direction and capable of carrying out electrical switching into a connecting state in which the drive shaft is connected to the reciprocating member during the sewing operation and a holding state in which the connection is released and the thread take-up and the needle bar can be held in an upper position during a lower thread winding operation; and thread winding operation control means for operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause a supplied thread connected between the thread holding portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation.
  • 2. The lower thread winding device according to claim 1, further comprising:a thread separating portion protruded from the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and capable of moving the supplied thread positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder in a separating direction from the outer holder when the outer holder is normally rotated; and a reholding operation control portion for setting the thread holding member or the thread catching and holding member into thread catching position which is placed above the retreat position, arid then rotating the outer holder to move the supplied thread positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder in the separating direction from the outer holder, thereby operating the thread holding member or the thread holding portion of the thread catching and holding member to hold the supplied thread after the thread winding operation is completed.
  • 3. The lower thread winding device according to claim 1, further comprising a thread catching hook formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder;an outer holder reverse rotating mechanism for reversely rotating the outer holder; lower thread tension means including a thread introducing port fixed to the inner holder and serving to introduce the lower thread to be the supplied thread to move along an upper surface of the inner holder when the outer holder is reversely rotated by means of the outer holder reverse rotating mechanism; and a lower thread tension applying portion for setting the lower thread connected to the bobbin into the retreat position to be positioned below an upper surface of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and causing the thread catching hook to catch the lower thread connected to the bobbin, then reversely rotating the outer holder and operating the lower thread connected to the bobbin to enter the thread introducing port after the thread winding operation is completed.
  • 4. The lower thread winding device according to claim 3, further comprising a cutting blade fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder to be opposed to the blade tip in an almost tangential direction; andan opening portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder at this side in a direction of rotation to be adjacent to the cutting blade when the outer holder is reversely rotated.
  • 5. The lower thread winding device according to claim 1, further comprising thread winding amount setting means for setting an amount of winding of the lower thread to be wound upon the bobbin;thread winding diameter detecting means for detecting a maximum thread winding diameter of the lower thread to be wound upon the bobbin; thread winding number measuring means for detecting a thread winding rotation number during the thread winding operation of the bobbin; a critical thread winding number setting portion for setting a critical thread winding number of the lower thread to be wound upon the bobbin to be more than the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin up to the maximum thread winding diameter in a thick thread and to be less than the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin up to the maximum thread winding diameter in a thin thread; and a thread winding amount control portion for carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding diameter detecting means detects the maximum thread winding diameter or the thread winding number measuring means detects the critical thread winding number set by the critical thread winding rotation setting portion if the thread winding amount of the lower thread has a maximum set value by the thread winding amount setting means, and carrying out the thread winding operation until the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin is set depending on the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting means and the thread winding number measuring means detects the thread winding rotation number of the bobbin which is set if the thread winding amount set by the thread winding amount setting means is less than the maximum set value.
  • 6. The lower thread winding device according to claim 1, further comprising thread hold detecting means for detecting that the thread supplied during the thread winding operation is held in the thread holding member or the thread catching and holding member.
  • 7. The lower thread winding device according to claim 1, further comprising a sewing data storage portion for storing a plurality of pattern sewing data;pattern selecting means for selecting desirable pattern sewing data from the pattern sewing data; and an automatic setting portion for automatically setting selection of the lower thread to be supplied to the bobbin depending on the pattern sewing data selected by the pattern selecting means and/or a thread winding amount of the lower thread.
  • 8. A lower thread winding device comprising:a bobbin including upper and lower flanges provided on a central shaft upon which a lower thread is to be wound and both ends thereof, the upper flange having a slit opened to an outer peripheral edge; a horizontal holder having an inner holder capable of accommodating the bobbin and an outer holder provided with a blade tip for catching a thread; a bobbin driving member provided on an axial center of the outer holder and capable of being rotated integrally with the outer holder; first moving means for moving the bobbin driving member to a connecting position in which the bobbin driving member and the bobbin are connected to cause the bobbin to be rotatable during an operation for winding the thread upon the bobbin and a separating position in which the bobbin driving member is disconnected from the bobbin during a sewing operation; a thread holding member including a thread engaging portion capable of holding a thread end of an upper thread supplied to a needle during the thread winding operation and a thread position regulating portion for positioning the upper thread on a supply side by the thread engaging portion during the thread winding operation to abut on the upper flange, the thread engaging portion being movable to a retreat position in the vicinity of an outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and an entry position in which the supplied thread is caused to enter an inner upper part of the inner holder to be positioned above the upper flange during the thread winding operation; second moving means for moving the thread engaging portion of the thread holding member to the retreat position and the entry position; an upper shaft clutch mechanism provided between a drive shaft to be driven by a sewing machine motor and a reciprocating member for reciprocating a needle bar and a thread talk-up in a vertical direction and capable of carrying out electrical switching into a connecting state in which the drive shaft is connected to the reciprocating member during the sewing operation and a holding state in which the connection is released and the thread take-up and the needle bar can be held in an upper position during a lower thread winding operation; and thread winding operation control means for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into the connecting state to drive a sewing machine, thereby catching the upper thread connected to the needle by means of the blade tip of the outer holder and separately rotating the upper thread in upper and lower parts of the inner holder, then causing the thread engaging portion of the thread holding member to catch the upper thread passing over the inner holder, and thereafter operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause the supplied thread connected between the thread engaging portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation.
  • 9. The lower thread winding device according to claim 8, further comprising an upper thread reeling mechanism including thread loosening means for releasing the upper thread supplied as the lower thread at time of start of the thread winding operation; andan upper thread control portion for causing an amount of reeling of the upper thread reeled from the upper thread reeling mechanism to be a set amount at time of the start of the thread winding operation and for operating the thread loosening means to release the upper thread when the bobbin winds the upper thread to be the low thread.
  • 10. The lower thread winding device according to claim 8, further comprising a thread catching hook formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder;an outer holder reverse rotating mechanism for reversely rotating the outer holder; lower thread tension means including a thread introducing port fixed to the inner holder and serving to introduce the lower thread supplied from the upper thread to move along an upper surface of the inner holder when the outer holder is reversely rotated by means of the outer holder reverse rotating mechanism; and a lower thread tension applying portion for setting the lower thread connected to the bobbin and positioned in the vicinity of the outer holder into the retreat position to be positioned below an upper surface of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and causing the thread catching hook to catch the lower thread connected to the bobbin and positioned in the vicinity of the outer holder, then reversely rotating the outer holder and operating the lower thread connected to the bobbin and positioned in the vicinity of the outer holder to enter the thread introducing port after the thread winding operation is completed.
  • 11. The lower thread winding device according to claim 8, further comprising a sewing data storage portion for storing a plurality of pattern sewing data;pattern selecting means for selecting desirable pattern sewing data from the pattern sewing data; and an automatic setting portion for automatically setting selection of the lower thread to be supplied to the bobbin depending on the pattern sewing data selected by the pattern selecting means and/or a thread winding amount of the lower thread.
  • 12. A lower thread winding device comprising:a bobbin including upper and lower flanges provided on a central shaft upon which a lower thread is to be wound and both ends thereof, the upper flange having a slit opened to an outer peripheral edge; a horizontal holder having an inner holder capable of accommodating the bobbin and an outer holder provided with a blade tip for catching a thread; a bobbin driving member provided on an axial center of the outer holder and capable of being rotated integrally with the outer holder; first moving means for moving the bobbin driving member to a connecting position in which the bobbin driving member and the bobbin are connected to cause the bobbin to be rotatable during an operation for winding the thread upon the bobbin and a separating position in which the bobbin driving member is disconnected from the bobbin during a sewing operation; a thread catching and holding member including a thread holding portion provided in a tip portion and serving to hold a thread supplied during the thread winding operation and a thread engaging portion for engaging an upper thread, and a thread position regulating portion provided on a rear end side from the thread holding portion and the thread engaging portion and serving to position a supplied thread on a supply side by the thread holding portion and the thread engaging portion or the upper thread supplied as a lower thread during the thread winding operation to abut on the upper flange of the bobbin, in which a tip portion is always placed in a retreat position in the vicinity of an outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and is placed in an entry position in which the tip portion enters an inner upper part of the inner holder during the thread winding operation; second moving means for moving the thread holding portion and the thread engaging portion in the thread catching and holding member to freely advance or retreat between two positions including the retreat position and the entry position; an upper shaft clutch mechanism capable of carrying out electrical switching into a connecting state in which a drive shaft to be driven by a sewing machine motor is connected to a reciprocating member for reciprocating a needle bar and a thread take-up in a vertical direction during the sewing operation and a holding state in which the connection is released and the thread take-up and the needle bar can be held in an upper position during a lower thread winding operation; a first thread winding operation control portion for operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause the supplied thread connected between the thread holding portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation; and a second thread winding operation control portion for bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into the connecting state to drive a sewing machine during the thread winding operation, thereby catching the upper thread connected to a needle by means of the blade tip of the outer holder and separately rotating the upper thread in upper and lower parts of the inner holder, then causing the thread engaging portion and the thread position regulating portion in the thread catching and holding member to catch the upper thread passing over the inner holder, and thereafter operating the first moving means and the second moving means to cause the supplied thread connected between the thread holding portion and the thread position regulating portion to enter the slit and bringing the upper shaft clutch mechanism into a release state so that the thread can be wound upon the bobbin without vertically moving the thread take-up and the needle bar during the thread winding operation.
  • 13. The lower thread winding device according to claim 12, further comprising:a thread separating portion protruded from the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder and capable of moving the supplied thread positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder in a separating direction from the outer holder when the outer holder is normally rotated; and a reholding operation control portion for setting the thread holding member or the thread catching and holding member into a thread catching position which is placed above the retreat position, and then rotating the outer holder to move the supplied thread positioned in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the outer holder in the separating direction from the outer holder, thereby operating the thread holding member or the thread holding portion of the thread catching and holding member to hold the supplied thread after the thread winding operation is completed.
  • 14. The lower thread winding device according to claim 12, further comprising an upper thread reeling mechanism including thread loosening means for releasing the upper thread supplied as the lower thread at time of start of the thread winding operation; andan upper thread control portion for causing an amount of reeling of the upper thread reeled from the upper thread reeling mechanism to be a set amount at time of the start of the thread winding operation and for operating the thread loosening means to release the upper thread when the bobbin winds the upper thread to be the low thread.
  • 15. The lower thread winding device according to claim 12, further comprising thread hold detecting means for detecting that the thread supplied during the thread winding operation is held in the thread holding member or the thread catching and holding member.
  • 16. The lower thread winding device according to claim 12, further comprising a sewing data storage portion for storing a plurality of pattern sewing data;pattern selecting means for selecting desirable pattern sewing data from the pattern sewing data; and an automatic setting portion for automatically setting selection of the lower thread to be supplied to the bobbin depending on the pattern sewing data selected by the pattern selecting means and/or a thread winding amount of the lower thread.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2001-163536 May 2001 JP
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
3374756 Blackwood et al. Mar 1968 A
3693566 Ketterer Sep 1972 A
4259914 Johnson Apr 1981 A
4481897 Odermann et al. Nov 1984 A
5622127 Chang Apr 1997 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
3-27230 Apr 1991 JP
11-47480 Feb 1999 JP